How to Clean a Hoshizaki Ice Machine
A Hoshizaki ice machine runs at its absolute best when cleaned and well maintained. A comprehensive cleaning keeps parts free from buildup of mineral deposits and other foreign substances, and it helps save you money on replacements and repairs on a commercial ice machine.
So what do you need to do? Below are the necessary steps for how to clean a Hoshizaki ice machine thoroughly.
Cleaning Hoshizaki Modular Crescent Cubers
The following instructions are for Hoshizaki modular crescent cubers, including KM-340/515/600/650/901/1100/1340/1601MAH, MWH and MRH models.
How to Clean the Machine
- Step 1. Prepare the machine – Detach the front panel, and turn the control switch to "OFF." Wait a few minutes before flipping the switch back to "ICE" and reattaching the front panel. After a few minutes, remove the front panel again and flip the control switch to "OFF."
- Step 2. Remove ice from the machine – Remove all ice from the storage bin. If unit has a dispenser, make sure to turn the power supply off after dispensing ice.
- Step 3. Drain water from the water tank – Detach the base cover and disconnect the water pump hose/overflow pipe. Once the water tank drains, reconnect the hose. Flip the control switch to "ICE" and reattach the front panel. Wait a few minutes to let the tank refill with water. Then, remove the panel and flip the control back to "OFF."
- Step 4. Add cleaner – Slowly pour Hoshizaki Scale Away cleaner into the water tank. Use 14 fluid ounces in KM-320/340/515/600/650/901 models and 30 fluid ounces in KM-1100/1340/1601 models. Once cleaner is added, open the cleaning valve by turning it all the way to the left.
- Step 5. Activate washing sequence – Wait a minute before beginning the washing sequence to prevent excessive foaming. Then, flip the control switch to "WASH" and reattach the front panel. Allow the cleaner to circulate for about half an hour before removing the front panel and flipping the switch to "OFF."
- Step 6. Remove the cleaner – Detach the water pump hose/overflow pipe and allow the water tank to drain. Once it drains, reattach the hose/pipe.
- Step 7. Clean surrounding parts (if necessary) – If water conditions are harsh, turn off the power supply and remove the float switch, cube guide, water supply tubes, spray tubes and spray guides. Clean the parts using 5 fluid ounces of Hoshizaki Scale Away per gallon of warm water. After rinsing, reattach the parts and turn power back on.
- Step 8. Rinse the machine – Close the cleaning valve by turning it all the way to the right. Flip the control switch to “ICE,” and reattach the front panel. Give it about 3-4 minutes for clean water to circulate. Remove the front panel and flip the control switch to “OFF.” Open the cleaning valve by turning it all the way to the left, and flip the control switch to “WASH.” Reattach the front panel and wait about 5 minutes. Then, remove the front panel and flip the control switch to “OFF.”
- Step 9. Drain the water tank – Detach the water pump hose/overflow pipe and allow the water tank to drain. Once it drains, reattach the hose/pipe. Proceed to sanitizing instructions below.
How to Sanitizer the Machine
- Step 1. Clean the machine – Before sanitizing, thoroughly clean your machine following the procedure above.
- Step 2. Refill the water tank – Close the cleaning valve by turning it all the way to the right, and flip the control switch to "ICE." Reattach the front panel and wait about 3-4 minutes for water to enter. Then, remove the front panel and flip the control switch to "OFF."
- Step 3. Add sanitizer – Slowly pour sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) into the water tank. Make sure the bleach sanitizer has no additives. Use 0.78 fluid ounces in KM-320/340/515/600/650/901 models and 1.7 fluid ounces in KM-1100/1340/1601 models. Once cleaner is added, open the cleaning valve by turning it all the way to the left.
- Step 4. Activate washing sequence – Wait a minute before beginning the washing procedure to prevent excessive foaming. Then, flip the control switch to "WASH" and reattach the front panel. Allow the cleaner to circulate for about 45 minutes before removing the front panel and flipping the control switch to "OFF."
- Step 5. Remove the sanitizer – Detach the water pump hose/overflow pipe and allow the water tank to drain. Once it drains, reattach the hose/pipe.
- Step 6. Rinse the machine – Close the cleaning valve by turning it all the way to the right. Flip the control switch to “ICE,” and reattach the front panel. Give it about 3-4 minutes for clean water to circulate. Remove the front panel and flip the control switch to "OFF.” Open the cleaning valve by turning it all the way to the left, and flip the control switch to “WASH.” Reattach the front panel and wait about 5 minutes. Then, remove the front panel and flip the control switch to “OFF.”
- Step 7. Drain the water tank – Detach the water pump hose/overflow pipe and allow the water tank to drain. Once it drains, reattach the hose/pipe.
