The Big 3 Ice Machine Manufacturers

When it comes to commercial ice machines, the majority of the market share is split between 3 large manufacturers.  Manitowoc, Hoshizaki, and Scotsman lead  the way for providing quality and lasting commercial ice makers.  Yes, there are smaller providers, but in no way can they compete on the quality and reliability that these three produce.

Manitowoc has the largest market share, as of this posting, with over 40% of the US market in commercial ice maker sales.  It's obvious why, as they lead with the highest quality and longest lasting ice machine on the market.  Although typically priced slightly higher than Hoshizaki or Scotsman, the savings pays off over the life of the machine.  Manitowoc is easier to work on, costs less to maintain, and generally lasts longer than other ice maker manufacturers.

Commercial Ice Machines

Hoshizaki is the second largest provider of commercial ice machines in the US.  They are a Japanese based company, with 2 offices and manufacturing facilities in Georgia.  Hoshizaki ice machines are known for their stainless steel evaporators, which can be cleaned with almost any chemical and keep on working like brand new.  However, they are plagued by being inefficient and hard to clean.

Scotsman is the 3rd largest player in the commercial ice maker market.  They offer a quality machine at a discounted price, by providing machines on a slightly lower quality grade, with a lower price point.  Their latest series of ice maker, known as the Prodigy, aims to combat the perceived lower quality by using technology pioneered by Manitowoc.  Scotsman ice makers are also known to be much more energy efficient than their Hoshizaki competitor machines.

Overrall, going with any of he big 3 manufacturers of commercial ice makers will guarantee you have a good ice machine for your needs.  However, in terms of quality and reliability, Manitowoc has far and away passed the competitive field, so if you can spend a little more money, go with the Cadillac and buy Manitowoc.

Manitowoc Ice Machine Troubleshooting

Manitowoc prides itself on having the easiest machine in the industry to work on.  They have taken this a step further with the new Indigo ice maker, which boasts updated safety controls and errors that read out in laymen terms.  Even though this commercial ice maker is easier to work on, you may still need help with the Manitowoc ice machine troubleshooting.  Thankfully there is a resource that can help you diagnose and pin point what ails your ice maker.

Ice Maker Parts Shop is a phenomenal source of Manitowoc ice maker parts and they provide a self help forum for ice makers.  This means you can sign up for free, ask a question about your ice maker, and get free support from other forum members and the team at Ice Maker Parts Shop.

Manitowoc Ice Machine Troubleshooting

The team at Ice Maker Parts Shop has extensive experience in the ice machine industry and can help troubleshoot most major brands.  However, they specialize in the Manitowoc brand, and can assist with troubleshooting everything from the latest Indigo Series, to the S Series, Q Series and older.  In addition, they offer service technician handbooks for $10 each, which can cover every troubleshooting need, no matter  the model number you are working on.

Please visit Ice Maker Parts Shop for Manitowoc ice machine troubleshooting needs.
Click here for all available Manitowoc service technician handbooks, which are used by the service department at the factory.

New Ice Maker Tips

Looking to purchase a new commercial ice machine?  Well, you've got your work cut out for you, because you have a lot of options.  The big 3 ice maker manufacturers will sell you on their own brands benefits, but I want to look at some factors to consider, no matter what brand you choose.

What do you need, not what you want.

Consider advice from the professionals, nothing beats local service and having a service company make a local recommendation.  You may pay a premium, but having a professional look at your specific application is a great way to make sure that the ice machine you spend your money on, will actually work for you.  Saving money up front by buying online may catch up to you when you need to purchase a replacement or lose out on warranty due to improper installation.

What kind of condenser?

Commercial ice machines come with 3 different flavors of condensers.  Each condenser comes with it's own benefits, but not all will work in any situation.  For example, air cooled ice machines put out a lot of heat, so if it doesn't have room to breathe, it will not produce the proper amount of ice and will not be working efficiently.  A water cooled ice machine is more reliable, but will absolutely destroy your water and sewage bill, unless you have it installed on a water loop.  A remote ice maker eliminates both concerns, but requires a higher level of expertise to install, because the condenser is moved outside of the cuber head install location.

Am I getting all my ice maker warranty?

Ice machine warranties can vary, depending on brand and model number.  However, the main manufacturers all share a common set of rules.  For starters, the warranty will start from the date your ice machine is installed, not the date the machine leaves the warehouse.  So it's important to fill out that Warranty Registration card that comes with your ice maker, to ensure you are getting the maximum amount of coverage.

Typically if no registration card is filed, the warranty on file at the factory is the date it shipped out.  However, because ice machines can set in inventory at dealers and distributors warehouses, it may be easy to rob yourself of months of warranty coverage.  Save your paper work and fill out those warranty registration cards.

So remember, no matter which manufacturer of ice machine you purchase, Hoshizaki, Scotsman, or Manitowoc, cover your bases and make sure you are purchasing what you need and not what you want.  Its better to have too much ice now, than not enough later.

Blown Fuse On Manitowoc Control Board

Why does the fuse keep blowing on my ice machine?  There are a number of reasons that the fuse on the control board of your ice machine is blowing.  However the most common reason is a leaking dump valve.

Typically a dump valve will leak out of the top, allowing water to come in contact with the terminal on the coil.  This will blow the fuse located on the Manitowoc control board.

To repair, simply replace the Manitowoc dump valve and then replace the blown fuse.  Manitowoc only makes two different types of dump valves, which come complete with valve and coil.  There is a 115v dump valve, part number 000001767 and a 208-230v dump valve, part number 000001768.

Both Manitowoc dump valves can be purchased from Ice Maker Parts Shop for $56.35 each.  IceMakerPartsShop.com ships every part same day, if the order is placed before 3:00 CST.  In addition, they only ship via UPS ground, to allow for faster transit times and tracking ability.  Fix that commercial ice machine yourself, buy Manitowoc replacement parts online at IceMakerPartsShop.com.