What We Fix
A high-end refrigerator is a set of tightly controlled systems: two sealed refrigeration circuits, a magnetic-latched door seal, precise thermistors, and a control board that expects all of them to agree. When one drifts, the cabinet loses temperature quietly, and the food goes before the display ever complains. We repair the full range of built-in and integrated refrigeration found in Boulder kitchens.
- Built-in side-by-side and over-and-under units (BI-36, BI-42, BI-48 and similar)
- Integrated and panel-ready column refrigerators and freezers
- Dual sealed-system diagnostics where one compartment fails and the other holds
- Defrost systems: heaters, terminators, timers, and drain-line clearing
- Evaporator and condenser fan motors, compressors, and start components
- Door seals, hinges, auto-close cams, and interior lighting
- Thermistors, control boards, and user-interface panels
Common Problems We See
Boulder homes run the gauntlet of dry air, hard water, and big day-to-night temperature swings, and refrigeration shows it. These are the failures we are called out for most:
- Fresh food warm, freezer cold. Classic dual-system symptom, or a blocked refrigeration-side evaporator on a shared platform.
- Frost sheeting on the back wall. A defrost heater or terminator has quit, and ice is choking airflow.
- Compressor runs constantly. A dirty condenser, a failing fan, or a low sealed-system charge.
- Puddles under the crispers. A frozen or clogged defrost drain overflowing into the cabinet.
- Unit clicks and will not start. A failed start relay or a compressor drawing locked-rotor current.
Typical Causes
Most warm-refrigerator calls trace back to one of a short list of parts rather than a dead compressor. A frosted evaporator restricts airflow so the cabinet cannot hold temperature; a seized fan stops moving cold air even though the compressor is working; a drifting thermistor tells the board the box is colder than it is, so the cooling cycle never runs long enough. Condenser coils packed with dust, common in homes with pets or near Boulder's open-space trails, make the compressor work harder and run hotter until it protests. We measure before we replace, so you pay for the part that actually failed.
Brands We Service
Sub-Zero refrigeration is our core focus, and we also repair built-in and column units from the wider high-end field: Sub-Zero, Thermador, Viking, Miele, Liebherr, Monogram, True Residential, and more. See the full list on our brands page.
Fault and Symptom Reference
Sub-Zero refrigeration reports through service mode and behavior rather than a numbered display, so this table reads symptom to cause. Numbered codes appear on brands like Liebherr and Thermador, covered on those brand pages.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | What We Do |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh food warm, freezer cold | Refrigeration-side evaporator frosted or fan failed | Test both circuits, clear ice, replace fan or defrost part |
| Both sides warming | Condenser fan, dirty coils, or sealed-system charge | Measure superheat, clean coils, leak-test the circuit |
| Ice on back panel | Defrost heater or terminator open | Ohm-test defrost components, replace the failed part |
| Water pooling inside | Blocked or frozen defrost drain | Thaw and clear the drain, fit a drain heater if specified |
| Vacuum condition on door | Failed or torn gasket letting warm air in | Replace the magnetic door seal to model spec |
Losing Temperature Now?
Book a diagnostic visit and keep your food safe. Diagnostic and travel fees, if applicable, are confirmed before the appointment and before repair approval.