Making Sure Your Ice Machines Are Safe

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With businesses slowly opening back up in the Kansas City area and across the country, business owners will need to make sure that their water supply and ice machines are clean and safe for consumption. Capital Equipment can help with expertly trained and certified technicians that can help get your ice machines and business back up and running.

Commercial Ice Machine Service, Repair and Maintenance in Kansas City

If your business has been shut down for some time, the Kansas City Water Department has released some guidelines for reopening and making sure that your water is safe and clean which by extension will pertain to commercial ice machines as well. According to the Kansas City Water Department website (in conjunction with guidance from the CDC (Centers For Disease Control and Prevention), business owners need to clear out trapped water from their lines using the following guidelines:

Make sure all faucets in the building flow to a drain. If there are any water filters, remove or bypass them.
For best results, it is recommended that all aerators and screens are removed from every faucet being flushed.
Using the cold-water handles, turn on all faucets – including kitchen and bathroom sinks, utility and mop sinks, bathtub and shower, etc. – and allow them to run during the entirety of the flushing process.
Start with the lowest floor. If there is a basement, start there.
Move to the next highest floor and turn on all faucets.
Continue until all faucets are turned on in the structure.
At the end of this process, water should be flowing from all the faucets in the building at the same time.
Let the water run until the temperature changes.
Repeat steps 3-5 using the hot-water taps.
Replace any filters and reinstall any aerators and screens that were removed.

These same guidelines are applicable to commercial ice machines as well. While Capital Equipment helped many of our customers drain and clean out their ice equipment prior to shutting down, we know that many businesses ceased operations without much warning likely leaving their ice machines unattended. If that is that case, you’ll need to make sure any water that has been trapped in the water lines feeding the ice machine are cleared and thoroughly cleaned out. Water filters will need to be replaced as they may have become contaminated and rendered ineffective while lying dormant. Ice bins will need to be cleaned and sanitized while making sure items like ice scoops are cleaned as well. Internal components will need to be inspected and replaced if they have become damaged or contaminated.

If your business has been closed down for an any period of time due to the pandemic, you can’t simply flip your commercial ice machine(s) back on and expect to have clean, safe ice. Call Kansas City’s commercial ice machine experts at Capital Equipment at (913) 683-8972 for professional service, repair, cleaning and maintenance or CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US.

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Call Capital Equipment today at (913) 683-8972 for all of your commercial ice machine and ice equipment needs in the greater Kansas City area.

April 29, 2020April 29, 2020

Get Your Ice Machines Ready For Reopening

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With many states ramping up to reopen businesses after weeks of lying dormant, Kansas and Missouri are doing the same in the coming days and Capital Equipment will be busy making sure commercial ice machines are cleaned, running smooth, and ready for staff and customers to return. With many businesses shut down for the last month or more, we’re finding that many of our customers had to shut their ice machines down as well which means that they will need a thorough cleaning and sanitizing treatment before the ice is safe for consumption.

Commercial Ice Machine Service, Cleaning, and Sanitizing in Kansas City and Overland Park

With local health departments more than likely to be our inspecting businesses more than usual, the last thing you need is to have yours shut down due to your ice maker so having professionals like Capital Equipment clean and sanitize your commercial ice machines guarantees that your ice won’t hold your business back from remaining open. Our service team will inspect your entire ice machine making sure that there aren’t any issues that have come up while your equipment has been shut down. The first items that need to be cleaned are the internal components of the ice machine. While many parts and components may not be visible, our services technicians know every nook and cranny of commercial ice equipment so that we can quickly and thoroughly remove, clean, and replace each component that is susceptible to contamination. We make sure that the water supply is clean which means any water lines are inspected and cleaned as well as replacing the water filter to insure clean, clear ice. Of course the ice bin will need to be drained and thoroughly cleaned as well since it is more often than not the area of commercial ice machines that is most likely to harbor dirt, mold, mildew, or other harmful germs that can greatly effect the quality of ice. Also, ice scoops will need to be cleaned and sanitized often as they come in constant contact with human hands and are often overlooked when they should be washed and replaced frequently. Lastly, the exterior of commercial ice machines need to be cleaned often as well. Especially in busy kitchens and break rooms, ice machines (in particular bin doors) are likely to have more human contact than you would think and making sure the outside of the machine is cleaned often can prevent any issues that may find their way into the ice. We only use cleaners and sanitizers that are specific to commercial ice machines and ice equipment.

