Craig Mechanical Systems

NFPA 96 (Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations) requires cleaning frequency based on cooking volume: monthly for solid fuel cooking (wood, charcoal); quarterly for high-volume cooking (24-hour operations, charbroiling); semi-annually for moderate-volume cooking; and annually for low-volume cooking (pizzerias, churches, seasonal businesses). Your local fire marshal may have additional requirements. Failure to comply can void your fire suppression system coverage.

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.

Yes — most food service operators find PM contracts reduce total repair costs by 30-50% compared to reactive-only maintenance. Benefits include: reduced emergency repair calls (the most expensive type), extended equipment lifespan, maintained food safety compliance, priority scheduling for PM customers, and detailed maintenance records for health inspections. The ROI is especially strong for high-volume operations where any downtime is costly.