How Much to Charge for Ice Machine Cleaning
Ice machine cleaning typically runs $175–$350 per unit for an undercounter or small modular machine and $300–$600 for a large modular or remote-condenser unit, with water filter replacement at $75–$200 depending on cartridge. Multi-unit sites usually get a reduced per-unit rate, twice-yearly service agreements are priced annually per machine, and work performed outside operating hours carries a premium.
Per-unit rates
- Undercounter / small modular — $175–$350
- Large modular / remote condenser — $300–$600
- Water filter replacement — $75–$200 by cartridge
- Deep clean / neglected unit — above standard, quoted on inspection
- After-hours premium — for pre-open or post-close work
What moves the price
- Machine size and type — flake, nugget, and cube units differ in teardown time
- Condenser type — air-cooled, water-cooled, or remote
- Condition — scale and biofilm buildup scales the labor directly
- Access — a machine wedged under a counter in a tight bar well
- Site count — multiple units share the drive and the setup
- Timing — outside service hours costs more
Sell the agreement, not the cleaning
Cleanings are a purchase nobody looks forward to. Price an annual agreement just under two one-offs, throw in the inspection record and priority repair response, and you’ve turned a reluctant transaction into scheduled revenue.
It also means the machine actually gets cleaned, which is the thing that stops it failing during a Saturday rush.
Photograph the inside before you start
A neglected evaporator is a genuinely persuasive image. It justifies a deep-clean rate, sells the filter program, and sells the agreement — all in about the time it takes to hold up a phone.
The multi-unit site is the real prize
A restaurant group with an ice machine in every location is one relationship, one invoice format, and a route. Price the per-unit rate to win the whole group, not to squeeze the most out of the first machine.
Frequently asked questions
Should I discount for multiple machines at one site?
Yes, modestly — the drive, setup, and account handling are shared across every unit at that address. A three-machine restaurant should cost less per unit than a one-machine café, and saying so explicitly is what wins the whole site.
How do I price an agreement versus one-off cleanings?
Price the annual agreement slightly below two one-off cleanings, and include the inspection record and priority repair response. You're trading a small discount for scheduled work, predictable revenue, and first call on every repair.
Should I charge more for after-hours cleaning?
Yes. A busy restaurant often can't give up a machine during service, so cleaning happens at 6am or after close. That's a premium schedule and it should carry a premium rate — quoted up front, not added afterward.
What if the machine is badly neglected?
Quote a deep-clean or restoration rate above standard, after you've opened it and taken a photo. Years of scale and biofilm is a genuinely different job, and a photo makes that conversation take about ten seconds.