In Central Florida, summer is when an ice machine earns its keep. Customers want more cold drinks, kitchens run hotter, and the machine has to work harder to keep up. It's also when weak spots show up. A little preparation in the spring helps restaurants, bars, convenience stores and other local businesses head into the hot months with a machine that's clean, efficient and less likely to quit on a busy Saturday.
Before you start: always follow your machine's manufacturer instructions for cleaning and maintenance, use only the cleaner and sanitizer the manufacturer approves for your model, and turn the machine off and disconnect power where the instructions call for it before you clean. Never mix cleaning chemicals.
Why summer is hard on ice machines
An ice machine's production rating is based on standard test conditions. When the air around the machine and the incoming water get warmer, each batch takes longer to freeze, so the machine makes less ice per day. Central Florida summers raise both. At the same time, demand goes up. A machine that kept up easily in January can fall behind in July, especially if it's dirty or its condenser is struggling.
1. Clean and sanitize the machine
Mineral scale, slime and mold build up inside the machine on the evaporator, water trough, distribution tubes and bin. Scale makes the machine work harder and harvest more slowly. Slime and mold are a food safety issue, because ice is treated as food. Clean and sanitize on the schedule your manufacturer recommends, and if a cleaning is coming due, do it before summer. Busy locations and machines in warm, humid kitchens often need it more often. Don't forget the bin, the door and its gasket, and the ice scoop, and keep the scoop stored outside the ice.
2. Clean the condenser
Most ice machines in local businesses are air-cooled, which means a condenser coil and fan carry away the heat the machine pulls out of the water. Grease, lint, dust and flour can clog that coil quickly, especially in a kitchen. A clogged condenser makes the machine run hotter, make less ice and wear out parts sooner.
Many machines have a washable filter in front of the condenser that staff can clean following the manual. Cleaning the coil itself is best left to a technician who can do it without bending the fins or getting water on electrical parts. If your machine has a remote condenser on the roof, it needs attention too, since it sits in the full Florida sun all summer.
3. Give it room to breathe
Check the clearance around the machine against the manufacturer's installation guide. Boxes stacked against the sides, a machine pushed tight into a corner, or a spot right next to fryers, ovens or a dish machine can trap hot air around it. If the machine lives in a back room without air conditioning, the summer heat in that room will cut into production.
4. Replace the water filter and check the supply
Many Central Florida water supplies are hard, meaning they carry dissolved minerals that leave scale behind. A water filter designed for ice machines helps reduce scale and improves the taste and clarity of the ice. Replace the cartridge on the schedule the filter maker recommends, or sooner if water flow drops. While you're there, make sure the supply line isn't kinked and the shutoff valve is fully open.
5. Check the drains
Ice machines and bins drain melt water and rinse water. Make sure the drain lines flow freely, are free of slime and buildup, and keep the proper air gap where they empty into the floor drain. Slow drains in summer can lead to standing water, odors and leaks on the floor.
6. Inspect the bin, doors and gaskets
A torn gasket or a door that doesn't close all the way lets warm, humid air into the bin, which melts ice faster and makes the machine work harder to keep it full. Replace worn gaskets, and remind staff to close the bin door after each scoop.
7. Watch for early warning signs
- The machine makes noticeably less ice than it used to
- Cubes are small, thin, hollow, cloudy or frozen together
- Harvest takes a long time, or the machine stops mid-cycle
- Water is leaking onto the floor
- The ice tastes or smells off
- Error codes or flashing lights on the control board
- New noises from the compressor or condenser fan
Any of these is worth a service call before your busiest weeks. Refrigerant, electrical components and control boards should be handled by a qualified technician, so please don't open electrical panels or attempt refrigerant work yourself.
Is your machine big enough?
If your machine runs nonstop and still can't keep up on summer weekends, even after it's been cleaned and checked, it may simply be undersized for your business today. A technician can confirm it's producing what it should for the conditions it's working in, and help you think through options like a larger bin or a second machine.
We service commercial refrigeration 24/7
Master Cooling Mechanical repairs and maintains ice machines, walk-in coolers and freezers, reach-ins, soft-serve and slushie machines, refrigerated display cases and rooftop units for businesses across Kissimmee and Central Florida. See our commercial refrigeration service and the commercial refrigeration answers in our FAQ. If your building's rooftop or split AC needs attention too, our HVAC service team can help. And if you're also looking after the AC at home, our Comfort Club maintenance plans keep it on a twice-a-year schedule.
