Multiplex Preventative Maintenance & Cleaning
Multiplex preventative maintenance and cleaning doesn’t have to be something you dread on the daily, weekly or even monthly level. Parts Town has carefully curated a cleaning and maintenance schedule - per manufacturer recommendations - to help you knock out those automated and manual tasks alike.
Keeping your Multiplex beverage dispensing systems well maintained not only prevents you from having to save your service technician’s number in your phone but helps improve the quality and taste of the drinks you serve, making regulars out of your customers.
Daily
Blender & Dispenser Area Cleaning & Sanitizing
- Step 1. Press the cleaning icon on the main menu – Go to the main menu and select the cleaning icon.
- Note: The on-screen instructions may vary.
- Step 2. Select the Zone 1 cleaning icon – From there, select the Zone 1 cleaning icon for daily use. The cleaning cycle will last approximately 15 minutes.
Stainless Steel Cleaning
Salt and chlorides in cleaners or hard water can cause the stainless steel to rust. Since hard water is especially prevalent around beverage machines, it’s a good idea to clean the metal every day to preserve the exterior of your machine.
You can use any of the following cleaners or products for Multiplex preventative maintenance. Be sure to always scrub with the grain:
- Alkaline-based cleaners
- Non-chloride cleaners
- Soap & water
- Stainless steel cleaners
- Soft cloths
- Plastic scouring pads
Check Ice Quality
Pay attention to your Multiplex beverage systems' ice production. Are the ice cubes shapely, uniform and clear? Following these daily, weekly and monthly cleaning and maintenance procedures can help improve and preserve the quality of your ice. However, if you’re noticing issues with ice production, check out the drain, ice bin, condenser coil and air filter cleaning sections. If the problem persists, please contact a trusted service technician who’s authorized to help.
Weekly
Product Line Cleaning & Sanitizing
- Step 1. Press the cleaning icon on the main menu – Go to the main menu and select the cleaning icon.
- Note: The on-screen instructions may vary.
- Step 2. Select the Zone 2 cleaning icon – From there, select the Zone 2 cleaning icon for weekly use. The cleaning cycle will last approximately 90 minutes.
- Note: An additional hour and 45 minutes will be added if you’ve selected the sanitizing bin option in the Manager’s Menu.
Drain Cleaning
Drain cleaning and inspection should be done every week because the drain tubes can become loose or disconnected due to the force of the water running through them during regular use. Be sure to remove any obstructions that may be blocking the drain. If any of these statements are true, consider doing the following Multiplex preventative maintenance:
- Water on the inside of the unit – Ensure the drain tube is connected to the evaporator drain pan.
- Water under the unit – Ensure the drain tube is connected to the condensate evaporator.
- Problem keeps occurring – If you continuously notice water inside the lower cabinet or under the unit, you might want to check that the ice machine unit is level.
Monthly
Air Filters
Multiplex preventative maintenance includes checking the air filter at least once every month for dirt buildup and debris. A partially or fully blocked air filter can cause some unpleasant issues that could compromise the quality of your beverages and put additional wear and tear on the machine.
- Step 1. Remove the air filters – You can access the air filter at the rear of the unit by sliding them out.
- Step 2. Inspect the air filters – Hold them up to the light. If you can’t see the fluorescent glow of the light bulb through them, they’re due for a wash.
- Step 3. Clean the air filters – Wash the air filters with a soft cloth or sponge and warm, soapy water and let them air dry.
- Note: The air filters are not dishwasher safe.
- Step 4. Return the air filters – Once dried, return the air filters to their original position on the rear of the unit.
Doors & Hinges
Once a month, inspect the doors for sagging. If you notice the tops of the doors no longer align on a straight plane, you should use a screwdriver to tighten the hinges to the door frame.
Door Gaskets
Door gaskets are especially susceptible to mold and mildew that not only cause a public health concern but also degrade the material before its time. Luckily, cleaning door gaskets is not a hard or time-consuming task. Just gather a bucket of warm, soapy water and a soft sponge and wipe down the gasket, taking care to get in between the folds and along the edges. Ensure you thoroughly dry the gasket so mold and mildew do not return.
- Note: Do not use cleaning products or tools, as this could damage the gasket.
Refrigerators
Clean the interior and exterior of the refrigerator with warm, soapy water and a soft sponge. If you notice a prevailing odor, you could also try using water and ammonia or a nonabrasive liquid cleaner to sanitize the interior. Otherwise, clean the exterior with a stainless steel cleaner or any of the approved products listed above.
- Note: Do not use abrasive cleaners, as this could damage the stainless steel, breaker strips and gaskets.
Every 3 Months
Condenser Coil
If you don’t want excessive run times, warm beverages, melty ice or total compressor failure, then you should make a note on your Multiplex preventative maintenance checklist. Dust off the condenser coil at least once every three months or more frequently if your coil proves to be extremely dirty.
All you need is a vacuum, a brush attachment and a few minutes. The manufacturer has also approved the use of commercial condenser cleaner for those tough cases.
Cleaning & Sanitizing the Ice Maker Bin
- Step 1. Press the Manager’s Menu icon on the main menu – To add an automatic sanitizer bin option to the weekly product line cleaning and sanitizing cycle, go to the Manager’s Menu screen.
- Step 2. Enter the password – Enter your password to access the Manager’s Menu.
- Step 3. Press the Service icon – Press the down arrow to scroll through to the second page on the Manager’s Menu to find the service icon represented as a wrench symbol.
- Step 4. Enter the service password – Enter your password to access the Service screen. Press the green check sign to continue.
- Step 5. Select Cleaning Options – Select the icon that says Cleaning Options.
- Step 6. Enable sanitizing in Zone 2 cleaning – This will add an hour and 45 min to the weekly product line cleaning and sanitizing cycle.
- Step 7. Press the return arrow to save – Press the return arrow until you return to the main menu. This will save your selections.
- Step 8. Press the cleaning icon on the main menu – Go to the main menu and select the cleaning icon.
- Note: The on-screen instructions may vary.
- Step 9. Select the Zone 2 cleaning icon – From there, select the Zone 2 cleaning icon for weekly use. The cleaning cycle will last approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes.
- Step 10. Deactivate bin cleaning – The ice bin cleaning and sanitization only need to be performed once every 3 months. If you don’t want this to be a part of your weekly cleaning schedule, then go back through steps 1-7 to deselect sanitizing in Zone 2 cleaning after the cycle is complete.
Every 6 Months
Call an authorized service company to descale the ice maker and bin.
Annual
Call a service company to perform annual inspections and cleaning of multiplex beverage dispensing systems. Here’s a list of Multiplex preventative maintenance tasks they’ll perform after start-up or a prolonged shutdown:
- Inspect the ice maker and dispenser parts
- Check the ice quality
- Clean the product line
- Clean the drain
- Clean the air filters
- Clean and descale the ice maker and bin
- Clean the condenser coil
Parts Town has helpful resources like Multiplex part manuals and diagrams to help you on your way. Whether you’re troubleshooting common issues, trying to make a cleaning schedule or deciphering error codes, get the answers to all your questions and more with the aid of our extensive digital library!