Abstract: A cooling/dispensing system for cooling and dispensing a beverage. A refrigeration system having an evaporator in a cooling tank cools the fluid in the tank and has a compressor connected to the evaporator for cooling the evaporator. A beverage dispensing system includes a carbonator tank in heat exchange relationship with the fluid in the cooling tank, the carbonator having a first input port connected to a gas supply, having a second input port connected to a liquid supply and having a output port, the carbonator for carbonating the liquid from the liquid supply flowing through the carbonator to produce a carbonated liquid product. A dispenser dispenses the beverage and a beverage conduit connected to the output of the carbonator and connected to the dispenser provides the carbonated liquid product to be dispensed as the beverage. A condition sensor senses a condition of the refrigeration system or of the beverage dispensing apparatus.