Home › Commercial Refrigeration Guide › Beer & Draft Refrigeration Guide › Draft Beer System and Glycol Chiller Repair
Updated October 14, 2026
Quick answer
We repair the refrigeration side of commercial draft beer systems: glycol power packs, keg coolers, keg rooms and direct-draw coolers for bars, taprooms, breweries and restaurants across the Bay Area. If beer is warm or foamy across your taps, the cause is usually refrigeration, and that is our work.
What we repair
- Glycol power packs: not cooling, pump failures, frozen baths, probes and controls
- Keg coolers and direct-draw units
- Walk-in keg rooms
- Back-bar and bottle coolers
Signs you need us
- Warm or foamy pours across many taps
- Glycol bath warm, iced or pump silent
- Keg cooler above 38°F
- Condensing unit running nonstop
Troubleshooting first? See glycol problems and foamy beer.
What happens on a service visit
- We check temperatures at the cooler, the bath or keg room and the tap.
- We inspect the condenser, fans, defrost, controls and refrigerant circuit.
- You get the diagnosis and price before work starts.
- Repairs carry a one-year parts and labor warranty.
Service hours
Regular service hours are 8 AM to 5 PM, with emergency service until 9 PM. Call as early as you can; the sooner a technician sees the unit, the more product you keep.
Draft system types we service
| System | How it is cooled | Our work |
|---|---|---|
| Direct-draw | Keg cooler under the tap | Cooler refrigeration |
| Air-cooled long-draw | Walk-in air blown through a chase | Walk-in and recirculation fan |
| Glycol long-draw | Glycol power pack and trunk line | Walk-in and power pack |
The Brewers Association manual notes glycol systems serve runs longer than 25 feet.
Owner checks before you call
| Step | Check | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keg room or cooler temperature | Above 38°F: cooler problem |
| 2 | Glycol bath on the gauge | Above the maker's range: pack problem |
| 3 | Pump running | Silent: pump or motor |
| 4 | All taps or some? | All: cooling. Some: those lines |
| 5 | Condenser fins on the pack | Dirty: clean |
What a repair visit covers
- Temperatures at the keg room, glycol bath, supply, return and faucet.
- Power pack condenser, fan, compressor and refrigerant charge.
- Pump, motor and coupling.
- Probe or thermostat and bath level and mix.
- Walk-in or keg cooler refrigeration.
- Accessible trunk line insulation.
Maintenance schedule (Brewers Association manual)
| Task | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Bath temperature | Every two weeks |
| Motors, pumps, condenser | Monthly |
| Trunk line and glycol condition | Every six months |
| Glycol freezing point test | Every 18 months |
Bay Area factors
Bay Area taprooms and bars often run trunk lines through old ceilings and walls that warm in summer. Damaged insulation shows up as foamy pours on the furthest taps on hot afternoons.
Common failures we fix
| Failure | Typical sign |
|---|---|
| Dirty condenser on the power pack | Bath slowly warming, pack running nonstop |
| Pump motor failure | Bath cold, beer warm, no return flow |
| Probe or thermostat fault | Bath frozen or display wrong |
| Refrigerant leak | Pack runs but cannot cool |
| Keg room warm | All taps foamy, kegs warm |
| Trunk insulation damage | Furthest taps foamy, sweating trunk |
Who does what
Ask us whether line cleaning is included. We always handle the refrigeration: keg rooms, keg coolers and glycol power packs. Gas balance, couplers and faucets are often handled by your draft-service company; we coordinate when the problem crosses over.
How a glycol system keeps beer cold
In a long-draw system, kegs sit in a walk-in held at 34 to 38°F. Beer then travels through lines bundled in an insulated trunk with glycol supply and return lines. The power pack chills a bath of food-grade propylene glycol and water and pumps it through the trunk, so the beer stays cold all the way to the tower. The manual's troubleshooting table targets 38°F at the faucet, with most baths designed to run between 28°F and 34°F.
When any part of that chain fails, the symptom is the same at the bar: warm, foamy pours. Diagnosing which link failed is our job.
Signs to call before the weekend
- Pours getting foamier over several days
- Bath temperature creeping up on the gauge
- Power pack louder than usual or running nonstop
- Ice forming in the bath
- Sweating or wet spots along the trunk line
- Keg room warmer after deliveries than it used to be
Bay Area breweries and taprooms
Taprooms often run many lines across long trunks to multiple bars or patios. Patio towers in sunny spots, and trunks through warm ceilings, need well-insulated lines and a pack sized for that heat gain. When taps are added, check that the pack still has capacity.
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
- Experience with walk-ins, keg rooms and power packs together, so the whole cooling chain is checked
When to call a technician
Call before the weekend if your keg cooler or glycol system cannot hold temperature.
Open 7 days, 8 AM to 5 PM, with emergency service until 9 PM. CA Lic. #776244.
Frequently asked questions
Do you clean beer lines?
Ask us whether line cleaning is included. We handle the refrigeration side in every case.
Do you work with breweries?
Yes, on taproom draft systems, keg coolers and walk-ins.
Which brands do you service?
Perlick, Micro Matic, Glastender, UBC, True, Beverage-Air and others.
Do you replace glycol?
Yes, as part of power pack service; mix and interval follow the manufacturer.
Do you work with breweries and taprooms?
Yes, on keg rooms, power packs and walk-ins.
Can you add capacity for new taps?
Yes; we size and install a larger pack or add circuits when the existing one is too small.
Can you diagnose over the phone?
We ask about temperatures, pump and pack sounds and which taps are affected, then bring likely parts.
Will a dirty condenser really stop a glycol pack?
Yes; it is one of the most common causes of a warm bath.
What if the problem is the gas or faucets?
We will tell you, and coordinate with your draft-service provider.
Can a power pack be repaired on site?
Most repairs, including pumps, fans, controls and refrigerant work, are done on site.
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