Sears

Preventive maintenance frequency depends on the equipment and usage volume. As a general guideline: fryers and ovens should be inspected every 3-6 months; refrigeration equipment annually or semi-annually; ice machines every 6 months (including cleaning and sanitizing); exhaust hoods quarterly to semi-annually per NFPA 96; and dishwashers quarterly. High-volume operations benefit from more frequent service intervals.

Emergency repair typically costs 1.5-2.5x normal rates. After-hours service calls usually run $150-$300 for the diagnostic fee, plus parts and labor. Weekend and holiday rates can be higher. However, the cost of downtime — lost revenue, food waste, and staff idle time — almost always exceeds the emergency service premium. Most providers charge $100-$200 diagnostic fees that apply to the total repair.

Reduced ice production is usually caused by: mineral scale buildup on evaporator plates reducing heat transfer, dirty condenser coils reducing refrigeration efficiency, warm ambient temperature in the equipment room, low refrigerant levels, or water flow problems. The fix for scale buildup is professional cleaning and descaling. Other issues require a technician. Never ignore reduced production — it often progresses to complete failure.