Commercial Kitchen · Imperial Cooking Equipment Troubleshooting · Middleby (Corona, CA) · Same Day
Imperial Commercial Cooking Equipment Repair
Full Imperial service across LA — IR-G and IHR restaurant ranges, HD heavy-duty modular, ICV convection ovens, ISB salamanders, ICM cheesemelters, IRB charbroilers, ITG griddles, IPA pasta cookers, taco/wok/stock-pot specialty ranges. California-made + Middleby family single-call across Pitco, Frymaster, Blodgett, TurboChef, Wells. (424) 325-0520
Our Branches
8 service territories across Southern California
Imperial Commercial Cooking Repair
Southern California
Where we work
Local branches across Southern California
Eight branches covering Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. Same-day routing on calls before 1 PM.
Los Angeles
Brentwood, Bel Air, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Westwood, Century City, Culver City, Westside, Long Beach
Imperial service across LA
The California-made commercial cooking authority with Middleby family scale
When an Imperial goes down in an LA kitchen, the failures our techs at Same Day Appliance Repair run most are the gas-control and specialty-element items across the broad lineup: a SIT thermocouple, a clogged burner orifice, a burner ignitor, and a gas valve on the IR-G and IHR ranges, plus the oven thermostat. The signature LA call is the ICM cheesemelter infrared element, which burns out at year 4-to-8 in the heavy Mexican and Latin restaurant cheese-melting duty, and the ISB salamander shares the same infrared wear pattern. On ICV convection ovens it's the fan motor, on IRB charbroilers the radiant ceramic, on ITG griddles the thermostat, and on IPA pasta cookers the solenoid. We service the full lineup on one Middleby sibling-call (Pitco, Frymaster, Blodgett, TurboChef, Wells) with Corona-factory parts proximity. Typical work runs $180-$320 for a SIT thermocouple, $240-$420 for an ICM/ISB infrared element, $280-$480 for an ICV fan motor or IRB radiant, and $260-$440 for a gas valve, most calls $280-$650, 15-to-25% below Vulcan or Garland. Commercial diagnostic is $120, waived with the repair, BHGS #A49573, EPA 608 Universal certified (#1346255700410).
Across the Imperial equipment our techs service in LA, the failures cluster by category. On the IR-G and IHR ranges, SIT thermocouples lead, then burner-orifice cleaning, burner ignitors, gas valves, and the oven thermostat. The ICM cheesemelter infrared element is the single most frequent specialty call we run, the LA Mexican and Latin restaurant install base cycles them hard, so we carry ICM elements on the van, and the ISB salamander element shares the family. ICV convection fan motors, IRB charbroiler radiant ceramics, ITG griddle thermostats, and IPA pasta-cooker solenoids fill the category-specific mid-band. Control boards are the last and most expensive. Because Imperial ships from Corona, our techs keep most of these single-visit, and the value-tier pricing carries through to service, repairs run 15-to-25% below an equivalent Vulcan or Garland, which keeps even a used auction Imperial on the repair side of the math.
Imperial Commercial Cooking Equipment is part of Middleby Corporation's family of foodservice brands. Founded 1957 in Los Angeles, Imperial manufactures in Corona, California today — roughly 60 miles from downtown LA, and that California factory remains operational under the Middleby umbrella. That combination — Middleby parent scale plus California-retained manufacturing — is structurally rare for a consolidator brand, and it shapes who LA operators actually call when Imperial equipment needs service. We have built our Imperial practice around covering the full product lineup (six categories beyond just ranges and ovens), running the Middleby sibling-call workflow (Imperial + Pitco + Frymaster + Blodgett + TurboChef + Wells on one service account), and leveraging the Corona California parts proximity for fast turnaround on the $120 commercial diagnostic schedule, waived when you approve the repair.
The Imperial lineup runs deep — IR-G and IHR restaurant ranges, Pro Series HD24-HD60 heavy-duty modular cooking suites, ICV convection ovens, ISB infrared salamanders, ICM cheesemelters, IRB radiant gas charbroilers, ICRA char-radiant variants, ITG griddles in gas and ED electric, IPA pasta cookers, IFS fryers, range hoods, plus the cuisine-specialty configurations that other manufacturers don't bother with (taco ranges sized for tortilla production, wok ranges with proper Cantonese BTU output, stock pot ranges for Asian soup operations). This pillar covers the broader Imperial brand — for deep range coverage we maintain /brands/imperial-range-repair/, and for deep oven coverage /brands/imperial-oven-repair/. This page extends both with salamanders, charbroilers, griddles, pasta cookers, and the brand-level operational context.
