Stick To A Schedule
Nearly every beverage served by your business contains ice. In order to deliver a clean food product, it’s essential that you regularly clean your ice machine. Developing and sticking to a cleaning schedule also keeps the ice machine working efficiently throughout the years.
Because so many types and models of ice machines are used by bars and restaurants, keep the instruction manual handy so you can refer to it directly. The cleaning guidelines within will help you properly clean and maintain the machine. For instance, a flaker ice machine often contains more moving parts than a cube machine and may require some disassembly, along with special cleaning solutions.
But with any type of ice machine, the removal of scale is usually the main goal while cleaning. Scale buildup can impact the freezing process and result in a reduction of capacity or longer harvest times. While cleaning, take your time and carefully inspect machine parts that come in direct contact with water for signs of scale or mold.
Tips To Get You Started
Here are a few basic tips to get you started. Remember, for more detailed information, consult the instruction manual.
- Dump the ice before you begin cleaning.
- Using the recommended cleaning solutions, scrub the ice machine’s water system and storage bin. Look for any changes in water pressure that may be caused by a clog.
- Remove and inspect the air filters.
- Inspect and clean the various components, including the water sensors, water distribution parts, hoses, water valves, thermistors, evaporators, cube sizing controls and the reservoir.
- After a thorough cleaning, sanitize the ice machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This will ensure that the storage bin and dispenser are free of potentially harmful bacteria.
- Following a cleaning, throw out the first batch of ice, which may contain traces of cleaning products.
- Regularly cleaning your business’ ice machine (cleaning frequency varies by model) keeps it running smoothly. Of course, if something should go wrong along the way, ice machine insurance can help foot the repair bills.
Protect your investment today. Call Fleming & Riles Insurance at (229) 436-2408 for more information on Albany ice machine insurance.