At Capital Equipment, we know that getting businesses back open is absolutely essential but not having your commercial ice machines professionally cleaned and sanitized before you do so is not only risky, it’s irresponsible. Call us today at (913) 683-8972 to schedule professional cleaning and sanitizing for your commercial ice machines of CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US. Stay safe, KC!

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Call Capital Equipment today at (913) 683-8972 for all of your commercial ice machine and ice equipment needs in the greater Kansas City area.

April 16, 2020

We Install and Service Commercial Ice Machines

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It goes without saying that this is a very odd time in our city’s and country’s history. With so many restaurants, offices and businesses lying vacant we wanted to let our current and new customers know that Capital Equipment is still out servicing, cleaning, and even delivering new commercial ice machines and ice equipment in the greater Kansas City area.

Commercial Ice Machine Sales, Leasing and Rentals In Kansas City

We’ve been lucky enough to have had great customers during this different time in our city that have continued to have us do what we do best which is making sure each business we work with has quality ice and clean, working ice machines. We know that reopening our city, and more importantly the businesses in it, is going to create some unique problems for many of our customers but your commercial ice machines won’t be one of them.

Commercial Ice Machine Service and Repair in Kansas City

If your business is currently closed down and you aren’t using your ice machine(s), be sure to drain any water out and turn them off. It will not only save you on energy costs but it will also prevent wear and tear on the machines components. When it’s time to fire up your ice machines again make sure that you give us a call and have us thoroughly clean and sanitize the equipment. Even though the ice machine isn’t being used, mold and mildew could easily begin to grow somewhere with the equipment. Capital Equipment knows every area of a commercial ice machine that could harbor mold, mildew and scale even when they aren’t visible and we’ll make sure your equipment is good to go as you temporarily shut down.

It may see redundant but you’ll want to clean and sanitize your ice machine(s) even more frequently than normal as health and safety of your staff and customers will likely be under even more scrutiny than the pre-COVID-19 era. This is where things will get tricky because no one really knows exactly when that will be and how it will all work. However it’s not a matter of IF but WHEN restaurants, bars, offices and businesses will reopen again and when they do Capital Equipment will be working overtime to make sure that our customers’ ice machines and ice equipment are ready to go to welcome back their customers and staff. We at Capital Equipment understand that it is a very difficult time for many business and we will do anything we can to help them. Call Capital Equipment today at (913) 683-8972 for all of your ice and commercial ice machine needs in and around the greater Kansas City area or CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US.

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Call Capital Equipment today at (913) 683-8972 for all of your commercial ice machine and ice equipment needs in the greater Kansas City area.

April 8, 2020

Cleaning Your Commercial Ice Machines

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It has never been more important than it is now to make sure your restaurant’s or business’ ice machines are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. At Capital Equipment, we have worked with hundreds of businesses and organizations in the greater Kansas City area to ensure that their commercial ice machines are not a haven for germs, bacteria, and, in the age of COVID-19, transmittable diseases. Our service technicians are professional and knowledgeable on how to best clean and sanitize most all major brands of commercial ice equipment and now more than ever we understand the importance of social distancing when we are on service calls to help our customers with their ice machines.

Commercial Ice Machine Installation, Cleaning and Service in Kansas City and Overland Park

commercial-ice-machine-cleaning-service-repair-Kansas-City — **Regularly cleaning and sanitizing the components of your commercial ice machines are an easy and obvious way keep quality ice in your bins.**

Ice is considered by the FDA to be a food which means that every business is required to follow specific guidelines set forth to keep it clean and more importantly keep the machines that make it clean and sanitized. If you think about it, most commercial ice machines require either someone to scoop out ice by hand or activate an ice dispenser using one’s hand which is clearly why keeping your ice machines clean is imperative especially now. Capital Equipment effectively and thoroughly cleans out ice bins and the internal components that could potentially harbor mold, mildew, scale buildup and germs or diseases that could be health risk to your staff and customers.

We are service certified with most major commercial ice machine brands which means we understand the manufacturers recommended cleaning processes and practice them accordingly. Our service technicians will clean and inspect water filters, ice bins, condensers, water lines, dispensers (if applicable, evaporators and other parts and components that come in contact with water and the ice. We’re also happy to provide tips to our customers on how to effectively clean the outside of the ice machines as more often than not, they come in contact with hands more than anywhere else on the equipment which can easily contaminate the ice inside. Some signs that you need to have your ice machine are:

Ice machine isn’t making any ice
Ice takes longer to make than usual
Ice has an odor
Ice machine is making incomplete cubes
Soft and/or milky looking ice
The ice machine won’t cycle to harvest mode

At Capital Equipment, we know that this is a very difficult time for many businesses especially in the hospitality and restaurant industry but we want you to know that we are here for all of your commercial ice needs.

