Ice is defined as ‘food’ by the FDA since it is handled by employees and consumed by customers. Ice can spread illness just as easily as other food sources if contaminated by bacteria or mold. It can be startling to learn how often establishments forget or overlook ice machine maintenance.

The FDA stipulates ice machines should be cleaned (as specified by the manufacturer) at minimum 2x per year, but, 4x per year is most recommended to ensure food-safety standards. Depending on your usage, location, and water conditions, recommendations may vary, but the minimum of two cleanings per year should almost always be followed.

How Does Ice Become Contaminated?

Most of the time, contamination occurs due improper maintenance or irregular or infrequent cleanings. The unfortunate part, is that once a contaminant is introduced, it can be quite difficult to notice until it is too late. Then, the challenge becomes removing the contaminant entirely. An ice machine cleaning at that point, would require specialized cleaners, removing all the parts, and performing a thorough scrubbing. Otherwise, any leftover mold or bacteria (even the smallest amount) will be able to resurface.

Can I Clean Ice Machines Myself?

Most ice machine manufacturers will include instructions for performing a cleaning on the equipment. However, overtime these simple instructions will not provide adequate coverage especially when you are dealing with scale buildup and potential bacteria growth. When it comes to cleanings & preventative maintenance services, it is best to call a professional ice machine cleaning technician. Our technicians are trained and highly experienced with all major brands and will know the in’s and out of the equipment.

Professional preventative maintenance will keep you on FDA approved schedules, help to reduce pre-mature wear and tear caused by scale, and prevent bacteria from appearing and resurfacing. All of this done for you at locked-in pricing with little to no effort on your end – we got you covered!