Commercial businesses rely on special commercial equipment to carry out their daily tasks. If you are running a commercial restaurant or café, having a commercial ice maker in your kitchen is a must as that is the only way you will be able to serve fresh drinks to your customers. As convenient and effective as commercial ice machines tend to be, their issues and problems can be complicated to fix at times so you need assistance from a commercial kitchen appliance repair technician if an issue arise.

A common ice machine issue is small or hollow ice production. But don’t worry because we have listed the causes of this problem with their solutions.

Imbalanced Commercial Ice Maker

Not many people or commercial business owners are aware of the fact that commercial ice makers need to be positioned on a leveled surface. Even if there is a slight tilt, the unit will have performance issues. In cases such as the unit making small or hollow ice cubes, business owners tend to assume the ice maker is the problem.

They do not pay attention to the small factors that could significantly influence performance. If the commercial ice maker is slightly angled to one side, it might produce uneven ice due to improper water flow. The water inside the unit will stick to one side instead of standing evenly on the tray.

The best way to ensure the unit is leveled is by using a leveling foot or scale. Sometimes, the tilt may be so small that it might be hard to notice. But, before you blame the machine for being faulty, you should cover the basics.

Water Supply Valve Is Clogged

If you have hard water being supplied to your area, you can expect a blockage in your water plumbing system. The reason is that salts like lime and calcium will accumulate and turn into deposits eventually clogging the inlet valves or lines, restricting the flow.

Unfortunately, this is one of the factors that is ignored by many commercial business owners. To fix the issue, you will need to track the water supply where it enters or connects to the commercial ice maker. You can use the user manual to identify the water supply valve and ensure that it is completely open.

If the valve seems to be open, you can close it and disconnect the hose to inspect the screen inside for any blockage. It could be that the screen has been damaged with time and needs replacement. While you are at that, make sure to check up on the saddle valve as well. It should be opened all the way. Moreover, if you have hard water problem, install a water softener or a water conditioner.

Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure is one of the common causes of your ice machine not producing ice at all or producing smaller ice cubes than normal. Most commercial ice makers require a certain PSI which can anywhere between 35-120 to be effective. But, if the pressure drops to 20 or below, it means the pressure is not enough for the ice maker to make ice cubes. So, before considering ice dispenser repair Springfield, check the water pressure first.

To diagnose a low water pressure issue, you will first need to check the RO sediment filter. If the filter happens to be dirty or clogged, you will need to thoroughly clean it. Depending on the type of ice machines, you may have more than one filter.

To access them, you will need to consult the user manual. At the same time, you should also check the main water supply. If the water coming from the main water supply is already low, the commercial ice maker will produce ice cubes that are hollow or small. You might want to check up with the local authorities to find out the source of the problem.

Faulty Water Inlet Valve

Water inlet valve issues are common in ice makers, may it be commercial or residential. If you observe that the temperature is correct but the ice maker is not working the way it should be, you should check the inlet valve for being defective.

The water inlet valve is an electric component that opens up to supply water to the ice maker. If it happens to be faulty or the water pressure is too low, it will not open. As a result, the ice maker will produce hollow or small ice cubes or nothing at all.

The first thing you are going to do in this matter is to check the inlet valve for continuity using a multimeter tool. If the inlet valve seems fine, you should check the PSI as it requires a minimum of 20 PSI. If the water inlet valve is normal along with the water pressure, you should try replacing the water inlet valve. There is a possibility it might be leaking.

Faulty Cycling Thermostat

Modern ice machines have a number of advanced features. One of them is the pre-installed and programmed thermostat that keeps an eye on the temperature outside and adjusts the temperature inside the unit accordingly to produce perfect ice cubes.

The thermostat also helps cycle the unit on and off. If you are experiencing any problems with the ice cubes, this matter is also worth considering. For this, you will need to grab the user manual and follow the directions to access the thermostat. Check the thermostat for continuity by using a multimeter.

If the thermostat behaves in an unusual way, it means the thermostat needs to be replaced. Furthermore, if the unit was recently serviced, it could be that the thermostat lost its calibration. This minor issue will also cause the thermostat to record and give incorrect temperature readings. To recalibrate the issue, you will need to consult an expert for calibrating the thermostat and for also performing preventative maintenance.

Faulty Ice Maker Assembly

If nothing else works, chances are that the ice maker assembly is faulty. There are several components inside a commercial ice maker that can malfunction and affect the performance. You should keep an eye out for unusual noises to be sure.

In addition to that, if the ice maker happens to be old, it could be that it needs replacement due to being worn with time. Even though ice makers tend to last several years if maintained properly but will still need replacement.

So, instead of wasting money on frequent repairs and replacements, you should opt for a replacement. This is a sort of investment you inject into your business. The last thing you would want is to leave the customers disappointed just because they didn’t receive the quality services they expected.

Conclusion

A commercial ice maker producing hollow or small ice cubes can be easier to fix if you follow the tips mentioned above. Inspect the appliance and look for the issues one at a time. But you know that problems related to commercial appliances can be difficult to fix, so it’s better to hire a commercial ice maker repair Alexandria expert who can inspect the ice machine and fix it. Moreover, you should ensure proper maintenance of your ice machine as well so the unit performs without any complications.