Flushing Your Water System

If it has been more than 7 days since you have closed the doors, you need to flush all facility water supply lines to prevent mold and bacteria from causing illness.

  1. Flush all pipes / faucets
  2. Run cold-water faucets for at least 5 minutes.
  3. Equipment with waterline connections such as post-mix beverage machines, spray misters, coffee or tea urns, ice machines, glass washers, dishwashers, and other equipment with water connections must be flushed, cleaned, and sanitized in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
  4. Remove and replace any water filter (pads or cartridges or similar) that may be connected to any water lines. For example: Ice machine filter, water fountains, beverage units and similar.
  5. Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle.
  6. Drain reservoirs in tall buildings.
  7. Flush drinking fountains: run continuously for 5 minutes.

Ice Machine Sanitation:

  1. Flush the water line to the machine inlet
  2. Close the valve on the water line behind the machine and disconnect the water line from the machine inlet.
  3. Open the valve, run 5 gallons of water through the valve and dispose of the water.
  4. Close the valve.
  5. Reconnect the water line to the machine inlet.
  6. Open the valve.
  7. Flush the water lines in the machine.
  8. Turn on the machine.
  9. Make ice for 1 hour and dispose of the first batch of ice.
  10. Clean and sanitize all parts and surfaces that come in contact with water and ice, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Water heaters may need to be disinfected and flushed to remove any contaminated water. Some types of water treatment devices may need to be disinfected and flushed to remove any contaminated water. Some types of water treatment devices may need to be disinfected or replaced before being used. Check with the manufacturer for details.