Brand ownership and history
Imperial, Middleby Corporation family member, California manufacturing since 1957
The current ownership chain: Imperial Commercial Cooking Equipment → Middleby Corporation. Per imperialrange.com manufacturer site: "Now a proud member of Middleby Corporation's family of foodservice brands, Imperial remains steadfast in developing quality, high-performance and durable kitchen equipment." Founded 1957 in Los Angeles. Manufacturing in Corona, California — the California factory remains operational under Middleby umbrella, which is structurally rare since most Middleby acquisitions consolidate to the Winston-Salem North Carolina distribution. Imperial's California production proximity is one of the brand's defining operational characteristics today, not an artifact of pre-acquisition independence.
What that means practically for LA service: Imperial sits inside the same Middleby Corporation portfolio as Pitco (Bow NH commercial fryers), Frymaster (Shreveport LA commercial fryers, McDonald's OEM), Blodgett (Burlington VT deck and conveyor pizza ovens), TurboChef (rapid cook ovens), Wells (built-in cooking equipment), Holman (toasters and finishing equipment), and other Middleby cooking brands. For LA kitchens running multi-Middleby equipment configurations (common in commercial operations where Middleby-spec dealer packages came in as turnkey builds), one service relationship covers all of it. We carry the parts catalogs and the technician relationships across the full Middleby sibling list.
The Middleby family positioning is a recent correction in our coverage. Older content across the SDAR site and across third-party service-provider sites referenced Imperial as "independent family-owned" — a claim that was inaccurate post-acquisition. We corrected the Imperial range and oven combo pages in commit d411d27 to align with the verified Middleby family ownership claim. The pillar deploys with the accurate framing from the start.
Corona CA parts proximity
The 60-mile factory advantage — what California-retained manufacturing means for LA service
When you call us for Imperial repair, parts ship from Corona — not Troy Ohio, not Vernon Hills Illinois, not Winston-Salem North Carolina, not Shreveport Louisiana. Imperial maintains California manufacturing even as part of Middleby's national family, and that proximity is a structural advantage specific to LA-area Imperial operators.
Typical lead times to LA from major commercial cooking brand factories:
- Imperial — Corona CA, 60 miles from LA. 1 to 3 business days typical; same-day pickup possible for SFV/LA-proper service area when timing matters.
- Hobart — Troy OH, 2,200 miles from LA. 3 to 5 days standard ground; 1 to 2 days expedited at premium.
- Vulcan — ITW Chicago distribution, 2,000 miles. 3 to 5 days standard.
- Frymaster — Shreveport LA (Louisiana, not Los Angeles), 1,600 miles. 3 to 5 days standard.
- Pitco — Bow NH, 2,800 miles. 5 to 7 days standard.
- Garland — Mississauga ON / Ali Group Winston-Salem NC, 2,500+ miles. 5 to 7 days standard via NC distribution.
- Chinese OEM value-tier — overseas via WebstaurantStore or Restaurant Depot supply chains. 5 to 10 days, sometimes more.
For LA operators on tight service timelines, the Corona California parts channel is a real operational benefit that we factor into the repair-vs-replace conversation. The proximity advantage compounds with Middleby family scale on national-distribution components — best of both: California factory parts for the Imperial-specific items, Middleby national distribution for cross-brand parts when the Imperial repair touches a Pitco or Frymaster system at the same kitchen.
This is also why we recommend Imperial to operators evaluating value-tier commercial cooking purchases. The capital-cost advantage (15 to 25 percent below Vulcan or Garland equivalents) compounds with the service economics (faster parts, lower repair pricing tracking the same value-tier positioning). For mid-LA-market casual-dining, specialty-cuisine, and value-conscious institutional operations, Imperial economics work out favorably.
Full lineup we service
The complete Imperial commercial cooking lineup — 6 categories
Imperial's product range extends well beyond the ranges and ovens that our existing combo pages cover in depth. Most LA Imperial-equipped kitchens run multiple categories — a Mexican restaurant with IR-G ranges plus ICM cheesemelters, an Italian trattoria with IR-G plus IPA pasta cookers, a casual-dining kitchen with HD modular suite plus IRB charbroilers plus ITG griddles. Single service call resolves equipment across the full lineup.
