This week we are kicking off our Equipment Blog Series with the first in the series focused on laboratory freezers.

Lab freezers are used to safely store critical samples for a variety of clinical, pharmaceutical, and biological applications and can be chest format or upright. The main job of a lab freezer is to keep samples extremely cold…-86°C or about -123°F to be exact. Now that’s cold!

Since 1998, Remi’s Equipment Maintenance Management Program (EMMP) has been helping labs across the country keep samples cold by ensuring their freezers are up and running efficiently. Remi has covered nearly 1,200 medical and lab freezers saving our customers more than $600,000 dollars over traditional OEM costs.

In the last 21 years, Remi has gathered tons of data from service delivery calls about what can go wrong with freezers. Below are the Top 8 most common freezer failure issues*.

Top 8 List: When Freezers Fail

  1. Compressor – Remi data shows that the compressor is the number one part on a lab freezer that will fail. And that should come as no surprise since the main goal is to keep things cold.
  2. Door – The second most common issue starts with the freezer door. Typical issues include problems with the door handle, the door seal, the gasket not being seated properly, the door latch working incorrectly, and door mis-alignment.
  3. Display – The display board is next on the list and typical issues include the display not lighting up or flashing an error code.
  4. Condenser – When the lab freezer is failing to keep temperature, the condenser is usually at fault. Common issues with the condenser include the coil leaking refrigerant or the condenser fan being stuck. Sometimes technicians will clean the condenser and install a new filter, and other times they may need to replace the fan motor and blade.
  5. Boards – Ranking in at #5, we see that sometimes the service kit board and cable needs to be replaced.
  6. Flush lines – You may be asked to defrost your unit to see if the lines clear up, and if they don’t, the freezer will more than likely need to be taken offsite to have the lines flushed. Flushing can help clear restrictions.
  7. Leaks – If you have a leak, technicians will more than likely do a pressurized test to check for the source of the leaks.
  8. Evaporator – The evaporator rounds out our list at #8. If the freezer is struggling to keep temperature, then it could be that the evaporator is completely frozen. Technicians usually suggested a 48 hour defrost.

Average Freezer Repair Costs

We hope you learned more about the top things that can go wrong with your lab freezer. On average, the cost of repair is about $1,400, but can range from a very simple service of $200 to more than $8,000. If you currently have your freezers under a service agreement and are interested in saving up to 25% off the OEM contract, then you may want to consider learning more about how Remi’s EMMP can save you money and help you plan, budget and forecast your maintenance costs.

Call us today at 888-451-8916, Option #1 or get started with a quick quote to see the cool savings we have for you on lab freezers.

*This blog is not meant to diagnose lab freezer issues. Please contact Remi if you need assistance in getting service for your lab freezer.

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