Jun 29th 2023 - Team Member
How to Choose the Best Water Filter Cartridge for Your Ice Machine
Imagine the perfect ice cube - clean, clear, and free from any off-tasting impurities. To achieve this, the quality of water going into your ice machine is paramount. Here's where the right water filter cartridge plays a pivotal role. In this article, we'll walk you through some critical factors to consider when choosing a cartridge that will not only ensure high-quality ice but also enhance the lifespan and efficiency of your ice machine.
How to Pick the Right Water Filter Cartridge
Evaluating Your Water Quality
The first step is getting to know the quality of your water supply. Consider having a complete water analysis to reveal specific contaminants like sediment, chlorine, or scale buildup. This knowledge will help pinpoint the kind of filtration system and cartridge your ice machine requires.
Choose Between the Different Filter Types
Like restaurants have their specialties, water filter cartridges have their unique attributes, each designed to target specific contaminants. Let's have a quick rundown:
Sediment Filters
These are the 'bouncers' of your filtration system, keeping larger particles like dirt and sediment out of your water. They are rated based on the micron size of particles they can capture.
Activated Carbon Filters
Think of these as the ' bad odor eliminators.' They are adept at removing chlorine, chloramines, and organic compounds that can cause unpleasant tastes and smells. They also tackle certain chemicals and heavy metals.
Prefilter Systems
They're primarily designed to tackle larger particles such as sediment and silt, reducing the load on subsequent filters.
Combination Filters
Just like your signature mixed dish, these filters blend various filtration technologies to tackle multiple contaminants at once. They offer a broad-spectrum and versatile filtration option.
Targeting Specific Contaminants
Once you know the types of contaminants in your water supply, it's time to pick a cartridge that can effectively remove them. Whether it's sediment, chlorine, bacteria, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), make sure to choose a filter cartridge that caters to your unique needs, thus providing your ice machine with the best protection.
Ensure that Micron Rating is Compatible
A filter's micron rating is like a restaurant's seating capacity - it defines the scale of what it can handle. Lower micron ratings signify finer filtration capabilities. To choose the right one, consider what your ice machine requires, and opt for a cartridge with a suitable micron rating.
Consider Filter Capacity and Lifespan
Just like your kitchen equipment, filter cartridges need replacement over time. Be aware of your ice machine's water usage, and select a cartridge that can handle the load while offering optimal performance. Remember to check the manufacturer's recommended cartridge replacement timelines for maintaining efficient filtration.
Ensuring Easy Installation and Compatibility
The filters for ice makers need to fit seamlessly into your ice machine's filtration system. Consider aspects such as size, setup, and connection type to ensure a hassle-free installation. Note that some cartridges might require additional parts or adapters.
Trusting Certified and Standardized Filters
Always go for filter cartridges that have been independently tested and certified by respected organizations like NSF International. This certification ensures the cartridge abides by specific performance and safety standards, offering you peace of mind.
Wide Variety of Ice Machine Water Filters
Just like ice machines, their water filters come in a range of types, each with its unique features and benefits. Here's a quick overview of the common types you might encounter:
Prefilter Systems
These are often the first line of defense in a comprehensive filtration system. They're primarily designed to tackle larger particles such as sediment and silt, reducing the load on subsequent filters. Prefilter systems prolong the lifespan of the rest of your filtration water system, protecting it from premature wear.
Sediment Filters
As the name suggests, sediment filters are experts at removing larger particulate matter from your water. They're essential in areas where the water supply contains a high degree of sediment or other large particles. By removing these elements, they help to maintain the efficiency of your ice machine and improve the taste and clarity of your ice.
Most ice makers come equipped with sediment filters, which are considered the industry standard. These filters do an excellent job of keeping everyday dirt and debris out of your ice maker, ensuring that your ice cubes maintain their flavor and clarity.
When selecting a sediment water filter, it's crucial to consider both the micron rating and the water flow rate. The micron rating refers to the smallest unit of measurement that can pass through a filter. For instance, if you have a 5-micron filter and a dirt particle is 10 microns in size, any water droplets smaller than 5 microns will pass through the filter.
While sediment filters are effective in removing larger particles and sediment, they may not be as effective against hard water deposits or chlorine. It's important to be aware of these limitations when considering your water filtration needs.
Carbon Filters
These filters are the flavor saviors of your ice, primarily removing chlorine and other chemicals that can affect the taste and smell of your ice. They use activated carbon to attract and absorb these substances from your water.
Carbon water filters are a wonderful alternative to phosphate filters for cubelet, flake, and safe water and ice dispensers.
Activated carbon's porous structure attracts and holds onto hazardous particles, preventing them from entering your ice maker. This process is called adsorption. Carbon filters can remove chlorine from water in addition to silt and phosphate.
Scale-Inhibitor Filters
Hard water is a common problem in many areas, and it can wreak havoc on your ice machine over time. Scale-inhibitor filters use food-grade polyphosphates to sequester the calcium and magnesium in hard water, preventing them from forming scale deposits on your ice machine components.
Ice-O-Matic IFQ1 Single Ice Machine Water Filter
Phosphate Filters
For restaurant owners or business owners using high-capacity ice makers in areas with mineral-rich water, a phosphate water filter can be highly beneficial. These filters effectively prevent the formation of "scale," which occurs when minerals like calcium and magnesium do not combine properly. Scale can cause issues for various components of ice machines, including evaporator plates, float switches, and water-cooled condensers, and can even clog standard sediment water filters.
Phosphate filters work by introducing phosphate molecules into the water supply of your ice machine. These molecules break the ionic connections between calcium and magnesium, thereby inhibiting scale formation.
However, it is important to note that consuming phosphate in large quantities can lead to stomach upset. Fortunately, only pure water freezes into ice cubes, while water with phosphate content flows down the drain. Therefore, conventional commercial ice machines do not produce ice with significant phosphate levels.
On the other hand, cubelet and flake ice machines utilize an auger mechanism to gather, freeze, and grind the water before dispensing it as soft, chewable ice. These types of commercial ice makers are not compatible with phosphate filters.
Using phosphate filters with these machines can result in the water being filtered along with the ice, exposing consumers to phosphate. To avoid any potential discomfort for your customers, it is advisable to refrain from using a phosphate filter in cubelet or flake ice machines as well.