Buy Koolaire KY0250A Commercial Ice Machine

Our friends over at Ice Maker Parts Shop have announced that they will start selling commercial ice machines, not just ice machine parts. They offer free shipping on everything they sell, so this adds tremendous value to any order you place with them and now that extends to equipment.
The current offering is only for a package, being a KY0250A ice machine and K570 ice storage bin, but according to IMPS, that line will be growing and added to regularly.
If you are looking to buy an ice machine, I recommend going through Ice Maker Parts Shop. They have great reviews on eBay and on their ecommerce website.

Does A Manitowoc Ice Machine Have A Defrost Cycle?

Manitowoc ice machines, like most commercial ice makers, have what is called a harvest cycle.  This takes the place of a defrost cycle, that is most commonly found in other pieces of refrigeration.  Instead of defrosting a coil or condenser, the ice machine defrosts(harvests) the evaporator.

The harvest cycle allows the evaporator, where the ice forms, to heat up and allow the ice to melt and fall off.  This is considered the harvest cycle and will terminate once the ice drops.  Typically, once the ice breaks the contact of the bin switch, through the water curtain, the ice machine will go back into freeze mode.  The freeze, then harvest cycle will continue until the storage bin fills up and the machine shuts down.

There is also a warm water rinse on newer Manitowoc ice machines.  This typically takes place once every 500 cycles.  During the warm water rinse, all lights on the clean light and harvest light will be illuminated on the control board.  Water will cascade over the evaporator, but will not freeze.

The warm water rinse allows any ice formation behind the evaporator to melt off.  This will reduce maintenance costs and prolong the life of the evaporator and ice machine.  To cancel the warm water rinse, simply turn the switch from ICE to OFF, then back to the ICE position.  Otherwise, allow this cycle to continue and it'll go back to making ice once completed.

If you are looking for more tips on troubleshooting a Manitowoc ice machine, be sure to view the Service section on Ice Maker Parts Shop.

Manitowoc 300lb Ice Machine

Commercial ice machines that produce 300lb of ice per day is a very common size.  This amount of ice is perfect for remote locations or small restaurants.  It's also the smallest Manitowoc ice machine made that is considered modular, which means it is separate from the storage bin.  A modular machine allows it to be paired with almost any type of ice bin.

Manitowoc Indigo series is the latest series ice maker, by the leading manufacturer of commercial ice making equipment.  Advancements in diagnostics, efficiency, and ease of cleaning, make the Indigo a popular choice among those looking to buy an ice machine.

The model number varies, depending on the size of ice and type of condenser required.  The 300 comes in 115v and can produce ice in Dice or half-dice sized cubes.  It's also is available in either an air-cooled condenser or water-cooled.

The 4 model numbers available are IY0304A, IY0305W, ID0302A, and ID0303W.

Why Buy A Neo Undercounter Ice Machine?

Manitowoc's NEO undercounter ice machines have been making waves, with their advancement in ice making technology. The newly redesigned cubers now have features to make it easier for service, front facing notification lights, delay ice buttons, and more.  What's more is that these machines are priced competitively, so you can have the Cadillac of ice machines for the price of a Chevette.

The #1 benefit to the new NEO ice makers is the ability to remove the storage bin from the unit.  This allows access to all the refrigeration components, fan motors, water pumps, inlet valves and other components.  With just a few latches, unplug the control board, and unhook the drain, you can then slide the one piece bin straight off the front.  So if the ice maker is crammed under a counter, servicing has immediately become easier!

Next, the indicator lights on the front of the machine let you know what's going on inside.  If service is needed, a pretty little wrench light comes on.  If the machine is currently making ice, it'll let you know that as well.  Perhaps you want to delay the ice machine for awhile because of the noise and you are having a meeting, the NEO can now accommodate.  Simply push the delay button to trigger a delayed ice making cycle, that then automatically puts the ice machine back to making ice.

In 2013 the NEO was awarded the ACHR Design Award, thanks to it's innovative design and functionality.

"We are very pleased to receive this recognition from our service contractor community," states Rick Showers-Vice President of Marketing, Manitowoc Ice. "This award acknowledges our commitment to developing industry leading, energy efficient, operator-friendly ice machines."