- Step 8. Clean the dispenser or storage bin (if necessary) – Clean the dispenser or storage bin liner with a neutral cleaner. When finished, make sure to rinse thoroughly.
- Step 9. Turn on ice-making process – Close the cleaning valve by turning it all the way to the right, and flip the control switch to "ICE." Remember to restore the power supply on unit with a dispenser. Reattach the front panel.
Cleaning Hoshizaki Self-Contained Cubers
The following instructions are for Hoshizaki self-contained cubers, including AM-100BAE and AM-150BAF/BWF models.
How to Clean & Sanitize the Water System
- Step 1. Prepare the cleaning solution – Mix about 1 gallon of water with 5 fluid ounces of cleaner, such as Hoshizaki Scale Away or Lime-A-Away. This will dilute the cleaner before application.
- Step 2. Remove ice from the machine – Start by removing all ice from the storage bin and evaporator. To remove ice from the evaporator, detach the lower front panel and turn the control switch on the control box to "OFF." Switch it back to "ICE" after a few minutes. When the defrost cycle begins, the cubes will leave the evaporator.
- Step 3. Turn off the machine – Turn off the ice machine by flipping the control switch to "OFF." Then, close the water supply line shutoff valve.
- Step 4. Remove water and add cleaning solution – Remove the water tank and dispel the remaining water. Reattach the tank in the proper position. Once reattached, slowly pour the cleaner into the tank.
- Step 5. Activate washing sequence – Flip the control switch to "WASH." Allow the cleaning solution to circulate for about half an hour before flipping the switch to "OFF."
- Step 6. Remove the cleaning solution – Remove the water tank and dispel the cleaning solution. Then, reattach the tank and open the shutoff valve.
- Step 7. Reactivate washing sequence – Rinse the machine by flipping the control switch to "WASH." Give it about 5 minutes for clean water to circulate. Flip the switch to "OFF" and back to "WASH." Repeat rinsing process a few more times.
- Step 8. Prepare the sanitizer solution – Mix about 1 gallon of water with 0.5 fluid ounces of sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach). This will dilute the chlorine-based cleaner before application.
- Step 9. Turn off the machine – Turn off the ice machine by flipping the control switch to "OFF." Then, close the water supply line shutoff valve.
- Step 10. Remove water and add sanitizer – Remove the water tank and dispel the remaining water. Reattach the tank in the proper position. Once reattached, slowly pour the chlorine-based sanitizer into the tank.
- Step 11. Activate wash cycle – Flip the control switch to "WASH." Allow the sanitizer to circulate for about 15 minutes before flipping the switch to "OFF."
- Step 12. Remove the sanitizer – Remove the water tank and dispel the sanitizing solution. Then, reattach the tank and open the shutoff valve.
- Step 13. Reactivate wash cycle – Rinse the machine by flipping the control switch to "WASH." Give it about 5 minutes for clean water to circulate. Flip the switch to "OFF" and back to "WASH." Repeat rinsing process two more times.
- Step 14. Turn on ice-making process – Flip the control switch to "ICE" to start the automatic ice-making process. Then, reattach the lower front panel.
How to Clean the Storage Bin, Slope & Scoop
- Step 1. Prepare the machine – Detach the lower front panel. Then, turn the control switch on the control box to "OFF" and unplug the ice maker.
- Step 2. Remove ice from the machine – Open the bin door and remove all ice from the storage bin.
- Step 3. Detach the slope – Take off the slope by carefully bending the center and releasing it from the shafts. The slope should be free from the storage bin.
- Step 4. Clean and sanitize bin area – Clean and sanitize the storage bin space as well as the slope, scoop and other surrounding parts that are accessible to the bin.
- Step 5. Remove and clean separators – Detach each separator by lifting into a horizontal position and pushing inward. Once they're off, clean and sanitize them thoroughly.
- Step 6. Remove and clean the water tank – Detach the suction tube from the water tank to drain it. Unfasten the thumbscrews on the tank, and pull it out. Once it's removed, clean and sanitize the tank.
- Step 7. Remove and clean the water plate – Pull the discharge tube from the water plate. Then detach the plate by pulling toward you. Once removed, detach the caps and clean the plate. Use a wire brush to clean the nozzles if they're clogged.
- Step 8. Reinstall the parts – Reattach the parts and components properly on the machine by following the process in reverse order. Please consult the Hoshizaki self-contained cuber operation manual for the specific reinstallation process.
- Step 9. Turn on ice-making process – Plug the ice machine back in, and flip the control switch to "ICE" to start the automatic ice-making process. Then, reattach the lower front panel.
Looking for more troubleshooting tips for your ice machine? Check out our collection of Hoshizaki manuals for additional help.