Commercial Appliance Repair
Light commercial appliance repair for offices, cafes, gyms and small kitchens: breakroom fridges, ovens, dishwashers and countertop equipment.
See the repairCommercial
Commercial refrigeration repair for Los Angeles kitchens and bars
When a reach-in or prep table drifts above 41°F, every item inside is on a clock. We repair restaurant, cafe and bar refrigeration across the Valley and help you protect product while we work.
- Phone answered 24/7
- Office in Sun Valley
- Price before the work
$245 to $485 typical for condenser clean and fan motor
Quick answer
Commercial refrigeration repair covers reach-in coolers and freezers, sandwich and pizza prep tables, bar back coolers, under-counter units, display cases and small walk-ins. Cold holding generally needs to stay at 41°F or below. If a unit is drifting, move product to a working cooler, keep the door shut and log the temperature. Call any hour and we schedule as fast as the calendar allows.
We repair Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, LG, KitchenAid, Bosch, Sub-Zero, Wolf, Thermador and the other names found in Valley kitchens and laundry rooms.
WhirlpoolGESamsungLGFrigidaireKitchenAidMaytagBoschSub-ZeroWolfThermadorVikingKenmoreMiele
Before you call
Steps your staff can take right away
Safe checks only. If anything smells hot, sparks or involves gas, stop and call.
- Move product from the warm unit to a working cooler and note the time and temperature.
- Check that nothing blocks the condenser grille or the fan inside the cabinet.
- Keep doors closed and avoid loading warm product into a struggling unit.
- Wipe gaskets and check for tears or gaps along the door edge.
- Write down the model and serial number from the data plate inside the door.
Symptoms
Signs a commercial cooler is losing the fight
- Thermometer above 41°FA reach-in or prep rail reading above cold holding temperature needs product moved and the unit checked.
- Ice on the evaporator coilA frosted coil blocks airflow and usually means a defrost heater, timer or fan problem.
- Compressor running nonstopA greasy condenser, a weak fan or low airflow keeps the system running without catching up.
- Water pooling insideA blocked drain line or a failed drain heater sends defrost water onto the floor of the cabinet.
- Torn or flattened door gasketsLeaking gaskets let warm kitchen air in, raising temperatures and frost buildup.
- Prep rail warm, cabinet coldOn sandwich and pizza tables, a warm rail often means blocked air passages or a failed rail fan.
The short version
Why commercial coolers fail under kitchen conditions
Commercial refrigeration works in the worst place for a refrigerator. It sits next to fryers and ovens, in a kitchen that may already be warm, with doors opened hundreds of times a shift. The condenser fights hot, greasy air, and the evaporator handles constant moisture from warm product and open doors.
That is why the failures look different from a home fridge. Condensers clog with grease and flour dust, door gaskets tear from constant use, evaporator coils ice over when defrost cycles cannot keep up, and condenser fan motors fail from heat. Each of those has a different fix, so we test before replacing anything.
Food safety makes timing matter. Cold holding generally needs to stay at 41°F or below, and inspectors check it. We focus first on getting the unit back under temperature, then on the root cause so it does not drift again next week.
Step by step
How we handle a warm cooler call
Every visit follows the same order, so you always know what comes next and what it costs.
Call and protect product
Call any hour. We ask the temperature reading and suggest moving product while we schedule the visit.
Temperature and airflow check
The technician measures cabinet, coil and discharge air temperatures and checks the condenser.
Find the failure
We test fans, defrost parts, controls and start components to locate the fault.
Price and repair
The manager gets the price before work starts, and we repair or order the part.
Test run
We watch the unit pull down and confirm it holds at or below 41°F before we leave.
Parts and repairs
Commercial refrigeration parts we repair
We work on the electrical, airflow and defrost side of commercial refrigeration. That runs from fans and thermostats to defrost controls. Sealed system work is quoted separately after diagnosis.
- Condenser cleaning and fan motorsWe degrease condensers and replace fan motors that fail from heat in kitchen lines.
- Evaporator fan motorsA failed evaporator fan stops cold air from reaching the cabinet even though the coil is cold.
- Defrost heaters, timers and terminatorsWe test the defrost system when coils ice over and replace the failed part.
- Thermostats and electronic controlsWe compare the control reading to a calibrated thermometer and replace drifting controls.
- Door gaskets and hingesGaskets are matched by model and installed so the door seals all the way around.
- Drain lines and drain heatersWe clear blocked drain lines and replace heaters that let the drain freeze.
- Start componentsStart relays, capacitors and overloads that stop the compressor from starting are tested and replaced.
