The Importance of Cleaning and Sanitizing Commercial Ice Machines

ice-machine-cleaning-repair-service-in-Kansas-City

Nothing is worse than dirty, smelly, and foul-tasting ice, and in most cases, it’s a direct result of a lack of cleaning, sanitizing, and routine water filter changes. At Capital Equipment, we’ve seen some pretty dirty ice machines over the years and have helped ensure that hundreds of them get professionally cleaned, sanitized, and back to making quality, clean ice.

Commercial Ice Machine Service and Repair in Kansas City, St Joseph, and Leavenworth, KS

As each business and industry is unique, cleaning and sanitizing schedules tend to vary based on the amount of ice used, the environment that the ice equipment is located, and the type of ice machines that determines how frequently service is needed. For example, an ice machine in a warehouse or industrial setting will likely need to be cleaned and sanitized more often than ice equipment in a small office. This is because hundreds of hands come in contact with the ice machines daily while there are also contaminates in the air, which can easily end up in the ice bins. Also, most of the Midwest is a hard water area meaning that there are excessive minerals in the water, which over time can begin to build up and hinder efficiency on internal parts, water lines, water dispensers, and water filters in commercial ice machines. For smaller business environments, ice machines, in many cases, need to be professionally cleaned every few months; however, the exterior of the equipment should be cleaned more regularly, especially when you consider that metal surfaces can harbor germs and bacteria if not addressed.

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 airborne objects that could contain bacteria and contaminate the ice.

Hotels and hospital ice machines often need a more frequent cleaning and service schedule as they tend to get a lot of use by many different people and, particularly in health care settings, are exposed to a wide array of potential contaminates. At Capital Equipment, we understand that each and every business is unique in its ice needs which is why we customize a cleaning, sanitizing, and service schedule to ensure there is always clean, quality ice in their bins. Call us today for all of your ice needs in the greater Kansas City area at (913) 683-8972 or CLICK HERE FOR OUR CONTACT FORM.

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

Sales Service/Repair Leasing Rentals

Maintenance Jobs Contact Us

July 1, 2020

Keeping Your Commercial Ice Machines Safe

commercial-ice-machine-service-repair-cleaning-Kansas-City — Scale build up isn’t just gross, it’s unsafe. Let Capital Equipment thoroughly clean and sanitize your commercial ice machine in the Kansas City area.

With many businesses slowly reopening again and summer in full swing, ice remains something that many most business absolutely need to operate and in the Kansas City area Capital Equipment makes sure they have the ice and ice equipment they need when they need it most. From helping restaurants keep their ice machines cleaned and sanitized to helping hospitals and health care facilities upgrade their ice equipment to meet the growing needs of their patients and staff, Capital Equipment is doing everything we can to make sure that Kansas City area businesses don’t have to worry about having clean, quality ice because they likely have plenty of other things that need their attention.

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

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

Our ice machine technicians and representatives understand the COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon which is why we are taking extra precautions to make sure we keep our customers, their customers, and their staff safe by wearing face masks and gloves when we are in and around your business. We are constantly and continually using hand sanitizer and washing our hands at every opportunity while maintaining responsible social distancing. We make sure that the commercial ice machines we install are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized so that when they begin making ice, it will be completely safe for consumption.

Making ice is a delicate process and with all of the health and safety guidelines in the Kansas City area and both the states of Kansas and Missouri, there are still plenty of things that can go wrong that could not only make poor quality ice but could also break the equipment itself or make the ice unsafe to consume. At Capital Equipment, we clean and install hundreds of commercial ice machines each year and we know them all inside and out and how they work like the back of our hand. That also means that we know how to make sure they are safely cleaned and sanitized and we show the business owners we work with how they can keep the exterior and ice bins clean and safe from contamination or we can simply do it all for them. We rent, lease, sell, repair and service all types of commercial ice machines for all types of businesses in the greater Kansas City area and now more than ever it is important to make sure that your ice equipment is clean and sanitized. If your business needs an ice machine, you need to upgrade your current one, or you need to make sure your ice machine(s) are cleaned and sanitized, call Capital Equipment for all of your ice needs at (913) 683-8972 of CLICK HERE FOR OUR 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.

Sales Service/Repair Leasing Rentals Maintenance Contact Us

May 27, 2020

Making Sure Your Ice Machines Are Safe

what-makes-good-ice-Capital-Equipment-Kansas-City

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.

Sales Service/Repair Leasing Rentals Maintenance Contact Us

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

commercial-ice-machines-equipment-KC-KCMO-Kansas-City-MO

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!

Sales Service/Repair Leasing Rentals Maintenance Contact Us

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

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

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!