My first reaction to "warm refer" was some sort of sales lead.

That's what people in sales call a referral from a former client.

When I read the text I realized he meant a "warm REEFER".

It is very difficult to feel the difference between cool and warm surfaces
with the just the touch or your hand. What you actually feel is the
temperature difference between your hand and the cooling/warming element.
Unless the temperatures are so extreme it burns or freezes your hand it's
just very difficult to tell. The thermometer is the only way to tell.

IIRC these are ammonia fridges. So perhaps it's low on the stuff? The AC
power can impart so much more energy than the limited power from a DC source.
I'm not sure but maybe you need a recharge of some kind.

BenT