Heritage Service Group

Commercial refrigerators must maintain 40°F (4°C) or below for food safety compliance. Walk-in freezers should be at 0°F (-18°C) or below. Many food safety programs require refrigerators to run at 35-38°F for proper margin. If your unit struggles to maintain proper temperature, especially during busy service periods or in hot kitchen environments, call a technician — compressor capacity or refrigerant levels may be the issue.

The hi-limit switch is a safety device that cuts power when fryer temperature exceeds safe limits. Common causes: faulty thermostat allowing oil to overheat, failing hi-limit switch itself, improper temperature settings, low oil level exposing heating elements, or carbon buildup insulating heating elements. Never bypass the hi-limit switch — it prevents fires. Call a technician to diagnose the root cause.

Oil quality directly affects fryer performance and longevity. Degraded oil causes: higher operating temperatures needed, longer cook times, off-flavors, and increased carbon buildup on heating elements and thermostat probes. Proper oil management includes: filtering daily, testing oil quality with strips or meters, full oil changes based on usage (typically every 1-3 weeks), and cleaning the fryer tank when changing oil. Poor oil management is a leading cause of premature fryer failure.