A Brief History Of Ice Machines

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While ice makers and commercial ice machines may seem more like a modern convenience because they are common in nearly every home, office, restaurant and business today, they have actually been around for quite a while. Of course there have been huge leaps in technology to help produce cleaner and higher quality ice more quickly at the push of a button but the principle mechanics for ice makers remains pretty much the same as when they were invented. Here’s a quick history on the origin of the ice machines as we know them today.

Commercial Ice Machines in Kansas City, Atchison, and Overland Park, KS

The use of ice itself by humans has been around since the beginning of time but was first recorded as far back as 400 BC when ancient Egyptians would use clay pots filled with water to be left out overnight in the cold to freeze and then stored underground to keep it preserved. In other parts of the world, ice could be harvested from frozen lakes and rivers as any kid that has seen the movie Frozen can tell you. But it wasn’t until the 1840’s when a New England man named Fredric Tudor began to not only harvest ice on a mass scale but also found ways to effectively ship it without it melting which, as you might expect, created a huge demand for ice on a global scale. Refrigeration had already been invented in 1834 by Jacob Perkins who was the first to patent a refrigerator as we know them today using ether in a vapor compression cycle. But an American doctor named John Gorrie was the first to truly produce a refrigerator or cooling device as we know them today in 1844 in an effort to help keep his patients cool from fevers but he opted to introduce it to public by offering chilled wine at a Bastille Day festival offering cold beverages to festival goers on a hot July day. While the ether powered refrigerator invented by Gorrie and Perkins would later be found to be a danger especially when ether would leak out, two inventors named Charles Franklin Kettering and Thomas Midgely, Jr. discovered Freon in 1928 which would still use Gorrie’s principle of condensing, throttling, and evaporating air but in a much safer way. Many more technological advancements would be made after the foundation for refrigeration and ice making were laid and you’d be hard pressed to not go anywhere without seeing coolers, freezers, or ice machines using the same methods and principles in the modern world today.

At Capital Equipment, we understand the basic principles of what makes ice makers work but more importantly we understand modern commercial ice machines and how to make them produce ice best. If you’re business in the greater Kansas City area that needs a commercial ice machine or service for your current one, give us a call at (913) 683-8972 or CLICK HERE FOR OUR ONLINE CONTACT FORM.

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.

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June 17, 2020

Nothing Beats the Heat Like Ice!

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We’ve already gotten a taste of summer in the past 2 weeks in Kansas City and there’s still plenty more heat and humidity on the way which means ice will be in high demand. The good news is that Capital Equipment can help with all of your summer ice needs from commercial ice equipment sales, service and rentals to bagged ice supply and delivery along with ice freezers to store it.

Commercial Ice Machine Sales, Rentals, Service and Installation in Kansas City

Whether you are a small business that needs a counter top ice/water combo dispenser or you have hundreds of employees and need a commercial ice machine that will make hundreds of pounds of ice per day, Capital Equipment can help with Kansas City’s ice equipment experts ready help your staff and customers keep cool this summer. Buying ice equipment outright particularly commercial ice machines can get expensive really quick especially for small business. While we at Capital Equipment are happy to sell our customers quality, commercial ice machines outright, we find that a good majority of them choose to rent or lease them from us. With our ice machine rental program, you pay one monthly fee which includes all service, maintenance and repairs during the course of the rental period. There are no surprise fees like charging extra for water filters or routine cleaning unlike most of the other commercial ice machine companies in Kansas City. You will always get an ice machine expert with Capital Equipment that is certified to work on commercial ice equipment but also licensed and fully insured for our customers’ protection.

Our installers are professional and understand all of the factors that could produce less than stellar ice like proper spacing, air flow and making sure that water lines are room temperature and not effected by ambient heat. We listen to our customers needs and make recommendations for specific ice machine models that will easily meet their daily ice needs and help them upgrade as their business grows. At Capital Equipment, we know that ice is not at the top of everyone’s priority list but making sure our customers have quality ice and ice equipment is always at the top of ours. If your business needs bulk ice, commercial ice machines, or service for your current ice equipment, call Capital Equipment for Kansas City’s locally owned an operated ice service. Call us today at (913) 683-8972 or CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT OUR CONTACT FORM.

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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 23, 2020January 23, 2020

What Makes Good Ice?

Not much attention gets paid to ice unless it a) tastes funny, b) looks funny, or c) a combination of both which is never good. The reasons for poor quality ice can be endless as there are so many factors that go into the process of making ice. At Capital Equipment, we pride ourselves on being the partner to hundreds of Kansas City businesses for commercial ice machine sales, rentals, repair, and service as well as ice supply and delivery in the metro and while we can’t provide one ultimate reason for bad ice, we can certainly explain how to make it always taste and look its best.

