A Hoshizaki ice maker uses a series of beeps from the control board to communicate important status information that can help users and technicians identify problems going on in the system. When your Hoshizaki ice maker beeps, you should pay attention.
Common Hoshizaki Ice Machine Beep Alarms
There are a handful of different Hoshizaki ice machine alarms, each of which features your ice machine beeping in three-second intervals. Ice bin problems can cause the four beep alarm, and a prolonged freeze cycle causes three beeps in a Hoshizaki ice machine. The two beeps alarm warns you of a long harvest cycle that could damage your Hoshizaki ice maker.
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Hearing a different beep code than the single chirp? Read more about different Hoshizaki ice machine beep codes here.
What Does it Mean When a Hoshizaki Ice Machine is Beeping One Time?
However, you might want to know what it means when a Hoshizaki ice machine beeps just once. A single beeping sound every three seconds is a high-temperature warning.
The single beep high temperature safety alarm goes off when the thermistor reaches 127°F. This is too high for any Hoshizaki ice machine to function properly, and it won't be producing ice cubes or otherwise working until you resolve the issue.
Typical Causes of Hoshizaki Ice Machines Single Beep
If the control board is signalling a one-beep warning, then there are a handful of likely causes. The biggest culprits for Hoshizaki ice makers producing this alarm are:
- Hot water entering the ice machine
- Water not reaching the ice machine
- Issues with the hot gas valve
Hot Water Issues Commonly Cause a Single Beep Alarm
95 percent of the time hot water entering a Hoshizaki commercial ice maker causes a 1 beep alarm.
Hot water can enter your commercial ice machine a few ways, but some are more common than others.
One possibility is the cold water line is being heated up by an outside source. This causes the water entering your machine to run hot.
Generally, an ice maker water line runs underground to insulate it from heat, but in some instances, they run through walls or the roof. If these lines run past appliances that give off heat, like furnaces or ovens, they can heat the water. In warmer climates, the heat from outdoors can also cause water to run hot.
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If your water lines run outside in the heat, along hot appliances, or are otherwise getting too hot, it can be helpful to have a plumber come and insulate them as pictured below.
The Causes of Hot Water Migration
One of the most difficult problems to diagnose is hot water migration. This happens when hot water makes its way into cold water lines and flows to appliances like your ice machine, and it may happen because of a faulty water inlet valve.
Sinks equipped with pre-rinse sprayers or faucets are a common source of hot water migration. These sinks have both hot and cold water rushing to them. If not properly shut off at closing time, they leave an open line for pressurized hot water to push its way into the cold water line.
Overnight, the ice machine pulls in the hot water and raises the temperature which can cause your Hoshizaki ice machine to start beeping 1 time every few seconds.
Other issues can cause water migration. A few common causes are:
- Faulty plumbing setups
- Mixing valves that combine hot and cold water
- Neighboring units in interconnected locations (e.g. malls, hotels, apartment complexes, etc.)
No Water to the Ice Machine
A Hoshizaki one-beep alarm can also happen when water is not getting to the machine.
Often, this is a result of the water being turned off from:
- Planned interruptions by the city for construction, infrastructure improvements, etc.
- Emergency interruptions by the city for repairs
- Missed water payments
- The water main is accidentally shut off by a plumber or an employee
If you determine your water main was not accidentally shut off, you may have to contact your city to see if they planned an interruption.
Equipment failure or damage to a water main could also restrict water flow to your commercial ice equipment. Some causes include:
Faulty Water Valves
- Cracked water mains from fluctuating temperatures or ground moisture.
- Corrosion in older water mains made of cast iron.
- Accidental breaks from digging or construction.
- Check the premises to rule out damage or a call to a plumber to diagnose the problem.
Hot Gas Valve
Hoshizaki hot gas valve issues are difficult to diagnose because it is inside the ice machine. The hot gas valve is a pumps hot gas into the evaporator to loosen ice for harvesting.
In extremely rare cases, this valve sticks open and continually pumps hot gas into the evaporator until the Hoshizaki ice machine’s thermistor reaches 127°F—shutting off the industrial ice maker and cause it to start beeping one time.
In the tens of thousands of ice machine repairs we’ve performed, we have only come across this issue one time—but it can happen.
Additional Information
Remember, the reason the ice machine is beeping is to protect the ice machine from serious damage. The good news is you can reset a Hoshizaki 1 beep alarm quickly without causing damage to the machine.
Hot water migration is typically an intermittent problem. You may have to perform an alarm reset a few times before you can track down the problem.
Call the Ice Experts
If you have any issues with your ice machine, give the Ice Machine Experts a call! We’ve serviced over 20,000 ice machines and know exactly what to do if you have issues with your Hoshizaki ice machine! Give us a call, request a quote below, or learn more about our managed rental program today.