Best Practices: Ice Machine Maintenance

Modified on Mon, 24 Jun, 2024 at 4:58 PM

Empire’s ice experts and our trusted manufacturers recommend taking the routine maintenance steps in between deep cleanings.

This list includes suggestions that may depend on the make, model, and site environment of your machine. Empire Cooler encourages all safety measures to be taken when handing and maintaining your ice machine.

Maintenance Best Practices

Daily

Store only ice in your ice bin. Keeping food, beverages, or other objects stored in your ice maker is a health risk. It can also interfere with the function of your ice machine if foreign objects get stuck in the drain.

Keep the surrounding area clean. Most ice machines inhale air from the surrounding environment to cool off. Having a clean environment will reduce particles from entering your ice machine and causing mold, bacteria growth, or clogged air filters.

Sanitize ice scoop, holder, and all tools that come into contact with the ice. This simple practice reduces the number of bacteria entering your ice machine.

Always use sanitized utensils to scoop ice from the bin. Never put bare, unclean hands in your ice machine.

* Remember: Ice is food and should be handled according to your local and state food safety requirements.

Weekly

Wipe down the outside of your ice machine with a non-abrasive cleaner or diluted bleach to reduce mold growth.

Wipe down air filters with dry cloth to ensure proper air flow. If your air filters clog easily, rinse in warm water more regularly.

Monthly or Quarterly

Remove ice, power off your machine, and sanitize the ice bins and drop zones with a food safe cleanser. This is important if your site environment causes more rapid mold growth.

Check the dates on your water filtration system, it may be time for a change. If your water filters become clogged, this can reduce ice production.

Yearly

Call Empire Cooler Service to confirm your preventative maintenance appointment.

Prepare ahead of time when dealing with the health department. We recommend calling for your ice machine cleaning at least two weeks before an inspection

For Leasing Customers:

Empire Cooler provides cleanings according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Our service team will be happy to confirm if you are due for a cleaning, or if an additional cleaning would incur an additional charge.

Empire Cooler will deliver or reimburse ice for 1/2 the ice bin capacity so the ice machine can get caught up after your cleaning.

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