Restaurant ranges (IR-G, IHR)
Lines: IR-G workhorse gas range (IR-4 through IR-12 burner counts), IHR heavy-duty variant.
Where in LA: Mid-volume LA restaurants, Mexican/Latin operations, Italian trattorias, casual-dining concepts across all 5 counties.
Deep range coverage on our Imperial Range combo page.
Heavy-duty modular (HD24-HD60)
Lines: Pro Series HD24 through HD60 widths, modular open-top burners, fry-tops, char-grill drop-in modules for cooking-suite builds.
Where in LA: Higher-volume specialty restaurants, steakhouse outposts, kitchens running multi-functional cooking lines.
Convection ovens (ICV)
Lines: ICV-G single gas convection, ICV-E single electric, ICVG-2_S double-stack gas, bakery-depth variants.
Where in LA: Mid-volume restaurants needing bake capacity without combi-oven investment, casual-dining operations.
Deep convection coverage on our Imperial Oven combo page.
Salamanders + Cheesemelters (ISB, ICM)
Lines: ISB infrared salamander broilers (restaurant finishing and browning stations), ICM cheesemelters (Mexican/Latin restaurant signature).
Where in LA: Mexican and Latin restaurants throughout LA County (ICM cheesemelters), brunch programs and finishing stations (ISB salamanders), pizza operations.
Charbroilers + Griddles (IRB, ICRA, ITG)
Lines: IRB radiant gas charbroilers, ICRA char-radiant variants, ITG and ITHG gas griddles (24/36/48-inch), ED electric griddles, lava-rock variants.
Where in LA: Mid-tier steakhouses (IRB), diner format operations (ITG griddles), brunch concepts, burger kitchens, hospital cafeterias.
Specialty equipment (IPA, hoods, taco/wok/stock-pot)
Lines: IPA pasta cookers, range hood line, stock pot ranges, taco ranges, wok ranges (proper Cantonese BTU output), hot plates, equipment stands, backguards and shelves.
Where in LA: Italian restaurants (IPA pasta cookers concentration), Asian restaurants (wok + stock pot ranges), Mexican operations (taco ranges) — the LA cuisine-specialty install base where Imperial dominates.
Salamanders and Cheesemelters
ISB salamanders and ICM cheesemelters — Imperial's LA Mexican/Latin restaurant signature
Two product lines that get less marketing attention than Imperial ranges but show up constantly in LA service. Both use infrared element architecture; both share the same primary aging failure (element burnout); both are operator-preferred value-tier choices versus the Vulcan and Star equivalents.
ISB infrared salamander broilers. Overhead infrared finishing units mounted above the work line for browning, melting, and au gratin applications. Common at sandwich shops finishing melts, French restaurants browning gratin programs, brunch concepts melting toppings, and steakhouse plating stations adding char finish to plated dishes. We frequently service ISB salamanders as paired equipment with IR-G range installations — same operator, same Imperial-spec build, both serviceable on one dispatch. Service pattern: infrared element burnout at year 4 to 8 ($240 to $420 parts-and-labor), gas valve at year 7 to 10, pilot assembly and thermocouple as paired wear items.
ICM cheesemelters. Imperial's specialty product that has unusually high LA concentration relative to national install base. ICM cheesemelters are heavily used in LA Mexican and Latin restaurants for nacho cheese, enchilada finishing, and taco operations where cheese-melting throughput matters. Pizza chains also run ICM for cheese topping applications. The high-cycle operational duty in this segment accelerates element wear — we see ICM cheesemelter calls at year 4 to 8 in heavy Mexican/Latin restaurant duty (versus 8 to 10 years in lower-volume operations). We carry ICM elements on the van for same-visit resolution.
The ISB-to-ICM diagnostic relationship matters: both products use similar infrared element architecture, similar gas safety controls, similar service approaches. When we dispatch to a Latin restaurant with multiple Imperial pieces down, the diagnostic pattern carries across both categories — we typically resolve ISB and ICM service items together when both appear on the same call.
Charbroilers and Griddles
IRB charbroilers and ITG griddles — value-tier alternatives to Garland
Imperial's charbroiler and griddle lines occupy the value-tier mid-segment of the LA market — solid mid-market install base, less premium-branded than Garland Charbroilers GS-series or Vulcan equivalents, but reliable workhorses for casual-dining and mid-tier restaurant operations.
