How to Clean a Manitowoc Ice Machine
Cleaning a Manitowoc ice machine according to manufacturer recommendations will keep it presentable, kill bacteria, and remove buildup of limescale and other minerals found in your water supply. Observe the following practices to keep your machine under warranty and ensure safe and quality ice for your guests.
Manitowoc Cleaning Instructions for Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance cleaning cycles that service the machine's water distribution system don't require the removal of parts. They should be performed between a regular bi-annual cleaning and sanitizing procedure to remove limescale and disinfect as necessary. Environments with high concentrations of airborne yeast, such as bakeries, may frequently require sanitizer. Because of its abrasive nature, cleaner typically should not be applied more frequently than every two months, especially with no mineral buildup. Consult your service technician to determine the ideal frequency of these procedures, and read your machine's user manual to follow these steps:
- Turn the machine off and wait for ice in the evaporator to melt, or turn the machine off right after the ice drops at the end of a cycle. Forcing ice from the evaporator may cause damage.
- Empty ice from the ice bin and remove the top cover from the machine if there is one.
- Turn the machine on and follow Manitowoc's machine-specific instructions to begin the clean cycle and add cleaner or sanitizer to the evaporator. The clean cycle will include a series of rinses, and run time will vary by machine.
- Change your machine's settings back to normal ice production.
For additional preventive maintenance, consider purchasing an automatic system that dispenses Manitowoc ice machine cleaner and sanitizer or a bacteria growth inhibitor. For operations dealing with hard water, an ice machine water filter will reduce buildup of limescale.
What is the difference between cleaner and sanitizer?
The terms "cleaner" and "sanitizer" may be used in reference to cleaning your machine's water distribution system, interior parts, and foodzone areas. Manitowoc ice machine cleaner and sanitizer are equally important solutions that accomplish separate functions. Mixing the two solutions will cancel out their effects and federal law bans use of Manitowoc sanitizer in a manner inconsistent with its labeling1
- Manitowoc ice machine cleaner, also called descaler, is a citric and phosphoric acid-based solution that breaks down buildup from lime scale and other minerals in ice machines.
- Manitowoc ice machine sanitizer removes slime and algae and kills bacteria that may have built up in the ice machine since the last cleaning.
Cleaning & Sanitizing Biannually
Follow these instructions on how to clean a Manitowoc ice machine thoroughly every six months. Using descaler, perform the first three steps listed for preventive maintenance above to run a cleaning cycle, and then:
- Disconnect power and follow machine-specific instructions to remove internal parts. Soak them in a mixture of 50 percent cleaner and 50 percent water. The solution will foam as it contacts the limescale. A stronger solution may be necessary when there is heavy mineral buildup.
- Clean the internal components with a sponge, cloth, or soft-bristle nylon brush when the soaking solution has stopped foaming. Let the parts soak for another five minutes, longer if heavily scaled, and rinse them with clean water. Be sure not to let any electrical components, such as wire leads, come in contact with water.
- Clean all the foodzone surfaces in the machine with the same cleaner solution and a nylon brush or cloth while internal parts are soaking. Rinse the food zone areas with clean water, removing and then reinstalling the water trough drain plug if necessary.
- Soak internal components in a solution of half sanitizer and half water, apply the solution using a cloth or sponge, or spray them with a spray bottle. Do not rinse them afterward. Once again, be careful to not let electrical components come into contact with water.
- Liberally apply the same sanitizer solution to foodzone surfaces with a spray bottle or cloth. Remove and then reinstall the water trough drain plug if necessary, but don't rinse any of the sanitized areas.
- If it is recommended for your specific machine, remove internal components and manually sanitize them and the foodzone areas again.
Cleaning a Manitowoc Ice Machine's Exterior
Use mild soap and water to sponge off dust and dirt as needed. If your machine's exterior is made of stainless steel, you may use stainless steel wool and cleaners designed for stainless steel, but avoid plain steel wool or abrasive pads. Consult your owner's manual for recommendations on cleaning unit-specific exterior parts and materials.
Cleaning a Manitowoc Ice Machine Condenser
You should clean the condenser of your self-contained air-cooled ice machine every six months. Follow these steps:
- Remove the aluminum filter or grill and clean it with mild soap and water.
- Use a brush or brush attachment to clean the condenser from top to bottom without bending the fins.
- Use a flashlight to look for dirt in the condenser fins. If there is dirt in the condenser, remove it by blowing compressed air through the fins from the inside.
- Follow the supplied directions to clean the condenser coils with a commercial condenser coil cleaner.
- Use a condenser fin comb to straighten any fins that may have been bent.
- Wipe off the fan blade and motor with a soft cloth. If necessary, clean it further with warm soap and water and then rinse.
What about water-cooled condensers?
The cleaning process for water-cooled condensers requires special equipment and solutions. Contact your qualified service representative to perform this procedure. If you observe the following symptoms in your water-cooled ice machine, the condenser and water-regulating valve may need cleaning:
- Low ice production
- High water consumption
- High operating temperatures and pressures
Additional Information About Your Manitowoc Ice Machine
Cleaning a Manitowoc ice machine is only part of the picture when it comes to maintenance. Click here for additional ice machine maintenance tips. Recommendations for cleaning and maintaining your machine may differ by model and series, so we recommend consulting your unit's user manual for specific Manitowoc cleaning instructions with Welbilt's electronic parts and document catalog.