When Your Cooler Goes Down, Every Hour Counts
A failed walk-in cooler doesn't just mean discomfort - it means spoiled inventory, health code violations, and lost revenue. Restaurant chains, grocery stores, and food processing facilities can't afford to wait 48 hours for a repair.
Samco provides same-day emergency refrigeration service for PM contract holders. Our technicians carry common replacement parts on their trucks and understand the urgency of food safety. We service walk-in coolers, walk-in freezers, reach-in units, display cases, ice machines, and prep tables.
Our restaurant clients - including KFC, Taco Bell, and Michigan Bread Company - trust us because we understand that refrigeration downtime directly impacts their bottom line. We respond fast, fix it right the first time, and document everything for health department records.
Why Restaurants Trust Samco for Refrigeration
Same-Day Emergency Service
PM contract holders get priority scheduling for refrigeration emergencies. When your walk-in goes down, you jump to the front of the line - not the back.
Health Code Documentation
Detailed service reports with temperature logs and equipment conditions. Ready for health department inspections and insurance documentation.
All Equipment, One Vendor
Walk-ins, reach-ins, ice machines, prep tables, and display cases. Bundle refrigeration service with your HVAC PM contract for simplified vendor management.
Protect Your Inventory with Preventative Maintenance
A scheduled PM visit costs a fraction of an emergency repair - and prevents the spoiled inventory that comes with it.
Commercial refrigeration equipment is not just a convenience, it is the backbone of your operation. A walk-in cooler that goes down at 2 a.m. on a Friday means spoiled product, unhappy customers, and a phone call you do not want to make. Samco FM has been keeping commercial refrigeration systems running across Metro Detroit since 1997. We handle everything from the initial diagnosis to the completed repair, no subcontractors, no runaround.
Call us any time at (734) 838-6300. Our dispatch is live 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and our average response time is under 90 minutes.
Equipment We Service
Our technicians work on the full range of commercial refrigeration equipment found in restaurants, grocery stores, food manufacturing plants, healthcare facilities, and industrial operations across Southeast Michigan.
Walk-In Coolers and Freezers
Walk-in units take the most abuse and carry the most risk when they fail. We service condensing units, evaporator coils, door gaskets, defrost systems, and refrigerant circuits. We work on all major brands including Heatcraft, Larkin, Bohn, and Hussmann.
Reach-In Refrigeration
Reach-in coolers and freezers in commercial kitchens run hard and get opened hundreds of times a day. We diagnose compressor failures, thermostat issues, door seal problems, and refrigerant leaks on units from True, Turbo Air, Beverage-Air, and others.
Display Cases
Grocery and convenience store display cases require tight temperature control and consistent performance. A warm display case leads to food safety violations and lost product. We service both open and closed display cases, multi-deck units, and island freezers.
Ice Machines
Ice machines fail in two ways: they stop making ice, or they make ice that nobody should eat. We clean, sanitize, and repair Manitowoc, Hoshizaki, Scotsman, and Ice-O-Matic units. We also handle preventive cleaning schedules so scale and slime buildup never become a problem.
Refrigerated Prep Tables and Undercounter Units
Kitchen prep refrigeration takes constant heat exposure from the surrounding cooking environment. We repair and replace compressors, fans, and temperature controls on prep tables, sandwich units, and undercounter refrigerators.
Remote Condensing Systems
Larger facilities often run remote condensing units on the roof or exterior of the building. These systems require proper refrigerant charge, clean coils, and functioning head pressure controls. We service single and parallel rack systems for supermarkets and food distribution operations.
Common Refrigeration Problems We Fix
Most refrigeration failures come down to a short list of culprits. Knowing what to look for saves time and gets your equipment back online faster.
Compressor Failures
The compressor is the heart of any refrigeration system. When it fails, the unit stops cooling entirely. We diagnose electrical faults, mechanical wear, and oil contamination issues. We carry common replacement compressors on our service vehicles to cut down on downtime.
Refrigerant Leaks
A slow refrigerant leak will cause a unit to run warmer over time, increasing energy use and eventually causing compressor damage. Our EPA 608 certified technicians locate leaks with electronic detection equipment, make the repair, and recharge the system to factory specifications.
Condenser and Evaporator Coil Problems
Dirty condenser coils make the system work harder and run hotter. Frozen evaporator coils block airflow and drop cooling capacity. We clean both and repair any underlying defrost system faults causing the freeze-up.
