Commercial Refrigerator Repair in the Bay Area
Reach-ins, prep tables and merchandisers
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Updated October 14, 2026
Quick answer
Cool Aid repairs commercial reach-in refrigerators and freezers, prep tables, undercounter and worktop units, and glass-door merchandisers for restaurants, stores, hotels and schools across the Bay Area. Our technicians are EPA 608 certified, we are a licensed C-38 refrigeration contractor, and repairs carry a one-year parts and labor warranty.
What we repair
- Reach-in refrigerators and freezers, solid and glass door
- Sandwich, salad and pizza prep tables
- Undercounter, worktop and chef base units
- Glass-door merchandisers and bottle coolers
- R-290 and older R-404A and R-134a units
Problems we fix most
| Problem | Guide |
|---|---|
| Not cooling | Causes and checks |
| Freezing food | Why it happens |
| Uneven temperatures | Warm top, cold bottom |
| Water on the floor | Leaks and drains |
| Frost in freezers | Frost and ice |
| Clicking or noisy | Noises explained |
| Warm prep rail | Rail not cold |
Brands we service
We work on all major commercial brands, including True, Traulsen, Atosa, Turbo Air, Beverage-Air, Continental, Delfield, Avantco, Migali and Victory.
How a repair visit works
- Tell us the brand, model if you have it, the symptom and any display code.
- The technician checks temperatures, the condenser, fans, defrost and electrical, then confirms the fault before quoting.
- You get the diagnosis and price before work starts, and an honest view on replacement if the unit is old.
- Repairs carry a one-year parts and labor warranty.
Cost and repair vs replace
See what drives repair cost and repair or replace.
Before you call: owner checks, in order
| Step | Check | What the finding means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Probe product in the middle of the cabinet | Above 41°F: move TCS food now |
| 2 | Power, breaker and set point | A changed set point or tripped breaker is an easy fix |
| 3 | Condenser coil and grille | Dust or grease: clean it and give it 2 to 3 hours |
| 4 | Evaporator fan | Silent while the compressor runs: fan or door switch |
| 5 | Ice on the coil | Defrost or airflow fault |
| 6 | Display code | Write it down before resetting |
What a repair costs
Cost depends on whether the sealed refrigerant system is opened. Fans, gaskets, thermostats, controls and start components are the lower end; compressors, leaks and coils the higher end. Check the manufacturer's warranty first: published compressor terms range from 5 to 7 years for common brands. See what drives repair cost.
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
- Honest repair-or-replace advice on older units
Service area
We serve restaurants, stores, hotels, schools and healthcare kitchens in Santa Clara, San Mateo and Alameda counties and San Francisco. County environmental health inspectors in each probe food in reach-ins and prep rails, so a unit that drifts warm is both a food-cost and an inspection problem.
Repair or replace?
On units under about ten years old, or failures outside the sealed system, repair is usually right. On older units with compressor or coil failures, we give you both numbers. See repair vs replace.
Preventive maintenance
Most emergency calls start with a dirty condenser or a torn gasket. Clean coils every one to three months (monthly near fryers or flour), check gaskets weekly, and book a yearly inspection. Our maintenance schedule covers every unit type.
Common repairs and what they involve
| Repair | What it involves | Sealed system? |
|---|---|---|
| Condenser cleaning | Brushing and vacuuming the coil, checking the condenser fan | No |
| Evaporator fan motor | Replacing the motor and blade, checking the door switch | No |
| Door gasket | Replacing the gasket, adjusting hinges | No |
| Thermostat or controller | Replacing and calibrating the control or probe | No |
| Defrost heater, timer or termination | Testing and replacing the failed part | No |
| Start relay, overload, capacitor | Replacing start components | No |
| Refrigerant leak | Finding the leak, repairing, evacuating and recharging | Yes |
| Compressor | Recovery, replacement, brazing, evacuation, recharge | Yes |
Prep tables and merchandisers
Prep tables add a rail, with its own fan or cold wall, lid and drain. Merchandisers add door heaters, closers and lighting. We repair all of it; see prep rail not cold and merchandiser problems. Our existing prep table repair and reach-in repair service pages cover those units too.
Older refrigerants
Units running R-404A or R-134a can still be repaired; EPA's 150 GWP limit applies to new stand-alone units made since 2025. See R-290 refrigerators and the rules tracker.
Industries we serve
Restaurants and cafés, bars, convenience and liquor stores, grocery and specialty food shops, hotels and banquet kitchens, schools and universities, and healthcare kitchens. Each runs reach-ins differently: restaurants open doors constantly, stores rely on glass merchandisers, healthcare kitchens log temperatures twice a day. We adjust the inspection to how you use the equipment.
When to call a technician
If your unit is above 41°F with food inside, call now and move product that must stay cold.
Open 7 days, 8 AM to 5 PM, with emergency service until 9 PM. CA Lic. #776244.
Frequently asked questions
Do you repair commercial refrigerators in San Jose and the Peninsula?
Yes. We serve Santa Clara, San Mateo and Alameda counties and San Francisco.
Do you repair R-290 units?
Yes. Sealed-system work on R-290 follows the manufacturer's procedures for flammable refrigerants.
Is your work guaranteed?
Repairs carry a one-year parts and labor warranty.
How quickly can you come out?
Call as early in the day as you can. Regular hours are 8 AM to 5 PM, with emergency service until 9 PM.
Do you repair glass-door merchandisers?
Yes, including door heaters, closers and lighting.
Do you work on freezers too?
Yes, reach-in freezers, prep table freezers and undercounter freezers.
Do you charge for diagnosis?
Ask when you book; we confirm the fault and price before any repair.
Is your work warrantied?
Repairs carry a one-year parts and labor warranty.
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