Ice Machine Leaking, Cloudy Ice or Bad Taste

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Water under an ice machine is a slip hazard and an inspection finding. Cloudy, soft or bad-tasting ice, or pink or black slime in the bin, is a food problem: under the California Retail Food Code, ice is food (HSC 113781). This page is part of our commercial ice machine repair section.

Water on the floor

• Drain problems. A clogged bin drain, a kinked or sagging drain line, or a drain that cannot reach its floor sink. California requires ice machines to drain through an air gap into a floor sink (HSC 114193), and liquid waste drain lines may not pass through an ice machine or bin (HSC 114171).
• Water system leaks. A cracked water trough, a loose distribution tube or a failing water valve.
• Bin and door. A bin door that does not close, or melt water overflowing a bin that drains poorly.
• Condensation. Sweating supply lines or fittings in a humid room.

More on floor water in refrigeration generally: refrigeration water leaks.

Cloudy, soft or bad-tasting ice

• Scale and water quality. Minerals in the water, a filter past its change date, or a machine overdue for descaling. See ice machine water filters.
• Dirty water system. Biofilm in the water trough, distribution tubes or bin.
• Odors in the room. Ice picks up odors from its surroundings and from anything stored in the bin.
• Machine problems. Water distribution faults or refrigeration problems that make thin, cloudy cubes.

Slime and mold

Pink or black growth in the bin or on the water system means the machine is due, or overdue, for cleaning and sanitizing. California requires ice makers to be cleaned at the frequency the manufacturer specifies, or often enough to prevent soil and mold from building up (HSC 114117). Manitowoc says to descale and sanitize every six months (Manitowoc); Scotsman says at least twice a year (Scotsman); Hoshizaki's cleaning sheet for its KM models says at least once a year (Hoshizaki). Stop using the ice, and have the machine cleaned and sanitized, including the bin. See ice machine cleaning and sanitizing.

How we fix it

1. Find the source of the water or the quality problem rather than just drying the floor or dumping the ice.
2. Repair drains, troughs, tubes, valves or bin components as needed.
3. Clean, descale and sanitize the water system and bin to the manufacturer's procedure.
4. Check the filter and water supply, and set a cleaning and filter schedule.

Machine not making ice instead? See ice machine not making ice. Troubleshooting for staff: ice machine problems.

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Frequently asked questions

Written and reviewed by Jim McKinny, owner of Cool Aid Air Conditioning & Refrigeration — California C-20 and C-38 licensed, EPA Universal certified, second generation of a family business serving the Bay Area since 1966. Every job we complete is backed by our 1-year parts & labor warranty.