Commercial Refrigeration Repair
Commercial refrigeration repair for reach-ins, prep tables, bar coolers and walk-ins that drift above safe holding temperatures.
See the repairCommercial
Ice machine repair for Los Angeles restaurants and bars
Valley water is hard, and ice machines show it first. When cubes come out thin, cloudy or not at all, we descale, sanitize and repair commercial ice machines in bars, restaurants, cafes and offices.
- Phone answered 24/7
- Office in Sun Valley
- Price before the work
$185 to $365 typical for descale and sanitize
Quick answer
Ice machine repair covers commercial cubers, flakers and nugget machines: water inlet valves, water pumps, distribution tubes, harvest sensors, thickness probes, condenser fans and scale removal. Most slow or thin ice traces back to scale or a dirty condenser. Note any flashing light or code, check the water filter date, and call us any hour. You hear the price before any work begins.
We repair Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, LG, KitchenAid, Bosch, Sub-Zero, Wolf, Thermador and the other names found in Valley kitchens and laundry rooms.
WhirlpoolGESamsungLGFrigidaireKitchenAidMaytagBoschSub-ZeroWolfThermadorVikingKenmoreMiele
Before you call
Simple ice machine checks for staff
Safe checks only. If anything smells hot, sparks or involves gas, stop and call.
- Check the water filter date and replace a cartridge that is past its schedule.
- Make sure nothing blocks the air vents on an air-cooled machine.
- Confirm the water supply valve to the machine is fully open.
- Write down any flashing light pattern or code before turning the machine off.
- Keep the bin door closed and scoop ice with a clean scoop, not a glass.
Symptoms
Signs your ice machine needs service
- Thin or hollow cubesScale on the evaporator, low water flow or a misread thickness probe makes cubes harvest too early.
- Ice sticks to the plateA failed hot gas valve or heavy scale keeps ice from releasing during harvest.
- Bin never fillsLow production often comes from a dirty condenser, a failing water pump or a slow inlet valve.
- Flashing lights or error codesMost machines flag long freeze or harvest times, which point to scale, water or airflow problems.
- Cloudy, soft or bad-tasting iceA spent water filter, scale and slime in the water trough affect ice quality.
- Water on the floorClogged drain lines, a cracked water trough or a stuck inlet valve can leak under the bar.
The short version
Why ice machines slow down and stop
An ice machine is a refrigeration system and a water system working in a timed loop. Water is pumped over a cold evaporator plate and ice builds to a set thickness. Then the machine switches to harvest, warms the plate and drops the ice into the bin.
Hard water breaks that loop. Minerals coat the evaporator, the distribution tube holes and the water level probe. The ice no longer releases cleanly, the thickness sensor reads wrong, and the machine either makes thin ice or stops with an error.
Heat is the other problem. Air-cooled ice machines under a bar or in a hot back room pull in warm air, and a dirty condenser cuts production on the busiest days. We clean, test and repair both sides so the machine makes full batches again.
Step by step
What an ice machine service call looks like
Every visit follows the same order, so you always know what comes next and what it costs.
Phone call
Call any hour with the brand, model and any error light. We ask how long since the last cleaning.
Cycle observation
The technician watches a freeze and harvest cycle and times each stage.
Water and airflow tests
We check water flow, probes, condenser airflow and the filter.
Price and repair
The manager gets the price before we start, and we repair, clean and sanitize.
Test run
We run a full batch and confirm the cubes are full, clear and release cleanly.
Parts and repairs
Ice machine repairs and cleaning we do
We repair cubers, flakers and nugget machines from brands such as Hoshizaki, Scotsman and True. Most visits combine a repair with a scale and sanitizer cleaning. Scale causes many of the failures, so the two go together.
- Descaling the water systemWe run approved scale remover through the evaporator, trough and distribution tubes.
- SanitizingAfter descaling, we sanitize the water path, bin and chute to remove slime and mold.
- Water inlet valvesScaled or leaking inlet valves are replaced so the trough fills to the right level.
- Water pumpsWeak pumps reduce flow over the evaporator and cause thin, uneven cubes.
- Thickness and level probesWe clean or replace probes that misread scale as ice or water.
- Condenser cleaning and fan motorsAir-cooled condensers are cleaned and fan motors replaced when they fail from heat.
- Harvest componentsHot gas valves, harvest assist parts and bin controls are tested when ice does not release.
