How to Clean and Maintain Your Nordic Air Ice Machine (Plus A Cleaning Schedule)

If you operated a commercial ice machine in your establishment, it should be cleaned and sanitized every six months at minimum with a full descale and filter check on the same schedule. In areas with hard water, or on high-volume machines, that timeline should move up to every three to four months. Skipping this maintenance doesn’t just mean cloudy or slow-melting ice. It lets mold, mildew, and bacteria build up inside, that then leeches into the ice that every customer ingests, and it puts you at risk during a health inspection. A clean ice machine also runs more efficiently and lasts longer, saving you money over time. We’ll walk through Nordic Air's cleaning process step by step, along with descaling, water filters, and vent care. The same principles apply whether you run a Nordic Air unit or another ice machine in our lineup, since most commercial machines follow a similar maintenance routine.

What's the Right Environment for a Commercial Ice Machine?

Where you install a commercial ice machine has a direct effect on how often it needs cleaning and how well it performs between cleanings. These machines are built to run in a specific temperature range, typically between 4°C and 32°C ambient air, with water supply temperatures no higher than roughly 21°C. Running a machine outside that range forces the compressor to work harder, which increases both energy use and the rate of mineral and grease buildup inside the unit.

A few placement rules go a long way toward keeping maintenance manageable:

• Keep at least 15 to 20 cm of clearance on all sides of the machine, including the top, so air can circulate freely around the condenser.
• Avoid installing an ice machine next to fryers, ranges, ovens, or dishwashers. Heat and airborne grease from nearby cooking equipment settle into the condenser and vents far faster than a unit in the bar area, which shortens the interval between cleanings.
• Choose a location with good general air quality. Ice machines pull in ambient air to cool their components, so a dusty, greasy, or poorly ventilated back-of-house area will push more contaminants into the machine than a clean, open space would.
  

Getting the environment right won’t eliminate the need for regular cleaning, but it will stretch out how long and how well your machine performs between scheduled maintenance.

How to Clean a Nordic Air Ice Machine (Step-by-Step)

Most Nordic Air ice machines, like many commercial units, come with a built-in clean function that automates most of the process. Here is how to run it:

• Remove all ice from the storage bin. On modular units, first unscrew the four corner screws and lift off the top front panel to access the bin.
• With the machine powered on, press and hold the clean button for 3 seconds to start the cleaning cycle.
• Mix a solution of ice machine cleaner and water, following the ratio on your cleaner's label, and pour it into the cleaning trough.
• Press the clean button again. The machine will auto-clean for about 15 minutes. While it runs, remove the water curtain and spray the evaporator directly with the same cleaning solution for a more thorough clean.
• When the display flashes "CLE," the cleaning cycle is done. Mix a sanitizing solution following your sanitizer's label instructions, pour it into the trough, and press the clean button again to start the 5-minute sanitizing cycle, which runs through five rinse cycles. Spray the evaporator with the sanitizing solution during this step as well.
• Once finished, the machine will resume making ice. Discard the first batch (modular units) or first five batches (undercounter units) in case any cleaner residue remains in the water.

Optional Manual Cleaning

The clean function handles routine buildup, but a full manual clean, removing the water pump, spray pipe, and inlet lines to clean and sanitize each part individually, is worth doing periodically or any time the machine has heavier buildup than the autocycle can clear. This is more involved, so if you are not comfortable disassembling the unit, it’s worth having a technician handle it during your six-month service visit. In general, we recommend operators have a technician come by once or twice a year, and properly clean and maintain all the units in their building. It’s cheaper and easier to do it all at once, and it ensures that every piece of equipment is running smoothly.

This same clean-and-sanitize approach applies broadly across the ice machines we carry, not just Nordic Air. Most commercial ice machines include a similar built-in cleaning cycle, though button labels and cycle times vary by manufacturer, so always confirm the exact steps in your unit's manual.

