Three families have owned Reliable since 1977. All of them lived here.
Eight of ten of our technicians live in Napa too. This valley is our home, and our reputation lives in it.
Our story
It started with refrigeration.
In 1977, Dan and Marie Santos founded Reliable Refrigeration. Dan was the refrigeration technician, and wine caves and cellars across the valley still run on systems Reliable put in.
Their son and his friend — both raised in Napa and St. Helena — took the keys in the 1990s and ran the company for nearly thirty years, known personally, for a lifetime, for honest work. When they were ready to retire, private equity came knocking. They said no — they’d rather have closed the doors than sell to those guys.
Today, Davis and Jenna carry it forward: a family raising three kids in Napa, with everything riding on doing this right. Family-owned — and staying that way.
The timeline
Same valley, three generations of owners.
1977
Dan & Marie Santos found Reliable Refrigeration
Dan was the refrigeration technician. The valley’s cellars were the first customers.
1990s
Jeff & George take the keys
Raised in Napa and St. Helena, they ran the company for nearly thirty years.
2020s
Private equity comes knocking. They say no.
They turned down every buyout offer rather than sell the company’s name.
Today
Davis & Jenna carry it forward
A Napa family, raising three kids here. Family-owned, and staying that way.
What is sacred
Family. Integrity. Our people.
Family at the center
Family-owned for three generations of owners, and never anything else. We treat your family like our family.
Integrity, plainly stated
We do what we say we’re going to do, when we say we’re going to do it. When we miss, that’s our problem to make right — never yours.
Technicians who live here
Eight of ten of our people live in Napa. We pay well enough that they can. Customers feel that, and it shows in the work.
The work, above all
The engineering comes first. We do the best work in the valley and charge an honest price for it.
What we are not
A few things you’ll never get from us.
The $29 tune-up
…that turns into a $700 sales pitch. Our maintenance is maintenance.
A national chain
No private-equity layer to feed. Decisions are made here, by the family that answers the phone.
Commissioned salespeople
In technicians’ clothing. Our techs are paid to do the work right, not to sell you more of it.
Hype or fake urgency
No countdown timers, no “act now,” no mascots. Just honest work, explained plainly.
We’re also not the cheapest — and we won’t pretend otherwise. We do the best work in the valley and charge an honest price for it.