Commercial Avantco Ice Machine Repair in Palm Desert – Diagnosing the Undiagnosable

August 7, 2025

Commercial Avantco Ice Machine Repair in Palm Desert – Diagnosing the Undiagnosable

When your commercial ice machine fails in Palm Desert, it’s more than just a minor inconvenience — it’s a major disruption to service, safety, and customer satisfaction. We recently handled a tricky Avantco ice machine repair for a local business just a few miles from The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, and it was one of those jobs that reminded us why persistence and creative problem-solving matter in HVAC-R.

Step One: Leaking Water and No Ice

Our technician arrived to find water flooding the inside of the machine and zero ice production. A closer look revealed a missing drain plug, allowing water to pour out from the bottom of the reservoir. With no factory replacement on-site, we quickly fashioned a temporary cork seal (yes — a wine cork) to stop the leak and begin diagnosis.

That solved the water issue… but not the ice.

Step Two: No Cooling + A Failed Vacuum Test

Despite the fans and compressor running, no ice was forming. The water over the evaporator stayed warm. We suspected a refrigerant issue — but this Avantco model uses R290 (propane) and came with no service ports. We installed a piercing valve, only to discover the system was in a full vacuum — a clear sign of a serious leak or total charge loss.

Improvising Under Pressure

We vented the remaining refrigerant and brazed in a service port, replacing the stem with a new one that could handle future diagnostics. After performing a nitrogen pressure test and carefully charging with 404A for testing, we still couldn’t find any visible leaks.

Our pressure held steady — so we evacuated the system to 500 microns, then recharged with the exact R290 spec: 4.6 oz.

Within minutes of restarting, we saw a perfect slab of ice forming on the evaporator. But the system didn’t leave harvest mode…

The Real Problem: Curtain Switch Failure

Despite successful ice production, the machine stayed stuck in harvest mode, unable to recognize when the ice dropped. Turns out the magnetic curtain switch had failed — it wasn’t detecting movement. We improvised again, wiring in a Manitowoc bin switch as a stand-in and carefully aligning the magnet to simulate the swing of the curtain.

The result? As soon as ice dropped and the switch signaled, the system transitioned right back into ice-making mode. Problem solved.

Final Result: One Working Ice Machine, One Happy Business

By the end of the day, the customer had a fully operational Avantco ice machine, perfect slabs of ice, and no more leaks. We left knowing we’d saved them from downtime and a potential equipment replacement.

Serving Palm Desert Businesses — Fast, Creative, Reliable

Whether your business is near The Living Desert, El Paseo, or downtown Palm Desert, we offer fast, certified service for:

✅ Commercial Ice Machines (Avantco, Manitowoc, Hoshizaki, & more)
✅ R290, 404A, and Low-Temp Refrigeration Equipment
✅ Emergency Repairs & Leak Diagnosis
✅ Non-OEM Solutions When Factory Parts Fail

Need Ice Machine Repair in Palm Desert?

Contact American Cool Heat Air

EXTENSIVE SERVICE COVERAGE FOR COMMERCIAL HVAC & REFRIGERATION SOLUTIONS

No Commercial HVAC or Refrigeration job is too small or too far for us. While our primary branches are located in Palm Desert and Rancho Cucamonga, California, we’re dedicated to reaching customers wherever they are in need.

Proudly serving cities across California, including Indio, La Quinta, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes, Thousand Palms, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Santa Ana, Fontana, Moreno Valley, Glendale, Ontario, Garden Grove, Palm Desert, Irvine, Anaheim, Riverside, Palm Springs, and extending to Los Angeles and beyond. Your satisfaction is our priority, no matter the distance or scale of the project.