Keep your ice machine happy during winter
Today we’d like to share some tips on how to prevent maintenance issues and keep your ice makers happy during extreme cold temperatures.
- Ideally, give your machine a new home in a climate-controlled space. Sometimes ice machines get stuck outdoors because there’s no plumbing in the exact right spot. Consider investing in plumbing work to have your machine in a climate-controlled environment where there’s less likelihood of service issues. Recurring climate-related issues can be frustrating and costly. Ultimately, an ice maker in a moderate temperate has a longer lifespan with fewer service issues.
- Not an option? Cover and insulate your ice machine as much as possible. If your ice machine is completely exposed and you can’t move it, climate control it somehow. Use insulated foam tape to wrap water lines, valves and seams. In addition, put some insulation between the surfaces on your ice machine that are most exposed, whether it’s a few layers of cardboard or foam on the surfaces that touch the air.
At Memphis Ice, we’ve been renting and selling ice makers since 1977. In those early days, we even had customers who added a basket/cage-style light fixture with a light bulb inside the ice machine to provide extra heat and prevent freezing. Certainly not a fancy solution—but it helped! Remember, if you’re saying “Brrr,” your ice machine is too. Stay warm. And if you need us, we’re here.