Many commercial businesses, like restaurants, pubs and cafeterias, depend on ice to provide their patrons with safe and enjoyable service. Without ice, there would be no way to keep customers’ drinks cold on a hot summer day or to preserve food that needs to be kept cold for health purposes. If something is wrong with your business’ ice machine, it’s better to spot it early than to wait and be out of business for a few days. The following are several warning signs that you need ice machine repair in Eugene, OR:
- It’s become noisy: If you own a large ice machine, it’s going to produce some noise and at times be fairly loud. However, if the sound becomes different or unusual, you may want to call a technician to evaluate your machine. When operating sounds become abnormal, it’s usually a sign that something is wrong. It’s better to fix issues quickly. The longer you ignore it, the worse it can become.
- It doesn’t make ice: This is a pretty clear sign something is wrong. This may mean the machine needs cleaning, repairing of certain parts or that you may need to get an entirely new machine. Oftentimes this is caused by loose or frayed wires, so no ice can be an indicator of an electrical problem. Check the circuit breaker. If you can’t fix it that way, play it safe and call a professional.
- It leaks: This is probably the most common problem when it comes to commercial ice machines. Look out for puddles of water around the ice machine or big chunks of ice being produced. A leak can be caused by a broken water line in the unit or a component that is leaking internally. Whether it’s a big or small leak, it’s a problem. Call a professional to take a look before someone slips and falls on those big puddles of water.
- It takes a while to make ice: If the ice isn’t being produced as fast as it used to, that’s a red flag. A slower production rate is usually caused by one of two things, either warm water or low water flow. When the water is too warm, the machine won’t produce enough ice, at least not as quickly as you would like. A low water flow also means the production rate will slow down. It may be a simple fix, like unplugging a clog in the water filter, but it’s always in your company’s best interest to have a professional come check it out.
- The ice tastes odd: This should never be a problem, especially if you’re serving ice to your customers. If the ice tastes strange, it’s probably because there’s a dirt or mold issue, or something even worse within the ice machine. It’s vital that you contact a technician if your ice starts to taste abnormal. Don’t risk the safety of your customers.
Your ice machine should always be inspected at least once or twice a year. Outside of those checks, if any of these signs start to occur, look for ice machine repair in Eugene, OR. You can contact American Refrigeration Inc. for all of your ice machine needs.
The ice machine is the most essential and yet most dangerous piece of equipment in your restaurant. When things go wrong in your establishment, you need to act on ice machine repair in Eugene, OR before you make your patrons sick or expose employees to harmful elements. You may also avoid requiring most repairs in the first place by adopting these precautionary practices.
Sanitation is key
Most ice machine issues arise from sanitation shortcomings. Food safety laws and manufacturer recommendations indicate you need to perform a full cleaning and sanitation process at least two to four times per year. If you use your ice machine frequently and employees access it constantly, you may need to clean it at least every two months, or even once a month to be safe.
Use an antimicrobial cleaner and remove any scaling. Check for lint and grease in the condensers, as that can transfer to the ice as well. If your ice machine is near the cooking line, consider moving it, as that exposes it to additional contaminants.
Mold and mildew in the seals or even the box is more difficult to remove. In these cases, it is better to call in a professional, as it may be necessary to replace your ice machine.
Once there is contamination, the ice machine will preserve the bacteria and the inside moisture causes them to reproduce. Even if you only suspect contamination, it is prudent to sanitize immediately. While this is not convenient, it nearly eliminates the risk of a health disaster in your restaurant.
Treat ice like any other food
Using the same food handling procedures with ice as with any other edible will reduce the chance of contamination. Make ice scoops available and instruct employees to use them instead of reaching in and grabbing ice. Store scoops outside the bin so the handle is not touching the ice. Keep it on a tray made of fiberglass, impervious plastic or stainless steel so it does not attract additional germs.
Keeping the ice machine doors closed except for when removing ice will not just keep your utility bills under control. It will also keep dirt and contaminants out. Check for any signs of contamination with your ice machine, just as you would with refrigerators and freezers. Catching issues early means you can deal with them before they become problems. Finding mold in the door seals early, for example, means you actually have a chance of permanently removing it than if you let it fester for six months.
Use water filters
Filtered water produces better tasting ice as well as safer ice. Using filters will not remove all microbes, but it can reduce scaling and increases ice production, which will also mean less money spent on repairs. Ice will also have no odor, which will keep customers on your good side.
Filters are normally replaced every six months. If there is blockage or sediment, they will need to be replaced more frequently.
Despite careful attention to maintenance, you may still require ice machine repair in Eugene, OR. When that need arises, call American Refrigeration Inc. for cleaning, advanced maintenance and repair of your restaurant equipment.
If you run a hotel, restaurant or bar in Eugene, OR, ice machine repairs are likely a very familiar concept. But knowing more about how ice machines work and what common problems you’re likely to encounter with them will help you run your business more smoothly. Just knowing the basic signs of different malfunctions, and how professionals deal with them, will save you time and money when you’re in the thick of it. Here’s a rundown of five common ice machine repairs that your Eugene, OR business will benefit from knowing about.
- Low water flow: Whether your water supply has been compromised or your water filter is clogged, a lower than normal flow of water can easily bring your ice machine’s ice production to a standstill. When this is the problem, professionals will easily locate it and take the necessary steps to improve the water flow to the ice machine. However, a low flow could turn out to be a much bigger problem for your business than simple slowness.
- Leaks: When your ice machine has a leaky inlet water valve, ice cubes will tend to be larger than normal. This may not sound like much of a problem; after all, bigger ice cubes might even be better ice cubes. But eventually, the larger ice cubes will likely get stuck in the line of production and stall the entire machine. Your ice machine produces ice cubes of a certain size for a reason, so if you notice your ice cubes are getting noticeably bigger, unplug your ice machine and have a professional come inspect it for possible leaks.
- High water temperature: If the water coming into your ice machine is hotter than 90 degrees, it will likely take longer to freeze and stall your ice production. This problem usually isn’t an issue with your ice machine at all, as the water is already hot when it reaches the ice machine. Typically high water temperature is caused by another appliance, such as a dishwasher, malfunctioning and putting hot water into the cold water line. If you notice your ice machine taking longer to produce ice cubes, ask your maintenance professional to take a look at the other appliances in your kitchen.
- High room temperature: Here’s another problem with temperature, but this time it’s likely even more easily controlled than water temperature. If the room temperature is above 95 degrees, your ice machine will likely give out from being overworked. As 95 degrees is way too hot for working conditions anyway, this will likely only happen if your air conditioner gives out during a hot summer day. If that misfortune does occur, try to remember to unplug your ice machine before serious damage occurs.
- Buildup: Finally, general buildup of ice or minerals on the evaporator plate or any other part of your ice machine will eventually cause malfunctions. Having your ice machine regularly cleaned and serviced is an easy way to prevent this problem from ever happening.
If you have questions about your ice machine or need repair or maintenance services, call the team at American Refrigeration Inc today.
