Pocket Change - Shopping Blog

Maintenance of commercial ice machines is an invaluable investment of time. Preventing irreversible damage now will save thousands of dollars on parts and labor costs later. You do not have to be a mechanical engineer to perform simple maintenance tasks on you ice machine and there are several small things that will make a big difference. Taking the time to learn how to properly care and maintain your ice machine will make the task easier and less time consuming.

Some very simple things that should be looked at on a regular basis include changing the water filters, investing in anti-microbial protection, sanitizing your machine regularly, cleaning the gaskets, and cleaning the condenser coils. Some of these tasks need to be performed more regularly than others but none of the above are costly or incredibly time consuming.

Changing the water filters should be taken care of approximately every six months. This is a vital part of your ice machine maintenance as it effectively removes sediment from the water, inhibits scale and removes odor and bad taste. Sediment in your water will give ice a cloudy appearance, removing this sediment will keep your ice clean and clear in appearance. Scale build up in your machine over time can and will drastically reduce the ice production. Another benefit of maintaining the water filter is, some companies, ICE-O-Matic for instance, will offer an extended warranty at no additional cost when customers replace the filter in their ice machine every six months. What more do you need to know?

Anti microbial protection in your ice machine is a must. This protection is what will inhibit slime and mold growth, two things no one wants in their ice. This can be accomplished in a number of ways; purchasing an anti-microbial stick or pouch and placing it inside the machine is effective. If you have not purchased your ice machine or are in the market for a new bin you can look for manufacturers who incorporate anti-microbial protection into the materials used in the food zone of the ice machine itself. Manitowoc has several of these bins and should be heavily considered.

The steps mentioned above are certainly a good start to extending the life of your ice machine but they are definitely not a substitute for regular cleaning. Some of the most valuable ice machine maintenance you can perform yourself is just simple cleaning and sanitizing. When you clean your ice machine pay close attention to the gaskets. Build up on the gasket can affect its seal and directly cause a reduction in the production of ice and waste electricity.

Dust, grease, and in the home even pet hair can and will collect on the condenser coils preventing them from cooling and thereby making the condenser work harder. This is another way to reduce the efficiency of your machine and create a shorter life span at the same time. Cleaning the coils is not difficult and you can refer to the user manual for your machine but a notable mention is to remember to unplug the ice machine when you are cleaning.

Taking the time to effectively clean and sanitize your machine on a regular basis will extend the life of your machine, saving you time and reducing the cost of owning an ice machine. Not to mention preventing the hassle of trying to find an ice machine on a very short term notice due to unforeseen breakdown.

Guest Blogger: Danny Reed (KaTom Restaurant Supply)