SSAP LLC - AERUS

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.

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.

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.