Commercial ice machine maintenance and cleaning
A commercial ice maker is different from the ice makers sold for residential use. Though they can be purchased by individuals, commercial machines are meant for use in restaurants, bars, commercial kitchens and institutions like hospitals.
Clean ice tastes better and a clean ice maker is less likely to need repair. Read on to learn how and why to keep your commercial ice machine clean and sanitized.
What is a commercial ice maker?
Modular (ice machine head): 22-inch, 30-inch or 48-inch-wide units that create cubed ice, similar to what sits on top of a soda dispenser in a casual restaurant.
Undercounter ice machine: This is a large freestanding unit with an ice machine head fixed on top of an ice bin. It’s called undercounter because it’s meant to fit under a 40-inch-tall countertop in a foodservice setting.
Countertop dispenser: These units sit on counters and dispense nugget-style ice. They’re very common in hospital settings.
Self-cleaning cycle
Some smaller ice makers, like the top-rated Newair Countertop Ice Maker, have “self-cleaning” cycles. The user runs a vinegar solution through the machine similar to a drip coffee maker.
However, while commercial ice makers may have a cleaning cycle, they certainly don’t clean themselves. Ice machines require both cleaning and sanitizing on a regular maintenance schedule, including removal of their component parts.
Why you should clean your commercial ice maker
Even if an ice maker has an automatic or self-cleaning cycle, it’s not a substitute for regular cleaning and sanitizing. There are several reasons to keep your ice machine sparkling clean.
Ice is easily contaminated
If you’re in the business of selling food or beverages, you should know the Food and Drug Administration treats ice as a food, and it must be handled accordingly. Check with your local health department for their standards and regulations that might affect your ice maker.
Ice tastes better
Your ice will look and taste better when your machine is clean. A good water filtration system helps with this.
Cleaning improves output
A clean machine produces ice much more efficiently with shorter harvest times. Scale buildup on the evaporator can slow your machine down. This is especially important during the summer when you may need your ice machine’s full capacity.
Cleaning is preventive maintenance
Especially if your area has hard water (water with a high mineral or particular content), as water flows through the machine, these minerals and particles build up on the inside of pipes. This is called “scaling.” Scaling makes your machine work harder to heat or cool water and pull it through the pipes. This eventually leads to breakdown but is completely preventable with regular cleaning.
Most costly repairs on ice machines are due to lack of maintenance.
Signs your ice maker needs to be cleaned
If the machine runs slowly or is slow to change to “harvest” mode
If ice produced is soft or cloudy instead of clear
If there’s any sort of smell or odor
If the ice tray isn’t filling completely (shallow ice cubes)
How often should you clean a commercial ice machine?
Follow your manufacturer recommendations, but generally, commercial ice makers need to be fully cleaned and sanitized at least once every 6 months.
How to clean a commercial ice maker
Install a water filter
Unfiltered water introduces impurities into your machine that create mineral buildup over time in the components and can produce an off-taste in the finished ice. Poor quality feedwater can also void the warranty on your machine.
If you have hard water, it’s crucial to replace your water filter cartridge on a regular basis to prevent hard scale.
Run the cleaning cycle
Follow your machine’s instructions for cleaning.
Remove all ice from the machine — it’s usually easiest to allow all the ice to melt.
Remove all internal components of the machine.
Run the “clean” or “wash” cycle. The water will drain and then start to refill, stopping to alert you to add cleaning solution.
While the machine cycle is running, clean the removed internal parts of the ice maker with a cleaning solution (refer to your manual for the proper water-to-cleaner ratio).
Sanitize your ice maker
Once you’ve cleaned the machine, you’ll need to disinfect it before using it.
Use commercial ice machine sanitizing solution diluted to the appropriate strength to clean all the removed parts, then put them back into place.
Once your machine is reassembled, wait 20 minutes to allow your machine to fully disinfect.
Turn the machine back on to allow water to refill and run the sanitize cycle (usually by pressing “clean” or “wash” again). Again, you’ll be prompted to add chemicals at the right time.
Set the machine to make ice automatically and observe a few cycles to ensure it’s working properly.
Don’t forget to throw out the first batch of ice harvested after cleaning and sanitizing.
Rachel Boller is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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