How to Clean a Follett Ice Machine
The biggest feature that makes Follett ice machines stand out from the rest is its Chewblet ice. This nugget-style ice is easy to chew and absorbs a drink’s flavor to perfection, making it widely used in hospitals, healthcare facilities, restaurants and other commercial establishments.
To get the most out of your ice and commercial ice machine, cleaning and descaling is a must. That’s why we have easy instructions and tips to help you out. Below are steps for how to clean a Follett ice machine.
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Follett Cleaner/descaler
- Follett Sanitizer
- Warm water
- Cloths
- Disposable food-grade gloves (wear during cleaning)
- Safety goggles (wear during cleaning)
- Sani-Sponges (for Horizon models only)
- Pusher tube (for Horizon models only)
- 2-gallon sanitary container
How Often Should You Clean a Follett Ice Machine?
While Follett recommends doing a thorough cleaning and sanitizing of the entire machine at least every six months, they do suggest more frequent cleanings based on environmental conditions or water hardness. Also, different parts might require attention beforehand. Below is a breakdown of when specific portions of the machine should be cleaned:
- As Needed – Exterior
- Weekly – Drain line, drip/drain pan
- Monthly – Condenser (air-cooled models only)
- Semi-Annually – Ice machine, dispenser and components, chilled-water accessory, transport tube and storage area/bin
Symphony & Maestro Ice Machine Cleaning Instructions
Follett’s Symphony & Maestro machines share the same cleaning procedures. Please see the instructions below:
Cleaning & Descaling
- Step 1. Prepare cleaning and sanitizer solutions – Mix cleaning solution of warm water (120°F) with Follett cleaner/descaler. Mix sanitizing solution of warm water (120°F) with Follett sanitizer. Check the cleaner and sanitizer’s packaging for specific instructions. Make sure to wear safety goggle and gloves when handling both solutions now and during cleaning process.
- Step 2. Discard ice and turn off machine – Remove the ice from the machine and discard it. Once the ice is removed, turn the machine off.
- Step 3. Disengage dispense wheel – Inside the storage area, remove center thumbscrew from dispense wheel. Tilt the wheel up toward the back to clear baffle. This will disengage the wheel from motor shaft.
- Step 4. Remove chute and covers – Remove the machine’s dispense chutes. If your model has a front cover or chute cover, remove these as well.
- Step 5. Wipe down removed components – Now that the lid, wheel baffle, chute and covers are removed, wipe them with a damp cloth that has been soaked in the cleaning solution. Rinse each part with a separate damp cloth that has been soaked in clean water.
- Step 6. Wipe down the bin surfaces – Wipe down the bin surfaces with a damp cloth that has been soaked in the cleaning solution. Rinse each part with a separate damp cloth that has been soaked in clean water. Never rinse by pouring water into the unit. This can damage the dispense motor.
- Step 7. Remove and clean grille (if applicable) – If your model has a grille, remove it and wipe with a damp cloth that has been soaked in the cleaning solution. Rinse the grill with a separate damp cloth that has been soaked in clean water.
Sanitizing
- Step 8. Sanitize disassembled items – Wipe all the disassembled items above with a damp cloth that has been soaked in the sanitizing solution. Don’t rinse them, and allow each part to air dry.
- Step 9. Reinstall the parts – Once they’ve dried, reinstall each part back onto the machine.
- Step 10. Clean and sanitize dispenser – If your unit has a chilled water accessory, proceed to the procedure below. Otherwise, continue to step 11.
- Step 10.1. Remove splash panel screws – Unfasten the four screws that secure the splash panel.
- Step 10.2. Disconnect the drain line – Disconnect the 3/4″ drain line from the bottom of the chilled water canister.
- Step 10.3. Loosen the front bracket screw – Loosen the screw that secures the front bracket of the chilled water canister to the bottom of the dispenser hopper.
- Step 10.4. Release front bracket and disengage rear bracket – Release the front bracket by rotating the canister clockwise. Then, pull the canister forward to disengage the rear bracket.
- Step 10.5. Remove and clean the water coil – Remove the chilled water coil from the canister. Wipe it with a damp cloth that has been soaked in the cleaning solution.
- Step 10.6. Clean the chilled water canister – Using a damp cloth that has been soaked in the cleaning solution, wipe down the interior of the chilled water canister. Rinse the interior with a separate damp cloth that has been soaked in clean water.
- Step 10.7. Sanitize the disassembled items and canister – Wipe all the disassembled items above and the canister with a damp cloth that has been soaked in the sanitizing solution.
- Step 10.8. Reinstall the disassembled items – Reinstall the chilled water coil, chilled water assembly, drain line, splash panel and top cover.
- Step 11. Turn the machine on and make ice – Once everything is reinstalled, plug the machine back in and turn it on. Start the ice-making procedure.
- Step 12. Test the dispenser – After about 30 minutes, test the dispenser to make sure everything is working properly.
Horizon Ice Machine Cleaning Instructions
Follett’s Horizon and Horizon Elite models have slightly different cleaning procedures. Please follow the instructions below:
Cleaning & Descaling
- Step 1. Prepare cleaning and sanitizer solutions – Mix cleaning solution of warm water (120°F) with Follett cleaner/descaler. Mix sanitizing solution of warm water (120°F) with Follett sanitizer. Check the cleaner and sanitizer’s packaging for specific instructions. Make sure to wear safety goggle and gloves when handling both solutions now and during cleaning process.
- Step 2. Drain machine – Press the “CLEAN” button to drain the machine. Wait until the “LO WATER” light comes to proceed to the next step.
- Step 3. Add cleaning solution – Find the cleaning cup on the unit. Using mixture 1 gallon warm water and 7 ounces of cleaner/descaler, pour the cleaning solution into the machine until the “CLEANER FULL” light comes on.
- Step 4. Allow cleaning cycle to commence – Place the cover back on the cleaning cup, and wait until the machine restarts. Over the course of 15 minutes, the machine should clean and flush three times.
Sanitizing
- Step 5. Drain the machine again – Once the cleaning cycle concludes, prepare the machine for sanitizing by draining it again. Press the “CLEAN” button to drain the machine. Wait until the “LO WATER” light comes to proceed to the next step.
- Step 6. Add sanitizing solution – Using mixture of 1 gallon warm water and 1.6 ounces of cleaner/descaler, pour the cleaning solution into the machine until the “CLEANER FULL” light comes on.
- Step 7. Allow sanitizing cycle to commence – Place the cover back on the cleaning cup, and wait until the machine restarts. Over the course of 15 minutes, the machine should sanitize and flush three times.
- Step 8. Disconnect the coupling from transport tube – Disconnect the coupling from the transport tube before continuing to the next steps. These procedures must be done before the machine flushes and starts making ice.
- Step 9. Insert Sani-Sponges down the transport tube – Insert a dry Sani-Sponge into the transport tube. Then, insert a Sani-Sponge that has been soaked in the sanitizing solution. Make sure to push the sponges down the transport tube with the pusher tube. When finished remove and discard the pusher tool.
- Step 10. Reconnect the coupling to transport tube – Reconnect the coupling to the transport tube. Once the sanitizing cycle concludes, the machine will start making ice.
- Step 11. Turn the power switch on – Press the power switch to “ON” when the sanitizing cycle ends. The ice will push the Sani-Sponges through the transport tube.
- Step 12. Discard first batch of ice – Place the sanitary container in the bin or dispenser to collect the ice and Sani-Sponges. Wait about 10 minutes to collect about 5.5 pounds of ice. When it concludes, discard the ice and Sani-Sponges.
Looking for additional cleaning tips? Explore our collection of Follett manuals for more help.