--- title: "Hoshizaki E3: an HPR prep table defrost ran past an hour" description: "What E3 means on Hoshizaki E3: an HPR prep table defrost ran past an hours, what to check before booking, and when it is not a failure at all." url: "https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/hoshizaki-e3/" --- # Hoshizaki E3: an HPR prep table defrost ran past an hour On HPR prep tables the display normally shows dF during defrost. ## What E3 actually means. On HPR prep tables the display normally shows dF during defrost. If the coil has not warmed enough to end defrost within an hour, the control stops the defrost itself and raises E3, which may alternate with dF instead of the temperature. The usual suspects are the defrost heater and the defrost thermistor. Hoshizaki commercial appliance display What to do when E3 shows on the commercial appliance ### Kind of code Compressor and cooling The unit is running but not moving heat out of the box the way it should. On a walk-in that is often a condensing unit on the roof choking on cottonwood or grease, a condenser fan that stopped, an evaporator fan or defrost heater that failed so the coil iced solid, or a slow refrigerant leak; a reach-in adds a door gasket or heater that lets warm air in. Cleaning the condenser face with the power off and checking that the doors close are fair first steps; the refrigerant circuit, the compressor and every line stay with a technician. ### Usually leads to Walk-in cooler repair Walk-in coolers and freezers back to temperature: evaporators, fans, defrost, drain heaters, condensing units and doors. ### Shows up as Commercial Appliance Error Code on a Combi, Fryer, Dish Machine or Laundry Display A commercial appliance error code appears as letters or numbers on a combi, fryer, reach-in controller, dish machine or laundry machine display, or as a flashing light or an alarm tone. ### Make Hoshizaki On a Hoshizaki cold cabinet in a restaurant, the tech first finds out when the last good temperature was written on the log. ### Source Hoshizaki HPR46A, HPR72A and HPR100A prep table service manual (archived copy of the Hoshizaki America PDF) Older Hoshizaki HPR46A, HPR72A and HPR100A prep tables with raised rails, which use a two-character control different from the Steelheart display. ## Before you book, in this order. Each step comes from Hoshizaki's own guidance for E3 on its commercial appliances. Follow it to the end: the last card says whether this is a visit. 01 Turn the prep table off and back on, as Hoshizaki's table directs. 02 Watch whether the display returns to a temperature or goes back to dF and E3. 03 Check the cabinet with a thermometer over the next hour. 04 Book a visit so the defrost heater and defrost thermistor can be tested. ### Still there? It usually turns into [walk-in cooler repair](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/services/walk-in-cooler-repair/). Book with the code and the model number. ### What not to do dF by itself is the normal defrost display and only becomes a concern when E3 appears with it. E3 is not a warm-cabinet alarm, though a coil that never clears its ice will eventually let the cabinet warm. ## What you may notice with it. The commercial appliance problems E3 tends to arrive with. Answer these at the commercial appliance before anyone is booked. [All problems](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/problems/) Before you call ### [Commercial Appliance Error Code on a Combi, Fryer, Dish Machine or Laundry Display](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/problems/commercial-error-code/) [All 8 causes, cheapest first](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/problems/commercial-error-code/) It also comes with - [**Prep Table Running Warm in the Top Rail and the Base**](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/problems/prep-table-running-warm/) Problem ### Commercial Appliance Error Code on a Combi, Fryer, Dish Machine or Laundry Display 8 causes, cheapest first Where E3 usually leads ## Walk-in cooler repair. **Walk-in evaporator fan, defrost heater or drain line heater, door gasket, frame heater, expansion valve, leak repair, compressor or condensing unit · moderate to highest.** Book a visit [What the job involves](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/services/walk-in-cooler-repair/) ## Hoshizaki commercial appliances. On a Hoshizaki cold cabinet in a restaurant, the tech first finds out when the last good temperature was written on the log. [Hoshizaki commercial appliance repair](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/brands/hoshizaki/) More Hoshizaki codes [dor](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/hoshizaki-dor/) [E01](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/hoshizaki-e01/) [E02](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/hoshizaki-e02/) [Hi](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/hoshizaki-hi/) [Lo](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/hoshizaki-lo/) [UHi](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/hoshizaki-uhi/) [ULo](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/hoshizaki-ulo/) [E1](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/hoshizaki-e1/) [E7](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/hoshizaki-e7/) Compressor and cooling on other makes [Beverage-Air LEA](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/beverage-air-lea/) [Delfield LEA](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/delfield-lea/) [Randell CON](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/randell-con/) [Traulsen CLN FIL](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/traulsen-cln-fil/) [True Residential Con](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/true-con/) [Turbo Air C1](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/turbo-air-c1/) [Victory CHt](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/victory-cht/) [All 15 codes of this kind](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/#family-cooling) Hoshizaki builds this ### Commercial cold storage Reach-in and pass-through cabinets, walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers, prep and sandwich tables, undercounter units and blast chillers that hold a kitchen's food at safe temperatures. ## In Hoshizaki's own words > Cabinet defrost has taken longer than 1 hour. The control board has terminated defrost. [Hoshizaki HPR46A, HPR72A and HPR100A prep table service manual (archived copy of the Hoshizaki America PDF)](https://web.archive.org/web/2026/https://secure.hoshizakiamerica.com/docs/manuals/HPR46_72_100A(-D)_serv.pdf) [Hoshizaki HPR46A, HPR72A and HPR100A prep table service manual (archived copy of the Hoshizaki America PDF)](https://web.archive.org/web/2026/https://secure.hoshizakiamerica.com/docs/manuals/HPR46_72_100A(-D)_serv.pdf) Every code on this site is taken from the manufacturer's documentation, never from a forum or a parts listing. Older Hoshizaki HPR46A, HPR72A and HPR100A prep tables with raised rails, which use a two-character control different from the Steelheart display. ## Hoshizaki E3 commercial appliance repair, where we come out. The same visit in every metro below: the code, the model number, and a diagnosis before any part is ordered. 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Turn the prep table off and back on, as Hoshizaki's table directs. If it comes back, it needs a visit. ### Why does my HPR show E3 and dF back and forth? The control ended a defrost that ran past an hour and is flagging it. Restart the table; if the pair comes back at the next defrost, the heater or its sensor needs testing. ### Does E3 mean the HPR prep table stopped cooling? No, ending the long defrost lets cooling resume. The coil may still hold ice, so airflow can stay weak until the repair. ### Will E3 return after a restart? If the heater or the defrost thermistor has failed, usually yes, at the next scheduled defrost. That repeat is the sign to book a visit. --- **[Read on the site: Hoshizaki E3: an HPR prep table defrost ran past an hour](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/error-codes/hoshizaki-e3/)** **[Book a visit with CommercialApplianceRepair.center](https://commercialappliancerepair.center/schedule/)**