Retrieve a sample of glycol/water solution from your icemaker. A small amount of only a teaspoon is needed. To ensure that the glycol and water are thoroughly mixed, the agitator motor should be running. Lift up the plastic cover on the glycol tester and place a few drops of the glycol/water solution on top of the blue measuring prism. Close the plastic cover.

Raise the tester to eye level and look through the eyepiece. It is recommended to stand under a bright light to illuminate the prism for better viewing of the screen. The graduations on the right side of the screen are for reading the Propylene Glycol.

When looking through the eyepiece, notice the white shaded area that appears on the screen. The top line of the white shaded area that intersects with the graduated line is the reading. A normal reading of the glycol would have a reading of “0.” If the reading is in the “+” area, the glycol solution is low. If the reading is in the “-” minus area, then more glycol is in the unit than is needed. In this case, when the glycol/water level becomes low, water can be added to the solution to bring it to the proper level.

In the example shown at right, the reading is “plus 7.” This indicates that the glycol/water solution is weak and diluted. To increase the strength of the glycol/water solution in the icemaker, pure glycol must be added to the existing solution. For 20 and 40 block icemakers, the reading is the number of gallons of pure glycol that needs to be added to the icemaker. For 9-block units, divide the reading by 2.       Prior to adding pure glycol to the icemaker cabinet, liquid must first be removed from the unit. If adding 7 gallons, remove 7 gallons of the glycol/water solution and set aside. Do not discard! Then add 7 gallons of pure glycol and check the level of the solution in the cabinet. The glycol/water level should be 1” below the top of the ice cans. If additional liquid is needed to bring the level to the proper height, add some of the glycol/water solution that was removed from the cabinet. Save the remaining glycol/water solution as this can be added to the unit when the level begins to drop.