AG Heating Cooling & Plumbing

Ice quality issues often indicate water system or refrigeration problems: cloudy ice suggests poor water quality or mineral content; soft ice indicates inadequate freeze cycle time or refrigerant issues; small or misshapen cubes typically point to low water flow, scale buildup on evaporator plates, or refrigerant problems. All of these issues affect the safety and quality of ice used in beverages and food service.

Critical food safety temperatures: Cold holding — 40°F (4°C) or below for refrigeration; freezer 0°F (-18°C) or below. Hot holding — 140°F (60°C) or above for steam tables and food warmers. Cooking temperatures vary by food type (145°F-165°F). Dishwasher final rinse — 180°F (82°C) for high-temp machines. Any equipment consistently failing to maintain these temperatures is both a safety risk and a health code violation.

Signs your oven needs calibration: food is consistently undercooked or overcooked at standard settings, cooking times are significantly longer or shorter than expected, the displayed temperature doesn't match an independent thermometer reading. Oven calibration should be part of every service visit and can drift over time from component wear. A variance of more than 25°F warrants professional calibration.