A Comprehensive Guide to Ice Machine Cleaning

Ice makers need regular cleaning to extend their lifespan and comply with health regulations. Many businesses aren't familiar with these requirements, which leads them to neglect their ice makers. As such, an ice machine is often the first appliance a health inspector will check.

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How to Clean an Ice Machine: Disinfecting vs. Sanitizing
What's the Best Way to Clean an Ice Maker?
Ice Machine Water Filtration
What Are the Costs of Maintaining an Ice Machine?

How to Clean an Ice Machine: Disinfecting vs. Sanitizing

Like all commercial kitchen appliances, a commercial ice maker requires cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing to keep your ice supply safe. However, most ice machines in businesses around the country are missing one of these three steps. Apply a complete cleaning cycle to keep your ice maker clean, and your business and customers will be safer.

Disinfecting involves using a EPA-approved disinfecting agent to inactivate all manner of bacteria, viruses, and mold spores from a food surface. The interior of your ice machine, the ice bin liner, the ice basket, and even your ice scoop are food surfaces under health and safety law. Regulations demand that you apply a disinfecting agent on food surfaces, leave it for 10 minutes, and then rinse the surface to remove the disinfecting agent. Make sure to wear protective safety glasses when you clean your ice maker with strong disinfecting agents.

What's the Best Way to Clean an Ice Maker?

No matter the brand, cleaning your ice maker is necessary to keep ice sanitary, protect customers and staff, and eliminate scale from hard water in your ice maker.

Hoshizaki ice machine cleaning and Manitowoc ice machine cleaning processes have a few minor differences. Hoshizaki ice machine evaporator plates are made of high-grade stainless-steel, which can withstand highly acidic, abrasive cleaners. On the other hand, Manitowoc evaporators are nickel-plated and require a nickel-safe cleaner to avoid damage. With these differences in mind, here are some guidelines on cleaning most ice makers.

Mold and slime love dark, damp, and nutrient-rich environments. If you bake bread or serve beer, the yeast floating in the air and settling into your ice maker will be the best home slime could ask for. The best way to prevent excessive mold growth is by regularly cleaning the your ice bucket and the interior of your ice maker.

Use a soft bristle nylon brush or soft cloth, warm water, and a cleaning solution of mild soap or lemon juice. Mold and slime buildup are easy to prevent, and don't need an in-depth clean cycle to clear out. A damp cloth and mild dish soap will do the job—just make sure to let the parts dry properly.

Learn How to Clean Mold and Slime

Scale is a result of minerals in the water combining and then sticking to the inside of your ice machine. As water flows through soil and rock, it picks up minerals like calcium and magnesium. Mineral buildup usually isn't harmful to people, but it can turn into scale and do a number on your ice maker. Scale clings to vital components and can lead to costly repairs, and it tends to resist soapy water and other basic cleaners. Water softeners and treatment filters are the best way to deal with scale.

Learn How to Prevent Scale Buildup

Sediment naturally occurs in water the same way as minerals do. As water flows through the soil, it picks up sediment. Water will also pick up rust particles as it runs through old piping systems. Generally, these particles are not harmful to people, but they can cause damage to your ice machine. Water filtration is the best way to reduce the amount of sediment in your ice machine.

Find the Best Water Filter for Your Area

Ice Machine Water Filtration

Providing proper water filtration for your ice maker helps to trap contaminants, sediment, and mineral deposits. These substances hinder the effectiveness of your ice machine by clogging distribution tubes and damaging ice maker components. You need to replace water filters every few months, depending on the type of filter.

We install water filters on every commercial ice machine we service. There are three types of ice maker filters we recommend—sediment, phosphate, or carbon.

What Are the Costs of Maintaining an Ice Machine?

Commercial ice machines require professional maintenance and cleaning to stay in working condition. Without them, you’ll likely face health inspection violations, lower ice production, and expensive repairs. It’s best to contact a qualified ice machine technician to perform preventive maintenance and deep cleaning on your ice maker.

Ice machine preventive maintenance helps to keep your machine running smoothly. You'll need a qualified ice machine technician to optimize the ice machine, so your ice production rate stays high. It also helps technicians spot any potential ice machine issues that can lead to big problems that require expensive repairs. Your average preventive maintenance costs around $300 per visit. Ice machine manufacturers suggest you receive at least two maintenance visits a year.

Learn About Our Preventive Maintenance Agreement

The best way to clean you ice maker of contaminants is to have your employees perform daily light cleaning. However, ice machines require professional cleaning from time to time. Professional cleanings require dismantling the ice machine and using specialized chemicals to rid the unit of germs, mold, and scale. Manufacturers recommend getting two cleanings visits a year, more if your ice machine is in a challenging environment like a bakery or brewery. Cleanings cost around $250 per visit.

Ice machine repair costs range depending on the issue. They can cost anywhere between a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. Here are some examples of some common ice maker repairs and their estimated costs:

Hot Gas Valve Replacement: $600
Expansion Valve: $600
Compressor Repair: $1,500
Evaporator Repair: $2,500

Ice maker breakdowns can severely hurt business and force you to spend hundreds on replacement ice.

Learn More About Our Breakdown Ice Program

Keep Your Ice Machine Clean and Sanitary with Our All-Inclusive Subscription

Our commercial ice subscription is not just another ice machine lease option. An affordable monthly payment for a high-quality ice maker is only the start of what you get with the Ice Experts. Beyond that, we care for your ice machine with biannual preventive maintenance, professional cleanings, and all repairs under one price.

If your ice machine ever breaks, we go above and beyond simple repairs. We'll keep the ice flowing with a guaranteed backup ice program, free of added charge. We hire the best ice maker experts to maintain and clean your ice machine, and take pride in delivering fast and excellent service.

An Easy Ice subscription is the most convenient, cost-effective way to get a commercial ice machine and keep it clean.

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