Great Lakes Air (formerly Solly Industries)

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.

Commercial kitchen equipment lifespans vary: commercial ovens 15-20 years, fryers 10-15 years, refrigeration equipment 10-15 years, ice machines 7-10 years, dishwashers 10-15 years, steam tables 10-15 years. Regular preventive maintenance significantly extends equipment life. Equipment that is properly maintained often outlasts these averages by 5+ years.

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.