Commercial Ice Machine: How important is water filtration?

Ice is Food

The average human eats nearly 2 pounds of ice a day. As with every other food, safe ice handling and proper preparation are the only ways to guarantee a healthy, tasty product. Installing an inline filtration system on your commercial ice machine’s water supply assures that residual bacteria, accumulated minerals and other contaminants are removed from the water.

Which Filtration System to Buy

Commercial water filtration systems use one to three filters to totally clean your incoming water. The number you need depends on the size of your commercial ice machine.

	Cube Ice Machines	Flake and Nugget Ice Machines
1 Filter	Up to 650 lbs	Up to 1200
2 Filters	650 – 1300 lbs	Over 1200 lbs
3 Filters	Over 1300 lbs

When to Change

Ice filters need to be changed every 6 months. Failure to change the filter will cause your machine to work harder and wear it out faster.

Ice Contaminants

Ice is subject to a variety of contaminants. The most common occur when a machine is poorly maintained or the water supply has dissolved minerals or residual chlorine.

• Mineral Deposits:

Municipal water companies only remove contaminants that are harmful to human health. Many dissolved minerals are not harmful, therefore are not removed. Mineral laden water results in ice that appears cloudy and can make a drink smell and taste unappealing.

• Slime Build-Up:

Slime build-up can result from a poorly maintained ice machine. Ice made from a slimy machine will appear cloudy with a slight yellow, green or red tint and can cause illness, especially in those with weakened immune systems.

• Chlorination:

Chlorination is the process of adding chlorine to water in order to treat it and kill harmful germs. Residual chlorine remains in the water supply giving the water an unappealing taste.

If you have any repair service, would like to set up a professional planned maintenance on your ice machine, or you are interested in water filter systems for your ice machine please contact us at 800-252-5892.  We work on every major brand and can also supply replacement parts.

Eichenauer Services

2465 N 22nd St 

Decatur, IL 62526

Phone: 800-252-5892 

Eichenauer Services

106 E McClure 

Peoria, IL 61603 

Phone: 800-252-5892 

Eichenauer Services

405 S Neil St 

Champaign, IL 61820

Phone: 800-252-5892  

 Illinois Satellites:

Springfield, IL | Bloomington, IL | Effingham, IL | LaSalle/Peru, IL | Mount Vernon, IL | Joliet, IL |
Quad Cities, IL (Moline, East Moline, Rock Island) | Marion, IL |
Metro East, IL (Belleville, Collinsville, Edwardsville, O'Fallon, Fairview Heights)

Commercial Ice Machine Maintenance

Many times, maintenance of a commercial ice machine in a restaurant or other business is overlooked for more pressing tasks. There are a few simple procedures that can keep a commercial ice machine functioning for much longer than when left alone. 

 

Replace water filters every six months.

Water filters are extremely important to extending the life of your machine and should be replaced every six months. A water filter performs three tasks:

• Removes sediment from the water, keeping ice clean and clear in appearance
• Inhibits scale, which can build up in the machine over time and drastically reduce ice production
• Removes odor and bad taste, keeping customers happy

Although the filter may not appear to be blocked with sediment after six months, the scale inhibitor and carbon elements (which prevent odor and bad taste) are usually depleted and no longer effective.

Some companies, such as ICE-O-Matic, offer extended warranties at no extra charge when customers replace the filter in their ice machines every six months.

Invest in antimicrobial protection.

Slime and mold growth are another concern with regards to commercial ice machines. Many commercial ice machines have antimicrobial protection built-in to the plastic used in the food-zone areas of ice production and are guaranteed to inhibit the growth of slime and mold for the life of the machine.  

 

Sanitize your machine regularly.

By regularly changing the water filter and using antimicrobial protection, you are on the right path to keeping your ice machine in good working condition for longer, but there is still no substitute for regular cleaning.

Your ice machine should be emptied and thoroughly sanitized every six months. Clean the machine using a nickel-safe scale remover and an ice machine sanitizer. Some companies, such as Manitowoc, sell automatic cleaning systems that can be set to sanitize your ice maker every two, four or twelve weeks.
Additionally, condenser fins or air filters should be cleaned or replaced every six months. Failure to keep the condenser free from lint and grease build-up will decrease the machine’s ability to breathe and operate at peak capacity, thus reducing the ice production.
By taking the time every six months to clean your machine and change filters and antimicrobial devices, you can greatly increase the life of your machine and drastically decrease the cost of owning an ice machine over time.