IRB radiant gas charbroilers. Lava-rock and radiant-plate configurations for mid-tier grill operations. Less prominent than Garland GS-series in the LA premium steakhouse cluster but consistent presence in value-tier and casual-dining grill programs. Service pattern: radiant burner ceramic crack at year 5 to 8 (replacement $280 to $480 — primary failure mode), burner orifice cleaning at year 4 to 6 ($180 to $280), gas valve replacement at year 7 to 10. Lava-rock variants require periodic lava replacement (operator-maintenance task, not service call typically).
ICRA char-radiant variants. Combined char-and-radiant configurations for operations needing both char-finish and radiant-cook capabilities in one unit. Service approach overlaps IRB; parts catalog differs.
ITG and ITHG gas griddles. 24-inch through 48-inch gas flat-tops for diner format operations, hotel breakfast service, brunch-heavy concepts, and hospital cafeteria breakfast lines. Service items: griddle surface re-polishing and re-seasoning at year 4 to 6 ($200 to $340), thermostat calibration drift correction ($200 to $340), gas valve replacement, burner orifice cleaning. Coastal griddles (Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach) corrode faster on burner orifices — we factor that into the service interval recommendation.
ED electric griddle variants. Electric flat-tops for kitchens without commercial gas supply or operator preference. Heating element replacement at year 5 to 8 ($300 to $520) is the primary aging failure mode. Element failure typically presents as one zone running cold while others stay hot — diagnostic confirms element open-circuit before swap.
Specialty equipment
IPA pasta cookers, taco ranges, wok ranges — the LA cuisine-specialty Imperial moat
This is the product category that makes Imperial uniquely positioned in the LA market. Imperial built specialty cuisine equipment that other commercial cooking manufacturers don't bother with — taco ranges sized for high-volume tortilla production, wok ranges with proper BTU output for Cantonese cooking, IPA pasta cookers tuned for Italian operations. National brands like Hobart and Vulcan don't cover these segments. Imperial does, and LA's cuisine diversity makes it the operator-preferred default in this space.
IPA pasta cookers. Concentrated heavily in the LA Italian restaurant cluster — Beverly Hills, WeHo, Santa Monica trattoria scene, plus DTLA Italian concepts. Auto-fill solenoid failure ($240 to $380) is the primary IPA service item — solenoid valve sticks open or fails to open, causing water overflow or underfill. High-limit thermostat ($240 to $380) is the secondary aging item. We service IPA pasta cookers regularly across the LA Italian restaurant network.
Taco ranges. Imperial taco ranges (high-BTU burner array sized for tortilla production throughput) show up at independent taquerias, family-owned Mexican restaurants, and mid-market Mexican chains across East LA, San Fernando Valley, South LA, and DTLA Hispanic restaurant clusters. Service items match standard range patterns plus higher-frequency burner orifice cleaning given the high-cycle tortilla production duty.
Wok ranges. Asian restaurant install base — Koreatown Korean BBQ corridor, Chinatown operations, Asian-fusion mid-market concepts. Imperial wok ranges provide the BTU output that proper Cantonese cooking requires (200,000+ BTU per burner on the heavy-duty configurations). Service items include burner ring replacement at high cycle counts, water-cooled jacket maintenance on cooled-edge variants, gas valve service.
Stock pot ranges. Asian restaurant soup specialists, broth-program operations, sauce-base prep stations. Heavy-duty low-burner configurations for large-pot work.
Range hoods. Imperial also manufactures hood systems integrated with the range product line. Hood blower motor service, capture/makeup-air balance issues, hood thermostat service on heated-lamp variants.
Accessories. Hot plates, equipment stands, backguards and shelves — common Imperial-spec build accessories that we service alongside the primary cooking equipment.
LA install map
Where Imperial equipment lives across LA's cuisine clusters
Imperial concentrates in six distinct LA operator clusters. Each has a characteristic equipment profile.
Mexican / Latin restaurants — Imperial's biggest LA install base
LA Mexican and Latin restaurant scene is the highest-density Imperial concentration in the city. Independent taquerias, family-owned restaurants, mid-market Mexican chains across East LA, San Fernando Valley, South LA, plus DTLA's Hispanic restaurant cluster. Equipment mix: Imperial taco ranges + ICM cheesemelters + IRB charbroilers + IR-G ranges. We dispatch to this cluster regularly; ICM cheesemelter service alone is a meaningful weekly route.