Don’t take chances with your commercial ice machine and have Capital Equipment keep your ice equipment clean and sanitized. Call us today and speak directly with one of our commercial ice machine experts at (913) 683-8972 or CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US. Stay safe, KC!

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Call Capital Equipment today at (913) 683-8972 for all of your commercial ice machine and ice equipment needs in the greater Kansas City area.

March 13, 2020March 24, 2020

Kansas City’s Local Ice Machine Company

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Doing a simple Google search for “commercial ice machine companies in Kansas City” will yield countless pages of results but the fact is that most of them aren’t locally owned and operated and if you’ve done business with them in the past, they probably didn’t come close to meeting your expectations.

Commercial Ice Machine Rentals in Kansas City

At Capital Equipment, we started our commercial ice equipment business right here in the Kansas City metro and we are proud to have helped hundreds of hospitals, offices, schools, restaurants, bars and other businesses get quality commercial ice machines for their customers and employees with personalized customer service that is second to none. We get quite a few phone calls and website inquiries about commercial ice machine rentals and how our program works. For many business owners, renting or leasing an ice machine makes more sense than purchasing them outright because ice machine rental with Capital Equipment is worry free, maintenance free, repair free and most importantly a FLAT FEE. We know that other commercial ice equipment dealers in the Kansas City are adding on addition fees and costs for frequent and necessary maintenance services like changing out water filters and making sure the internal workings of the machine are properly cleaned but at Capital Equipment, we keep it simple with one fee and no hidden costs because we believe that’s what our customers deserve and expect.

From ice machines that are capable of making hundreds of pounds of ice per day to ice/water combo machines for small offices, Capital Equipment is the commercial ice equipment rental leader in the Kansas City area with simple, easy to understand rental programs that leave our customers worry free about their ice so that they can focus on what’s important. Don’t fall for the games and gimmicks of the big, national commercial ice machine dealers in Kansas City and let Capital Equipment give you the personalized touch we’ve come to be known for. Call us today for simple, no nonsense commercial ice machine rentals and all of your ice needs at (913) 683-8972 or CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US.

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Call Capital Equipment today at (913) 683-8972 for all of your commercial ice machine and ice equipment needs in the greater Kansas City area.

February 13, 2020

Ice Machines For Office Big and Small

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When most people think about commercial ice machines, they tend to imagine huge, bulky ice equipment that make hundreds of pounds of ice per day. Well, that’s sort of accurate in that there are ice machines that can make enormous amounts of ice but for small businesses (especially for offices) there are also options to have quality ice equipment that is much more compact. At Capital Equipment, we work with businesses big and small in the Kansas City area to help our customers get the ice equipment they want that also suits their needs and as their ice needs change, we help them upgrade their equipment as well.

Office Ice Machines in Kansas City, Overland Park and Lenexa

While we work with countless restaurants and bars in the KC metro, we’ve noticed a trend of small to medium sized offices wanting commercial grade ice machines for their employees and customers as well. From ice/water combination machines to larger ice bins for companies with hundreds of employees, Capital Equipment takes the time to analyze exactly which type and size of ice machine offices and businesses need as well as install and maintain it. We take into account factors such as how many employees there are, whether the work physical which may increase ice and water usage, and how big the work area is in that for larger workplace areas like warehouses might require multiple ice machines.

We offer a variety of options for businesses to acquire quality ice machines including rental programs, leasing and of course outright purchasing as well. Unlike the larger, national commercial ice machine companies that send out pushy sales representatives that just want to make a sale as quick as they can, we consult with the businesses and business owners we work with to understand their ice needs and make our recommendations accordingly. Our ice machine installers will make sure that we schedule installation so as not to disrupt business and we handle everything from installing water lines to complete calibration and set up of the ice equipment. When it comes to helping Kansas City area businesses get the commercial ice machines they need, Capital Equipment makes it easy and hassle free. Call us today for all of you commercial ice equipment needs at (913) 683-8972 or CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US.

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Call Capital Equipment today at (913) 683-8972 for all of your commercial ice machine and ice equipment needs in the greater Kansas City area.

