Do's and Don'ts for Your Commercial Ice Machine
One important piece of equipment in most commercial kitchens is the ice machine. You don't want to be serving your customers warm drinks, and if smoothies or iced coffees are your specialty, you're going to need lots of ice. This piece of equipment is also one of the most abused in restaurants, especially bars. Today's blog from your favorite Missouri restaurant equipment repair company discusses a few do's and don'ts for your commercial ice machine. Keep it working in tip-top shape by following these tips.
1. DO Adjust Production When Needed.
One of the easiest ways to increase the life of your ice machine is to monitor production and adjust it when needed. You'll likely need more ice in the hot summer months than you will during the cold winter season. By predicting how much ice you will need and adjusting the production, you'll save on energy costs throughout the year. Another thing to consider is only having it produce ice during the daytime hours.
2. DO Schedule Regular Maintenance.
Just like any other piece of equipment, regular maintenance can both increase the life of your ice machine and reduce the likelihood of needing major repairs or premature replacement. Tasks you can accomplish on your own include sanitizing the box, d-liming the water hose and adding antimicrobial products. If you notice a decrease in in ice production or other issues with your equipment, schedule a service appointment with one of our commercial kitchen equipment technicians in Missouri. By catching problems early, you can avoid further issues that lead to costly repairs.
3. DO Invest in an Air Cooled Machine.
All ice makers include a cooling mechanism that involves either water or air. Air cooled machines are more energy efficient than the water cooled ones. Fortunately, there is very little cost difference between the air and water cooled ice machines. When purchasing new equipment, be sure to look for the Energy Star logo. Using energy efficient equipment can save you a lot of money over the life of the equipment.
4. DO Enforce Measures to Keep Ice Clean.
Ice can easily be contaminated by a variety of things. To ensure your ice stays clean, make sure anyone handling ice has thoroughly washed their hands. In addition, use a dedicated container for transporting ice and a dedicated ice scoop. Be sure to store the scoop outside of the ice storage bin, either in an approved container or scoop holder.
1. DON'T Store Your Ice Machine in a Hot Place.
Whether the room your ice machine is in is cold or hot, your ice itself is going to be cold (if your equipment is working properly). However, the air temperature around your machine will have an effect on how hard the equipment has to work to maintain that cold temperature that's required to store ice. The higher the room temperature, the more energy the equipment is going to have to use. In this situation, you're sure to see an increase in your electric bill. Be sure to put your ice machine in a place that has good air movement and doesn't heat up over 90°F.
2. DON'T Forget to Change the Filter Regularly.
One thing many commercial ice machine owners fail to do is check up on the water filter. To ensure the best ice production, it's important to change the filter on your ice maker every 6 months. Not only will your ice machine work better, but you're ensuring your customers are getting high quality, clean ice!
3. DON'T Keep Ice Too Long.
Just like with food, ice doesn't last forever; it has an expiration date. Be sure to throw ice out when it starts to melt, it becomes contaminated by food, it has been used to chill bottles or anything else, or the scheduled cleaning date is due on the machine. Ensuring your ice is fresh and clean will help prevent illness among employees and customers.
4. DON'T Contaminate the Ice.
As mentioned in the Do's section, ice can easily become contaminated. Some things you'll want to make sure to avoid in your kitchen include: re-freezing ice once it begins to melt, handling ice with your hands, using ice buckets or glasses as scoops, storing bottles or other products in food ice and/or dumping unused ice back into the ice bin. All of these things can lead to contaminated ice.
Fast Fix LLC is your honest, reliable, professionally trained commercial food-service equipment repair provider in Western Illinois and throughout Missouri. We have over 200 years combined experience repairing and maintaining commercial food-service equipment and more. If your commercial ice machine or any other piece of equipment is in need of maintenance or repair, give us a call at 573-544-0456.
