Your ice machine: Important tips to keep it clean and smooth

From fancy party machines to simple fridge models, all ice cream makers have one thing in common. They need regular care and maintenance.

Without your TLC you will suffer all kinds of preventable diseases. Fortunately, many problems can be avoided, and with a little work you will keep your machine happy and buzzing for years.

Disclaimer: There are many types and types of ice machines in the market. Therefore, this article should be a general guide. Always check your product manual for specific service, maintenance, and troubleshooting tips first.

Regular cleaning helps your icemaker to function well and look good.

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Keep your own

Ice makers turn water into pounds of frozen and sparkling cubes every day. Then it may seem strange that they need to be cleaned frequently. These machines are like any device that manipulates food. Unhygienic conditions promote the growth of germs, leading to health risks .

Avoid this by regularly disinfecting your ice machine. Some manufacturers, such as Scotsman , sell their own formulas for this purpose. Others, including True Manufacturing and FirstBuild (manufacturer of Opal ), recommend blending with a dilute bleach solution. No matter what you use, the goal is to flush the guts of the ice machine with things. This should avoid biological contamination in addition to thorough rinsing with water.

Refrigerators with built-in ice makers and water dispensers do not need to be completely disinfected. Still, it's a good idea to thoroughly cleanse them every month. To do this, pull the refrigerator out of the socket and empty the freezer and fresh food areas. Then clean or wash all interior surfaces by hand. Use mild soap and warm water without aggressive chemicals or abrasive tools. Also, make sure each item is dry before returning it.

It never hurts to keep the exterior of the unit clean. This keeps your ice cube maker nice and prevents the accumulation of dirt and stains. Often you only need a damp cloth. To get rid of dry spots, a touch of soap and hot water works great.

Change the filter every six months to remove contaminants from your water source.

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Change filter

You can not make quality ice with dirty water. Modern refrigerators with ice machines also have a water filtration system. Typically, they pass the water through an activated carbon filter that removes common contaminants from tap water. For example, chlorine can affect the taste and smell of water and thus of ice.

Many independent ice cream makers also use filters. Some simply enhance the taste and smell of water, while others can classify volatile organic compounds. Many professional filtration systems, mainly for commercial use, have bacteriostatic effects that prevent the proliferation of bacteria.

Always keep in mind when it's time to change a new water filter. Also check your manual. It could be as common as 3 months, 6 months or every year.

Fantastic ice machines that produce crystalline ice can quickly accumulate limescale deposits.

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Do not forget to descale

Unless you invest in a system Reverse osmosis (RO), your ice will experience calcium deposits (also called scale). Ice machines in refrigerators produce much less ice (4 to 5 pounds per day) than independent machines. The accumulation of dandruff is therefore no problem. Autonomous ice makers produce this volume several times over the same period.

For example, the True Clear ice cream maker has a maximum daily ice output of 70 pounds . At this speed, limescale deposits can form quickly. If you do not remove them, they will damage the parts of the machine and reduce its life. Fight this by decalcifying your artifact regularly.

True and Scotsman recommend using their own descaling solutions in their ice maker. For the manufacturer FirstBuild Opal Nugget Nugget it says in the manual to attack with home-made vinegar the deposits of inner liners.

Deal with hooves

Cooled ice machines are particularly prone to helmets. Over time, ice dispensing ramps tend to stick. As a rule, it is the broken ice particles and the melting of the frozen ice. In new models of refrigerators equipped with ice machines on the door, the solution is simple. First remove the ice bin and the jammed bucket. Now clean the bottom of the container and the ice channel with a warm, damp cloth. Dry everything completely and replace the garbage.

Older refrigerators with ice makers in the freezer require extra help. Check the icefall for obstacles. If that is not the problem, the buckets in the recycle bin may have merged. This happens when you rarely use the ice cube maker. Empty the freezer weekly to avoid this.

Make sure the vents on the ice cube maker are clean to ensure adequate air inlet and outlet.

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Room to breathe

Autonomous ice machines need to have adequate ventilation, otherwise they will not work optimally. The Scotsman, True and GE Undercounter units have vent holes at their lower edges (front). Fresh air enters at the right side of the ventilation and hot air is expelled from the left. Be careful not to block or obstruct this ventilation. Similarly, Opal icemakers require at least 3 inches of clearance at the sides and at the back.

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