Is your commercial ice machine not getting enough water? There can be many reasons why your ice machine isn’t working. You may not even know how important your ice machine is until it stops working. But ice machines keep all businesses that use them running efficiently. Read on to learn some of the most common problems with ice machines.
Common Ice Machine Problems
Is your commercial ice machine making weird sounds? It may indicate an issue.
Here are some of the most common issues with commercial ice machines.
Problems With Water Flow
This is probably the most common issue that most commercial ice machines have. An issue with water flow comes from deposits that accumulate inside of the water lines. The accumulation can also be within other components of the ice machine. As a result, you end up dealing with several failures. If you have started noticing that your cubes are much smaller or uneven, it is likely due to water flow problems. The best solution to this problem is to hire a professional to come out and determine where the blockages are.
Water Leaks
Another common issue with ice machines is that water can leak. Leaky valves are usually the cause of any type of water leak from an ice machine. It may not be noticeable until you see big chunks of ice that have begun to cause blockages in your ice machine.
Not Cold Enough
If you notice that your ice machine is warm, it is probably due to not being properly installed. Ice machines that are in warm environments are not able to vent heat correctly, thus the reason you should always hire a professional to install your machine. The surrounding temperature around the ice machine shouldn’t be too warm or it will create more stress on the machine to work harder. Once your machine is forced to work harder to make ice, it will end up suffering many failures.
The Machine Needs to be Cleaned
Your ice machine may also break down because it just needs to be cleaned. The best way to keep the warranty active on your machine is to schedule semi-annual cleanings. Unclean ice machines can pose health risks and also cause internal damage to the machines. This damage can result in the machine stopping producing ice.
Once your ice machine has completely failed, it can be pretty expensive to have it repaired. Professional technicians are experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to making sure that your commercial ice machine is working properly according to the specifications of the manufacturer. A professional will also confirm whether your ice machine produces ice that is safe for your staff and customers to consume.
Here at American Refrigeration Inc., we offer our customers the best possible service when looking for commercial ice machines and commercial ice makers, among other products. When customers are looking for information about these products, we always stand by to answer their questions and help them get the assistance that they need. Today, we want to talk about some of the most reliable commercial ice machines that we offer to our customers. First, though, we need to look at what one needs to look for in a reliable ice machine.
Ice Shape
Believe it or not, the shape of the ice is a very big deal to people who use those machines. They care if they are receiving ice cubes, shredded ice, ice chips, ice flakes, etc.
Different shapes of ice are useful for different purposes. For example, cube-shaped ice is best for serving most everyday drinks. People want to put those cubes in their cups of just about any beverage. Thus, these may be the best choice in many workplaces, but they don’t always work for everyone.
Getting ice chips or ice flakes is a great choice as well because they cause less splashing and less mess when they come out of the machine. If the splashing and mess are a big deal for your company, then it is time to look at ice chips and ice flakes instead of the classic ice cubes that you have been using up to this point.
Capacity
The amount of ice that your machine puts out is a big deal as well. You need to look at what the demand for ice is in your office. If you have a lot of people who are using the machine, then you will clearly need one that can put out a significant amount of ice. You may need to pay more for an ice machine that can put out the kind of capacity that you need from it. That said, this can pay off in a big way when you get the kind of machine that you need to take care of your office.
Make sure you consider the capacity of your ice machine before you spend significant money on it.
Maintenance Needs
Yet another consideration to deal with when looking over ice machines is the maintenance needs of those machines. Does the machine you are considering have good reviews in terms of being low maintenance? If that is not the case, then it may be time to look at switching to something else. After all, you don’t want to sink a huge amount of money into an ice machine via maintenance when you don’t need to do so.
Look at the total maintenance needs of your ice machine and roll that into consideration of the total cost of the machine itself. If you can stomach the maintenance costs, then you should move forward with purchasing that machine. However, you don’t want to make any move until you have added this to the total cost of the machine.
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.
