Commercial ice machine repair in Ottawa and Gatineau
We repair modular, self-contained under-counter, nugget and flake ice machines and their bins and dispensers, for restaurants, bars, hotels, clinics and offices in Ottawa and Gatineau. Diagnostic: $129 + tax, waived when you proceed with the repair.
Ice counts as food, so an ice machine has to make clean ice reliably. Most no-ice and slow-ice calls come down to water supply (a clogged filter or a failed inlet valve), scale on the evaporator plate, a harvest problem, a stuck bin control or a failed pump or sensor. A dirty condenser makes every one of those worse.
We find the cause, write it down with the price and fix it with your approval. We diagnose the sealed system. Refrigerant work (leak repair, recharge, compressor replacement and recovery) is done for RepairWell by a certified refrigeration technician we work with.
Equipment we repair
- Modular (head-unit) machines. Ice heads on top of a bin or dispenser, air- or water-cooled.
- Self-contained under-counter machines. Bar and café units with a built-in bin.
- Nugget and flake machines. Auger-type machines, including countertop ice and water dispensers.
- Bins and dispensers. Bin controls, dispenser motors, augers and chutes.
Problems we fix, and what can cause them
These are possibilities, not a diagnosis. The technician confirms the cause on site and writes it down before any repair.
| Symptom | Possible causes |
|---|---|
| No ice at all | Water supply or filter, inlet valve, bin control stuck in the full position, pump, controller fault, or a refrigeration problem confirmed on site. |
| Making less ice than it should | Dirty condenser, scale on the evaporator, partially clogged filter, high room temperature, failing pump or valve. |
| Ice not dropping (harvest problems) | Scale on the evaporator plate, harvest valve or assist, thickness probe out of adjustment, controller. |
| Cloudy, soft or small cubes | Water quality or filter, scale, low water flow, thickness setting. |
| Water leaking | Drain line blocked or not sloped, cracked trough or tubing, inlet valve not closing, bin drain. |
| Machine stops and flashes an error | The code points to a sensor, water, harvest or temperature fault; the technician reads it with the machine's service manual. |
| Auger machine grinding or squealing | Worn auger bearings, gear motor or a scale-bound auger. |
Parts we test and replace
- water inlet valves and filters
- water pumps and distribution tubes
- thickness, water-level and bin-level sensors
- harvest valves and assist motors
- control boards
- condenser fan motors
- auger motors, gearboxes and bearings
- drain lines and bin drains
- sealed-system parts (refrigeration partner)
Repairs a technician may recommend
- Replace the water inlet valve or filter
- Descale and sanitize the evaporator, water system and bin
- Replace the water pump, a sensor or the bin control
- Replace the harvest valve or assist and adjust the thickness probe
- Clean the condenser and replace a failed condenser fan
- Replace an auger, bearing or gear motor on nugget and flake machines
- Clear and re-slope a drain
- Sealed-system diagnosis and repair by our refrigeration partner where needed
We diagnose the sealed system. Refrigerant work (leak repair, recharge, compressor replacement and recovery) is done for RepairWell by a certified refrigeration technician we work with. Retiring a unit instead? See Freon and refrigerant removal.
Safe checks before you call
- Check that the water supply valve to the machine is open
- Check the date on the water filter and whether it is due
- Look at the condenser grille for dust or grease
- Make sure nothing is pressing on the bin control or curtain
- Note any code on the display before you call
Stop using it if
- Mould, slime or discoloured ice: stop serving it and empty the bin
- Water leaking near the electrical connection
- A burning smell or a breaker that keeps tripping
Never work on gas lines, wiring or refrigerant yourself.
What to expect at the visit
The technician checks water supply and filtration, the freeze and harvest cycle, sensors and controls, the condenser and the drain, then the refrigeration side if everything else checks out. Descaling and sanitizing can often be done on the same visit. You get a written finding and price before any repair.
Repair or replace?
Valves, pumps, sensors, harvest parts and controls are worth repairing. A compressor failure on an older head is the case to weigh against replacement, and the finding gives you both numbers.
What moves the price
- Diagnostic: $129 + tax, waived when you proceed with the repair. Written finding and quote before any work.
- Whether descaling and sanitizing is needed as well as the repair
- Air-cooled versus water-cooled or remote condenser
- Part on the truck or ordered
- Sealed-system work by our refrigeration partner, quoted separately
Warranty: 90 days on parts replaced; labour coverage depends on the work done. Emergency service runs 6 pm to midnight: a $169 + tax emergency call within 35 km; beyond 35 km extra travel is quoted from your address. Emergency repairs are quoted on site and cost more than regular repairs.
Questions
How often should an ice machine be cleaned?
Follow the cleaning interval in your machine's manual; it depends on the model and your water. Machines that are not descaled tend to make less ice and have harvest problems.
Can you clean and sanitize the machine?
Yes, as part of a repair visit or on its own. The written finding notes the condition of the evaporator and bin.
The machine runs but the bin stays empty. What is it?
Often a harvest problem or a bin control that thinks the bin is full. The technician confirms which on site.
What does the visit cost?
The diagnostic is $129 + tax, waived when you proceed with the repair.
Related commercial repairs
Sources
Sources checked 2026-10-21.
Equipment down?
Call with the equipment type and the symptom, or book online. You get a written finding and the price before any repair.
Pick a preferred day and arrival window online; we confirm by email once a technician is assigned.
- $129 + tax diagnosticAny commercial appliance, gas or electric; waived when you proceed with the repair
- Written finding on every visitCause, price and our repair-or-replace verdict
- 90-day warrantyOn parts replaced; labour depends on the work done