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Ice Wand is worthless

Originally Posted by blkgtr

Slime & Bacteria is a problem in every restaurant or place that has commercial ice machine, and as stated the problem only gets worst in high yeast environments including bars. The best way as stated before to rid your ice machine of it is to have it cleaned and sanitized on a regular bases, but it is costly. When I used to work at a sub shop, it was a constant battle, and someone’s head seem to always be in the ice machine cleaning it, until we started using an Ice wand slime filter, found them over here http://www.freshwatersystems.com/c-4...inhibitor.aspx . No it is not like other ice machine filters, because slime is a result from air and flowing water in the sump, after the water has been filtered. This slime filter sits in the water sump where treats slime build up from its source. After using it for a year I have to say it works like a charm.

The Ice Wand is a complete waste of money. I would never recommend one of those to my customers- they don't do anything to prevent the need for cleanings. I have a few customers that tried Ice Wand and experienced zero improvement.

like somone else said there is no substitute for manual cleaning, as a servicer wouldnt you want to have a maintenance agreement with these customers to go and clean there machines every three months? I think that by buying all the things that are supposed to cure this slim problem is a waste of money just clean them! And to who ever said intall a Kold Draft machine in a subway REALLY? Well off to subway to clean some machines!

I will look into all the advice given. I can say I tried a UV light the last year mounting it right above the water and it made a big difference!!! Maybe had to clean it 3 times a year? Discolored the plastic a bit but no trouble except the light has gone out now so....

I got rid of slime in ice machines

Try Icezone from Biozone Scientific. This is the only product that I have found to work. It works in Subways and in bars- places where yeast can be out of control and wreak havoc on ice machines.

Contact Best Refrigeration in Springfield Missouri at 800-772-4026 to order Icezone (this is where we get them).

You may also call Biozone Scientific directly at 407-876-2000 to apply to become a distributor.

I would be very curious to see how a Kold-Draft machine would work in a Subway application. The only slime I've ever seen on a Kold-Draft is on the water distribution tube well away from any contact with the ice. The main trouble is mounting the bin stat so it doesn't get demolished by the agitator motor in the dispenser. The main trouble I see is a lack of qualified service people as Kold-Draft has been a very minor player since they crashed in 1991 and is the toughest machine to learn to troubleshoot and their technical support is poor.

people are crazy

We service 40+ subways across las Vegas n have them on a 3 month maintenance found uv lights work well but only where the light contacts inside the trough is still hard to maintain but cutting in a fresh air supply to the head of an ice machine is absurd that's hack tech stuff

Graham,

Great post and thanks for a lot of good information. I am both a Subway owner and maintenence guy. haha. The problem is very different from store to store.

I know city water would help too, but Subway ( ugh, sometimes) makes all water be super filtered for all soda and ice. HAS TO BE!

BUT this is good info and I will be calling those people you have mentioned Chas, that sounds like a great product, and I really need that at one location.

jt

Slime & Bacteria is a problem in every restaurant or place that has commercial ice machine, and as stated the problem only gets worst in high yeast environments including bars. The best way as stated before to rid your ice machine of it is to have it cleaned and sanitized on a regular bases, but it is costly. When I used to work at a sub shop, it was a constant battle, and someone’s head seem to always be in the ice machine cleaning it, until we started using an Ice wand slime filter, found them over here http://www.freshwatersystems.com/c-4...inhibitor.aspx . No it is not like other ice machine filters, because slime is a result from air and flowing water in the sump, after the water has been filtered. This slime filter sits in the water sump where treats slime build up from its source. After using it for a year I have to say it works like a charm.

Slime and algae are normal for subways due to the yeast from baking bread. The ozone machines work the best for stopping slime and algae. We installed them in 10 subways and have had no issues with slime and algae so far. We got the lights through western pacific distributors. Some stores get so bad that the plates are covered, the trough has a 1/2inch layer, and the pump is completely jammed up. And this occurs within a month and a half after a thorough cleaning.

Originally Posted by andrewd33

My father had a bar with draft beer and I would maintain his equiipment and the hoshizaki always would have stalagmites of snot hanging from the ice discharge area and inside the mold. The yeast from the draft beer was in the air even 20 feet away from the bar. I used to clean, de-lime and sanitze 4 times a year. Now he has a restaurant and cocktail lounge with no draft beer. Clean machine 2 x every year, spring and fall and never see anything growing any more. No charcoal filters in my opinon. Doesn't ice freeze purer than water and all of the minerals go and impurities go down the drain in harvest? I took filters out when he relocated to nice big restaurant.

Agree totally with what you have stated. I lease and service over 200 Ice Machines and do not use water filters on any. Only have problems where there is a high yeast content in the air.

My father had a bar with draft beer and I would maintain his equiipment and the hoshizaki always would have stalagmites of snot hanging from the ice discharge area and inside the mold. The yeast from the draft beer was in the air even 20 feet away from the bar. I used to clean, de-lime and sanitze 4 times a year. Now he has a restaurant and cocktail lounge with no draft beer. Clean machine 2 x every year, spring and fall and never see anything growing any more. No charcoal filters in my opinon. Doesn't ice freeze purer than water and all of the minerals go and impurities go down the drain in harvest? I took filters out when he relocated to nice big restaurant.

There is no substitute for regular cleaning.

Get in touch with
Chuck Nejelski B&B Distributors
11026 Gravois Ind. Ct
St. Louis, MO. 63128


They have an Ozone system made to deal with the yeast problem.
Great guys to know if you service Subway systems I have 5 to take car e of myself these guys are an asset.

it takes an ionizer kit to kill it.my supplier in St Louis sells a system to fix the yeast problem . (specifically for subway problems) I'll find their number and get you in touch.

Not having had to do the ice machines ,but the air conditioning I can say that the in the subways here the rooftops are disgusting . The mold growing in the units is out of control and nothing seems to stop it ,Have even had to replace units as they were so bad .The problem is with the product and how they prepare it and the lack of prorper exhaust and make up .If they were to adress this it would solve a lot of problems in the stores .

Here ya go:
http://www.kivlangroup.com/Guardian%...Ice%20spec.pdf

Not a cure all but helps big time!


Iceman

I don't think so -

Mount the intake blower for the outside air away from the machine, cut an 8" start collar into the top cover, and connect it with flex and a big screw hose clamp. What would it take? An extra minute popping it off each time maybe?

PHM
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Originally Posted by tpang1985

That would prob help but think about the servicability of that if the machine breaks you would prob have to take a piece of it out just to service the machine. Thats a catch 20

The only way you are going to get rid of an algae problem is by using bleach or sanitizer. If you have a Manitowoc, then sell your customer an AUCS system and order the bolttles of sanitizer, not the ice maker cleaner and NEVER mix the two together. Learned that one the hard way myself.... your machine will stay very clean. Did this for a Panera Bread, and the machine stayed clean....NOTHING else ever worked....

Originally Posted by Poodle Head Mikey

Maybe pressurize the head with an air duct bringing in outside air?

That would prob help but think about the servicability of that if the machine breaks you would prob have to take a piece of it out just to service the machine. Thats a catch 20

How about some outside air ?

Maybe pressurize the head with an air duct bringing in outside air?