Condensation on a display fridge looks untidy, hides your stock and can drip onto food. Most of the time it isn't a fault. It's warm, humid air meeting a cold surface, the same reason a cold drink "sweats" on a hot day. The fix depends on where the water forms: on the outside of the glass, or inside the cabinet.
Quick answer
- Water on the outside of the glass comes from humid air in your shop. Lower the humidity, keep steam and outside air away from the fridge, and choose heated or anti-fog glass for humid locations.
- Water inside the cabinet comes from moisture getting in. Keep the doors shut, check the door seals, cover food and let hot food cool before it goes in.
- Ice build-up, water pooling under the fridge or a cabinet that won't hold its temperature can point to a fault. Have a licensed refrigeration technician check it.
Why display fridges get condensation
Air always holds some water vapour. When it touches a surface colder than its dew point, the vapour turns back into droplets. The glass and the inside of a display fridge sit at just a few degrees, so on a warm, humid day the air touching them easily drops below its dew point. The more humid the air, and the bigger the gap between the room and the fridge, the more water you'll see.
How to stop condensation on the outside of the glass
This is the most common complaint, especially on humid summer days, near the coast and in busy kitchens.
- Bring the humidity down. Air conditioning takes moisture out of the air as well as cooling it. In a small shop without air conditioning, a dehumidifier can help.
- Keep steam away. Don't place a display fridge beside a coffee machine, dishwasher, glasswasher, bain-marie or open cooking. Steam drifting across cold glass fogs it straight away.
- Keep it back from outside doors. Warm, humid air coming in through an open shopfront lands right on the glass. If you can, move the fridge further inside.
- Keep it out of direct sun. Sun on the cabinet makes the fridge work harder and heats the shop air around it.
- Check the room rating. Every commercial fridge is designed for a maximum room temperature, and some also list a humidity. For example, the Bonvue SC120FA-2XB cake display is rated for rooms up to 32°C and 60% relative humidity. If your shop is warmer or more humid than the fridge's rating, expect more condensation.
- Choose heated or anti-fog glass for humid spots. Heated glass keeps the outer surface warm enough to stay above the dew point, so it stays clear.
How to reduce condensation inside the fridge
Water on the inside of the glass, on the walls or dripping from the shelves usually means warm, moist air or wet food is getting in.
- Keep door openings short. Every opening lets humid room air in. Restock in one go rather than in lots of small trips, and make sure the doors close fully after customers use them.
- Check the door seals. Close the door on a sheet of paper. If it slides out easily, the seal isn't gripping at that spot. Clean the seals regularly with warm soapy water, because built-up grime stops them sealing. Torn or flattened seals need replacing.
- Cover food and cool hot food first. Uncovered food gives off moisture, and hot food gives off a lot. Cool cooked food as your food safety plan requires before it goes into a display fridge, and keep it covered or wrapped where you can.
- Don't overload it. Packing the shelves too tightly or blocking the air vents stops cold air circulating, which leaves warm, damp spots. Keep the vents and the air path clear.
- Use the right temperature, not a colder one. In Australia, cold food should be kept at 5°C or colder. Setting the fridge much colder than it needs to be also makes the glass colder, which can make condensation on the outside worse.
- Check the fridge is level. A fridge that leans forward can stop self-closing doors from shutting properly. Adjust the feet so the doors swing closed on their own.
Open-front display fridges
Open multideck and open-front displays have no doors. Instead, a curtain of cold air across the front holds the cold in. Anything that disturbs that air curtain, such as an air-conditioning vent, a ceiling fan or a draught from the front door, pushes warm air inside, which brings condensation and higher temperatures. Keep the area in front of the fridge clear, don't let stock hang over the front edge of the shelves, and if your model has a night blind or cover, use it when the shop is closed.
When condensation points to a fault
These signs mean it's time to have a licensed refrigeration technician take a look:
- Ice building up on the back wall or around the fan cover
- Water pooling under or in front of the fridge (a blocked defrost drain is a common cause)
- The cabinet won't hold its temperature, or the fans aren't running
- Condensation suddenly appears on a fridge that used to stay clear in the same conditions
Don't remove panels or try to get at the refrigeration parts yourself. For anything beyond everyday cleaning, follow the manufacturer's manual.
Choosing a display fridge for a humid location
If condensation is a regular battle, or you're fitting out a shop in a warm, humid area, look for:
- Heated or anti-fog glass. The NovaChill SM1300GF double door display fridge has heated glass doors, the Atosa DF127D cake showcase has heated glass, and the Bonvue SC120FA-2XB has anti-fog glass on all four sides.
- A high room-temperature rating. Check the maximum room temperature in the specifications. The NovaChill SM1300GF and Atosa DF127D are both rated for rooms up to 43°C.
- Fan-forced cooling. Fans keep the air moving for an even temperature through the cabinet, and fan-forced models usually defrost automatically. Our guide to fan forced vs static cooling explains the difference.
- Doors rather than an open front if the fridge will sit near a doorway or an air-conditioning vent.
Browse our cake and sandwich display fridges, upright glass door fridges, countertop display fridges and multideck display fridges.
Display fridge condensation FAQs
Is some condensation on a display fridge normal?
Yes. A little fogging on the outside of the glass on very humid days, or briefly after the doors have been opened, is normal and should clear by itself. Constant heavy condensation usually means the room is too humid for the fridge, or warm air is getting inside.
How do I stop condensation on glass fridge doors?
If the water is on the outside, reduce the humidity around the fridge and keep steam and outside air away from it. For humid locations, heated or anti-fog glass is the long-term answer. If the water is on the inside, keep the doors closed as much as possible and check that the door seals grip properly.
Why is my fridge glass foggy first thing in the morning?
With the air conditioning off overnight, the shop often warms up and gets more humid while the fridge keeps running. Turning the air conditioning on a little before opening, or running a dehumidifier overnight, usually helps.
Can condensation damage food or the fridge?
Water dripping onto food can spoil how it looks, and damp corners can grow mould if they aren't cleaned. Wipe up condensation and clean the cabinet regularly. Water pooling around the fridge is a slip hazard and can be a sign of a blocked drain, so have it checked.
