Water Filters

A water filter reduces scale-forming minerals, chlorine taste and odour, and sediment before water reaches the ice machine. Scale builds up on the evaporator, slowing ice production and raising energy use, and is the most common cause of ice machine service calls. Filtered water also makes clearer, better-tasting ice. Many manufacturers require filtration to keep the warranty valid.

Change cartridges at least every 6 months, or sooner when the rated capacity in litres or gallons is reached, whichever comes first. A busy restaurant may reach a cartridge’s capacity in 3 to 4 months. Signs a filter is overdue include slower ice production, cloudy ice, scale in the machine and a drop in water pressure. Write the change date on the cartridge housing.

The micron rating is the size of particle a filter can trap. A 5-micron filter removes sediment and rust; a 1-micron or 0.5-micron filter also removes finer particles and some cysts. Many ice and beverage systems combine a sediment pre-filter with carbon to reduce chlorine taste and a scale inhibitor such as polyphosphate. A smaller micron rating filters more but clogs faster on dirty water.

Most food service filter cartridges do not remove hardness; they use polyphosphate scale inhibitors that keep minerals from sticking to equipment. To actually remove hardness, a water softener exchanges calcium and magnesium for sodium using salt, such as Diamond Crystal softener pellets. Softened water is common for steamers and combi ovens, but ice machines and coffee need some minerals, so follow each manufacturer’s water specification.

Brewed coffee is about 98 percent water, so chlorine and off-tastes in tap water carry straight into the cup. Carbon filtration removes chlorine, while scale inhibitors protect the brewer’s heating element and spray head. The Specialty Coffee Association recommends brewing water with a moderate mineral content rather than completely pure water, which can taste flat. Brewer filters such as the Bunn Easy Clear cartridge are sized to a brewer’s water use.

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