If you search for an ice machine rental near you in Jacksonville, you’ll find a handful of companies, and on the surface they all sound the same. The differences show up later, when something breaks or when you read the contract closely. These are the questions we’d ask if we were shopping for ourselves.
1. Who handles repairs, and what do they cost me?
Get this in writing. Some rental programs include repairs. Some include “service” but bill parts separately. Some charge a trip fee every time a tech shows up. With Avalanche Ice, repairs from normal operation are included in the monthly lease. You call, we come out, you don’t get a bill.
2. Who cleans the inside of the machine?
Ice machines need regular internal cleaning and sanitizing, and inspectors look at them. Ask whether that’s included or whether it’s your job. On our leases it’s ours. You keep the outside wiped down and the space around it clean.
3. What do I pay up front?
Watch for installation fees, delivery fees and deposits that aren’t mentioned until you’re ready to sign. We charge the first and last month’s payment to get started, with no installation fee. For most businesses that’s under $400.
4. How fast can you install it?
If your current machine just died, this is the only question that matters. We typically have a machine installed and making ice within 48 to 72 hours of signing. In practice, the paperwork is usually what takes longest, so if you need it fast, have your information ready.
5. What brand is the machine?
A cheap machine that’s down twice a summer is not a good deal at any price. We lease Hoshizaki exclusively, because they’re built well and they hold up in Florida heat. Ask any company you’re talking to what brand they install and how old the machines are.
6. Can I change machines later?
Businesses change. A bar adds a patio, a restaurant adds catering, a hotel renovates. Ask whether you can move to a bigger or different machine when your lease is up. With us you can.
7. Is the company actually local?
When your machine goes down on a Friday, you want a technician who’s across town, not a call center that schedules someone for Tuesday. Avalanche Ice is based on Kline Road in Jacksonville, and we’ve been leasing ice machines in Northeast Florida for more than 50 years. Our service is handled by B&G Refrigeration, an authorized Hoshizaki service company here in town.
One more tip: size up, not down
When you’re comparing quotes, make sure everyone is quoting the same amount of ice. It’s easy to look cheaper by quoting a smaller machine. If anything, go a little bigger than you think you need. When the bin is full the machine simply shuts itself off, but running out of ice in the middle of a rush costs you real money. Not sure what size you need? Here’s how to figure out how much ice your business uses.
We serve Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach, Orange Park, Fernandina Beach and the rest of Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. Call (904) 620-9813 or send us a message and we’ll get you a quote.