Fast Fix LLC. Restaurant Services
9403 County Road 154
Auxvasse, MO 65231
Phone: 573-254-3748
St. Louis Customers: 636-FASTFIX
Website: www.FastFixLLC.com
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Commerical Ice Machine Do's
One of the easiest ways to increase the life of your ice machine is to monitor production and adjust it when needed. You'll likely need more ice in the hot summer months than you will during the cold winter season. By predicting how much ice you will need and adjusting the production, you'll save on energy costs throughout the year. Another thing to consider is only having it produce ice during the daytime hours.
2. DO Schedule Regular Maintenance.
Just like any other piece of equipment, regular maintenance can both increase the life of your ice machine and reduce the likelihood of needing major repairs or premature replacement. Tasks you can accomplish on your own include sanitizing the box, d-liming the water hose and adding antimicrobial products. If you notice a decrease in in ice production or other issues with your equipment, schedule a service appointment with one of our commercial kitchen equipment technicians in Missouri. By catching problems early, you can avoid further issues that lead to costly repairs.
3. DO Invest in an Air Cooled Machine.
All ice makers include a cooling mechanism that involves either water or air. Air cooled machines are more energy efficient than the water cooled ones. Fortunately, there is very little cost difference between the air and water cooled ice machines. When purchasing new equipment, be sure to look for the Energy Star logo. Using energy efficient equipment can save you a lot of money over the life of the equipment.
4. DO Enforce Measures to Keep Ice Clean.
Ice can easily be contaminated by a variety of things. To ensure your ice stays clean, make sure anyone handling ice has thoroughly washed their hands. In addition, use a dedicated container for transporting ice and a dedicated ice scoop. Be sure to store the scoop outside of the ice storage bin, either in an approved container or scoop holder.
Commercial Ice Machine Don'ts
Whether the room your ice machine is in is cold or hot, your ice itself is going to be cold (if your equipment is working properly). However, the air temperature around your machine will have an effect on how hard the equipment has to work to maintain that cold temperature that's required to store ice. The higher the room temperature, the more energy the equipment is going to have to use. In this situation, you're sure to see an increase in your electric bill. Be sure to put your ice machine in a place that has good air movement and doesn't heat up over 90°F.
2. DON'T Forget to Change the Filter Regularly.
One thing many commercial ice machine owners fail to do is check up on the water filter. To ensure the best ice production, it's important to change the filter on your ice maker every 6 months. Not only will your ice machine work better, but you're ensuring your customers are getting high quality, clean ice!
3. DON'T Keep Ice Too Long.
Just like with food, ice doesn't last forever; it has an expiration date. Be sure to throw ice out when it starts to melt, it becomes contaminated by food, it has been used to chill bottles or anything else, or the scheduled cleaning date is due on the machine. Ensuring your ice is fresh and clean will help prevent illness among employees and customers.
4. DON'T Contaminate the Ice.
As mentioned in the Do's section, ice can easily become contaminated. Some things you'll want to make sure to avoid in your kitchen include: re-freezing ice once it begins to melt, handling ice with your hands, using ice buckets or glasses as scoops, storing bottles or other products in food ice and/or dumping unused ice back into the ice bin. All of these things can lead to contaminated ice.
Fast Fix LLC is your honest, reliable, professionally trained commercial food-service equipment repair provider in Western Illinois and throughout Missouri. We have over 200 years combined experience repairing and maintaining commercial food-service equipment and more. If your commercial ice machine or any other piece of equipment is in need of maintenance or repair, give us a call at 573-544-0456.
Fast Fix LLC. Restaurant Equipment Service & Repair -
One Call Does It All!
Fast Fix LLC. Restaurant Services
9403 County Road 154
Auxvasse, MO 65231
Phone: 573-254-3748
St. Louis Customers: 636-FASTFIX
Website: www.FastFixLLC.com
"Like" us on Facebook
"Follow" us on Twitter
"Follow" us on LinkedIn
"Follow" us on Google
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