2 Ways to Prevent Ice Machine Problems

Few restaurant appliances hold quite the level of importance as an ice machine. Not only will an ice machine provide ice for various kitchen applications, but it will also perform the much more important function of keep your customer's drinks nice and cold. Ice machines represent such an important part of restaurant life that it would be difficult to operate without one.

Yet this is precisely what could happen if your ice machine falls into a state of disrepair. Unfortunately, many restaurant owners fail to understand the role they play - or don't play - in ensuring a well-working ice machine. This article will help your understanding of ice machine upkeep by discussing two easy ways to reduce the likelihood of problems.

1. Keep Your Machine Level

At the heart of a commercial ice machine lies refrigerant much like that found in air conditioners and refrigerators. A compressor converts this refrigerant from a gaseous to a liquid state, so that it can absorb heat from water and turn the water to ice. This, in turn, turns the refrigerant back into its gaseous state.

This process does not happen instantly, of course. Therefore, the water must be held in place in a reservoir subdivided into smaller areas that correspond to the shape of the ice pieces. This reservoir remains in direct contact with the evaporator the refrigerant flows through. Once the water has frozen, the machine will enter what is known as the harvest phase.

During the harvest phase, the evaporator stops receiving liquid refrigerant. This causes the temperature to begin rising. As the surface of the ice starts to melt, it will naturally slide out of the reservoir into the machine's storage bin. Many people experience problems when their ice machine reaches this stage.

The most common complain involves ice that either releases slowly or does not release at all. This will compromise the efficient working of the machine, while also reducing your ice supply. Fortunately, the problem often stems from a simple cause: a non-level ice machine. This prevents the ice from slipping out of the reservoir the way it should, even as temperatures rise.

Use a level to ensure that your ice machine sits perfectly level. You may need to add shims to the feet in order to get the best results. This will promote the smoothest possible transfer of ice from the reservoir to the storage bin, thus readying your machine for the next round of ice.

2. Move Ice Machine to a Cooler Location

Just like refrigerators and air conditioners, the condenser of an ice machine generates a lot of heat through the process of creating ice. Therefore, all ice machines must have some sort of internal cooling system. Two main types of ice machine condensers exist: air-cooled and water-cooled.

Air-cooled condensers are a more popular choice, since water-cooled units tend to cost more over time. This stems from their high rate water consumption - as much as 100 gallons for every 100 pounds of ice they produce. While air-cooled condensers will help to promote lower overall water bills, they can become problematic when installed in high-temperature areas.

The warmer the air that an air-cooled ice machine draws in, the slower it will cool the condenser. As a result, the machine will have to run for longer periods of time in order to produce ice - and to cool itself off. This increases wear and tear and makes breakdowns and other problems more likely.

For that reason, it is important to consider location when installing an ice machine. Try to avoid placing it in a kitchen or other hot area. While it may be hard to sacrifice the convenience of having ice immediately available, you will get more for your money over the long run if you place your ice machine in the coolest possible location.

For more information about how to keep your ice machine running strong, please don't hesitate to contact the pros at Chandler's Parts and Service.​