Italian restaurants — IPA pasta cookers concentration
Beverly Hills, WeHo, Santa Monica trattoria scene + DTLA Italian concepts. IPA pasta cookers + ICM cheesemelters + IRB charbroilers + IR-G ranges. The Italian-restaurant install base is the IPA pasta cooker territory specifically — Imperial sells more IPA units into the LA Italian restaurant market than any other US metro per industry observation.
Asian restaurants — wok and stock pot ranges
LA Korean BBQ corridor (Koreatown), Chinatown operations, Asian-fusion mid-market concepts. Imperial wok ranges + stock pot ranges are operator-preferred specialty equipment in this segment — national brands don't cover the BTU requirements properly. Imperial does.
Steakhouse / grill concepts — mid-tier (IRB + ISB)
Mid-tier steakhouses and grill concepts run IRB charbroilers + ISB salamanders. Lower install base than Garland GS-series in the premium steakhouse cluster (Mastro's, Ruth's Chris, Wolfgang's run Garland) but Imperial holds the value-tier-steakhouse and casual-grill segment consistently.
Mid-size independent restaurants — Imperial's pricing-position core market
Imperial's 15-to-25-percent pricing advantage versus Vulcan and Garland makes it the default mid-size independent operator choice. Spans all of LA's mid-market restaurant scene — casual-dining, neighborhood concepts, family operations, smaller chains. Distribution wider than premium-brand competitors precisely because of price + value-tier positioning.
K-12 and institutional kitchens — HD ranges + ICV convection
LAUSD central kitchens, community college dining operations, hospital food service production lines. Imperial HD ranges + ICV convection ovens at lower-budget institutional operations where Vulcan or Garland premium specs would be over-specified.
Middleby family sibling-call advantage
One service account, Imperial + Pitco + Frymaster + Blodgett + TurboChef + Wells
The Middleby Corporation portfolio puts Imperial in the same parent foodservice family as a long list of LA-relevant commercial cooking brands. For operators running multi-Middleby kitchens — common in Middleby-spec dealer turnkey builds and operations where Imperial came in as part of a broader Middleby cooking package — one service relationship covers the full sibling list.
Our Middleby family sibling coverage spans:
- Pitco fryers — Middleby commercial fryer sibling.
- Frymaster fryers — Middleby commercial fryer sibling, McDonald's OEM.
- Blodgett deck and conveyor pizza ovens — Middleby pizza-equipment sibling.
- TurboChef rapid cook ovens — Middleby rapid-cook sibling.
- Wells built-in cooking equipment — Middleby built-in sibling.
- Holman, Star Manufacturing, and other Middleby cooking brands — full Middleby foodservice portfolio.
For a mid-LA-market restaurant operator running Imperial IR-G ranges + Pitco fryers + Blodgett pizza ovens, that's one phone call to one service account covering three brands. Mom-and-pop service providers typically specialize in one brand at most; multi-Middleby coverage is structurally the territory of dedicated multi-brand commercial service operations like ours.
The Middleby family positioning also matters operationally for parts logistics. Middleby's national distribution scale covers cross-brand parts when a single service call touches multiple Middleby siblings at the same kitchen. Imperial-specific Corona California parts compound with Middleby cross-brand inventory access — best of both: California factory proximity for Imperial items, Middleby national reach for everything else.
California local-manufacturer trio
Imperial + American Range + Montague — California manufacturing across consolidator parents
Three California-manufactured commercial cooking brands cluster on the LA service map with parts-chain advantages over national-brand competitors. Each has a different parent corporation today, but all three keep California manufacturing operational — making the trio a structural California-proximity advantage for LA operators regardless of parent-corp identity.
Imperial Range (Corona CA, 60 miles from LA) — this page's brand; Middleby Corporation family with California factory retained.
American Range (Pacoima CA, 15-20 miles from LA, San Fernando Valley) — Hatco Corporation family since October 2022 with California factory retained; see our American Range repair page for the equivalent brand coverage.
Montague (Hayward CA, 360 miles but California-based) — Ali Group since July 2022 with California manufacturing continuity; see our Montague oven repair page.
