Commercial & Refrigeration
Commercial refrigeration repair for Miami kitchens and markets
Reach-ins, display cases and prep tables work hard in hot, busy kitchens and stores. When one starts running warm, we find out whether it's the coil, the fan, the controls or the refrigerant, and fix it on the spot where we can.
Miami service office on SW 117th Ave · We answer 24/7
- Answered 24/7
- Two Miami-Dade offices
- Reach-ins, cases and prep tables
Updated October 2026
Commercial refrigeration repair in Miami covers reach-in coolers and freezers, display cases and prep tables in restaurants, markets and cafes. A technician from our Medley head office or SW 117th Ave service office checks the condenser coil, fans, door gaskets, controls and refrigerant charge, and repairs self-contained units on site whenever the part is on the van.
Warning signs
Signs a commercial unit needs service
Product warmer than the display reads
Controller or sensor out of calibration.
Compressor running without stopping
Dirty coil, low charge or a leak.
Ice building on the evaporator
Defrost or airflow problem.
Water pooling under the unit
Drain pan or drain line problem.
Fogged glass doors
Anti-sweat heater or gasket failure.
Loud fan or rattling
Failing fan motor or loose blade.
Unit hot to the touch on the sides
Condenser airflow blocked.
The job
Why commercial units struggle in Miami kitchens
Most reach-ins and prep tables are self-contained: the compressor and condenser sit in the base or on top of the unit, pulling air from the kitchen. In a hot kitchen that air is already warm, and it carries grease and flour that pack the condenser coil. A dirty coil is the single most common reason these units run warm.
Constant door openings during service add load, and worn gaskets let cold air spill out. Most of these problems are quick to fix once they're found.
Step by step
How a refrigeration repair visit runs
- 1
Dispatch takes the call
Unit type, temperature and symptoms.
- 2
Check the basics
Gaskets, doors and loading.
- 3
Clean and inspect the condenser
The most common cause.
- 4
Check fans and controls
Evaporator and condenser fans, thermostat.
- 5
Check the refrigeration
Pressures and charge.
- 6
Repair
Priced to the manager before work.
- 7
Confirm temperature
Unit pulls down and holds.
What we see on this job
Reach-in coolers and freezers
Reach-ins fail in a handful of predictable ways: a condenser coil packed with grease and dust, an evaporator fan motor that stopped, a door gasket that no longer seals, a thermostat or controller out of calibration, or a slow refrigerant leak. We check them in that order, because the cheap causes are the common ones. Freezers also get their defrost system checked. We clean the condenser as part of the repair and show staff where it is so it stays clean between visits.
Display cases
Open and glass-door display cases fight the store's air all day. Open cases depend on a curtain of cold air, which is disrupted by fans, doors and overstocking past the load line. We check airflow, the evaporator and its fans, the defrost cycle and the case's controls, and on remote cases the refrigeration lines back to the condensing unit. Lighting ballasts and anti-sweat heaters on glass doors are checked too, because fogged glass hides the product and sells less of it, and a failed heater can let the door frame ice up.
Prep tables and undercounter units
Sandwich and pizza prep tables sit right next to the line, often beside a fryer or oven, and their small condensers pack with grease fast. The rail pans on top need the lid closed when not in use or the unit can't keep them cold. We clean the condenser, check the fans, the gaskets and the controls, and confirm the rail and the cabinet both hold safe temperatures. Undercounter units get the same checks, with extra attention to airflow in tight spaces.
Timing
How long a refrigeration repair takes
Condenser cleaning, fan motors, gaskets and controls are usually fixed in one to two hours on the first visit. Leak repairs and compressor replacements take longer and may need a part ordered, and on those we advise on keeping product safe until the unit is back in service.
Local conditions
Refrigeration calls across Miami-Dade
Our head office on NW 72nd Ave sits in Medley's warehouse and distribution corridor northwest of Miami International Airport, and our service office is on SW 117th Ave in south Miami-Dade, so refrigeration calls from restaurants, markets and cafes are covered from both sides of the county rather than from one depot across town. On a busy summer night, that shorter drive is often the difference between saving a reach-in's contents and losing them.
Brands we service and install
What moves the price
What decides the price of a refrigeration repair
The failed part
Fans and gaskets are small; compressors are not.
Self-contained or remote
Remote systems add line and condensing unit work.
Coil cleaning
Heavily greased coils take longer.
Refrigerant
Leak search and recharge by weight.
Controls
Thermostats and electronic controllers.
Time of the call
After-hours calls carry a premium.
Parts availability
Some models need ordered parts.
FAQ
Questions Miami customers ask about commercial refrigeration repair
Most often a dirty condenser coil, then fans, gaskets or controls. A leak is less common.
In a busy kitchen, every few months; greasy locations more often.
Yes, including open cases, glass-door cases and remote systems.
Often yes. We try to work around the line and advise on moving product.
Yes; see our ice machine repair page.
Yes, with scheduled coil cleaning and checks.
Same category
Related commercial work we handle in Miami
Reach-In and Display Case Installation
Self-contained reach-ins and cases, opening-day pull-down.
Commercial HVAC Repair
Rooftop unit repair, economizer and control faults.
Commercial AC Installation
Rooftop unit replacement, tenant build-outs.
Reach-in or case running warm? Call the dispatch line
A technician is dispatched to restaurants, markets and cafes across Miami-Dade any hour.
