Dirty commercial ice machines can wreak havoc on your business, to say the least. Most businesses undermine the importance of following a regular ice machine cleaning and maintenance routine. The dangers of dirty ice machines are far greater than one can imagine, especially for hospitality and food businesses, as people’s lives are at risk.
Contaminated ice can pose a variety of health risks to individuals consuming it. Thus, it is vital to ensure your ice machines are sparkling clean.
Ice machines are an important asset for many businesses. You can commonly find them in schools, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, bars, and other public facilities and areas.
While they offer several unique benefits like ease and convenience, they also pose numerous health threats if not maintained properly. Regular ice machine maintenance not only ensures safety but also extends the service life of your ice machine, helping you make the most of your investment.
Furthermore, ice machines are available in a variety of models, types, and sizes. Each business has unique needs, which is why they need to opt for an ice machine that suits its needs. For instance, a hotel may require a larger ice machine compared to a convenience store.
With the acquisition of an ice machine, there are also certain responsibilities you will need to fulfill, one of which is following a diligent ice machine cleaning routine. To help you understand the importance of ice machine cleaning, this post will highlight some risks and dangers of dirty ice machines. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Contaminated Ice Can Make Customers Sick
Customer health and well-being is the top priority of every business, especially for businesses in the food and hospitality industry. People eating in your restaurant or staying in your hotel should leave happily and healthily. However, a dirty ice machine does not always work in your favor, especially when it comes to customer health.
The risk of foodborne illnesses increases tenfold when you consume contaminated ice in your food and drinks.
Hence, it is vital to clean your ice machines regularly to avoid ice contamination. If a customer gets sick after consuming contaminated ice in your hotel or restaurant, your business’s reputation might be at risk.
2. Microbial Growth and Buildup
When you don’t clean your ice machine for an extended time, it can lead to microbial growth and lime buildup, which is quite dangerous. The biofilm or slime buildup inside a commercial ice machine can spread numerous diseases.
Biofilms are a group of microorganisms, primarily bacteria, which grow together in a matrix of polymers. Once the microbes grow into well-built biofilms, sanitizing and cleaning become even more difficult. Even if you run the cleaning cycle in your machine, it won’t be enough to get rid of the built-up slime.
You will have to call in experts to clean up the built-up slime manually, as automated cleaning won’t be able to eliminate the slime successfully.
3. Adversely Affect the Performance of Your Ice Machine
Another risk of running a dirty ice machine is that it can adversely affect ice quality and machine performance. If you are operating your business in an area where the water is rich in minerals – more commonly referred to as hard water – your machine is at a greater risk of performing inefficiently.
The slime buildup combined with hard water minerals can seriously influence the performance of your ice machine, reducing the quality of your ice cubes. In addition to reducing machine performance and ice quality, it can also increase energy consumption, increasing utility bills. Most ice machines that come in for a professional service have no major issues. All they need is a thorough cleaning.
Thus, a regularly scheduled ice machine cleaning routine can ensure your ice machines keeps operating at optimum efficiency, upkeep ice quality, and save you from higher utility costs.
4. Reduce the Service Life of Your Ice Machine
Finally, another risk of dirty ice machines is that they can significantly reduce the service life of your ice machine. A dry ice machine will have a harder time running smoothly, and the components will stop working sooner. As an ice machine is a significant investment, you need to do your best to ensure it serves you for as long as possible. However, that is not possible without a proper cleaning routine.
Therefore, a regular cleaning routine is essential to help you make the most of your investment and ensure your ice machines keep performing optimally for a long time.
Affordable Ice Machine Rental Services in Los Angeles
Now that you know the risks of a dirty ice machine, it is time to partner with a company that offers repairs and maintenance services.
LA Ice Machine is one of the most reputable ice machine rental services providers in Los Angeles, with years of industry experience. Their commercial ice machines are second to none when it comes to quality, innovation, and affordability.
Whether you need a commercial ice machine for your school or hotel, they can help you get the best ice machine for your needs.
Get in touch with LA Ice Machine to get started or learn more about their ice machine rental services.
About the Author
The author of this blog has experience writing on a variety of topics, especially commercial ice machines and ice dispensers. They have been a part of the food industry for many years and have sufficient experience working with ice machines. They share their knowledge and valuable insights with customers and businesses through their informational guides and extensive blogs.