The California trio shares a structural parts-lead-time advantage over national-brand competitors. Parent-corp mix across the trio is now diverse — Imperial is Middleby family, American Range is Hatco family, Montague is Ali Group — but all three keep California manufacturing as the defining LA-service operational advantage regardless of consolidator parent identity. For LA operators evaluating commercial cooking brand options, the California trio's combined coverage gives meaningful flexibility on equipment specification while preserving parts-proximity economics.
Used Imperial market
Restaurant liquidation pipeline — used Imperial in LA
LA's restaurant turnover rate produces a steady stream of used Imperial equipment hitting auction and liquidation channels. Restaurant Equipment World, IRS auctions, RestaurantEquipment.com listings, plus the direct-dealer-liquidation channel — all of these put used Imperial in front of LA operators at meaningful discount to new pricing.
Typical LA used-Imperial economics:
- Used IR-G restaurant ranges run $800 to $2,800 (versus $4,000 to $8,000 new).
- Used ICV convection ovens run $1,200 to $3,500 (versus $5,000 to $10,000 new).
- Used ICM cheesemelters run $400 to $1,200 (versus $1,800 to $4,000 new).
- Used IPA pasta cookers run $600 to $1,800 (versus $3,500 to $7,000 new).
- Used IRB charbroilers run $500 to $1,500 (versus $2,500 to $5,500 new).
The used-Imperial price-to-new ratio is favorable relative to premium-brand alternatives. Imperial's mid-tier purchase pricing keeps new prices accessible, which means the used market discount is less dramatic in absolute dollar terms — but the operating cost advantage versus buying new still works out for value-conscious operators.
We don't sell Imperial equipment. We service it regardless of how you acquired it. The honest framing: if you bought used at auction and you need a tech who knows the Corona California parts pipeline, the SIT-style gas safety architecture, the ICM cheesemelter element replacement procedure, we are that tech. We won't shame you for not buying new from Costco-foodservice-distributor channels.
The serviceability math typically works out. Imperial's California factory parts continuity is good even on 10 to 12-year-old units — Corona maintains current parts inventory for legacy product lines longer than most consolidator-owned brand factories. A $400 repair on a $1,200 used ICM cheesemelter that retails $3,000 new is a clear operational win. We give the honest assessment after the $120 diagnostic and we will tell you straight if a unit is past economic repair.
Pricing
What Imperial repair costs in LA
$120 flat commercial diagnostic, waived when you approve the repair. Pricing below covers parts plus labor for the most common Imperial service items across the lineup. Imperial repair pricing runs typically 15 to 25 percent below equivalent Vulcan or Garland repair categories — same value-tier positioning that defines Imperial at purchase pricing carries through to service economics.
| Service | Category | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| SIT thermocouple replacement | All gas equipment | $180 to $320 |
| Burner orifice cleaning (per burner) | Ranges, charbroilers, fryers | $180 to $280 |
| Burner ignitor assembly | All ignition equipment | $220 to $380 |
| Gas valve / SIT control | All gas equipment | $260 to $440 |
| Oven-compartment thermostat | Ranges with oven, ICV | $200 to $340 |
| Door hinge service | Ranges, ovens | $200 to $360 |
| ICV convection fan motor | ICV convection ovens | $280 to $480 |
| Electric heating element | ICV-E, ED griddle | $240 to $420 |
| ISB salamander infrared element | ISB salamanders | $240 to $420 |
| ICM cheesemelter infrared element | ICM cheesemelters | $240 to $420 |
| IRB charbroiler radiant ceramic | IRB charbroilers | $280 to $480 |
| Griddle surface re-polishing | ITG / ED griddles | $200 to $340 |
| Griddle thermostat calibration | ITG / ED griddles | $200 to $340 |
| IPA pasta cooker auto-fill solenoid | IPA pasta cookers | $240 to $380 |
| IHR heavy-duty burner refurbish | IHR ranges | $380 to $640 |
| Control board replacement (rare) | Any Imperial | $550 to $950 |
Most Imperial service calls land between $280 and $650 parts-and-labor. Specialty equipment service (IPA pasta cookers, ICM cheesemelters) match standard range pricing. Heavy-duty IHR work and control board failures push toward the upper end of the typical range. We quote parts and labor separately on every call so you see exactly what you are paying for, and the $120 diagnostic is waived when you approve the repair.
Recent Imperial repairs across LA
Four representative service calls
Anonymized by venue per our voice-discipline standard. Models, symptoms, diagnosis, parts, time, total — typical of what we see weekly on the Imperial route.
