How to Choose an Ice Dispenser

An ice machine is a big equipment purchase that almost all food services businesses will need. The idea when it comes to deciding the certain type of commercial ice machine you will need is to know what you need. if you are a bar owner, ice is used mostly in beverages. If you have a restaurant, you can use ice in beverages, but you might also need ice for displaying food, like in a salad bar. If you are in the healthcare industry, you are going to need ice for patient care.

Nevertheless, you will need to contact commercial ice maker repair if you encounter any issues. While you are still looking for a commercial ice maker, here are tips on how to make the right choice:

Compressor Types

After you have determined the amount and shape of ice you need, the next consideration you need to make is whether you want to buy a water-cooled or air-cooled commercial ice machine. The most popular kind of air compressor is air-cooled because they are the most energy efficient.

Capacity and Size

Storing ice takes up so much space. You should figure out the proper balance between how much space is available and the amount of ice you need so you can store it anytime. Commercial kitchens can get tight and your staff would need enough space to move around. However, that does not mean you can sacrifice the requirement to have as much ice as your patrons require.

If you need a lot of ice, you would normally have to go with a modular ice machine and storage bin.

Kinds of Ice

Portable ice makers create a variety of ice shapes, and proper unit maintenance and use of filtered water will keep the ice refreshing and clear. This ice tastes the same and is consistent with the ice made by a typical freezer maker.

You can look for ice makers that produce these shapes or any of them:

• Crescent
• Bull
• Cube
• Half Cube
• Gourmet
• Nugget

Cost

No cafeteria or restaurant comes with a limitless budget. You will require a commercial ice maker that can fit all your needs, but you must find the one that will fit your price range. A couple of factors affect the ice machine cost. Models that make more fancy types of ice like ice flakes are going to cost more than the standard models. A bigger capacity or production rate will normally come with more costs, and air-cooled ice machines can cost less than water-cooled models.

Aside from looking at the ice machine price, you should consider other costs that relate to ice making: usage of water, energy, cost of installation, storage accessories, and water filters to name a couple.

An energy-efficient one might cost more at first, but it will save you money in the long run. Self-contained ice machines are normally more expensive to install, mainly under-counter models, unless you buy a modular ice machine. The modular ice machine normally comes with a remote condenser, which is more involved and expensive.

Accessories

When you buy a commercial ice machine, there are a couple of accessories you will require. Some are ice totes, ice caddies, and ice scoops. These accessories are going to help you transport and distribute ice as needed.

Your commercial ice machine is an important piece of restaurant equipment your business needs. This is especially the case in the hot summer months. it is great for keeping food safe and beverages cold.

You can contact commercial ice dispenser repair McLean anytime if you encounter any issues after using it for some time.