Descaling Your Ice Machine

The cleaning cycle in section 3 removes slime, mold, and organic buildup, but it won’t dissolve mineral scale. That is a separate job called descaling. As water passes through your ice machine, it leaves behind calcium and other minerals on the evaporator plate, water lines, and spray nozzles. In many parts of Canada, we are blessed with hard water, so this is a story we hear all too often. Left untreated, scale reduces ice output, makes ice cloudy or misshapen, and eventually forces the compressor to work harder. All of this leads to unhappy customers and a machine with a shortened lifespan.

Descale your ice machine every six months, or every three to four months in hard water areas or high-volume kitchens. Use a descaler formulated for ice machines, such as our Atosa ATIMD01 Ice Machine Powder Descaler, which comes as individual sachets for easy, consistent dosing. Follow the product's mixing instructions, circulate the solution through the water lines and evaporator, then rinse thoroughly before returning the machine to service.

Water Filters and Cartridge Replacement

A good filter reduces sediment, chlorine, and the minerals that cause scale build-up, which means less strain on your descaling schedule. It also protects the water lines, valves, and pump from the buildup that shortens their lifespan. We have seen a lot of customers overlook the filter, thinking it’s not really needed. Some think the filter isn’t needed, but many people just never replace the filter itself, which is just as bad. Over time, it can really cause issues for your machine and water lines and is the biggest issue we see with ice machines not running optimally.

Replacing your water filter cartridge every six months, or sooner if it is rated for a specific volume of water, is the best course of action. Watch for warning signs that a cartridge needs changing early: a noticeable drop in ice production, ice that tastes or smells off, or cloudy ice that persists even after descaling. Browse our Commercial Ice Machine Water Filters collection to find the right cartridge for your model and keep a spare on hand so a swap can be done immediately as needed.

Cleaning the Vent and Condenser Area

An ice machine's vents and condenser coils pull in ambient air to cool the refrigerant, and in a busy kitchen that air often carries dust, flour, and grease. When those particles coat the coils, airflow drops, the compressor must work harder to hit temperature, and both your energy bill and your repair risk go up.

Wipe down the exterior vents weekly and check the condenser coils monthly for visible dust or grease buildup. To clean them, unplug the unit, then use a soft brush or a vacuum with a brush attachment to clear debris from the coils, working in the direction of the fins so you don’t damage them. Avoid water or harsh chemicals directly on the coils. If your kitchen sits near fryers or grills, check the vents more often, since airborne grease builds up faster in that environment.

General Maintenance Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use vinegar or homemade solutions instead of a commercial cleaner or descaler?

We don't recommend it. Commercial ice machines are built for specific cleaning agents, and household substitutes can damage seals and components or void your manufacturer's warranty. Stick to products made for ice machines, like the Atosa ATIMD01 descaler.

Do I need to turn off my ice machine before cleaning it?

Not for the built-in clean cycle. It's designed to run with the machine powered on. For manual cleaning or vent and condenser work, always unplug the unit first.

Will skipping maintenance affect my warranty?

Most manufacturers require documented regular maintenance to keep a warranty valid. Staying on a cleaning and descaling schedule protects both your ice quality and your coverage if something goes wrong.

How long does a full cleaning cycle take from start to finish?

The built-in clean and sanitize cycle takes about 20 minutes on its own, but plan for 30 to 45 minutes total once you factor in removing ice, mixing solutions, and letting parts air dry. A full manual deep clean takes longer, often an hour or more, so it's best scheduled during a slower shift.

How can I tell if I have hard water without testing it myself?

Look for white, chalky buildup on faucets, kettles, or coffee makers in the same building. That's a good sign your water is hard enough to speed up scale in your ice machine too. Your municipality's water quality report is another easy way to check mineral hardness for your address.

Stay Ahead of Your Next Cleaning Cycle

Keeping your ice machine clean protects your customers, your health inspection scores, and your equipment investment. If you haven't picked the right machine yet, check out our guide on how to size a commercial ice machine, or browse our water filters and descaler to stay ahead of your next cleaning cycle.

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