Continental Refrigerator Error Code PF: Power Failure Alarm
PF on a Continental refrigerator or freezer with the Evco-type control means power was lost and then restored. The manual says the reset is manual: clear it from the control. Check the cabinet temperature and the stored food first.
Low: it records a past outage; the unit should be running again, though food may need checking.
- Code
- PF
- Maker
- Continental
- Equipment
- Reach-in refrigerators
- Applies to
- Continental refrigerators and freezers with the Evco-type electronic control (probes Pb1-Pb3)
What does Continental error code PF mean?
PF is the Power Failure Alarm in the alarm table for the Evco-type electronic control on Continental refrigerators and freezers. The control notices when power to it has been lost and then comes back. It shows PF to tell the operator that an outage happened while nobody was watching. The manual states that the reset is manual, and its action is to clear the alarm manually from the control. It does not describe the keys to use. A power failure alarm matters because the cabinet may have warmed during the outage, even if everything seems normal now. Unlike probe alarms, PF says nothing is broken in the unit. It records an event. The question for the operator is how long the power was out, how warm the cabinet got and whether any stored food needs to be discarded.
Affected models and control systems
PF is listed for Continental refrigerators and freezers with the Evco-type electronic control, in the Alarm Codes and Reset Types table printed on page 2 of the operations manual. The reset type is manual, unlike the Pr1 to Pr3 probe codes, which reset automatically.
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- PF on the control display
- Cabinet warmer than normal after an outage
- Clock or timed functions needing attention
Possible causes
Likely causes — what usually sits behind error code PF on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- Power to the unit was lost and then restored
- Breaker that tripped from an overloaded kitchen circuit
- Plug partly pulled from the outlet during cleaning
- Repeated short outages in the building supply
Safe checks before calling for service
- Check the cabinet temperature and the condition of the food, especially in a refrigerator.
- Look at the breaker and plug to see why power was lost.
- Clear PF from the control as the manual describes, once you have noted it.
- Watch that the cabinet returns to normal temperature.
- Write down when the outage happened and how long it lasted, for the technician.
How a technician diagnoses error code PF
- Read the alarm and note when the power event happened.
- Check the supply, breaker and plug for the cause of the outage.
- Confirm the cabinet recovers to setpoint.
- Check that the control retained its parameters.
- Check for repeated events that suggest a supply problem.
- Finding the cause of a power loss may involve the breaker panel and wiring at line voltage.
- Repeated outages may need an electrician to trace.
- Food safety decisions after an outage should be documented.
How error code PF differs from similar codes
PF is a manual-reset event record, while the Pr1 to Pr3 probe codes reset automatically.
Technical reference
- Document
- Operations Manual - Electronic Control for Refrigerators and Freezers (Continental easy control)
- Edition
- REV. 07/22/2025
- Models / control
- Continental refrigerators and freezers with the Evco-type electronic control (probes Pb1-Pb3)
- Section
- Alarm Codes and Reset Types, printed p. 2; Loc/UnL appear only in How to Unlock the Keypad, p. 1
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related Continental reach-in refrigerator error codes
Do I need to throw out food after PF?
It depends on how long power was off and how warm the cabinet got. Check temperatures against your food-safety rules.
Will PF clear itself?
No. The manual says the reset is manual, so it must be cleared from the control.
Does PF mean the unit is broken?
No. It records that power was lost and restored.
Need help with Continental error code PF?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.