Commercial Ice Machines in Kansas City and Overland Park

The first step in quality ice is the ice machine itself. It seems simple but the fact is that there are so many commercial ice machine manufactures on the market that the average business owner won’t know that they are getting less than stellar ice equipment until it’s far too late. At Capital Equipment, we’ve seen many ice machine brands come and go and we’ve narrowed down the manufacturers we would recommend to just 4: Manitowoc, Hoshizaki, Ice-O-Matic and Scotsman.

These brands have a stellar reputation for durability and performance that eclipses all of the “off-brands” that many commercial equipment dealers offer. Plus, Capital Equipment regularly keeps the most common parts for these brands of machines in stock so that when our customers need them, they don’t have to wait.

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

commercial-ice-machine-cleaning-service-repair-Kansas-City — Regularly cleaning and sanitizing your commercial ice machines is an easy and obvious way keep clean, quality ice in your bins.

Most ice machines are working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and not keeping them properly maintained is a sure way to have poor quality ice. Changing water filters and routine cleaning is a big part of that and Capital Equipment is ready to help you do just that. With commercial ice machine service professionals that have years of experience working on every make and model of ice maker, we have the knowledge and experience to make sure your ice equipment will be running smooth and your ice is clean and clear. We can help clean, sanitize and provide routine water filter changes to ensure your ice is crystal clear, clean and most importantly delicious for your customers and/or staff.

clean-and-sanitize-ice-machine-bin-commercial-ice-machines — Ice bins are one of the most important components to keep clean and sanitized as they come in constant contact with human hands and other objects that could contain bacteria and contaminate the ice.

Waiting until your commercial ice machine is too dirty to make clean ice or simply does not work due to poor maintenance can cost your business, your reputation and customers. Let the ice experts in Kansas City at Capital Equipment keep your ice machines running smooth with routine maintenance and service that is truly second to none. Call us today 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

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.

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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.

October 29, 2019

Need To Replace Your Ice Machine In Kansas City?

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At Capital Equipment, everyday we help Kansas City area businesses make sure their ice machines are making clean, clear and delicious ice for their customers and employees and there isn’t a lot we haven’t seen. However there are some instances where an older ice machine isn’t necessarily worth the money to have it serviced or repaired which means that it’s time to upgrade and replacement it. Capital Equipment is Kansas City’s commercial ice machine experts with over 11 years of being in business and helping hundreds of businesses in St Joseph, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Lansing and Kansas City get quality ice makers from the top rated names in commercial ice equipment.

Commercial Ice Machine Sales, Service and Rental in Kansas City

Properly installing a commercial ice machine is extremely important because, in many cases, the environment the ice maker is in can effect the quality and production of ice. The experts at Capital Equipment have seen it all and we make sure that when we install a new ice machine for your business in the Kansas City area, we make sure we take many factors into account to make sure your ice equipment will run flawlessly for your customers and/or employees. Capital Equipment’s representatives aren’t hard salespeople like most commercial ice equipment companies in Kansas City will send to your business but in most the owner of our business will meet with you one on one to make sure that we can make the best recommendations based your ice needs.

We provide complete service, repair, maintenance and cleaning on the ice machines that sell, lease or rent and we are always responsive to our customers’ needs because we know that going without ice just isn’t an option for most businesses. We only recommend the most reliable and durable manufactures of commercial ice makers like Hoshizaki, Ice-O-Matic, Manitowoc, Scotsman and Ice Maid and our service technicians are certified to service them as well. Whether you need a small ice machine for an office or you need multiple ice machines for a larger warehouse, Capital Equipment provides a personalized tough and will make sure that you get the ice equipment that you need at competitive prices the big companies simply can’t match. Call us today for all of your commercial ice machine needs in Kansas City, Leavenworth, St Joseph, Lawrence and Liberty 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.

October 8, 2019

Professional Commercial Ice Machine Cleaning

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Poor quality ice can be a real problem especially if you’re a restaurant or bar and at Capital Equipment we help Kansas City area businesses keep their ice machines cleaned and maintained so that they never have that problem. Not only does Capital Equipment sell, rent and lease the top rated names in commercial ice makers and ice equipment but we also provide expert service repairs and maintenance which includes cleaning and sanitizing ice machines. Ice machines and in particular ice bins can be a breeding ground for bacteria, mold and mildew which is not only gross and may effect the quality of your ice but it can also lead to health issues. Capital Equipment is Kansas City;s commercial ice machine and ice equipment experts and routine cleaning and maintenance is a big part of what we do.

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

Most ice machines are running 25 hours a day, 7 days a week and with, in most cases, a good number of people using the ice, it can easily become contaminated. Cleaning and sanitizing your commercial ice machine regularly not only keep the overall quality of your ice par but it can also keep your ice maker running longer. Cleaning and maintenance on ice machines isn’t just for the ice bin as there are a multitude of water lines, pumps, filters, sensors and valves that will directly effect the quality of ice and Capital Equipment’s service team has seen it all.

