When a cooler goes down, the clock starts on your inventory. We repair and maintain refrigeration equipment for restaurants, bars, delis, pizza shops, convenience stores, offices, churches, and event halls across Lackawanna, Wayne, and Luzerne Counties — and we answer emergency calls 24/7.
Refrigeration isn't a side line for us. Our owner came up through commercial refrigeration service before starting Affordable AC, and it's still a core part of what we do.
Equipment we service
- Ice machines and ice makers — low production, no ice, thin or cloudy ice, leaks, freeze-ups, and cleaning and sanitizing.
- Walk-in coolers and freezers — not holding temperature, iced-up evaporators, door and gasket problems, and defrost issues.
- Reach-in coolers, freezers, and prep units.
- Commercial and residential refrigerators.
- Water dispensers and water coolers.
- Soft-serve and ice cream machines — see soft-serve & ice cream machine repair.
- Reefer units on refrigerated trucks and trailers — see mobile reefer repair.
Signs your equipment needs service
- Cooler temperatures creeping above 41°F — the FDA Food Code cold-holding limit for most perishable food.
- Frost or ice building up on the evaporator coil or around doors.
- A compressor that runs constantly, or cycles on and off rapidly.
- Water pooling under or around the unit.
- Ice that's soft, cloudy, or off-tasting, or production that's dropped off.
- New noises, or a condenser area that's hot and caked with dust or grease.
While you wait for service: keep cooler and freezer doors closed as much as possible, move critical product to working units if you have them, and log temperatures with times. It helps with food-safety decisions and with diagnosis.
Safety note: This is general information only, not professional advice. Only do what you can do safely: turn off power before touching equipment, follow the manufacturer's instructions, and leave anything involving gas, electrical wiring, or refrigerant to a licensed professional. Any action you take is at your own risk — see the disclaimer.
Preventive maintenance
Most refrigeration breakdowns start with something simple: a condenser coil clogged with grease and dust, a torn door gasket, or scale building up inside an ice machine. Regular cleaning and inspection keeps equipment running efficiently and helps you avoid an emergency call on your busiest night. Most ice machine manufacturers call for cleaning and sanitizing at least every six months — more often in kitchens with heavy grease, hard water, or yeast in the air (bakeries, pizza shops, and breweries). Our ice machine troubleshooting guide covers what your staff can check first.
Why Northeast PA calls Affordable AC
- Certified: EPA Section 608 Universal (the federal certification required to work on refrigerant systems), ICC G-29 Master Mechanical, and Gastite CSST gas piping.
- Licensed & insured: Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor # PA173955.
- Free phone/text consultation: describe the problem and we'll help you figure out next steps before anyone rolls a truck.
- Price-beat quotes: got an estimate you're not happy with? Send it over and we'll work with you.
- 24/7 emergency service for no-heat, no-cooling, and refrigeration failures.
- 5.0-star Google rating — read our reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer emergency commercial refrigeration repair?
Yes. We offer 24/7 emergency service for coolers, freezers, and ice machines across Lackawanna, Wayne, and Luzerne Counties. Call or text 570-983-9747.
How often should a commercial ice machine be cleaned?
Most manufacturers call for cleaning and sanitizing at least every six months, and more often with hard water, heavy use, or yeast in the air. See our ice machine guide.
What temperature should a walk-in cooler be?
The FDA Food Code requires cold-held perishable food to stay at 41°F or below, and many operators set walk-in coolers around 35–38°F for a safety margin. Freezers should hold at 0°F or below.
Why is my walk-in cooler not holding temperature?
Common causes include a dirty condenser coil, worn door gaskets or doors left open, an iced-up evaporator from a defrost problem, failing fan motors, or low refrigerant from a leak.
Do you repair residential refrigerators too?
Yes. Along with commercial equipment, we service refrigerators, ice makers, freezers, and water dispensers for homeowners.
Disclaimer
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not professional advice for your specific equipment, building, or situation, and reading it does not create a customer or contractor relationship with Affordable AC & Refrigeration Services LLC.
Heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, gas, and electrical equipment can cause serious injury, death, fire, or property damage if handled improperly. Always follow your equipment manufacturer’s instructions and safety warnings, turn off power before touching any equipment, and do not attempt any work involving gas lines, electrical wiring, refrigerant, sealed components, or combustion and venting — that work should be performed only by a qualified, licensed professional. If you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the building immediately and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
Any action you take based on this information is strictly at your own risk. Information may be incomplete or change over time and is provided “as is,” without warranties of any kind. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Affordable AC & Refrigeration Services LLC and its owners, employees, and contractors are not liable for any injury, loss, or damage to persons or property arising from the use of, or reliance on, this information. Read our full website disclaimer.