WHAT EFFECTS DO HARD WATER MINERALS HAVE ON SOFT DRINKS?
Hard water minerals are beneficial to post-mix beverages; the minerals help hold carbonation.
As far as the soda dispensing equipment is concerned, minerals generally do not affect its operation. The chemistry of carbonated water is aggressive and low in pH, and this prevents the minerals from forming scale.
WHAT EFFECTS DO HARD WATER MINERALS HAVE ON ICE MACHINES?
ON CUBERS: Because minerals are prone to precipitating on heat transfer surfaces, scale deposits will develop on ice machine evaporators. The scale will insulate the evaporator from efficient heat transfer and will result in wet ice, thin ice, and sometimes even no ice.
Chlorine also affects the ice making process, contributing to pitting and corrosion of evaporator surfaces. Additionally, as the ice is formed, chlorine evaporates into the bin, only to be re-absorbed by the cubes as they sit in the bin. (Have you ever noticed the tastes and odors that the ice cubes in your home freezer absorb?)
ON FLAKERS: Flakers typically use an auger that turns inside of a freezing chamber, shaving the frozen ice off the evaporator, transporting the shaved ice vertically to the ice trough. When minerals and dirt begin to stick to the inside of the freezing chamber, the auger starts to scour against the minerals, dulling the surface of the auger. Mineral build-up will cause a squeaking noise indicating a drag on the evaporator. This drag creates stress on the gear box. In very severe cases, the teeth of the gears become stripped, causing an expensive repair and downtime of the ice equipment.
AND WHAT ABOUT COFFEE?
Absolutely, coffee needs high quality water!
Coffee is 98% water, and therefore will also be adversely affected by chlorine in the brewing water. Chlorinated water will cause bitterness and early pour-outs.
In addition, hard water will leave scale deposits on the heating elements, causing inefficient heat transfer, prolonged heating times and burned out elements. If the heat transfer is poor, the temperature may not be sufficient for proper brewing.
RESTAURANT AND CONVENIENCE STORE APPLICATIONS
These systems allow businesses to install one system in the mechanical room that feeds all water-using appliances such as beverage, coffee, and ice machines. (The typical components consisting of a sediment cartridge, one or more taste/odor cartridges and a scale inhibition cartridge are no longer necessary with the use of this system).
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