- Water filtersWe replace filter cartridges and set a change schedule based on your usage.
Los Angeles price ranges
Ice machine repair prices in Los Angeles
Ice machine prices depend on the machine size, the part and how much scale has built up. Many calls include a cleaning along with the repair. Water-cooled and remote-condenser machines can cost more to service.
| Repair | Typical range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Descale and sanitize | $185 to $365 | Machine size and scale level |
| Water inlet valve | $215 to $395 | Valve type and brand |
| Water pump replacement | $245 to $465 | Cuber or flaker and model |
| Condenser fan motor | $235 to $435 | Air-cooled model and access |
| Thickness or water level probe | $165 to $345 | Probe type and calibration |
These are typical ranges for ice machines here. The real price depends on the part, the scale level and the diagnosis, and you approve it before we begin.
Here in the Valley
Hard water and hot back rooms in Valley bars
Valley tap water carries a heavy mineral load, and ice machines run thousands of gallons through a small evaporator plate. In bars and restaurants from North Hollywood to Encino, we see machines that need descaling far more often than the manufacturer's minimum. Scale shows up first as white crust on the evaporator and the water curtain.
Many of those machines sit under a back bar or in a storage room with no air conditioning. On a hot August night, an air-cooled machine pulling in hot air can fall well behind demand. We check airflow clearances and recommend a cleaning schedule that fits your water and your room.
Worth weighing
Repair, clean or replace an ice machine
Most ice machine problems are solved with a thorough cleaning and one part. Pumps, valves, probes and fans are standard repairs that bring production back to normal. The cleaning also improves ice clarity and taste.
A failed compressor, a leaking evaporator or a machine that is too small for your volume may justify replacement. We look at your daily ice use and the age of the machine before giving you our view. We will tell you plainly if the machine is undersized for your busiest nights.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Where we handle ice machine repair calls
Our Sun Valley office sends technicians across the Valley and the cities around it. These are the places we visit most for ice machine repair.
- Sun Valley 91352
- North Hollywood 91601
- Valley Village 91607
- Studio City 91604
- Sherman Oaks 91403
- Van Nuys 91405
- Lake Balboa 91406
- Encino 91436
- Tarzana 91356
- Woodland Hills 91364
- West Hills 91307
- Northridge 91324
- Granada Hills 91344
- Porter Ranch 91326
- Chatsworth 91311
- Mission Hills 91345
- Sylmar 91342
- Sunland-Tujunga 91040
- Burbank 91505
- Glendale 91205
- Pasadena 91101
- La Cañada Flintridge 91011
- San Fernando 91340
- Santa Clarita 91355
- Calabasas 91302
- Simi Valley 93065
- Thousand Oaks 91360
Questions
Ice Machine Repair questions we hear in Los Angeles
How often should an ice machine be cleaned in the San Fernando Valley?
With hard Valley water, many ice machines need descaling and sanitizing every few months, more often than the minimum in the manual. Busy bars and machines in warm rooms may need it more. We recommend a schedule based on scale buildup at each visit.
Why is my ice machine making thin or hollow cubes?
Thin cubes from an ice machine usually come from scale on the evaporator, a weak water pump, low water pressure or a thickness probe that is misreading. A descale often fixes it. If not, we test the pump and probe and replace the failing part.
Why is my ice machine not dropping ice?
If an ice machine builds ice but will not drop it, the harvest cycle is failing. Heavy scale can glue the ice to the plate, or a hot gas valve or harvest assist part may have failed. We test the harvest components and clean the evaporator.
Do you repair Hoshizaki and Scotsman ice machines?
Yes. We repair Hoshizaki, Scotsman and True ice machines, along with other common commercial brands, including cubers, flakers and nugget machines. We carry common water valves and probes and order other parts by model number.
Can a dirty ice machine fail a health inspection?
Slime, mold or scale inside an ice machine can be cited during a health inspection, because ice is treated as food. Regular descaling and sanitizing keeps the bin, chute and water path clean. Check with the county health department for the standards that apply to you.
Why is my ice machine leaking water on the floor?
An ice machine leak usually comes from a blocked drain line, a stuck water inlet valve, a cracked trough or a loose fitting. Turn off the water supply valve and call us. We find the source and clear or replace the part.
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See the repairNeed ice machine repair today?
Call now. We answer every hour of every day and will tell you what we will check first.