Commercial Ice Machines For Newbies

By: Max Johnson

As you are looking to purchase an ice machine or a commercial ice machine for your restaurant, bar, country club or golf course, there are some questions that you may have prior to your purchase to make sure that you are purchasing an adequate sized ice machine for the needs of your facility. Here are some common questions:

How do I determine how much ice I will need for my facility?

This is a question asked by many and we will provide some figures that are averages for proper ice levels. The real trick is to do the research and to do the math as every restaurant, bar, country club and golf course has different needs at different times of the day. Once the math and research is done to determine how much ice you will need, there are still other factors to consider. Before your purchase, you need to determine where the ice machine will be placed in the facility? If the ice making machine will be installed near the kitchen area or any other area in which will be hotter than normal, the heat may drastically decrease the amount of ice that your ice machine will produce. Another consideration is that a slightly larger machine never really hurt anyone. Weigh this against the challenge that you and your staff will have when you run out of ice.

Here are the "guidelines" for ice needs from an ice maker:

Restaurant ice needs are 1.5 lbs. per person
Bar or Lounge ice needs are 3 lbs. per person
Salad Bar ice needs are 30 lbs. per cubic foot
Lodging ice needs are 5 lbs per room
Catering ice needs are 1 lb per person

Do I need a water-cooled ice machine or an air-cooled ice machine?

As you can imagine there are advantages and disadvantages to each system. The air cooled units are easy to install and the purchase price is typically lower than a water cooled model. However, the air cooled units tend to be noisy and will give off heat which may not be desirable depending on the placement of the unit. A water cooled machine is also easy to install. A water cooled unit is also quieter and is typically more efficient than a water cooled unit. In some dryer parts of the country, you may be required to have a permit to run a water cooled machine.

How important is a water filter to the facility's ice making machine?

A water filter will remove any odor as well as improve the taste of the ice by removing sediment, parasites, controlling calcium as well as hi-scale build-up. These factors also lead to a unit breaking down. Changing your water filter is important maintenance to do just as changing the oil in your car is important to its proper function.

With proper maintenance, how long can I expect an ice unit to last?

Again, the truthful answer to this question is, it depends. With that being said, most machines will last up to 10 years. This depends on if you properly maintain the machine as well as the water quality available as well as the amount of humidity in your area.