Scotsman Ice Machine Troubleshooting Guide

There are several factors that can lead to under-production of ice. Many ice production issues stem from the environment that your ice machine is located in.

Check the room temperature. Maximum ice production for each machine is partially calculated based on the room temperature where the unit is located. If your location exceeds the suggested temperature, the machine will not be able to produce the maximum amount of ice. The recommended room temperature for maximum ice production is 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Check the water temperature. Recommended water temperature is 48-50 degrees Fahrenheit. If the water used to make the ice is too warm, the ice will not be able to properly form.

Level the machine. Another cause of disproportionate ice production could be the surface your unit rests on. Ensure that the machine sits balanced and level on the floor or countertop.

Deep clean the machine. Keeping a clean unit is important in nearly every aspect of producing ice. Low ice production could be caused by buildup, so it’s important to regularly deep clean your ice machine. 

Check the waterline and water regulator valve. If you believe the issue is related to the waterline or water regulator valve, it’s best to give the technician a call.

When to schedule service. If you’ve tried all the above steps and your ice machine is still experiencing low production, it’s time to get the technician and schedule repairs.

Turn off your machine before inspecting. Avoid any potential accidents or electrical injury by unplugging your machine before looking for the source of the leak. This may also prevent the leak from expanding.

Inspect the machine to determine the source of the leak. Depending on the origin of the leak, you may need to call a technician or a plumber. Frequently, leaks on the outside of the machine are caused by plumbing issues.

Check the shutoff valve. If the origin of the leak is the water shutoff valve, attempt to contain the leak to avoid water damage and call a plumber to rectify the problem.

Look for drain obstructions. Check the drains and clear any obstructions.

Inspect the water line. Similar to water shutoff valve malfunctions, a cracked or loose water line requires the help of a plumber to get your machine working back to normal.

Deep clean the machine. Once a plumber has come to fix the unit, or you’ve managed to dislodge anything blocking the drains, deep clean your machine to ensure there are no other buildup issues.

Leaks can occur just as often inside the machine as outside. However, inner leaking should most likely be attended to by a technician. Safely inspect the machine to determine the source of the leak and call your technician for a tune-up if necessary.

Molding in an ice machine can be common if the machine is in an unsuitable environment. It can also be caused by infrequent or improper cleaning.

Sanitize the bin. If you find mold in your ice bin, deep clean and sanitize the unit.

Consider moving the unit. Keep your machine away from any areas of your kitchen that are more conducive to mold. This includes prep stations that handle large amounts of dough, yeast, sugar, or any ingredients that thrive in environments with lots of moisture.

When dealing with a freezing ice machine, the most important element to check is the evaporator plate. Freezing can damage the evaporator plate irreparably and be costly to fix if a technician or a plumber is not called to inspect the machine. There are a few steps you can take to prevent freezing.

Clean the machine and use a descaler. If your unit is located in a region with hard water, mineral or scale buildup may be causing the machine to freeze. Clean the machine using a descaler that is safe for ice machines to get rid of the buildup and prevent freezing.

Look for frozen waterlines. Frozen waterlines are common in extremely cold regions or during winter months. Call a plumber right away if you notice frozen waterlines.

Look for obstructed waterlines. Obstructed or clogged waterlines can be caused by scale or mineral buildup. Call a plumber to have obstructed waterlines professionally cleaned.