Scale on the evaporator
Mineral buildup stops ice from releasing during harvest. A full clean and sanitize usually restores production.
Typical all-in: Est. $285–$585
An ice machine that stops making ice can shut down a bar or a drink station in hours. Here's what usually causes it and what your staff can safely check first.
Reviewed by Mike Larson, Master Appliance Technician · 18+ yrs in-field · Last reviewed
Same-day priority
Commercial dispatch first.
EPA 608 certified
Sealed-system work in-house.
OEM parts on truck
True, Hoshizaki, Manitowoc, Hobart.
1-yr written warranty
Parts & labor in writing.
$199 trip charge — waived with any repair. Approve the work on the same visit and the trip charge comes off the invoice. If you decline, you pay only the $199 and we leave a written scope. Every completed repair carries a 1-year written parts-and-labor warranty.
Quick answer
A commercial ice machine that stops making ice is most often caused by scale on the evaporator, a clogged water filter or failed water-inlet valve, a dirty condenser, a failed harvest sensor or thermistor, or a refrigeration problem. First check that water is on, the filter isn't overdue, the condenser is clean, and the bin isn't full. Typical repairs are estimated at $285–$885, and a compressor replacement more. Quoted in writing first, $199 commercial trip fee waived with the repair, after-hours emergency service available.
Key facts
| Service | Commercial Ice Machine Not Making Ice — Twin Cities |
|---|---|
| Common repairs | Scale on the evaporator; No water to the machine; Harvest problems; Dirty or failed condenser; Refrigeration faults |
| Typical repair cost | Scale on the evaporator: Est. $285–$585 · No water to the machine: Est. $285–$585 · Harvest problems: Est. $325–$785 · Dirty or failed condenser: Est. $285–$685 · Refrigeration faults: Est. $585–$1,850 (written quote before work) |
| Trip fee | $199 commercial trip fee, waived when you approve the repair |
| Warranty | 1-year written parts-and-labor warranty |
| Credentials | Factory-trained technicians; EPA 608 certified for refrigerant work |
| Availability | Same-day priority, plus after-hours and weekend emergency service |
| Brands | Hoshizaki, Manitowoc, Scotsman, Ice-O-Matic, Follett, Cornelius |
| Phone | (651) 364-7466 |
Services covered
Mineral buildup stops ice from releasing during harvest. A full clean and sanitize usually restores production.
Typical all-in: Est. $285–$585
Clogged filters, failed water-inlet valves, and frozen or kinked lines.
Typical all-in: Est. $285–$585
Failed harvest sensors, thermistors, hot-gas valves and bin switches.
Typical all-in: Est. $325–$785
Clogged air-cooled condensers and failed fan motors that trip the machine on high pressure.
Typical all-in: Est. $285–$685
Leaks, low refrigerant and compressor failure, handled by EPA 608 certified techs.
Typical all-in: Est. $585–$1,850
Repair vs. replace
Commercial calls get priority dispatch, with night and weekend emergency service across the Twin Cities.
You get the diagnosis and price first. The $199 commercial trip fee is waived when you approve the repair.
Factory-trained technicians, EPA 608 certified for refrigeration work, with a 1-year parts-and-labor warranty.
Written preventive maintenance contracts to catch problems before they shut down service.
Brands serviced
If your equipment is down right now
A full bin or a stuck bin switch stops production by design.
Confirm the water valve is open and the filter isn't past its change date.
Vacuum dust off an air-cooled condenser if it's easy to reach.
Call (651) 364-7466 with the brand, model and any error light.
FAQs
Common causes are scale on the evaporator, low water flow, a dirty condenser, or low refrigerant. If it runs and the plate stays warm, it's usually refrigeration.
Usually low water supply, a clogged filter, or scale. Clean the machine and change the filter first.
Most manufacturers call for cleaning and sanitizing every six months, more often with hard water or in bakeries and bars.
Most repairs are estimated at $285–$885. Refrigeration repairs cost more. You get a written quote first, and the $199 trip fee is waived with the repair.
Yes. We issue COIs naming your property manager, hospitality group, hospital facilities office, or municipal account as additional-insured at no charge — typically the same business day. General liability and workers' comp are in force year-round; we can raise limits per contract on request.
First visit is card-on-file or COD. Once an account is established, we invoice Net-15 or Net-30 with itemized statements aligned to your accounting cycle. We accept POs from restaurant groups, hotel brands, property management firms, school districts, and city and county accounts. ACH and card payments both fine.
Yes — quarterly, semi-annual, and annual PM plans tiered by equipment count and equipment class. Every visit includes condenser cleaning, drain flushing, gasket and hinge inspection, electrical-tightness verification, controller and setpoint check, and a written report you can hand to insurers, health inspectors, or franchisors.
Every technician holds EPA Section 608 Universal certification covering R-404A, R-448A / R-449A (Solstice N40, Opteon XP40), R-290 hydrocarbon systems where code permits, and legacy R-22. Cooking-equipment techs are gas-certified for natural gas and LP on ranges, fryers, ovens, and combi-ovens.
Yes. We coordinate dock and freight-elevator windows in advance, badge in through hotel or hospital engineering, and work around banquet, service-window, and clinical-department timing. Overnight and pre-open service is available when a daytime window won't work.
Yes — after-hours, weekend, and holiday emergency dispatch is available for refrigeration, ice, and warewashing failures across the Twin Cities metro. A published after-hours premium applies and is confirmed in writing before the tech leaves the shop.
A 1-year written parts-and-labor warranty on every commercial repair — the same failure mode, on the same unit, within 12 months is covered at no additional charge. Some sealed-system components carry an extended manufacturer warranty on top; those terms are itemized on the invoice.
Yes. Truck-mounted reach-ins, undercounter units, generator-fed ice machines, and mobile prep tables are all serviceable — we typically shop-visit at your commissary or overnight parking rather than roadside so the unit can stabilize before diagnosis.
Yes. Written estimates are issued before any sealed-system, compressor, or major-component work. On request we provide inspector-ready documentation: repair scope, part numbers, refrigerant type and charge, and the date service restored the unit to spec.
Full Twin Cities metro — Minneapolis (55401–55488), Saint Paul (55101–55155), Bloomington, Edina, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Woodbury, Eagan, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Roseville, Burnsville, and the surrounding suburbs — plus Hudson, WI 54016 and Western Wisconsin. Commercial dispatch runs a daily route across the metro.
Related coverage
Who we serve
Commercial Ice Machine Not Making Ice — Twin Cities covers foodservice, hospitality, healthcare, retail, and institutional accounts across the Twin Cities metro. Multi-location operators get one dispatcher, one COI on file, and Net-15 / Net-30 invoicing.
Service area
Daily route across Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and the surrounding metro. ZIP coverage: 55401–55488 (Minneapolis), 55101–55155 (Saint Paul), 55420–55439 (Bloomington/Edina), 55304–55449 (north metro), 55044–55124 (Lakeville/Apple Valley/Eagan), 55125–55129 (Woodbury), and 54016 (Hudson, WI).