Commercial ice makers have been around for a while and are specifically designed to keep food items fresh and cold. These machines are employed by restaurants, hospitals, etc. to ensure customers can be served fresh meals and drinks when required. This means, commercial ice makers usually work round the clock and tend to be heavy-duty machines that can stand the test of time. But, since they are electronic appliances, they are prone to running into problems that could be frustrating. While some can be easy to fix, others require you to contact a commercial appliances repair expert. Let’s take a look at some common ice machine problems and how you can both fix and prevent them in the future.
Low Quality Ice
Commercial ice makers come with filters that help water get rid of contaminants and bacteria. Depending on the make, model, and variant of the ice machine, it may have one or more filters. That said, if you observe the ice quality has gone down especially if there is a murky smell, you should know something is wrong.
Ice cubes giving off an unusual smell is usually a sign of filters being clogged. So, the first thing you are going to do is consult the user manual to access the filters. Once you have removed the filters, perform a thorough inspection to see if there are any cracks or damages.
If not, simply clean the filters and re-install them to see if the problem goes away. If it doesn’t, it most likely means there is something wrong with the water. You will need to contact the relevant authority to fix the issue.
Water Supply Issues
Although, this problem is not directly related to the commercial ice maker but plays a crucial role in its performance as the ice machine cannot make ice without proper water supply. If you live in a cold region, there is a huge chance of the water supply line getting clogged or frozen.
The clogging of the water supply line could take place due to limescale and salts. If your region has hard water, the probability of the water supply lines getting clogged is a lot higher. To fix the issue, there is nothing much you can do but install filters and clean the pipes regularly.
On the other hand, if the pipes are frozen, you should run tap water and let the ice break down. Then, use a tool to gently break or scrape off the remaining ice.
Faulty Water Inlet Valve
The water inlet valve is an important part of the commercial ice maker as it is responsible for letting the water inside the machine when needed. It is this component that informs the ice machine it needs water when the level is low. Once the machine has received a sufficient amount of water, the valve will automatically shut off the water supply.
It is common for the water inlet valve to run into problems especially if it’s old. If the water inlet valve is not functioning properly, it will either shut off the water supply or allow it to overflow. In such cases, you might observe water pools underneath the machine.
Instead of panicking, you should shut off the water supply along with the machine for an expert to come take a look. The only way to fix a damaged water inlet valve is to simply replace it.
Strange Noises
Commercial ice makers usually make a slight humming sound when running. But, if you observe strange noises such as grinding or squeaking, you should know something is seriously wrong. You might be tempted to continue using the machine expecting the issue will resolve on its own.
But the fact of the matter is that such noises point towards mechanical failures. For instance, if you hear a squeaking sound, it most likely means the bearings are bad and you should replace them. If the issue persists, you will end up damaging some other components as well.
To troubleshoot the issue, consult an expert. The reason is that fixing squeaking, grinding, or similar noises is not an easy task and requires special tools and techniques. So, it would be better if you handed over the task to an expert.
Compressor Leakage
Commercial ice makers utilize a refrigerant to produce cool air. Even though the compressor is a rigid component as it deals with the refrigerant gas, but due to rust, corrosion, and external factors, it could leak as well. The leakage results in the gas escaping, which will put extra strain on the ice machine.
In addition to that, the compressor also comes with bearings that may produce a squeaking noise as well. You can try replacing the bearings to fix the squeaking noise but if the compressor is faulty, you will need to replace it.
This is why experts recommend looking after the commercial ice maker and performing regular maintenance and inspection to stop or prevent the problem before it shows up.
Overheating Coils
Commercial ice makers come with evaporator and condenser coils that condense the refrigerant gas and dissipate heat that is produced as a byproduct of cool air. With time, dirt, dust, and grime tend to accumulate over the coils in the form of layers that make heat dissipation difficult.
As a result, the coils overheat and come under extreme stress. In extreme cases, the coils will burn and will need to be replaced. The good thing is that cleaning the coils is extremely easy. All you need to do is grab a cleaning agent and a soft cloth.
Simply spray the cleaning agent over the accumulation and let it sit for a few minutes until it breaks down the layers. Then, damp the cloth a bit and wipe away all the accumulations. You or your staff member can perform this task, but if this seems difficult or if you want to schedule proper maintenance or have your ice machine repaired, consult ice dispenser repair Fairfax services.
Lack Of Maintenance
Commercial ice makers like other commercial appliances require regular professional maintenance. Most business owners believe that if the ice machine is running without any issues, it does not need maintenance. The problem with this mindset is that you are not able to avoid problems that could be easily avoided.
Professional maintenance is not merely cleaning but also thorough inspection. Experts can go deep inside the unit, look for potential problems, and fix them on the spot. This helps the machine run without complications and keeps business disruptions at bay as well.
Instead of considering it an expense, one should perceive it as an investment. Commercial ice makers are made to last years before needing a replacement. Spending a few hundred dollars annually saves you from thousands of dollars’ worth of repairs and replacements down the road.
Conclusion
Commercial ice makers are efficient and effective machines that help business owners serve fresh food items. These machines running into problems should not worry you if you are aware of the troubleshooting tips. Keep the information mentioned above in mind if you encounter similar situations in the future and hire commercial ice maker repair Arlington technician or repairs and maintenance.
