Whether you own a hotel, restaurant, bar or other facility, having a commercial ice machine is an important part of your business. How do you know which size to get? Other than calling their ice machine sales, repair and maintenance company for advice, finding the answer to this question can stump business owners. If your machine is too large, it could take up valuable real estate. If it’s too small, you won’t be able to adequately supply customers, clients and employees as needed.
Here’s a quick guide to the right ice machine size.
General guidelines
You might already know how much ice you use on a daily basis—if so, that makes your decision a lot easier. If not, your ice needs depend on the type of business, the cubic feet of your cold bar and how many seats are in the establishment. Then you add 20 percent to the estimate to leave room for growth (and for rush crowds).
Typically, you want an ice bin that can hold about 75 to 80 percent of what your ice machine produces. The “head” or production unit might be able to make 500 pounds of ice per day. That means you’d need a bin that can hold 375 to 400 pounds—if you constantly use the ice, that is. For places like event halls and other places where ice isn’t constantly needed, look for a bin that holds 150 percent of the total production capacity. For 500 pounds of ice, you’d need a bin that could hold 750 pounds. Even if the ice has time to build up, you should be safe.
Restaurant sizing
To size a commercial ice machine for a restaurant, think about how many customers you serve per day and what types of service you offer. If you don’t have past sales data, you can use these guidelines to estimate. You may need multiple machines if your place includes a bar. Always add 20 percent to your estimate to account for rush crowds and growth.
A standard restaurant uses about 1.5 pounds per customer. If you serve cocktails or have a self-service beverage station, make it three pounds per customer. Meanwhile, drive-through customers use anywhere from five to 12 ounces per drink sold.
Other establishments
If you run a different type of establishment, keep these guidelines in mind:
Convenience stores: Use the same guidelines as a drive-through establishment.
Healthcare facilities: Estimate 10 pounds of ice per bed per day.
Hotels and motels: You’ll need about five pounds per room per day, and up to eight pounds per room per day if you expect people to fill their ice chests.
Cafeterias: Typically, you’ll need one pound of ice per customer.
Grocery stores: Estimate 35 pounds of ice per cubic foot of display each day. If you offer a beverage station, also use the convenience store and drive-through guidelines.
Following these guidelines will help you determine just how much ice you need.
Did you know that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies ice as a food? That means the ice machine in your business needs to be cleaned and maintained regularly, just like any other piece of commercial kitchen equipment.
The FDA specifies that all commercial ice machines need to be cleaned at least two times per year, but they also recommend sanitizing it four times a year to meet food safety standards. That said, the more often it’s cleaned, the better—especially if it’s used frequently.
This post will provide answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding ice machine maintenance.
What happens if you don’t clean your ice machine?
The main reason to regularly clean your ice machine is to prevent a buildup of bacteria and mold that can make patrons and employees sick. While mold and germs don’t necessarily thrive on the ice itself, they can grow in the warm water that feeds the ice machine.
Legionella bacteria is one of the scariest germs that’s been found in ice machine water. Legionella can cause an illness called Legionnaires’ disease, which can be deadly. A patient at a Pittsburgh hospital died in 2014 after contracting Legionnaires’—she contracted the disease after eating contaminated ice.
Ice machine maintenance can also prolong the lifespan of your unit and prevent breakdowns and subsequent repairs. Cleaning your ice machine can save you tons of money and literally save lives.
What does cleaning an ice machine entail?
Great care needs to be taken while cleaning your ice machine. Cleaning should begin with sanitizing the water that feeds the ice machine. Next you’ll need to scrub the condenser and replace the external water filter. Then inspect the inlet water valve for blockages, and ensure the bearing and auger look good to go.
Components like wires and fasters need to be inspected to ensure they’re not loose or fraying anywhere. Then check that all of the moving parts and gears are properly lubricated. Empty the ice bin, and scrub it clean before finally wiping down the exterior of the machine with the recommended cleaning solution.
Should you clean your machine by yourself?
Because they know how important it is, most manufacturers provide cleaning instructions for their ice machines; so, while you could clean your machine yourself by following the instructions, we recommend hiring a professional to clean and maintain your ice machine.
Bringing in a pro ensures that the machine will be completely sanitary and safe to use. Additionally, a professional can inspect your unit to ensure that it’s in working order and won’t kick the bucket anytime soon.
How can American Refrigeration Inc. help you?
In addition to our HVAC work, we specialize in repairs, maintenance and installation for all sorts of refrigerated commercial products—including ice machines. That means we’re your go-to team for any of your ice machine maintenance or cleaning needs. Contact our professionals today to get a quote or to learn more about how we can assist your business.
When you own a bar or restaurant in Eugene, OR, your commercial ice machine gets a lot of use. The FDA requires that ice be treated like food, which means that ice machines need regular cleaning and maintenance. Believe it or not, one bad batch of ice can sicken your customers. Since restaurants rarely use an entire bin of ice before the ice machine makes more, that contamination can spread easily. That’s why it’s so important to keep your machines clean and well maintained—not to mention the fact that you could face up to $500,000 in fines.
Here’s an overview of commercial ice machine cleaning and maintenance.
Cleaning your commercial ice machine
Commercial ice machines in Eugene, OR should be thoroughly cleaned two to four times each year. Check your manufacturer’s recommendations for their suggestions, but keep in mind that if your ice machine produces large volumes of ice, or your water quality is less than stellar, you may need to clean it even more frequently. If your ice machine is placed near a cooking line, it will probably need to be cleaned once per month. When it comes to health and safety, you can’t be too careful.
The FDA has a number of regulations in place for handling ice and ensuring that it is as sanitary as possible. Keep in mind that contaminated ice will not only expose you to fines from the FDA, but your business may be held liable if it’s responsible for making people sick.