With NEO you can have ice when and where you need it, without the need for extra space.  It breathes out the front, so it feels right at home underneath a counter top.  For more information, visit the official Manitowoc NEO web page, for more features and benefits.

Manitowoc Ice Machine Water Filters

Commercial ice machines require special water filtration.  Using filtered water adds life to your equipment, cuts down on nuisance maintenance calls, and makes your ice machine more energy efficient.  Manitowoc Ice sells their own line of water filters, called Aqua Pure, that are designed specifically for Manitowoc and Koolaire ice makers.

Not all filters are created equal, you should consider capacity, and scale removal ability.  A 300lb per day ice machine requires a lower capacity cartridge than a 1000lb per day ice machine.  Manitowoc water filters cover a broad line of machines to fit your particular need.

The smallest water filter by Manitowoc is the K-00374, which is designed to work ONLY in their smallest ice machine, the SM50A.  This water filter actually mounts inside the ice machine and does not require a separate mounting bracket or shut off valve in head.

The K-00374 can currently be purchased for $41.69 with free shipping from Ice Maker Parts Shop.

Next is the K-00338 water filter cartridge, which has the capacity to take care of all ice machines sized 100lb per day to 600lb per day.  The K338 should be changed out at the minimal of every 6 months.  The chemical Siliphos is used to aid in scale reduction, which is water activated and no longer effective after 6 months.

Water filter K-00338 can currently be purchased for just $55.99 with free shipping from Ice Maker Parts Shop.

Lastly, you've got the high capacity K-00339 cartridge, which is used in the AR20000 and AR40000 filter system heads.  For machines 800lb per day to 1200lb per day a single K339 cartridge will work for up to 6 months.  However, larger machines may require 2 of these cartridges to meet capacity requirements.

The K-00339 can be purchased from Ice Maker Parts Shop for just $71.56, with free shipping.

What is the Warranty on a Kool-Aire Ice Machine?

The new budget ice machine by Manitowoc, Kool-Aire, has just updated it's warranty agreement.  Any machines purchased, before this change, or after, now enjoy a full 3 year parts and labor warranty.  This is extended from their normal 1 year warranty, at no additional cost or price increase in the marketplace.

This means, you will also enjoy coverage of 5 year parts and labor on the evaporator and 5 year parts, 3 years labor on the new rotary compressor.  This puts the warranty in line with the more expensive Manitowoc Indigo ice machine, making the KoolAire a much more attractive purchase.

So, hold off purchasing your Kool Aire ice machine parts until the warranty is up.  Find an authorized service tech near you to complete warranty service and put more money on your bottom line.  Typically Manitowoc ice machine warranty technicians would also be authorized to complete and file KoolAire warranty.  Just be sure that the issue you are having is a warranty concern and not a basic cleaning or maintenance issue.

Manitowoc Bin Doors

Food inspectors will pay very close attention to the quality of ice storage bin being used.  Ice is a food product, so a storage bin is considered a food zone.  An inspector will look to make sure there are no signs of rust, proper functionality, and a good seal.  This is why it's important to replace a bin door anytime it is damaged.

Manitowoc bin doors can be very expensive, but a necessary part to keep in proper working order.  They are easily replaced, so save money by replacing a bin door yourself, instead of paying a service technician.  Many Manitowoc part dealers online can sell the door at a discount, with the part being delivered right to your door.

Ice Maker Parts Shop offers one of the most popular Manitowoc bin doors, the 7628453 for sale.  However, this does not come with the barrel hinges.  This door is used on S Series storage bins like the S400 and S570.

Before replacement, ensure that the door itself is damaged and not the part that it mounts to.  The deflector in most bins is what the door hinges on, which can have a hairline crack, keeping the door from hinging or laying properly.  A crack in the deflector will also keep the door from remaining open when lifted.

To extend the life of an ice storage bin, train your employees to properly use the equipment.  Leaning on the plastic door and being rough with opening is the most common cause of damage.  Slamming of the ice bin door can also cause premature failure, so be easy with it!

