Jacksonville, FL
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904-467-1100

Monday-Saturday
8:00 am - 8:00 pm

Commercial Refrigeration

Walk-in cooler running warm?
Every hour above 41°F puts your product at risk

A walk-in that drifts warm can cost you a full delivery of product and a mark on your next inspection. Gary Sharpe, the licensed contractor who owns Langston’s, finds the cause with gauges and a meter, then quotes the fix in writing.

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CMC1251311State-licensed mechanical contractor
EPA 608Universal certified
Written quotesBefore any work starts

At a glance

Walk-in cooler problems, in short

SignsBox reads above 41°F, the unit runs nonstop, walls or product sweat, or water pools on the floor.
Usual causeA dirty condenser coil, a failed evaporator fan motor, a worn door gasket or a clogged drain line.
Typical visitReadings taken at the box and the condensing unit, the cause shown to you, and a written quote.
When to callAs soon as the box holds above 41°F or will not pull back down after a delivery.

Why this happens in Florida

Heat and humidity work against every walk-in

A walk-in condensing unit has to reject the heat it pulls out of the box. In a Florida summer it does that into hot outdoor air, or into a hot kitchen or mechanical room, so head pressure climbs and cooling capacity drops when you need it most.

Humidity adds load too. Each time the door opens, warm, wet air rolls in, and that moisture lands on the evaporator coil as frost or as water that has to drain away. A torn gasket, a missing strip curtain or a door that will not close on its own lets that air in all day.

Kitchen grease and dust coat condenser coils quickly, and units near the coast also deal with salt air on the fins. None of it shows up until the box starts losing temperature.

What we check

The readings we show you

The FDA Food Code sets cold holding for time/temperature control for safety food at 41°F or below, and Florida adopts the Food Code by rule. Every walk-in call starts by checking your box against that number, then working back to the cause.

  • Box air temperature, compared against your thermometer and the 41°F limit.
  • Suction and head pressures, superheat and subcooling, to judge the refrigerant charge and the expansion valve.
  • Compressor and fan motor amp draw against the nameplate ratings.
  • Evaporator fans: motor operation, blade condition and airflow across the coil.
  • Condenser coil condition and condenser fan operation at the condensing unit.
  • Door gaskets, hinges, closers and strip curtains.
  • Drain pan and drain line: slope, clogs and slime buildup.
  • Controls: thermostat or electronic controller, sensor accuracy, the liquid line solenoid and pressure controls.

If the readings point to a refrigerant leak, we find it before adding refrigerant. Gary is EPA Section 608 Universal certified for refrigerant handling.

Freezer side acting up too? See walk-in freezer repair.

How the job runs

Three steps, no surprises

1

Call or book

Call (904) 467-1100 or book online, Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM. Tell us the temperature you are reading and what changed.

2

Measured diagnosis

The commercial diagnostic is $149. Gary takes the readings, shows you what they mean and points to the part that failed.

3

Written quote, then the repair

You get a written quote before any work starts. Approve a repair over $300 and the $149 diagnostic is waived.

Related work

Work that often comes up in the same visit

Walk-in freezer repairDefrost, ice buildup, door and drain heaters.Reach-in cooler repairReach-ins and prep tables on the line.Quarterly maintenanceCoil cleaning and written service logs.All commercial refrigerationEvery piece of cold equipment we service.
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Straight answers

Common questions

What temperature should my walk-in cooler hold?

The FDA Food Code calls for cold-held time/temperature control for safety food to stay at 41°F or below. Many operators set the box a few degrees colder so it stays under 41°F through door openings and deliveries.

How much does a walk-in cooler diagnostic cost?

The commercial diagnostic is $149. It is waived if you approve a repair over $300, and you get a written quote before any work starts.

Why is there water on the floor of my walk-in cooler?

The most common cause is a clogged or poorly sloped drain line from the evaporator pan. A pan that overflows from a frozen or iced-up coil can do the same thing, so we check both.

What are your hours for commercial refrigeration calls?

Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM. Call (904) 467-1100 or book online.

Get it measured, get it fixed, get a written price first.

Langston’s Heating & Air Conditioning · Licensed CMC1251311 · Mon–Sat 8 AM–8 PM

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