Cleaning commercial ice machines involves thoroughly sanitizing each part. You’ll need to unplug it and pull out all of the removable components, sanitize them and remove any mineral buildup in the machine. You should also clean the outside. Once you’re finished with the cleaning process, run a normal cycle at least once to get rid of any residual cleaning agents.
Ice machine maintenance
In addition to cleaning your machine, you’ll need to replace the filter at least once every six months, or as needed. You may need to change it more often if the filter has a hard time keeping up with the water quality or volume of ice produced. The filter helps prevent mineral scale and removes sediment, odors and unpleasant flavors from the water. If you don’t replace the filter in time, your ice will start looking cloudy and taste unpleasant.
It’s also smart to schedule general ice machine maintenance one to two times per year. Working with refrigeration professionals like American Refrigeration Inc. makes it easy. Our maintenance contractors will check and repair all of your commercial ice machine’s components, including machinery, hoses, valves, seals and other parts. If anything looks like it’s worn out or is about to malfunction, we can fix it. After all, your bar or restaurant can’t afford to be without ice for long.
Taking care of your commercial ice machine in Eugene, OR is simple: just call American Refrigeration Inc. today. We’re happy to help you repair and maintain all of your commercial refrigeration products, whether preventative or on an emergency basis.
The ice machine is an important appliance in any commercial kitchen or cafeteria setting. You’ll commonly find them in restaurants, hotels, schools and hospitals—anywhere that people from the public gather for food or drink.
Like any other type of appliance, ice machines can occasionally experience mechanical, electrical or other types of problems. When this happens, it’s important that you’re able to recognize the symptoms of those problems and do not hesitate in calling a professional appliance repair service to analyze the appliance and determine the best course of action for commercial ice machine repair in Eugene, OR.
Here are just a few examples of inspections and repairs our team will make when you call us for service:
Power: If you lose power to your ice machine, your first step should be to check the circuit breaker or fuse that sends power to the equipment. If that’s not the issue, the problem could be with the wiring or something within the appliance itself that requires professional attention.
Temperature: Is the issue you’re having with your ice machine related to temperature? You might have difficulty getting the machine cold enough to create ice, for example. One common problem here is ambient air temperature—you should make sure you have the machine located in an area where the temperature doesn’t get too hot due to a lack of air conditioning or due to the presence of appliances that heat up ambient air. Otherwise, there might be a clog or a mechanical issue.
Water problems: Problems related to the water could also cause equipment malfunctions. The ice machine’s water supply could be interrupted if it’s not producing ice at all. You should also consider the temperature at which the water is coming into the machine—warm water will be harder to freeze than cold water.
Overworking: There are some parts that might have been overworked or worn out due to improper installation or operation. For example, the water inlet valve might constantly be running while the machine is trying to make ice in freeze mode.
Filters: The cause of your ice machine problems could simply be that you have not changed your filter in a reasonable amount of time. Water filters should be changed regularly to ensure proper operation of the equipment.
Maintenance: General maintenance of the ice machine is also necessary to ensure long-lasting, high-quality operation. You should regularly clean the condenser coil to prevent a buildup that could cause temperature issues or operational problems. Change water inlet valves when you need to take them apart to remove muck or calcium buildup that could be causing clogs. Clean the internal water side of the machine to ensure better quality ice and avoid clogs and buildup. These are all standard maintenance tasks you should perform yourself so you don’t have to call out a professional to make repairs as frequently.
For more information about some of the most common problems that necessitate commercial ice machine repair in Eugene, OR, we encourage you to contact the appliance repair technicians at American Refrigeration Inc.
If you have an ice machine that’s backed up or simply isn’t making ice, you’re going to want to make repairs as soon as possible so you don’t have to deal with extended equipment downtime. Before you call in a professional, there are some steps you can take to perform your own ice machine repair in Eugene, OR.
Here’s a quick overview of some of the steps you can take to get your ice maker working again if it’s not producing any ice for you:
Check the water supply: If you’ve got an issue with the ice machine not making ice, but you can hear a buzz in the equipment and see the arm swinging into motion, then this is likely a sign that the water valve isn’t receiving any water. The valve and the solenoid are probably doing okay, but the water supply isn’t working properly. First, check and make sure the water supply line doesn’t have any kinks in it—it will be running underneath or behind the refrigerator. If it appears to be kink-free, you can check and find the water shutoff valve behind the refrigerator or underneath the sink. You can then turn it off, unscrew the supply line from the back of the refrigerator, put the line in a bucket, turn on the valve and see if you have any water coming out.
Check the bail wire: The bail wire is located right above the ice tray, and it should be set in the down position. If it gets caught in the upper position, it will keep the ice maker locked and prevent it from making new ice.
Check the solenoid: The water line that runs to your ice maker attaches to a solenoid at the bottom or back of the refrigerator, and then goes from there to the ice maker. There’s a possibility that the solenoid isn’t getting any power, or that it’s completely defective. Try taking off the sediment screen inside the solenoid and cleaning it off, checking the seals to make sure they’re still working. That might be all you need to do. Otherwise, there are replacement solenoids available online for relatively low cost that are pretty easy to install.
Check the tap valve: The tap valve is the part that connects the water supply tube to the water pipe. If you’ve got a bad tap valve, then it could lead to issues with that connection. You may need to replace the inlet valve and tap valve if this is where your problem is located. When replacing a tap valve, use the kind that requires you to drill a quarter-inch hole, rather than the self-piercing type of tap valve. You’ll generally get better results, even though it’s a bit more work.
These are just a few of the checks you can make and steps you can take to get your ice machine working again. If none of these works, contact American Refrigeration Inc. today to discuss your options for professional ice machine repair in Eugene, OR.
