A commercial equipment warranty tells you which parts are covered, whether labor is paid, for how long, and under what conditions the coverage stays valid. The conditions matter as much as the years: installation, location, maintenance and who does the repair can all void coverage.
Shop commercial cooking equipment and refrigeration and ice machines, or see our extended protection plans. Freight is included on every order.
This guide explains the common terms and shows how they differ across the brands we sell. The figures come from our warranty page, which reproduces each manufacturer’s published terms as of September 2026. The manufacturer’s own document always governs.
Parts, labor and compressor
Most warranties list parts and labor separately. Parts coverage pays for the replacement component. Labor coverage pays an authorised technician to diagnose and fit it. A repair with parts covered and labor not covered can still be a large bill.
Refrigeration adds a third line: the compressor. Compressor coverage is often longer than the general term, but it is often parts only, meaning the compressor itself is covered while the refrigerant, labor and diagnosis are not.
Here is how that looks for the brands with published terms on our warranty page:
- True: 7 years parts, 7 years labor, 7 years compressor (parts only). This applies to True’s general foodservice, premier bar and specialty display units shipped after 1 October 2023, not to True ice machines or residential units.
- Westlake refrigeration: 2 years parts and labor, 6 years compressor. Westlake cooking equipment: 2 years parts and labor.
- Dukers stainless refrigeration: 3 years parts and labor, 5 years compressor in total with the last 2 years parts only. Dukers merchandisers: 2 years parts and labor, 5 years compressor with the last 3 years parts only. Dukers gas and cooking: 1 year parts and labor.
- Coldline: 1 year parts and labor, 5 years compressor, parts only.
- Cookline, Prepline and Standard Range: 1 year parts and labor.
Migali, Hatco, Hoshizaki, Waring and other brands vary by series, so ask for the exact document for the model.
Who does the repair
Manufacturers require their own authorised service providers to do warranty work. If you call your usual technician before a claim is opened, the repair is unauthorised and coverage is void on every brand we carry. Contact the seller first with the model number, serial number, order number and a description of the fault, and photos if you can.
Several manufacturers also require the defect to be reported within 30 days of you finding it, so do not wait.
Where the equipment is installed
Commercial warranties assume a commercial installation. On most brands residential use voids coverage. Farm installations are typically parts only, and food truck or mobile installations are usually parts only with no onsite labor.
Geography matters too. The USR Brands family, which includes Coldline, Cookline, Marchia, Prepline, Standard Range and Westlake, states that its warranty is valid only in the contiguous United States and that it cannot guarantee service in California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming and Utah. If you are in one of those states, ask before you order.
Registration
Most brands need no registration, but there are exceptions. Hoshizaki requires registration within 30 days of installation. Hatco requires registration within 90 days of shipment to qualify for its extended component coverage. Migali uses your registration date to start the warranty clock. Register as soon as the unit is installed and write down the serial number and install date.
What warranties do not cover
- Routine maintenance. Condenser coils generally need cleaning every 1 to 3 months depending on the manufacturer, and neglecting it can void coverage.
- Normal wear items such as door gaskets, light bulbs, hinges and loose fasteners. Most refrigeration makers also exclude glass.
- Damage from misuse, unauthorised modification, vandalism, fire, flood, power fluctuation and improper utility connection. Wrong voltage and wrong gas type are the classic examples.
- Freight damage. That is a carrier claim, not a warranty claim, so inspect the shipment and note any damage on the delivery receipt before you sign.
Warranties are generally for the original purchaser only and are not transferable if the equipment is resold.
How to compare two units
When two models look alike, the warranty is often the real difference. Compare:
- Parts and labor terms, listed separately.
- Compressor term and whether it is parts only.
- Service coverage in your state.
- Registration deadline.
- Maintenance you must do to keep coverage.
- Whether your installation type, such as a food truck, is covered for labor.
Refrigeration and ice machines run all day and have sealed systems that are costly to repair, so compressor and labor terms weigh most there. Compare models in our reach-in refrigerators, commercial freezers and commercial ice machines categories. Gas cooking equipment depends on correct installation, so the installation conditions matter most in commercial deep fryers and ranges.
Extended protection
Extended plans are available on many items and add coverage beyond the manufacturer period. Most Dukers models can be extended with the Dukers factory plan for one or two years beyond the standard warranty. It has no deductibles, includes food spoilage reimbursement on refrigeration and is valid in the 48 contiguous states. Where a plan is offered, you can add it on the product page.
Keep an equipment file
For each unit keep the invoice, spec sheet, model and serial number, install date, installer details and a log of cleaning and service. That file speeds up any claim and shows the maintenance was done.
Frequently asked questions
Does a commercial warranty cover home use?
On most brands, no. Residential use voids coverage. Check before you buy a commercial unit for a home.
Can I use my own refrigeration technician under warranty?
Not before the claim is opened. Manufacturers require their authorised service providers, and an unauthorised repair voids coverage.
Is a food truck covered?
Usually parts only, with no onsite labor. Ask for the terms for the specific model.
Who do I contact if something breaks?
Contact us with the model number, serial number, order number and a description of the fault. We will identify the right manufacturer service channel and start the claim.