- Prep table rail airflowWe clear air passages and replace rail fans on sandwich and pizza prep tables.
Los Angeles price ranges
Commercial refrigeration repair prices in Los Angeles
Commercial refrigeration parts cost more than residential parts, and access behind a line or under a bar adds time. Here are common figures for the repairs we see most. Units on a hot line usually need a condenser cleaning on top of the repair.
| Repair | Typical range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Condenser clean and fan motor | $245 to $485 | Grease level and fan type |
| Evaporator fan motor | $235 to $455 | Reach-in or walk-in and access |
| Defrost heater, timer or control | $265 to $545 | Which part and unit size |
| Door gasket replacement | $135 to $295 per door | Gasket size and model |
| Thermostat or electronic control | $215 to $465 | Mechanical or digital control |
Commercial parts vary widely by unit, so read these as typical ranges. The real price depends on the part and the diagnosis, and we price it for you before work starts.
Here in the Valley
Restaurant rows on Ventura Blvd and Lankershim Blvd
Restaurants, cafes and bars line Ventura Blvd from Studio City to Woodland Hills, and Lankershim Blvd through the NoHo Arts District. Many of these kitchens are small, with reach-ins and prep tables pressed against the cook line and little room behind them for airflow. Bar coolers under counters face the same problem with even less space.
In a Valley summer those kitchens get very hot. A condenser pulling in 100°F air full of grease will lose capacity fast. We clean condensers during every refrigeration call and point out units that sit too close to fryers or ovens.
Worth weighing
When a commercial cooler is not worth more repairs
Most commercial refrigeration repairs are worth it because new units are expensive and lead times can be long. Fans, gaskets, defrost parts and controls are standard repairs. They are also the fastest way back to safe holding temperatures.
If a unit has a failed compressor, a leaking sealed system, or a rusted cabinet that no longer holds temperature, replacement may be the smarter use of money. We give you the repair price and our honest view so you can decide quickly. If an inspection is coming up, tell us so we can plan around it.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Where we handle commercial refrigeration repair calls
Our Sun Valley office sends technicians across the Valley and the cities around it. These are the places we visit most for commercial refrigeration repair.
- Sun Valley 91352
- North Hollywood 91601
- Valley Village 91607
- Studio City 91604
- Sherman Oaks 91403
- Van Nuys 91405
- Lake Balboa 91406
- Encino 91436
- Tarzana 91356
- Woodland Hills 91364
- West Hills 91307
- Northridge 91324
- Granada Hills 91344
- Porter Ranch 91326
- Chatsworth 91311
- Mission Hills 91345
- Sylmar 91342
- Sunland-Tujunga 91040
- Burbank 91505
- Glendale 91205
- Pasadena 91101
- La Cañada Flintridge 91011
- San Fernando 91340
- Santa Clarita 91355
- Calabasas 91302
- Simi Valley 93065
- Thousand Oaks 91360
Questions
Commercial Refrigeration Repair questions we hear in Los Angeles
What temperature should commercial refrigeration hold for food safety?
Cold holding generally needs to be at 41°F or below. If your commercial refrigeration is reading higher, move product to a working cooler, record the time and temperature, and call us. Check with the county health department for the rules that apply to your operation.
Why is my commercial refrigeration reach-in freezing up inside?
Ice on the evaporator coil in commercial refrigeration usually means the defrost system has failed: a heater, timer, terminator or control. It can also mean a failed evaporator fan. We test each part and clear the ice so the unit can cool normally again.
Do you repair commercial refrigeration walk-in coolers?
We repair the electrical, airflow and defrost parts on small commercial refrigeration walk-ins, such as evaporator fans, defrost heaters, controls, door gaskets and closers. Large systems with remote condensing units or refrigerant work are quoted after diagnosis.
Can commercial refrigeration repair happen before the restaurant opens?
Our phone is answered around the clock, and we schedule commercial refrigeration repair early in the day or between services when the calendar allows. Tell us your service times and we will offer the least disruptive window.
Why does my commercial refrigeration prep table rail run warm?
A warm rail on a commercial refrigeration prep table usually comes from blocked air passages, a failed rail fan or a lid left open during prep. We clear the passages, test the fan, and check the cabinet temperature to make sure the whole unit is holding.
How often should commercial refrigeration condensers be cleaned?
In busy kitchens, commercial refrigeration condensers often need cleaning every few months, especially near fryers or flour. A greasy condenser makes the compressor run longer and can push the unit above safe holding temperatures on hot days.
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See the repairNeed commercial refrigeration repair today?
Call now. We answer every hour of every day and will tell you what we will check first.