Ice Machines by Industry

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Every business that serves ice is under the same rule: ice is food (HSC 113781), and ice makers must be cleaned at the manufacturer's frequency (HSC 114117). Beyond that, restaurants, hotels, bars and stores ask very different things of their machines. This page is part of our commercial ice machine repair section.

Restaurants

Restaurant ice machines often sit near hot equipment and run hardest at the dinner rush. The common problems are low production in summer, dirty condensers from kitchen grease, and scale. Size the machine and bin for your busiest day, keep the condenser clean (Manitowoc says at least every six months (Manitowoc)), and filter the water. More: restaurant refrigeration.

Hotels

Hotels have machines in the kitchen, the bar and on guest floors. Guest-floor machines in closed alcoves overheat, and cleaning is easy to miss when machines are spread over several floors. More: hotel ice machines.

Bars

Bars use a lot of ice fast and keep it in bins right beside drains and glass washers. California bars liquid waste lines from passing through an ice machine or bin (HSC 114171), and Scotsman says to sanitize the bin each time the machine is cleaned (Scotsman). More: bar refrigeration.

Liquor and convenience stores

Stores use ice for fountain drinks and, sometimes, bagged ice. A machine that fills a fountain dispenser has to keep up with afternoon peaks, and bagged ice has to stay frozen in the merchandiser. More: freezers and ice merchandisers, convenience store refrigeration and liquor store refrigeration.

What every business can do

• Clean and sanitize on the manufacturer schedule and keep a dated record: cleaning and sanitizing.
• Filter the water and change cartridges on time: water filters.
• Keep the machine in a cool, ventilated spot, with a drain that works.
• Call early when production drops: ice machine not making ice.

Everything by business type: refrigeration by industry.

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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.