Buy Manitowoc Ice Machine Parts on Ebay

Manitowoc Parts on eBay

Looking to buy parts for your Manitowoc or Kool-Aire commercial ice machine on eBay?  No problem, you can now buy OEM parts direct from Ice Maker Parts Shop through the eBay market place.

Buying on eBay allows you to review feedback, order multiple quantities, and be assured of fast and free shipping.  Like the original website, the IMPS Store on eBay carries the most common parts for a Manitowoc or Kool-Aire ice machine that anyone could change out.  If you can turn a screw driver, you can change out most of these parts.

There is also a line of water filters, designed specifically for commercial ice machines.  Limited to just the Cuno Ice120-S replacement cartridge now, the HF20-S will soon be expanded and a line of HF40-S, HF65-S, and HF90-S cartridges will become available.

For more information on buying Manitowoc parts on eBay, visit the Ice Maker Parts Shop Store.

Manitowoc Ice Machine Parts - Free Shipping

Free Shipping On Manitowoc Parts

Our sponsor, Ice Maker Parts Shop is now offering free shipping on all Manitowoc ice machine parts.  This service will assist your company in saving time, money, and simplify the entire transaction process.  Now, the price you see is the price you pay, no hidden shipping fees.

If you need a part in a hurry, Ice Maker Parts Shop is also offering expedited freight options.  Currently there are UPS Next Day Air and 3 Day Select for guaranteed delivery options.

The free shipping option gets you your parts in 4-5 business days, all over the US.  Since they ship out of the Mid-West United States, expect delivery times much caster in states like Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois.  Major cities like Chicago, IL can get Manitowoc parts in as little as 2 days, without the need to pay for extra shipping.

Be sure to check out IceMakerPartsShop.com for Manitowoc ice machine parts.

New Water Inlet Valves Coming

Manitowoc has announced in a service bulletin, that they will be changing water inlet valve suppliers.  This change will affect all water inlet valve part numbers and physical looks of the valve.

This change is being done to streamline valve needs on a broad range of Manitowoc model numbers.  This should shrink the number of parts required to keep on a service truck, when servicing ice machines.

Below is a listing of the new Manitowoc water inlet valve part numbers.

000009120 - 115v Water Inlet Valve
000009121 - 208-230v Water Inlet Valve for S and Indigo model 1400-1800 lb machines
000009122 - 208-230v Water Inlet Valve
000009123 - 115v Water Inlet Valve
000009125 - 115v Water Inlet Valve
000009126 - 208-230v Water Inlet Valve

These valves will start becoming available once old stock has been depleted.  Once old water valves have been sold, they will no longer be available.

For more information please view the Manitowoc Service Bulletin MII-108.

Manitowoc Warns of Non-OEM Parts

Manitowoc Ice has announced that they have received complaints over the failure of non-OEM parts.  This is a very serious issue and has been addressed on how it can affect the performance and warranty coverage of your ice machine.

Failure to replace parts on your Manitowoc ice machine with OEM parts can result in the following:

• void any manufacturers warranty.
• can cause equipment malfunction and failure.
• significantly reduce the life expectancy and performance of your ice machine.
• create operator or food safety risks.
• void agency certifications.
• nullify insurance coverage.

Replacing solenoid valves with NON-OEM parts can cause shorts, which could potentially cause fires.  Consider the risks before the cost of a part and only purchase OEM ice maker parts.

Ice Maker Parts Shop is an Authorized Manitowoc Parts Dealer and only sells OEM ice machine parts.

Non-OEM Manitowoc Part Warning

What Is A Modular Ice Maker?

I'm often asked what the difference is between a self contained and modular ice maker.  A modular ice maker is an ice machine that has 2 basic parts, the ice machine head and the ice storage bin.  Now, the ice machine could be either water, air, or remote cooled, but if it's seperate from the bin, then it's considered modular.

Another common ice machine would be one that's described as self-contained.  This means that the ice maker and storage bin are physically one piece.  If the ice machine were to fail, you'd have to replace the ice maker and bin.  Although typically less expensive up front, it could cost more to replace in the future in the event of failure, because in a modular unit you'd only have to replace the top(ice maker head) part.

