Emergency After-Hours Walk-In Freezer Diagnostics – Chick-fil-A Austin, TX 10.14.26
Setpoint Services responded to an emergency after-hours commercial refrigeration service call at Chick-fil-A in Austin, Texas, for a walk-in freezer experiencing temperature concerns and refrigeration controller alarms. The freezer was equipped with a Heatcraft/Bohn BEL0130BS6EEAYE215 evaporator and BCH0035LCBCZX1908 condensing unit operating on R-448A refrigerant. A technician arrived within one hour of dispatch authorization to investigate the reported cooling problems.
During the inspection, the exterior door-mounted thermometer was found reading approximately 22–25°F warmer than the interior thermometer and electronic refrigeration controller. Diagnostic testing also identified stored high-temperature, low-superheat, and controller backup battery errors. Live superheat measured approximately 9.7°F, with no active low-superheat condition observed at that time. The freezer temperature decreased from 13.5°F to 11.1°F during testing, indicating that the refrigeration system was cooling, although it had not yet reached its −5°F setpoint.
Follow-up service was recommended to replace the defective exterior thermometer and controller backup battery, correct the controller's date and time, verify the defrost schedule, and confirm proper freezer temperature pull-down and cycling. Additional refrigeration diagnostics were recommended if the low-superheat alarm returned or the freezer failed to reach its programmed temperature.