January 8, 2020

Different Types of Commercial Ice Machines

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There are literally hundreds of different commercial ice machines models available on the market today and finding the right one for your business can be a bit confusing. Depending on how much ice your business actually needs or uses in one day is the primary factor that determines which type of ice machine will suit you best.

Commercial Ice Machine Sales, Service and Rentals in Kansas City and Overland Park

At Capital Equipment, we don’t just provide sales and service for commercial ice equipment but instead we consult with businesses and business owners to determine which ice machine will fit their needs and their budget as well. There are 4 primary types of ice machines and each produces different amounts of ice and different functions however each does require a water supply, water filters and professional installation which Capital Equipment provides.

Modular/Head Ice Machines

For businesses that use enormous amounts of ice, a modular/head unit is the right choice for commercial ice machines. They can easily produce up to 1000 lbs. or more of ice per day but they do need a separate storage bit for the ice below. Modular/head unit ice machines are ideal for high volume bars/restaurants as they can be integrated with soda dispensers and are also used in many warehouses and large offices.

Under-counter Ice Machines

Under-counter ice machines are often seen in businesses like bars and coffee shops as they are space efficient and are an “all-in-one” solution as they include the ice machine maker as well as storage bin in one unit. There are a variety of sizes of under-counter ice machines but most are made to fit under a 40 inch counter. One of the main advantages of an under-counter ice machine is that it easily accessible when serving customers from a bar or counter.

Counter-top Ice Machines

The health care profession uses an immense amount of ice and counter top ice machines are ideal for their industry. The ease of access and ability to make hundreds of pounds of ice per day while taking up little space when compared to larger modular/head unit ice machines make for an efficient way access ice for patients and staff. Plus, the internal ice bins keeps the ice clean and sanitized provided they have routine maintenance and cleaning which is mandatory for the health care industry.

Ice/Water Dispenser Combos

For small to medium sized offices of businesses, an ice/water combination dispenser is ideal. The water filters not only insures that the ice is clean and clear but also remove the “tap water” taste making employees more likely to stay hydrated which is proven to improve health and productivity.

No matter which type of ice machines your business needs, Capital Equipment helps Kansas City area businesses buy, rent and lease them along with provide professional service and repair. If your business needs commercial ice equipment, call the ice machine experts at Capital Equipment at (913) 683-8972 or CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US.

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Call Capital Equipment today at (913) 683-8972 for all of your commercial ice machine and ice equipment needs in the greater Kansas City area.

December 19, 2019

Boil Orders and Ice Machines

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We’ve all likely heard at one point or another about boil orders or boil advisories announced from our local health or water departments. But what exactly are they and what do businesses need to do to make sure their commercial ice machines aren’t making contaminated ice? Well, in simple terms, a boil order is typically issued when something has contaminated (or has potentially contaminated) a water line or water supply which could make anyone who ingests it sick.

Commercial Ice Machine Installation and Services in Kansas City

A boil order could be the result of a water line break or something more serious like a chemical spill or a natural disaster making the water (and anything made with it) unfit for human consumption. For businesses (and even homeowners) that use tap water for their ice maker, a boil order’s contaminated water can easily go overlooked when in reality there are steps that need to be taken before the ice equipment can be used safely again. That goes for commercial ice machines as well which means that if a boil order has been issued in your area and you have an active ice maker, the water filter(s) will need to be removed and replaced immediately before being used again. But it doesn’t end at just changing the water filters on ice machines because, depending on when the boil order was issued, contaminated water may have already been used to make ice or could still be trapped in the water lines.

This means that any ice already in the bin is a potential danger and any water between the filter and the ice machine needs to be cleared before it can be deemed safe for employees and customers. Capital Equipment’s service technicians can professionally clean and sanitize your entire ice machine including the water lines while replacing the filter in the event of a boil order in your area. At Capital Equipment, we help Kansas City area business owners with all of their commercial ice machine and ice equipment needs and water filters and routine cleaning and maintenance are a big part of the services we provide. With over 12 years of experience in the commercial ice equipment industry, our service technicians have pretty much seen it all and know exactly what to do when a boil order effects your area and how to more importantly get your making clean, safe ice. When a boil order does occur in your area or you need any type of service or cleaning for your commercial ice equipment, call Capital Equipment at (913) 683-8972 for professional, knowledgeable ice machine experts that provide a truly personalized service to business owners and businesses.

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Call Capital Equipment today at (913) 683-8972 for all of your commercial ice machine and ice equipment needs in the greater Kansas City area.

December 6, 2019

Why Do Ice Machines Need Water Filters?

