D&K Refrigeration HVAC LLC

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.

High-temperature commercial dishwashers must reach 180°F (82°C) at the final rinse to achieve proper sanitization per NSF and health department standards. Low-temperature chemical sanitizing machines must maintain proper chemical concentrations (chlorine, iodine, or quaternary). If your high-temp machine isn't reaching 180°F, it's not properly sanitizing and may fail health inspection. Call a technician immediately.

1) Call an emergency refrigeration technician immediately. 2) Take and document temperature readings. 3) Move the most temperature-sensitive items (proteins, dairy) to alternate refrigeration first. 4) Contact your health department if temperatures approach 40°F+ — they can advise on food safety decisions. 5) Document all food temps for insurance claims. 6) Consider dry ice or portable refrigeration units for critical inventory. 7) Alert your supplier you may need emergency replacement products.