The Kansas City area is a hard water town meaning that ordinary tap water has levels of calcium and magnesium in it which can build up quickly in ice machines particularly in filters and water lines if they aren’t changed and/or cleaned regularly. Keeping scale build up from the hard water that we have in the Kansas City is imperative to keeping your ice clean and delicious while keeping your ice equipment running smooth. When you rent ice machines from Capital Equipment, we handle all of the cleaning and maintenance on the equipment but if you own your commercial ice makers outright and you don’t have someone routinely cleaning and maintaining them then you probably need to get in touch with us. Build up of scale in water lines, water filters, and/or valves can quickly damage commercial ice machine which will likely come without warning leaving your business unexpectedly without ice. Don’t neglect cleaning and servicing your commercial ice machines and call Capital Equipment for professional service, repairs and cleaning of ice equipment in the Kansas City area 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.

September 26, 2019

Kansas City Ice Machines and Ice Supplier

Capital Equipment has been known throughout the Kansas City metro for helping businesses and organizations get top quality, brand name commercial ice machines and ice equipment. We handle everything from sales, leasing and rentals of ice makers to service, maintenance and repairs in house but what most most people don’t know is that we’re also one of the Kansas City area’s biggest ice suppliers.

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

While we aren’t as well known as some of national companies that are “bigger than a glacier“, we provide a truly customized ice delivery and ice supply experience to liquor stores, grocery stores. convenience stores, and other businesses that need bagged ice for their operation. Capital Equipment can also sell, lease or rent ice merchandisers to businesses in the Kansas City area with flexible programs so that you aren’t locked in until the “arctic” melts. We can deliver a few hundred pounds of ice per week or a few thousand depending on what you need and unlike the big ice deliver companies in Kansas City that take days to deliver more ice, Capital Equipment can often do it in as little as one day and often times the same day. Our ice is clean, clear and filtered so that it is perfect for consumption and unlike the big ice companies that often deliver half melted bags of ice, we make sure that the ice we deliver is solid and ready for your customers , staff or whatever you need it for. Unlike the big ice suppliers and ice delivery companies where you never see the same delivery person twice, our ice expert will get to know you and your business and help you with any and all of your ice needs. Whether you need ice weekly, monthly, daily or in an emergency, Capital Equipment is Kansas City’s most reliable and trusted ice supplier and we’d love to help you and your business. Call Capital Equipment today at (913) 683-8972 for all of your commercial ice machine needs as well as ice supplies need in the greater Kansas City area of 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.

September 16, 2019

Kansas City and Overland Park’s Commercial Ice Machine Experts

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Overland Park is the second largest city in the Kansas City metro and Capital Equipment helps businesses and organizations there with all of their commercial ice machine and ice equipment needs. From offices that house small businesses to warehouses that have hundreds of employees, Capital Equipment provides service, sales, leasing and rentals for the most reliable commercial ice machines in the world with exceptional customer service that is second to none.

Commercial Ice Machines in Kansas City and Overland Park

Unlike the big commercial ice equipment dealers in the Kansas City area that make their customers feel like they’re just a number, Capital Equipment provides a customized and responsive approach our our customers’s needs. From helping new businesses pick the right commercial ice machines that will meet their ice needs to helping established businesses upgrade and replace their old ice equipment, Capital Equipment partners with businesses in the Kansas City and Overland Park to help them make bringing ice to their customers and employees easy, hassle free and affordable. We work directly with business owners and office managers to help them make the right decision when it comes to getting the right ice equipment and we don’t send a salesperson, our owner meets one on one with each and every business we serve. With over 11 years of experience in the commercial ice equipment industry in the Kansas City area, Capital Equipment has helped offices, hotels, hospitals/health care facilities, restaurants/bars, coffee shops, warehouses, and many other businesses have high quality, clean ice for their customers and employees. Our ice machine repair, service and maintenance is second to none in the Kansas City area with quick customer service and rapid response time paired with expert repairmen, your ice bins will always be full of crystal clear delicious ice. From routine ice machine maintenance like replacing water filters and cleaning water lines to troubleshooting and repairing broke down commercial ice machines, Capital Equipment works quickly but never carelessly to get your ice equipment up and running again because we know how important ice is to business. For commercial ice machine sales, leasing and rentals, Capital Equipment’s sales staff will listen to your needs and make recommendations for specific ice makers models that will never leave your business without ice. Don’t settle for pushy salespeople and lackluster customer service from the big commercial ice machine dealers in Kansas City and Overland Park and let Capital Equipment provide our personalized touch for all of your ice equipment needs. Call us today at (913) 683-8972 to speak with one of our commercial ice maker experts or CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US.