Icezone vs. Manually Cleaning an Ice Machine

For many companies, manual ice machine maintenance seems like the only option to keep equipment running and compliant with health standards. Ice machine manufacturers often recommend cleaning just once or twice a year — but is that really enough?

Anyone who has ever serviced an ice machine knows that this schedule is not sufficient. Even manufacturers quietly acknowledge that more frequent cleaning is essential. The reality is that contaminated ice machines pose risks to customers, profitability, and brand reputation.

In this blog, we’ll explore why manual cleaning is costly and unsustainable, and how one major Subway franchisee discovered a better solution with Icezone.

The Problem with Manual Ice Machine Cleaning

Keeping ice machines clean is not just about hygiene — it directly impacts equipment reliability and lifespan. Manufacturers may refuse to replace failed components if poor maintenance is to blame, leaving businesses to cover expensive repairs out of pocket.

For operators with one or two machines, cleaning costs may not seem significant. But for companies with hundreds or thousands of ice machines, these costs quickly add up.

Case Study: 🥪Large Multi-Location Foodservice Operator

One major multi-location foodservice operator manages over 400 locations, each equipped with at least one ice machine.

Their experience with manual ice machine cleaning looked like this:

• Cleaning frequency: Once every 5 weeks
• Time per cleaning: 2+ hours
• Cost per cleaning: $200+

With 400+ ice machines to maintain, this resulted in thousands of labor hours and significant recurring costs every year.

Why Cleaning Less Was Not an Option

Cutting back on cleaning isn’t possible. A dirty ice machine can lead to:

• Equipment malfunctions and downtime
• Failed health inspections
• The spread of infections to customers
• Bad publicity and reputational damage

The costs of neglecting maintenance far outweighed the expense of frequent cleaning. Business need an alternative solution that saved money while protecting customer safety.

Icezone: The Solution

This foodservice operator turned to Icezone, a system developed by Biozone Scientific. Icezone uses UVGI oxidation technology to transform the internal environment of an ice machine. By making the conditions hostile to slime and microbial growth, it keeps machines clean with minimal manual intervention.

Testing Phase

After testing Icezone in one store, then expanded to nine. After a five-week period between scheduled cleanings, they inspected the machines — and the results were clear:

Icezone-equipped machines were as clean as the day they were installed.

Results & ROI

By adopting Icezone, the foodservice operator achieved measurable, long-term benefits:

• Reduced cleaning frequency: From every 5 weeks → once a quarter (or longer)
• Labor savings: 20,000+ employee hours saved over 7 years
• Financial impact: $2.52 million retained as profit
• Reliability: Technical malfunctions cut by 70%
• Machine lifespan: Increased by 30%
• Installation time: Less than 30 minutes per machine

Why Icezone is a Smarter Long-Term Choice

For multi-location businesses, manual ice machine maintenance is simply not sustainable. Icezone offers a proactive approach that:

• Delivers strong ROI with minimal disruption
• Cuts operating costs without compromising hygiene
• Prevents contamination risks
• Extends machine lifespan

The results speak for themselves — Icezone is more than just maintenance, it’s a strategy for protecting profits and peace of mind.

🕵️‍♀️ Check out the full case study to discover how this operator turned a costly challenge into millions in savings.
📧 Contact us today and discover how Icezone could transform the way you manage your ice machines.