Ice Machine Sequence of Operation: The Basics

If you intend to open a restaurant in Hawaii, you’ll soon find that your ice machine is an indispensable item of equipment. Thanks to modern ice machines, you can continuously keep drinks chilled without letting any ice go to waste unnecessarily. You can also produce ice as and when required instead of purchasing it in bulk. However, to ensure your system runs efficiently, you need to familiarize yourself with your ice machine sequence of operation.

Fortunately, most ice machines are straightforward to operate and maintain, especially if you partner with a team of professionals that can lend a helping hand.

At Pacific Ice Services, we’ve been Oahu’s go-to ice machine specialists for over five decades, so you can feel confident that reliability, efficiency, and value are our top priorities. We also supply, install, repair, and maintain just about all makes and models, ensuring we can help you regardless of which ice machine you have. Below, we provide an overview of a typical ice machine sequence of operation, but don’t hesitate to call us if you need any confusion clearing up based on your specific machine.

A Typical Ice Machine Sequence of Operation

While there are various types of ice machine that all have slightly different inner workings, most follow a sequence of operation that looks something along the lines of the following:

Start-up and water fill phase

When you turn on your ice machine, it begins by filling the water reservoir or sump with water. To make sure the water doesn’t overflow, a float valve or sensor monitors and ensures accurate levels. If your ice machine doesn’t fill with water or dispense ice, the valve or sensor is one of the first things you should check.

Pre-chill phase

After your ice machine’s compressor kicks into action, the system circulates refrigerant through the ice molds or evaporator plates. During this phase, the evaporator surface begins to cool down to a temperature where it can freeze the incoming water.

Freezing cycle

As the water flows across the cold surfaces inside your ice machine, it gradually freezes into layers of ice. Your machine’s in-built sensors monitor the ice’s thickness so that the machine can reserve energy.

Harvest cycle

Once the ice reaches the desired thickness, the machine switches from the freezing cycle to the harvest cycle. The compressor may continue running, but the machine changes the flow of refrigerant or heat to the evaporator plates, loosening the ice in the process. This loose ice then collects into your machine’s collection bin.

Ice bin full check

When your ice bin is full, your machine pauses ice production to conserve energy and prevent overflow. The ice production cycle may restart automatically when the bin either empties or reaches a predetermined limit.

Standby mode

When the ice bin is full, the ice machine may enter standby mode. In this mode, the machine remains powered but stops making ice until the bin is no longer full.

Defrost and maintenance cycles

Some ice machines have automatic defrost or cleaning cycles to prevent ice buildup in undesired areas and ensure the efficient operation of the evaporator.

Any Questions about Your Ice Machine Sequence of Operation?

Modern ice machines are designed to be intuitive as well as reliable and efficient. Still, getting used to unfamiliar equipment can be challenging. If you need help understanding your ice machine sequence of operation, you can count on us for expert advice. We can also maintain your machine to the highest standards to help you save a small fortune in the long run. Call us today for more information.