Question 1

Do you repair the equipment yourselves?

Accepted Answer

No. 86 Repair is a free referral service, not a repair company. We match Sacramento-area restaurants and commercial kitchens with independent, vetted equipment-repair technicians. That independence is the point: because we do not turn the wrench or sell parts, we can tell you honestly when a repair makes sense and when it is time to replace.

Question 2

How fast can a technician get to my kitchen?

Accepted Answer

For a true emergency, a good local tech can often reach a Sacramento-area kitchen within hours, though a specialty part may still add a day. Response depends on the day, the part, and the technician's route. The clearer you describe the equipment and symptom when you submit, the better the odds the tech arrives with the right part in hand.

Question 3

What equipment do the technicians cover?

Accepted Answer

The full commercial line: fryers, ranges, griddles, ovens, and broilers on the cooking side; reach-in and walk-in refrigeration; ice machines; dish machines and disposals; and prep and holding equipment like steam tables and prep tables. When you tell us what died, we match you with a tech who works on that category and, where it matters, that brand.

Question 4

Should I repair it or replace it?

Accepted Answer

The rule of thumb: if the repair costs more than about half the price of a comparable new unit and the equipment is already past roughly 70 percent of its expected life, replacement is usually the smarter money. Under that, repair almost always wins. Our free repair-or-replace tool runs the math against the unit's age, and the tech you are matched with confirms it with a real diagnosis.

Question 5

What does it cost to use 86 Repair?

Accepted Answer

Getting matched is free to you. 86 Repair is a referral directory, and technicians may compensate us for verified customer introductions, consistent with FTC §255 endorsement guidelines. The repair itself is priced by the independent technician you are matched with, who is the provider of record. We do not set prices or perform work.