"Center burner won't light and cheesemelter is cold"
DTLA Mexican restaurant, Imperial IR-G 6-burner range + ICM cheesemelter (2018 install). Operations called Tuesday afternoon before dinner service — center burner not igniting on the range and the ICM cheesemelter not heating either. Diagnosed: burner ignitor failed on the range (continuity test confirmed); ICM cheesemelter infrared element open-circuit. Replaced range ignitor + ICM element on the same visit, tested both. Total: $120 diagnostic + $385 parts + 1.5 hours labor = $710. Lunch service ran on schedule.
"Pasta cooker water won't stop filling"
WeHo Italian trattoria, Imperial IPA-15 pasta cooker (2017 install). Trattoria called mid-morning — pasta cooker auto-fill not stopping, water overflowing the basin. Diagnosed: solenoid valve stuck open from debris in valve seat. Replaced solenoid valve + cleaned valve seat to prevent recurrence. Tested fill-and-stop cycle multiple times. Total: $120 + $295 part + 1 hour = $560. Pasta service uninterrupted.
"Griddle is uneven across the surface"
Burbank diner, Imperial ITG-48 griddle (2019 install). Diner called after breakfast service reported uneven cooking — surface temperature varying by 60-plus degrees across the 48-inch griddle plate. Diagnosed: thermostat calibration drift + burner orifice partial clog on the right zone. Recalibrated thermostat to spec + cleaned burner orifices. Tested temperature uniformity across all zones. Total: $120 + $240 parts + 1.5 hours = $480. Breakfast service on time the next morning.
"Charbroiler left zone is cracking with bad char pattern"
Pasadena mid-tier steakhouse, Imperial IRB-36 charbroiler (2016 install). Steakhouse called between lunch and dinner — left zone radiant burner cracking visibly + uneven char pattern across the grill surface. Diagnosed: ceramic radiant cracked, replacement only viable option. Replaced radiant ceramic with OEM, tested all zones for proper char pattern. Total: $120 + $385 part + 1 hour = $620. Dinner service on time.
FAQ
Imperial service questions
Who owns Imperial Commercial Cooking Equipment?
Imperial is part of Middleby Corporation's family of foodservice brands (per imperialrange.com — 'Now a proud member of Middleby Corporation's family of foodservice brands'). Founded 1957 in Los Angeles, Imperial manufactures in Corona, California today — and that California factory remains operational under the Middleby umbrella. That combination — Middleby parent scale plus California-retained manufacturing — is structurally rare, since most Middleby acquisitions consolidate to the Winston-Salem distribution. Sibling Middleby brands include Pitco and Frymaster fryers, Blodgett deck and conveyor ovens, TurboChef rapid cook, and Wells built-in cooking. For LA operators running multi-Middleby kitchens, single SDAR service account covers the full sibling list.
Corona California parts advantage — what does that mean operationally?
Imperial parts ship direct from the Corona, California factory with 1 to 3 business day typical lead times to LA. Same-day pickup is possible for our SFV/LA-proper service area when timing matters. Compare to Hobart parts from Troy OH (3 to 5 days), Vulcan parts from Chicago distribution (3 to 5 days), Frymaster parts from Shreveport LA (3 to 5 days), Pitco parts from Bow NH (5 to 7 days), and Chinese OEM value-tier alternatives at 5 to 10 days via WebstaurantStore or Restaurant Depot. The Corona proximity is a structural advantage specific to LA-area Imperial operators and compounds with the Middleby family scale on national-distribution components.
What's the difference between Imperial IR-G, IHR, and HD Pro Series?
Three duty tiers across the Imperial range lineup. IR-G is the standard restaurant-range workhorse — gas burners on top with oven compartment below, sized across burner counts (IR-4, IR-6, IR-8, IR-10, IR-12) for mid-volume LA restaurant back-of-house. IHR is the heavy-duty variant with reinforced construction for higher-volume operations. Pro Series HD24-HD60 is the modular heavy-duty cooking suite — open-top burners, fry-tops, char-grill modules in 24-inch through 60-inch widths for high-volume specialty restaurants. Deep range coverage on our /brands/imperial-range-repair/ combo page; this pillar focuses on the broader product lineup beyond ranges.
Does Imperial make convection ovens, salamanders, and pasta cookers too?