For areas like the greater Kansas City metro that, for the most part, have hard water, it is imperative to have effective water filters and have them changed regularly to ensure clean, quality ice. Anytime that water tastes funny or has particles, minerals and sediment in it, they will most certainly end up in the ice which effects the look, taste and overall quality but not when you have an effective filter system.

Commercial Ice Machine Service and Water Filter Replacement In Kansas City

At Capital Equipment, we help Kansas City area restaurants, hotels, hospitals, offices and a multitude of businesses with every aspect of commercial ice machines and water filtration is a big part of making sure that ice is clean, clear, and most of all delicious. In simple terms, filters process the water that is being fed into your ice machines removing chlorine, particulates, and other unwanted substances that will leave your ice looking cloudy, dirty and otherwise tasting odd. In other words, ice machine filters remove everything that you don’t want being seen or tasted in ice. Filters also remove scale which is abundant in hard water which happens to be what we have in the greater Kansas City area. Scale can not only effect the quality of ice but can also effect the efficiency and functionality of an ice machines’ internal components which can result in costly repairs or complete equipment replacement in some cases.

replace-water-filter-commercial-ice-machine-Kansas-City — Scale build up not only makes ice look and taste funny but it can also put an enormous amount of stress on your ice machines’s internal parts.

Scale build up doesn’t typically happen overnight which means that getting ahead of it with a water softener and routine filter changes will help you avoid any downtime for you commercial ice machine(s). Each ice machine tends to have a different size water filter which is relative to the size of the machine and obviously the amount ice it produces which is in direct correlation to the amount of water that will be needed to make the ice. In terms how often a water filter will need to be changed on a commercial ice machine, it depends on the model and how much ice is being made but the ice equipment experts at Capital Equipment can help set up routine service intervals to make sure your ice is always flawlessly clear and clean. You’ll likely never hear how great your ice tastes because, let’s face it, we tend to take it for granted. But when your water filters need replaced and your looks or tastes funny, you’ll most certainly hear about it. Call Capital Equipment today at (913) 683-8972 for professional, expert service, cleaning and repairs for your commercial ice machines in the greater Kansas City area.

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Call Capital Equipment today at (913) 683-8972 for all of your commercial ice machine and ice equipment needs in the greater Kansas City area.

November 12, 2019

How Commercial Ice Machines Work

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Everyone know that ice forms when you have water and temperatures at or below freezing but have you ever thought about how ice machines actually work? At Capital Equipment, all we do is service and sales for commercial ice machines in the greater Kansas City area and each day we use our knowledge of how ice equipment actually produces ice to help our customers keep their ice bins full.

Commercial Ice Machines and Ice Equipment in Kansas City and Overland Park

Put simply, there are three main components needed for a commercial ice machine to work:

A Refrigeration System
A Water Supply
A Way To Collect the Ice

That seems simple but ice machines are far from it. While there are a variety of different types of ice machines, we’ll focus on one of the most common which is a metal ice cube tray. The ice tray is connected to a series of coiled heat-exchanging pipes which are similar to what you would see on the back of your home refrigerator. A compressor pushes a refrigerant fluid through these pipes where they will narrow (condense) and then flow into a wider tube (evaporator) where the liquid will expand. When refrigerant is compressed, it raises it’s pressure which also will raise it’s temperature and is it goes through the more narrow coils it will lose its heat and condense into a liquid. Now that the compressed liquid passes through expansion valve , it will evaporate and become a gas which attracts heat from the surrounding pipes and the air around the refrigerant which, in turn, cools the pipes and the ice tray.

Water is then brought in from a filter and a pump gradually so that it is frozen layer by layer which creates the clear ice that you often see in restaurants and hotels. If you’re ice is white, cloudy and has a milky look, then there’s obviously a problem and you need to call us. There are a variety of ways the ice is then removed from the tray and into the bin but in most cases it gets a little nudge or the ice tray is has a downward angle so the cubes slide out on their own.

There are countless more components that enable commercial ice machines to, well, make ice and Capital Equipment’s service and repair team knows how to narrow down what’s ailing your equipment quickly and efficiently. We buy all of our parts in bulk so that it saves our customer money because we know which parts are more likely to fail and we make certain that we have them on hand at all times. Whether your business is adding, upgrading or needing service and repair on commercial ice machines, Capital Equipment has got Kansas City covered with over 11 years of experience in the ice equipment business and a stellar reputation with our customers. Call us today for all of your commercial ice machine needs at (913) 683-8972 or CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US.