Appliance Electrician

Commercial ice machines should be professionally cleaned and sanitized every 6 months at minimum, or more frequently in hard water areas. The FDA Food Code requires ice machines to be clean and sanitized to prevent mold, slime, and bacterial growth. Between professional cleanings, staff should clean the exterior, ice bin, and scoop holder regularly. Many operators who skip cleaning face costly repairs from scale buildup and potential health code violations.

A comprehensive PM program should include: scheduled inspections at manufacturer-recommended intervals, cleaning of condenser coils and filters, calibration of temperature controls, inspection and testing of safety systems, lubrication of moving parts, replacement of wear items (gaskets, filters, belts), refrigerant level checks, combustion analysis for gas equipment, and detailed documentation for each visit. Avoid programs that are just a visual inspection without hands-on service.

A compliant hood cleaning includes: complete degreasing of the hood canopy, all grease filters, the entire ductwork system from hood to exhaust fan discharge, and the exhaust fan and housing. Areas that cannot be thoroughly cleaned must be documented. Cleaning must be performed by a qualified company and documented with service report and before/after photos. The technician should leave a dated sticker on the equipment and provide a compliance certificate.