Defrost System Failures
Walk-in freezers depend on properly timed defrost cycles. A failed defrost heater, timer, or thermostat causes ice to build up on the evaporator until the unit loses cooling entirely. This is one of the more common service calls we handle.
Door Gaskets and Hardware
A worn door gasket on a walk-in cooler leaks cold air constantly, raising energy costs and making the compressor run overtime. We stock gaskets for most common walk-in manufacturers and can replace them during the same service visit.
Electrical and Controls
Temperature controllers, pressure switches, and fan motors all wear out. We carry a stocked service van with common electrical components so most repairs happen on the first visit.
Why Michigan Facilities Need Local Refrigeration Service
Michigan’s climate creates specific problems for commercial refrigeration that a national service provider with no local knowledge may miss.
In summer, ambient temperatures in a kitchen or loading dock can push well above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. When the air surrounding a condensing unit is that hot, head pressure rises and compressors strain. Systems that were running fine in April start tripping safeties in July.
Winter brings the opposite problem. Outdoor condensing units in Michigan can see temperatures below zero. At those temps, refrigerant condensing pressure drops too low, and the system cannot function properly. Remote condensing units need properly sized crankcase heaters and low-ambient controls to survive a Michigan winter without issues.
There is also the humidity factor. Michigan summers are humid, and high humidity accelerates gasket wear, promotes ice buildup in improperly sealed units, and causes moisture contamination in refrigerant circuits.
Our technicians have been working in this climate for years. They know what to look for when a Detroit summer or a January cold snap causes equipment to behave differently than expected. That local knowledge shortens diagnostic time and gets you back to normal faster.
Preventive Maintenance for Commercial Refrigeration
Most refrigeration failures are preventable. A compressor that fails in June usually showed warning signs, an elevated discharge temperature, a slight refrigerant undercharge, or a condenser coil that had not been cleaned in two years. Preventive maintenance catches these things before they become emergency service calls.
Our PM program for refrigeration includes condenser coil cleaning, evaporator coil inspection, refrigerant level checks, door gasket inspection, defrost cycle verification, electrical connection tightening, and temperature log review.
We service over 500 commercial facilities across Metro Detroit. A significant portion of our customers are on scheduled maintenance agreements that include quarterly or semi-annual refrigeration checks. The result is fewer emergency calls and longer equipment life.
Learn more about our Preventive Maintenance program and how it applies to your refrigeration equipment.
Why Samco FM
In Business Since 1997
We have been servicing commercial facilities in Metro Detroit for nearly three decades. The phone number on our trucks has not changed. When you call us, you reach someone who knows the market and the equipment.
25+ W-2 Technicians, No Subcontractors
Every technician who shows up at your facility is a full-time Samco FM employee. We do not use subcontractors. That means consistent training standards, consistent quality, and accountability. You know who is working on your equipment.
EPA 608 and NATE Certified
All of our technicians hold EPA 608 certification for refrigerant handling. Our NATE certified technicians have passed independent exams that verify real-world knowledge of refrigeration and HVAC systems. Certification is not a formality here, it is a baseline requirement.
Under 90 Minutes Average Response Time
When your walk-in cooler fails at midnight before a Saturday service rush, you cannot wait until Monday morning. Our 24/7 dispatch connects you with a technician who can be on-site in under 90 minutes across our service area. We treat after-hours calls the same way we treat daytime calls.
We Handle More Than Refrigeration
Samco FM is a full-service commercial facility contractor. If your refrigeration issue connects to an electrical problem, an HVAC system, or commercial kitchen equipment, we have technicians who cover all of it. You make one call instead of coordinating three different vendors.
See our HVAC services and food equipment services for details.
Service Areas
We service commercial refrigeration systems throughout Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan, including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties. Our trucks run out of Livonia, MI, which puts us within a short drive of most facilities in the region.
Cities we regularly serve include Detroit, Livonia, Dearborn, Ann Arbor, Troy, Southfield, Sterling Heights, Warren, Farmington Hills, Pontiac, and dozens of surrounding communities. See our full service areas page for the complete list.
Get a Refrigeration Technician On-Site Today
Whether you have a unit down right now or you want to get ahead of the next failure with a maintenance agreement, Samco FM is ready to help.
Call (734) 838-6300 any time, day or night. Or fill out our contact form and we will follow up promptly.
Samco FM. Commercial refrigeration service in Metro Detroit since 1997.
This page reflects current Samco Facilities Maintenance guidance for Southeast Michigan commercial HVAC, refrigeration, and facility-service needs.