How To Perform Ice Production Check January 19 2015, 2 Comments

It can be confusing knowing if your ice machine is producing as much ice as it should or if your machine is having problems.  For example, a Manitowoc IY0454A will only produce up to 450 lb of ice per day, under ideal conditions.  Rarely are our ice machines placed in ideal conditions, typically they are in a hot kitchen or have warm water fed to them.  This article will show you how you can perform an ice production check and see how much ice it’s actually producing.

Step 1 - Determine ambient air temperatures.

To do this, take a thermometer and find the air temperature around the ice machine.  Next, take a reading of the air temperature as it enters the condenser.  This will only apply to air-cooled machines and the temperature should be taken right at the condenser fins or air filter.

Step 2 - Find 24-Hour production chart in your service technicians hand book.

This book can be downloaded for free directly from Manitowoc’s website, for your specific model number.

New Year Ice Machine Maintenance January 12 2015, 0 Comments

Happy New Year!  Now is the time to start taking action and reduce the cost of owning your commercial ice machine.  To do this, plan a maintenance schedule right now, which includes cleaning your Manitowoc or Koolaire ice machine at least once every 6 months.  Depending on your location, you may need to do this more often, ideally once per quarter.

An ice machine has a foodzone, just like your grill, so keeping it clean is important.  There are things to help with keeping the ice machine free of mold and scale, like adding a water filter or Guardian Sachet to reduce slime.  However, nothing beats taking components apart, putting the ice machine into clean mode, and using nickel safe cleaner to scrub that evaporator.

How To Clean A Koolaire Ice Machine January 09 2015, 0 Comments

Keeping your Koolaire ice machine clean is the number one way to reduce ownership cost.  The purpose of cleaning is to remove lime scale and mineral deposits.  Most ice machine problems stem from components having scale build up or the evaporator being too dirty to harvest properly.  Keep your ice machine investment running efficiently, by following these Koolaire cleaning steps.

Depending on the severity of scale, cleaning may be required more frequently than the recommended once per 6 months.  In addition, cleaning times may vary depending on water quality or dirtiness of ice machine components.

Ice machine cleaner is not the same as ice machine sanitizer.  Sanitation may be required if you need to disinfect and remove algea or slime.

How To Clean An Ice Machine Air Condenser October 27 2014, 0 Comments

Ice machines come in 3 main flavors, water-cooled, remote, and air-cooled.  The types refer to their condenser type, with air-cooled being the most prone to having a dirty condenser, which in turns hurts the efficiency of the ice machine and in some cases stops it from operating at all.  Because the air condenser is so important, Manitowoc and Koolaire recommend you clean it at least once every six months.

To properly clean the air condenser on a Manitowoc or Koolaire ice machine, follow these steps.

1. Shine a flashlight through the condenser to check for dirt between the fins.
2. Blow compressed air or rinse with water from the inside out(opposite direction of airflow).
3. If dirt still remains call a service agent to clean the condenser(they will have chemical to treat the condenser without damaging the fins).

Ice Thickness Float Switch Adjustment on Koolaire August 13 2014, 2 Comments

Ice machines require the proper ice thickness or bridge thickness, to properly harvest.  Setting this thickness allows for faster harvest cycles, depending on condition and customer preference on cube size.  Manitowoc and Koolaire recommend a 1/8" thick bridge on all of their cuber ice machines.  Adjusting a Koolaire ice thickness is unique, because harvest is triggered by a float switch and not an ice thickness probe.

To adjust the float switch, you will need a 3/4" wrench.  Use the wrench on the float switch located on the left, as you are facing the front of the machine, to loosen or tighten the nut located right above the white plastic float.  Turn the float switch clockwise to increase thickness and counterclockwise to decrease.