Book it, we show up, we fix it
Pick a time online, no phone calls.
A licensed tech shows up on time, ready to work.
You approve the price before any work.
We back the work with a 180-day warranty.
Common Commercial Refrigerator Problems
A failed commercial refrigerator puts food at risk fast. Inventory worth thousands sits warming, and a cooler that drifts above the 41°F cold-holding limit can fail a health inspection. FixitBay LLC repairs commercial refrigeration for restaurants, grocery stores, delis, hotels, and commercial kitchens across San Francisco, the Peninsula, and Marin County.
Our licensed technician diagnoses walk-in coolers, reach-in refrigerators, prep tables, display cases, and bar refrigeration on site. We charge a $100 diagnostic fee (credited toward your repair) and give you an upfront written estimate before any work begins.
From compressor replacements and refrigerant recharges to thermostat calibration and door gasket work, we cover commercial refrigeration repair end to end. Every job carries our 180-day warranty on parts and labor.
Walk-In Cooler Not Holding Temperature
Walk-in coolers running warm put food safety at risk and push past the 41°F cold-holding limit. Causes include compressor failure, low refrigerant, dirty coils, and faulty door closers letting warm air in.
Reach-In Refrigerator Freezing Up
Reach-in units building excessive frost or ice on evaporator coils. Often caused by defrost timer failures, heater element issues, or damaged door gaskets allowing moisture entry.
Display Case Compressor Running Constantly
Open display cases and glass-door merchandisers with compressors that never cycle off. Typically indicates low refrigerant charge, dirty condenser coils, or a failing compressor.
Prep Table Cooler Temperature Fluctuations
Sandwich prep tables and pizza prep coolers with inconsistent temperatures. Common causes include worn lid gaskets, overloaded pans, or thermostat calibration issues.
Refrigerant Leak in Commercial System
Commercial refrigeration systems losing refrigerant charge over time, leading to gradual cooling loss and increased energy consumption. Requires professional leak detection and repair.
Condenser Fan Motor Failure
Condenser fan motors burning out from grease and dust buildup in restaurant environments, causing the compressor to overheat and shut down on high-pressure safety.
Digital Controller Error Codes
Modern commercial refrigeration units displaying error codes on digital controllers. Codes vary by manufacturer and can indicate sensor failures, defrost issues, or compressor problems.
Temperatures Above the 41°F Limit
Walk-in coolers, prep tables, or display cases that can not hold below 41°F, the cold-holding limit San Francisco health code sets for food safety. We find the cause and bring the box back into range.
Fault Diagnosis: The Failures We See Most
Why Is a Walk-In Cooler Rising Above 41°F?
The most urgent commercial refrigeration issue. When a walk-in cooler can't hold below 41°F, food safety is at risk within hours. Common causes include compressor failure (motor windings burned out or valves leaking), low refrigerant from a system leak, severely dirty condenser coils reducing heat exchange, or a failed evaporator fan motor. In San Francisco's busy restaurant district, we see this most often during summer months when ambient temperatures stress aging compressor systems. We recommend temporary cooling steps to protect your inventory while we diagnose and repair the root cause.
Why Does a Reach-In Frost Up and Ice on the Coils?
Excessive frost on evaporator coils forces the compressor to work harder and reduces cooling capacity. In commercial reach-in units, this is typically caused by defrost timer failure (the heater never activates), a burned-out defrost heater element, a stuck defrost termination thermostat, or damaged door gaskets allowing humid kitchen air to enter the cabinet. We test each component systematically. True and Beverage-Air reach-ins commonly develop defrost timer issues after 5-7 years of heavy restaurant use.
Why Does a Display Case Compressor Short-Cycle?
Glass-door merchandisers and open display cases in delis and grocery stores sometimes develop a pattern where the compressor turns on and off rapidly (short-cycling). This dramatically shortens compressor life and increases energy costs. Causes include a failing start relay or capacitor, an overcharge or undercharge of refrigerant, a dirty condenser restricting airflow, or a faulty thermostat. Many San Francisco delis with older Turbo Air and True display cases experience this issue. Our repair restores proper cycling to extend equipment life.
Repair vs. Replacement - Commercial Refrigeration
Commercial units are expensive to replace. Most repairs extend life by years.
Commercial refrigeration is built to last 15–20 years. Single-component failures are almost always worth repairing.
Commercial compressor replacement (from $650) is significant but far less than a $5,000+ new unit.
When compressor, controls, and seals all need work, combined costs may approach replacement value.
Leak detection and repair (from $350) saves the entire system. Only replace if the leak is in an inaccessible location.
Our honest policy: If our diagnostic shows the repair isn't economically justified - we'll tell you before any work begins. No pressure, no hidden charges beyond the $100 diagnostic fee.
How We Diagnose and Fix Commercial Refrigerators
On-Site Diagnostic
We arrive with diagnostic equipment to test compressor operation, refrigerant pressures, electrical components, defrost systems, and temperature accuracy. Walk-in cooler failures get priority scheduling.
Parts & Written Quote
You approve a written flat-rate quote before we touch the unit. Common parts arrive in 2-4 business days; specialty compressors and controllers take longer, and we quote the lead time before you approve.
Repair & Verification
After repair, we monitor temperature recovery, verify compressor cycling, and confirm the unit reaches and holds the required temperature. All commercial repairs include our 180-day warranty.
How Much Does Commercial Refrigerator Repair Cost in the Bay Area?
$100 diagnostic - applied to your repair if you proceed. Written estimate before any work begins.
Payment due upon completion.
Quick Answers
What our customers actually sayWhat customers say
★★★★★ Rated 5.0 across 375 Google & Thumbtack reviews
“If you want a great communicator and handyman call FixitBay LLC and ask for Andrei. Our building was having issues with a clothes dryer. Andrei was great at providing me scheduling times to choose from and letting me know he was on his way to the building. He ordered parts and then let me know when he would be back to replace. Start to finish it was all done professionally. Thank you!”
“Andrei and his helper are punctual, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. We've used their services multiple times and always been satisfied. In fact, I'm about to schedule another service call.”
“Super responsive even checking in daily while our part was in transit. Andrei was quick to come to our house on a weekend for the diagnostic and then came right after the part came to install. He understood we needed our fridge working and was very helpful”
“Offered timeslots for them to come out within 1 hour of me posting job, came out right on time, Alexei fixed problem and was on his way within 20min! Will use again if ever needed.”
“If you want a great communicator and handyman call FixitBay LLC and ask for Andrei. Our building was having issues with a clothes dryer. Andrei was great at providing me …”
“Andrei and his helper are punctual, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. We've used their services multiple times and always been satisfied. In fact, I'm about to schedule ano…”
“Super responsive even checking in daily while our part was in transit. Andrei was quick to come to our house on a weekend for the diagnostic and then came right after the…”
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We service all major refrigerator brands
Also: TrueTurbo AirHoshizakiBeverage-AirTraulsenDelfieldVictoryContinentalAtosaMaster-Bilt
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