The diagnostic is $185 and it comes off the repair. Most walk-in repairs land between $250 and $1,200. A compressor replacement is $2,100 to $4,600. A new walk-in installed runs $6,500 to $34,000 depending on size and whether it is a cooler or a freezer. Planned maintenance starts at $350 per unit per year.
Why we publish this at all
Because almost nobody in this market does, and “call for a free estimate” is not an answer when your box is at 52°F and you are deciding whether to phone anyone. Hiding prices behind a form is a way of qualifying customers out. We would rather you knew the range, decided it was worth a call, and were not surprised afterwards.
Service call and labour
| Diagnostic visit | $185 | Credited against the repair if you proceed on the same visit. Not charged if we cannot find the fault. |
|---|---|---|
| Standard labour | $145–$225/hr | Boston commercial refrigeration rates. Walk-in work is licensed work. |
| After hours & weekends | premium applies | Quoted on the phone before dispatch, never added silently afterwards. |
| Contract sites | no premium | Cold Chain Pro and Total include after-hours at standard rates. |
Repairs
| Job | Typical installed |
|---|---|
| Door gasket | $180–$420 |
| Door closer or hinge | $220–$520 |
| Drain line clear or heater replacement | $180–$430 |
| Evaporator fan motor | $230–$540 |
| Defrost heater or defrost board | $260–$680 |
| Condenser fan motor | $280–$650 |
| Contactor | $210–$460 |
| Expansion valve | $460–$920 |
| Leak detection and recharge | $400–$1,300 |
| Evaporator coil | $900–$2,600 |
| Compressor | $2,100–$4,600 |
| Full condensing unit swap | $4,200–$9,500 |
Refrigerant is billed separately at $15–$100 a pound depending on type. R-22 is the outlier at $80–$150 a pound installed, which is usually the moment replacement beats repair.
Installation
| Size | Cooler | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| 6×6 | $6,500–$10,000 | $9,000–$14,000 |
| 8×8 | $8,500–$13,500 | $12,000–$18,500 |
| 10×10 | $11,500–$17,500 | $16,000–$24,000 |
| 12×14 | $16,500–$25,000 | $23,000–$34,000 |
Permits are included in our installation quotes: ISD health plan review, building, electrical and plumbing. Panel upgrades and rooftop rigging are the two items that genuinely can move a number, and we establish both before quoting rather than after.
Maintenance and contracts
| Compliance audit | $0–$199 | One visit, written condition report and leak-rate baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Cold Chain Basic | from $350/unit/yr | Two planned visits, repairs billed |
| Cold Chain Pro | $750–$1,100/unit/yr | Quarterly, labour included, priority dispatch |
| Cold Chain Total | $1,500–$5,000/unit/yr | Quarterly, all parts and labour, 24/7 |
What is always included
A written report on every visit — temperatures, superheat and subcool, findings, work done, and a refrigerant leak-rate record. One year on repair workmanship. Installations warranted up to ten years by scope. No charge for a diagnostic we could not complete.
Questions we get asked
Are these real prices or a marketing range?
They are the ranges we actually work within in Greater Boston, published so you can budget. The quote you receive is a specific number for your box, and it will sit inside these ranges or we will explain in writing why it does not.
Why is the diagnostic $185 when appliance companies charge $125?
Because this is commercial refrigeration under a Massachusetts refrigeration licence, not residential appliance work. A $125 residential diagnostic on a walk-in usually buys you a guess and a second visit.
Do you charge to quote an installation?
No. Installation quotes are free, including the site visit to check panel capacity and drain routing — the two things that decide whether a quote is honest.
Is financing available on a new walk-in?
Ask on the quote. For efficiency upgrades it is also worth checking Mass Save incentives, which cover measures like ECM evaporator fan motors, door gaskets and closers, anti-sweat heater controls and floating head pressure control. Amounts change each programme year, so we check the current sheet rather than quoting a figure from memory.
What if the repair costs more than the box is worth?
We will say so. The working rule is replace when the repair exceeds about 30% of replacement cost, and on an R-22 system it usually does. You will get both numbers, not just the one that suits us.