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: 19 W-2 technicians, 31,417+ services since 2015, 4.79★ from 1,217 reviews.
How True cabinets fail: the field signature
Most True boxes use electromechanical or simple electronic controls instead of 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.
Recent work from our technicians
Photos and notes from recent service calls by our technicians.
Commercial sandwich prep cooler not cooling in Palmetto Bay
Palmetto Bay · May 2026 · Refat B.A sandwich prep cooler in a Palmetto Bay kitchen stopped cooling. New condenser fan motor, start and overload relays and an R290 recharge.
- Replaced condenser fan motor
- Replaced start relay
Ice machine contactor, relay and descaling in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale · August 2026 · Cristian G.An ice machine in Fort Lauderdale would not start, and its float switch overfilled the bin. New contactor, relay and fuse, plus descaling and a coil clean.
- Replaced compressor contactor
- Replaced compressor relay
Stackable dryer door switch and blower in Jupiter
Jupiter · May 2026 · Oleksandr S.A stackable dryer in Jupiter showed an error because it could not tell the door was closed. New door switch, plus blower motor work and an airflow test.
- Replaced door switch
- Blower motor repair or replacement
Request True service
A dispatcher will confirm the service window shortly. Refrigeration and no-ice emergencies come first.
- Commercial service call: $89, free with approved repair
- Same-day emergency dispatch
- Licensed and insured technicians
- Warranty: parts up to 10 years on welds, 2 years mechanical
- Vendor-ready: COI, W-9, NDA on request: see full credentials
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.