Yes. Imperial's full lineup spans six categories beyond ranges. ICV-G and ICV-E convection ovens (single and double-stack — deep coverage on our /brands/imperial-oven-repair/ combo). ISB infrared salamanders for restaurant finishing and browning stations. ICM cheesemelters — heavily concentrated at LA Mexican/Latin restaurants and pizza operations. IRB radiant gas charbroilers + ICRA char-radiant variants. ITG/ITHG griddles (24 to 48-inch flat-tops, gas and electric). IPA pasta cookers — the LA Italian restaurant signature equipment. Plus IFS fryers, range hoods, and the specialty configurations (taco ranges, wok ranges, stock pot ranges) that other manufacturers don't bother with.
My Imperial cheesemelter (ICM) won't heat — common failure?
Yes — ICM cheesemelter infrared element burnout is the most common Imperial cheesemelter service call we see in LA. Typical failure at year 4 to 8 in heavy Mexican/Latin restaurant duty (high-cycle cheese-melting workflow accelerates element wear). Diagnosis is straightforward: open-circuit test on the infrared element, then replace with OEM. Most ICM repairs land $240 to $420 parts-and-labor. We carry ICM elements on the van given how frequent these service calls run in the LA Mexican/Latin restaurant install base. Same diagnostic approach overlaps with ISB salamander infrared elements — same family, same wear pattern, different mounting.
What does Imperial repair cost in LA?
$120 flat commercial diagnostic, waived when you approve the repair. Most Imperial service calls land between $280 and $650 parts-and-labor. Typical category pricing: SIT thermocouple $180-$320, burner orifice cleaning $180-$280 per burner, burner ignitor $220-$380, gas valve $260-$440, oven thermostat $200-$340, ICV convection fan motor $280-$480, ISB/ICM infrared element $240-$420, IRB charbroiler radiant ceramic $280-$480, ITG griddle thermostat calibration $200-$340, IPA pasta cooker solenoid $240-$380. Imperial repair pricing runs typically 15 to 25 percent below equivalent Vulcan or Garland repair categories — same value-tier positioning that defines Imperial at purchase pricing carries through to service economics.
Will you service used Imperial bought at restaurant auction?
Yes. LA's restaurant turnover rate produces a steady stream of used Imperial equipment hitting auction and liquidation channels — Restaurant Equipment World, IRS auctions, RestaurantEquipment.com, plus the direct-dealer-liquidation channel. We service used Imperial regardless of purchase source. Used Imperial economics often work out favorably: used IR-G ranges run $800 to $2,800 (versus $4,000 to $8,000 new), used ICV convection $1,200 to $3,500 (versus $5,000 to $10,000 new), used ICM cheesemelters $400 to $1,200 (versus $1,800 to $4,000 new). Parts availability via Corona factory remains good even on 10 to 12 year-old units. The honest framing: we don't sell Imperial. We service it, and we'll give you a straight assessment after the $120 diagnostic on whether the repair makes economic sense.
Why won't my Imperial IR-G range burner or oven stay lit?
The most common cause our techs find is the SIT thermocouple, the flame-safety device that senses the pilot or burner flame and shuts the gas off if it weakens, so a worn one makes the burner or IR-G oven die out shortly after lighting; replacement runs $180 to $320. The next causes are a clogged burner orifice, where carbon and grease narrow the opening and weaken the flame ($180 to $280 per burner), and a gas valve out of spec ($260 to $440). We test the flame and the thermocouple signal before deciding which it is, and the Corona parts proximity keeps most of these single-visit. Same Day Appliance Repair, $120 commercial diagnostic, waived with repair.
What fails most on an Imperial charbroiler or griddle?
On an IRB charbroiler the signature item is the radiant ceramic, which degrades under high-heat duty and drops the sear; replacement runs $280 to $480, and a clogged orifice or out-of-spec gas valve can produce the same cool-grate symptom for less. On an ITG griddle the most common call is the thermostat drifting out of calibration ($200 to $340), so the surface runs hot or cold against the setpoint, along with burner-orifice and ignitor work on the gas side. Our techs verify the actual surface or grate temperature against the setpoint before quoting. Same Day Appliance Repair, $120 commercial diagnostic, waived with repair.
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Imperial equipment down? Same-day service across LA.
$120 commercial diagnostic, waived with repair. Corona California parts pipeline. Middleby family sibling coverage — Imperial + Pitco + Frymaster + Blodgett + TurboChef + Wells on one service account.