Modular ice makers will also provide the ability for more storage.  In addition, as demand for ice increases, larger bin capacities could be purchased to place under the ice making head.  In some cases this can save the owner money, since only one component of the ice making unit would need to be replaced at one time.

What is a Commercial Ice Machine?

So you have decided to purchase an ice machine, whether for your home, garage, or restaurant, it's important to understand the distinction between a residential and commercial ice machine.  Sure, 100lb of ice per day sounds like a lot, but understand that ice does not go very far and a commercial ice machine is the only way to reach requirements for filling coolers and drinks.

Convenience store owners plan for 1lb of ice per customer that purchase one of their drinks of at least 32oz.  Many times, around here there are even fountain drinks that are 64 oz, so that's a whopping 2lb of ice per serving.  How many drinks do you want or need to sell?

Small restaurants even plan for up to 1.5lb of ice per person.  So, if you are pushing at least 50 customers per hour through your restaurant, that's a need of 400lb of ice per day based on an 8 hour day.  A Commercial ice machine is the only way to reach these demands.

Looking to add an ice machine to your garage or home, a commercial ice machine may still be what you need.  Residential ice machines typically do not have as long a warranty period, produce less ice, and contain much less storage capacities.  A commercial ice machine will come with industry leading warranties, service support, and provide higher capacities for production and storage.

Residential Ice Machine Brands

• Whilrpool
• Sub Zero

Commercial Ice Machine Brands

• Manitowoc
• Scotsman
• Hoshizaki
• Ice-o-Matic
• Corneilius

Does LuminIce Work?

Manitowoc LuminIce

Perhaps you have heard of the new technology called LuminIce, which can be purchased as an accessory for use in new Manitowoc Indigo ice machines.  This technology was designed to eliminate the use of the Guardian System, which helps inhibit bacteria growth inside the food zone of an ice maker.  Although the Guardian Sachets worked well, the LuminIce out performs the old system at almost every measurable interval.

For starters, the LuminIce bulb only needs to be replaced once every 12 months.  The Guardian sachets had to be replaced once per month to be effective.  A less frequent replacement period allows for greater effectiveness, without relying on human interaction, and saves money.

The LuminIce growth inhibitor system costs $624 list price from Manitowoc and a replacement bulb costs $82 each.  The cost is easily recouped as savings for not needing to call service companies to clean your ice maker.

We highly recommend purchasing a LuminIce accessory for a new Indigo ice maker, if your ice maker is exposed to yeast.  This would include ice machines located in bars, sandwich restaurants, or if the machine is located near stored bread.  Yes, the Lumin Ice works!

Manitowoc NEO Undercounter Ice Maker

The major announcement from Manitowoc was their new line of undercounter ice machines.  Starting in April, the undercounter ice machine line up currently available, the Q130, Q170, Q210, and Q270 will be replaced with a new NEO line of undercounter ice makers.

Manitowoc NEO Undercounter Ice Maker

The new NEO series will include models produce 140lb, 190lb, 240lb, ad 310lb of ice in a 24 hour period.  These new makers will be more efficient, produce more ice, and provide some exciting new features of service technicians.  The most important being the ability to 'lift off' the ice maker cabinet.

An easily accessible undercounter ice maker means that the cost of service and even cleaning should be greatly reduced!  Below are some other highlights of standard features found on the NEO undercounter ice machines.

• Easy Access - Angled door provides a larger opening making ice more visible and easier to access.
• Intelligence - Provides feedback with full bin and service indicators.  Delay function allows you to pause your machine for slow periods or days when you are closed.
• Easy to Clean - Smooth sealed food-zone with removable water trough, distribution tube, and damper door for faster cleaning.  AlphaSan added to key internal components.
• Convenience - Forward-Sliding storage bin allows for easier, quicker access to refrigeration components without having to move the entire ice machine.
• In addition, these are the first undercounter ice machines that can be equipped with LuminIce Growth Inhibitor.

Find out more about the NEO Undercounter Ice Machine at ManitowocIce.com.

