You need perfect ice cubes at your disposal as you fulfill orders in restaurant kitchens, café, or any other commercial kitchen. If the ice production is slow, it can bottleneck operations. So, below are some causes of a slow output of a commercial ice machine. Plus, consider calling in an ice dispenser repair expert for a proper yet quick solution.

Reasons Your Commercial Ice Maker Has A Slow Output

Dirty Condenser Coil

A condenser coil is located on the exterior of ice machines. This coil carries out heat removal. But the condenser coil steadily collects dust and grease, which restricts heat removal, and the coil can’t dissipate heat efficiently.

Due to the “slow” heat removal, the entire functionality of the ice maker can slow down too. This causes slow ice production. A very clogged condenser coil can reduce the ice production by as much as 50%. This can become a huge problem for your business. So, clean the condenser coil and the exterior of the ice machine regularly.

The frequency of cleaning depends on your usage, the surroundings, etc., but cleaning it once a month is a good habit.

No Clearance Around The Ice Maker

Commercial ice makers have air intake and hot air exhaust vents that require a clearance of 6-12 inches. If boxes or anything else is placed too close to the ice machine or the unit is too close to a wall, its efficiency will be impacted. So, the ice maker may not produce ice at the required rate.

Warm Indoor Ambient Temperature

The ambient temperature of the room or kitchen where the ice machine is installed plays a role in its performance as well. You need the ambient temperature to be within the ideal range for commercial ice makers. It should be between 50°F and 70°F (10°C to 21°C). Even temperatures leading to 90°F (32°C) are not too alarming.

But if the temperatures are more than that, it’s warm for the ice maker and its freezing cycle will take a hit. This means slow ice production.

Dirty Or Clogged Water-Related Components

Water is the lifeblood of commercial ice makers. So, if any of the components that aid in water supply are dirty or clogged with sediment or scale buildup, the unit won’t receive water as required. So, there won’t be enough water for ice production and the output will be reduced. You should look to inspect and clean these components:

• Evaporator plate
• Water distribution tube or spray bar
• Water reservoir
• Water pump
• Water level sensor or float valve
• Ice thickness probe

For descaling your commercial ice maker, you should clean the unit with the descaling solution recommended by the manufacturer. Avoid anything else because that could corrode or damage the components.

Water Supply Issues

Another water-related issue could be a water supply problem. The ice maker requires a certain amount of water to complete each cycle, depending on the size of the unit. If the water reservoir doesn’t fill with enough water, the ice machine might produce less ice, or no ice at all in case of very low water levels in the reservoir.

As the issue at hand is slow ice production, the water reservoir may not be filling enough – if water supply is the cause of this problem.

So, if your commercial ice machine is producing ice slowly, check for these water supply problems:

• Closed or partially open water supply valve
• Low water pressure
• Leaking pipes
• Clogged water filter
• Partially blocked water inlet valve

Clogged Water Filter

The last point mentions a clogged water filter as one of the reasons for water supply problems, but it requires more explanation. Commercial ice makers may have a built-in water filter, or an external water filter is connected to the unit. Some facilities use or require both.

When the cartridge of these filters becomes clogged, it can’t allow enough water supply to the ice maker, which impacts the ice production rate. Depending on the water filter and your usage, you may have to clean or replace it every 2-6 months. Plus, take care of your appliances and perform maintenance regularly.

Warm Inlet Water

Commercial ice machines require cool water (50-70°F or 10-21°C) for efficient ice production. But if the inlet water temperature is higher, for instance 80-90°F (27-32°C), the ice maker will need more time to cool down the water and then perform the freezing cycle. This will slow down the ice production.

Therefore, make sure the incoming water temperature is within the range recommended by the manufacturer.

Faulty Water Inlet Valve

The water inlet valve allows water into the ice machine when green-lit by the control board. But if it’s faulty, it won’t work as required. It may stay closed when the ice machine must fill with water, leading to small ice cubes or slow ice production.

On the other hand, a faulty water inlet valve can also stay open even when not required, causing leakage or bigger ice cubes. Hire a commercial refrigerator repair Arlington professional to inspect the water inlet valve.

Bad Thermistor or Thermostat

Older ice machines have thermostats, while modern ice makers have a thermistor that has the role of a thermostat. If it’s faulty, it won’t detect the correct temperature or signal the control board correctly. So, the temperature readings can be higher or lower than actual. This can create various issues. One of them can be slow ice production.

The inspection and replacement of a thermistor or a thermostat should be performed by an expert.

Low Refrigerant Levels

Refrigerant is the liquid or gas that flows inside the condenser and evaporator coils, and is a key part of the refrigerant process. The refrigerant levels should be at a certain level, but if they aren’t, the ice machine won’t perform optimally. The freezing cycle may take longer which can cause small ice cubes or slow ice production.

Low refrigerant charge could be due to a leak. So, it must be addressed first by a certified professional before a recharge.

Compressor Issues

A compressor is another key component of all refrigeration units, including commercial ice machines. It pushes the refrigerant through the coils for the refrigerant process. A malfunctioning compressor won’t perform optimally, so the freeze or harvest cycles may take longer than normal. And slow ice production will be the result.

A compressor is one of the most expensive parts of an ice machine. It can be repaired in some cases. Other times, experts recommend replacing the ice machine, rather than repairing or replacing the compressor. So, have the unit inspected by an expert to get advice.

Control Board Malfunctions

A control board acts as the main supervisor of all the functionalities of a commercial ice machine. If it malfunctions, it can cause many problems, including the machine not starting, slow ice production, too long or too short freeze cycles, no harvest cycle, components like the water pump, inlet valve, etc., not working, and random error codes.

Conclusion

Slow ice production is a problem you don’t want to persist for long. Therefore, look for the above-mentioned problems and fix the easy ones yourself and consult a commercial ice maker repair Fairfax technician for the difficult ones.