An ice maker, also known as an ice machine can come inside the freezer or function as a standalone machine. If you have a small restaurant you should go for a small standalone machine but if your restaurant is large enough you should go for a large commercial appliance.

Types of commercial ice machines in the market

If looking to buy or replace your current ice machine, commercial kitchen appliance service Alexandria report that there are plenty of ice makers in the market that you can go for. Your options include:

Air-cooled ice makers: They have a refrigeration system that discharges heat into the air surrounding it. They do this using a fan that forces air to flow.

Water-cooled ice makers: They discharge heat into the water. The water is then released to a drain. The downfall with these units is that they consume more water than the air cooled machine.

Commercial ice maker maintenance tips

If you already have an ice maker you need to take good care of it for it to last for long and continue functioning optimally. Here are tips given by commercial ice maker maintenance professionals on how to maintain your unit.

Replace the water filter: Water filters are core components in ice makers. Their main role is to reduce the amount of sediment and minerals from the water. This keeps your ice clean and clear. They also aid in removing bad taste and odors. According to experts, a dirty water filter slows down ice production.  To keep your ice production at optimum levels you should regularly inspect the water filters and replace them if dirty.

Clean your machine: One of the major problems affecting ice makers is dirt. Dirt not only lowers the quality of the ice formed, it also puts your machine at the risk of breaking down. To keep your unit in great shape you should empty and thoroughly clean it every six months. For ideal results, you should clean it with a sanitizer and nickel-safe scale remover.

Conclusion

By taking your time to clean your machine and change your filters you will greatly extend the life performance and usage of your ice maker. In addition to the above tips, you should also hire a commercial ice maker repair professional at least once a year to inspect the unit and fix any problems that it might be having. When hiring, ensure that you hire the most reputable professional.