True Refrigeration Repair in South Florida
Same-day True commercial refrigeration repair across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach — T-series reach-ins, GDM glass-door merchandisers, TUC undercounters and prep tables. 24/7 emergency dispatch, $89 service call — free with approved repair.
True service, the way we actually run it
True is the most common reach-in nameplate in South Florida kitchens, which makes it the most common refrigeration ticket we run. The good news: True boxes are mechanically simple and almost always worth fixing. The patterns are stable across thousands of our tickets — condenser coils choked with kitchen grease and dust, evaporator fan motors dying of salt air and age, door gaskets that lost compression years ago, and start components (relay/capacitor) that fail long before the compressor itself does.
The single most valuable thing a True owner can hear: when a T-49 stops holding temperature, it is usually a $120-$400 repair, not a dead compressor. A fouled condenser makes the system run hot and long until it trips or quits; a $30 start relay mimics total compressor failure; a torn gasket makes a healthy box sweat and struggle. We diagnose with gauges and meters before anyone says the word 'replacement.'
Newer True cabinets run R290 (propane) sealed systems — efficient, environmentally sound, and a different service discipline: small charges, hydrocarbon-rated components and leak protocols. Our EPA 608-certified techs service both the legacy R-134a/R-404A fleet and the R290 generation. Berne is an independent service company with no True affiliation — we work for the operator, on whatever vintage is in your kitchen.
- Down equipment: same-day across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach — seven days a week.
- First-visit closure: common True parts ride on the truck.
- Track record: 18 W-2 technicians, 29,300+ services since 2015, 4.79★ from 871 reviews.
How True cabinets fail — the field signature
Most True boxes use electromechanical or simple electronic controls rather than fault-code displays, so the machine 'reports' problems physically. These are the signatures our techs read on arrival:
The system can't reject heat or has lost capacity — not necessarily a failing compressor.
Condenser cleaning first (the #1 True fix), then charge and leak check. Most 'dying compressor' calls end as a $120-$250 coil service.
Start relay/capacitor failure — the classic False Compressor Death.
We test and replace the start components and verify run amperage. A $30 part saves a $1,200 condemnation, regularly.
Defrost failure or airflow loss — the box warms while the coil wears an iceberg.
Defrost timer/heater/thermostat diagnosis, evaporator fan check, and a controlled thaw. We find why it iced, not just melt it.
Evaporator fan motor failure — coastal salt air shortens their lives badly.
Motor and blade replacement from truck stock; we check amp draw on the survivors while we're in the box.
Gasket compression loss or failed perimeter/frame heaters.
Gasket replacement restores seal and run-time economics; heater diagnosis on glass-door merchandisers.
Condensate drain clogged or evaporation pan/heater failure.
Drain clearing, pan and heater service — before the slip-and-fall and the floor damage.
LAE/Danfoss-style electronic controllers on newer True models add probe-failure and high-temp alarms — we carry compatible probes and controllers.
True symptoms, likely causes & typical repair costs
Real numbers from our South Florida service tickets — parts plus labor, before any contract pricing. The $89 commercial service call covers the diagnosis and is free when you approve the repair — the fee applies only if you decline.
| What you're seeing | Most likely cause | Typical cost | Dispatch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reach-in not holding 38°F / product warm | Fouled condenser, gasket loss, or low charge | $120–$400 | Same-day |
| Compressor hums/clicks, won't start | Start relay or capacitor — not the compressor itself | $120–$260 | Same-day |
| Evaporator frozen solid | Defrost component failure or dead evaporator fan | $150–$420 | Same-day |
| GDM merchandiser doors sweating | Worn gaskets or failed frame heaters | $100–$380 | Same-day |
| Prep table top section warm, base cold | Airflow limits plus fan or controller issues — pan-rail service | $130–$350 | Same-day |
| Unit short-cycling day and night | Controller/thermostat drift or probe failure | $130–$320 | Same-day |
| Sealed-system failure on a 10+ year box | Compressor or evaporator leak — repair-vs-replace math | $600–$1,300 | 24–48h |
True equipment we service
The back-of-house standard, one to three doors, coolers and freezers — gaskets, fans, start components, sealed systems (EPA 608).
Front-of-house display coolers — frame heaters, gaskets, lighting, condensation control in South Florida humidity.
Line refrigeration that lives next to fryers — grease-loaded condensers are the dominant failure we service.
Sandwich, salad and pizza prep — pan-rail temps, hood gaskets, airflow and controller service to keep the top section legal.
Hydrocarbon-qualified sealed-system service for the current True line — correct components, correct protocols.
Chef bases, milk coolers, back bar units — the whole True catalog shares the same service fundamentals.
Request True service
A dispatcher will confirm the service window shortly. Refrigeration and no-ice emergencies are prioritized.
True repair FAQ
From dispatch and the field team.
Related guides & services
True and related model names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used here for identification only. Berne Commercial Repair is an independent service company — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized service agent of True. Factory-warranty repairs should be directed to the manufacturer's own network.