The Complete Commercial Refrigeration Guide
Commercial refrigeration guides for Bay Area businesses
Home › Commercial Refrigeration Guide
Updated October 14, 2026
Quick answer
Commercial refrigeration splits into five equipment families: walk-in coolers and freezers, reach-ins and prep tables, beer and draft equipment, and ice machines, plus the controllers that run them. This guide links every troubleshooting page, cost guide, brand page and tool we publish for each, written by a C-38 refrigeration contractor serving the Bay Area since 1966.
Pick your equipment below. Each family guide is organized from understanding a problem, to comparing costs and options, to getting it fixed. If a display is showing a code, go straight to error codes; if you are not sure what is wrong, use the troubleshooter.
Guides by equipment
- Walk-In Cooler & Freezer Guide67 guides. Everything about walk-in coolers and freezers: troubleshooting by symptom, parts,…
- Reach-In & Prep Refrigeration Guide27 guides. Commercial reach-in refrigerators and freezers, prep tables, undercounter units and…
- Beer & Draft Refrigeration Guide16 guides. Beer caves, back-bar coolers, keg coolers and long-draw glycol draft systems: problems,…
- Ice Machine Guide32 guides. Commercial ice machines from Manitowoc, Hoshizaki, Scotsman, Ice-O-Matic, Follett and…
- Refrigeration Error Codes8 guides. Error, alarm, beep and light codes for commercial ice machines, walk-ins and bar coolers,…
Tools, rules and references
- Refrigeration Calculators
- Refrigeration Glossary
- Refrigeration Rules 2026
- Refrigeration Troubleshooter
- Ice Machine Sizing Calculator
- Printable Logs & Checklists
- Refrigeration Energy Cost Calculator
- Repair vs Replace Calculator
- Walk-In Cooler Size Calculator
Self-contained or remote: the one distinction that matters
A self-contained unit carries its whole refrigeration system in the cabinet: reach-ins, prep tables, most merchandisers, many ice machines and top-mount walk-ins. A remote system puts the condensing unit outside or on the roof, connected by refrigerant lines: most walk-ins, beer caves and larger ice machines. Remote systems move heat out of the kitchen but need field-installed piping, which is why their repairs and refrigerant rules differ.
What staff can check, and where to stop
Safe for staff: power and breakers, the thermostat or controller setting, door gaskets and closers, a clear condenser and clear airflow, drain lines, filters and loading. Stop and call a technician for anything involving refrigerant, electrical panels or wiring, a compressor that hums but will not start, or a sealed R-290 system. Refrigerant work legally requires EPA certification.
When to call a technician
If food is above 41°F, the box keeps drifting warm, or the same fault returns after a reset, call a C-38 refrigeration technician.
Open 7 days, 8 AM to 5 PM, with emergency service until 9 PM. CA Lic. #776244.
Frequently asked questions
Who can repair commercial refrigeration in California?
Refrigeration contracting in California falls under the C-38 license, and anyone handling refrigerant needs EPA Section 608 certification.
How often should commercial refrigeration be serviced?
Most operators schedule preventive maintenance quarterly for busy kitchens and at least twice a year elsewhere, with condenser cleaning more often in greasy kitchens.
Related guides
Sources
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