Examining the evaporator during the freeze cycle can aid in identifying many common problems associated with commercial ice machines. How the ice is formed or not formed on the evaporator can allow a technician to easily determine several common problems associated with ice machines.
For example, a slab of ice that is lopsided - heavy on one end and light on the other - usually indicates a shortage of refrigerant entering the evaporator. This can be the result of a low refrigerant charge or a defective metering device.