News From Manitowoc At NAFEM

Promotional material has started coming out about a Manitowoc announcement at NAFEM.  Posters and advertisements are smartly referring to the announcement as 'raising the bar' and creating a 'splash'.  So what's the rumor or what are some theories about the upcoming announcement at the food show?

I'm guessing a new product line of undercounter ice makers developed for Bars.  Taking this a step further, I'm guessing it may be a new machine that makes the octagon cube found in the SM50 ice machine.  People love that larger cube for making mixed drinks, but the SM50A ice maker just does not produce nor hold enough ice to take care of larger bar applications.

Raising the bar refers to a bar application and making a big splash refers to the larger cube.  Already Manitowoc has started reintroducing the 'regular' sized cube to their modular ice maker lines.  However, as of this posting, the only size cubes available in their undercounter ice machine line, from 130 to 270lb production per day is a half dice or dice cube.  There is room for a different style cube in a larger production machine, yet maintaining undercounter characteristics.

Another thing I'm looking forward to from Manitowoc at NAFEM this year is the ability to track information on Indigo ice makers.  We've been promised since launch the ability to use software to help diagnose the Indigo series cubers and even remotely monitor performance and service issues.  So far Manitowoc has only responded that they are working on it and they are currently still field testing.

NAFEM 2013 should be full of announcements from all the ice maker manufacturers and you can guarantee I'll be there to report on the news.

Tis The Season For Price Increases

Like other industries, food service equipment manufacturers don't hesitate to take increases at the beginning of the year.  Manitowoc had an equipment price increase on December 1st, 2012 and will be having an ice maker parts price increase effective January 1st, 2013.

These Manitowoc price increases in the food service division are not a set percentage.  Instead, parts and equipment both vary on the increase amount, depending on the product.  It's important to stay up to date when quoting out long jobs and confirm with dealers how long their quotes are good for.

As for preparing for the upcoming parts price increase, it's recommended that you stock up on parts known to cause issue in the coming year.  For example, having a spare water inlet valve, dump valve, or ice thickness probe is good insurance for quick repairs.

For equipment preparation, I'm afraid that time has already passed, but there are still deals to be had.  Check with your vendor to see if they have any old inventory, to negotiate past the recent price increase.  Even a few percentage on a couple thousand dollar machine can mean big savings.

In closing, Merry Christmas from those of us at Commercial Ice Talk!  We look forward to working within the industry in the upcoming new year.

Free Manitowoc Ice Service Manuals

We created a post on how to purchase Manitowoc Service Manuals for as little as $10 each, which would get you a physical copy to keep in your tool box.  These manuals were the same books that professional services technicians and even the techs at the factory keep to help diagnose and repair Manitowoc ice makers.  But in this post, I'll show you how you can download the exact same book, updated, for free directly to your computer.

Step 1. Navigate your browser to http://manitowocice.com.

Step 2. Scroll down to the center Downloads section of the website, as illustrated below.

Step 3. Use the drop down arrow to select Service Manual under Document Type.

Step 4. After choosing Service Manual, then select the model number of the ice maker that you are looking for the service tech manual for.

Step 5. Select the document type, based on the language you want the tech manual translated to.

Step 6. Click on the Download button, which will state the manual size in parenthesis.  You can choose to open this within your browser or save it to your hard drive to open later with your PDF reader of choice.

You will need a PDF viewer like Adobe to view the downloaded service technician handbook.  Adobe PDF Viewer is available for free, via download here. http://get.adobe.com/reader/

If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments section.

Scotsman Under New Ownership

It's official, Scotsman has been sold to the Ali Group for a whopping $575 million.  Ali Group, an Italian company, will be taking over the 800 Scotsman employees and adding to their portfolio of foodservice equipment.  This is in addition to Ali's already 7,000 employees based in 24 countries.

The Ali Group will be adding Scotsman ice machines to their already impressive model line up, which include brands like Beverage-Air, Amana, and Victory.  Their foodservice line covers equipment in cooking, bakery,  meal delivery, refrigeration, washing, ice cream, beverage, contracting, and distribution services.

For more information visit Ali Group website. http://www.aligroup.it/Default.aspx?alias=www.aligroup.it/eng

Ali Group Purchases Scotsman

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.