Home › Commercial Refrigeration Guide › Beer & Draft Refrigeration Guide › Bar Refrigeration Maintenance Plans
Updated October 14, 2026
Quick answer
Preventive maintenance for a bar means regular service on every cooler so dirty condensers, failing defrost parts and control problems are caught before a busy weekend. Cool Aid's Planned Maintenance Agreement offers monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly or semi-annual visits with a 10-point refrigeration service on each listed unit. Most bars need at least two visits a year, more in hot or dusty spaces.
Our Planned Maintenance Agreement
Cool Aid's Planned Maintenance Agreement puts your listed equipment on a fixed visit schedule. You choose one of four plans:
| Plan | Visits |
|---|---|
| Plan A | Monthly (12 a year) |
| Plan B | Bi-monthly (6 a year) |
| Plan C | Quarterly (4 a year) |
| Plan D | Semi-annual (2 a year) |
- Equipment: the plan covers the units listed on your agreement, at the location listed.
- Price: a set cost for each service visit, quoted for your equipment list.
- Term: one year from the first scheduled maintenance visit.
Our 10-point refrigeration service
On every plan visit, each refrigeration unit on the agreement gets this 10-point service:
- Install gauges and check pressures
- Check voltage and amperage
- Check contactor points
- Check all electrical connections
- Lubricate all moving parts
- Clean condenser coil
- Check thermostat control
- Check defrost time clock operation
- Check defrost heater operation
- Check unit inside temperature
Glycol power pack checks and draft line cleaning are not part of the printed 10-point checklist. Ask us to add them to your agreement.
Your part between visits
- Clean back-bar condenser grilles monthly.
- Keep a keg cooler temperature log.
- Keep line cleaning on schedule (see line cleaning).
What the Brewers Association manual recommends for glycol systems
| Task | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Glycol bath temperature | Every two weeks |
| Motors and pumps | Monthly |
| Condenser inspection and cleaning | Monthly |
| Trunk line inspection | Every six months |
| Glycol mix condition | Every six months |
| Glycol freezing point test | Every 18 months |
Why maintenance pays
Most bar refrigeration emergencies start as a dirty condenser, a worn fan or a failing pump. A maintenance visit catches them on a Tuesday instead of a Saturday. It also keeps garnishes and dairy in back-bars at 41°F or below for inspections.
Who it is for
- Bars and nightclubs with back-bars and draft
- Restaurants with bar programs
- Breweries and taprooms with keg rooms and long-draw systems
- Hotels with lobby and banquet bars
Why choose Cool Aid
- Licensed C-38 refrigeration contractor, EPA 608 certified technicians
- Family business serving the Bay Area since 1966
- One-year parts and labor warranty on repairs
- Vietnamese-speaking staff
Service area
We serve bars, restaurants, hotels, stores and breweries in Santa Clara, San Mateo and Alameda counties and San Francisco. County environmental health inspectors probe refrigerated garnishes, dairy and juices; beverage-only units face fewer rules but still cost sales when warm.
How often
At least twice a year for most bars: before summer and before the holiday season. Busy bars, rooftop or basement equipment and long-draw glycol systems benefit from quarterly visits, matching the Brewers Association's monthly and six-month checks with your staff doing the monthly items.
Bay Area factors
Inland bars face summer heat; coastal bars face humidity that fogs glass and frosts coolers. Rooftop power packs and condensing units need extra attention before summer.
What maintenance prevents
| Problem | How maintenance prevents it |
|---|---|
| Warm back-bars on weekends | Condenser cleaning, fan checks |
| Foamy pours across all taps | Power pack condenser, pump and glycol checks |
| Keg room failure after deliveries | Evaporator, defrost and capacity checks |
| Fogged beer cave doors | Heater and seal checks |
| Inspection findings | Temperature verification |
Getting started
- List your refrigeration: back-bars, keg coolers, keg room, power pack, beer cave.
- Note any recurring problems.
- Ask us for a plan based on that list.
Regular hours are 8 AM to 5 PM, with emergency service until 9 PM.
Questions to ask any maintenance provider
- Which units are included, and how often?
- Is condenser cleaning included on every unit?
- Do you service glycol power packs and keg rooms?
- Will I get a written report?
- Is line cleaning included? (Ask us.)
- How are repairs found during a visit priced?
Why choose Cool Aid for maintenance
We service the cooling equipment in a bar: back-bars, keg coolers, keg rooms and beer caves. List every unit on your agreement so each one gets the 10-point service; ask us about adding glycol power packs.
Records that help
Keep the daily temperature log, line cleaning log and maintenance reports together. Patterns, such as a back-bar that creeps warmer each month, show up in records long before a failure.
When to call a technician
Book a visit before summer and before the holiday season, when bars are busiest.
Open 7 days, 8 AM to 5 PM, with emergency service until 9 PM. CA Lic. #776244.
Frequently asked questions
What maintenance plans does Cool Aid offer?
Four plans: Plan A monthly, Plan B bi-monthly, Plan C quarterly and Plan D semi-annual service on the equipment listed in your agreement.
How long is a maintenance agreement?
One year from the first scheduled maintenance visit.
How is a maintenance plan priced?
Each service visit has a set cost, quoted for the equipment on your agreement.
How often should bar refrigeration be serviced?
At least twice a year, more in hot or dusty spaces.
Is line cleaning included?
Ask us whether line cleaning can be included in your plan.
What does a maintenance plan cost?
Each visit has a set cost based on the equipment listed on your agreement and the plan you choose; ask us for a quote.
Can visits be scheduled before we open?
Ask us; we schedule around your hours where possible.
Do maintenance plans include repairs?
Plans cover the scheduled 10-point service; repairs found during a visit are quoted separately.
Is a maintenance plan worth it for one back-bar?
Monthly cleaning by staff plus a yearly inspection may be enough; plans pay off with several units or glycol systems.
How long does a maintenance visit take?
It depends on the number of units; a typical bar takes a few hours.
Can you service our beer cave too?
Yes; caves are walk-ins with glass doors, and we check refrigeration, heaters and closers.
Do you work with multi-location bar groups?
Yes; we can schedule visits across locations in our service area.
Will maintenance void my manufacturer warranty?
No; manufacturers such as Continental expect regular condenser cleaning, and skipping it can be what voids coverage.
What is the most important thing staff can do?
Clean back-bar condenser grilles monthly and log temperatures daily.
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