Draining the sump of an ice maker to prevent growth of harmful biological material

A method of controlling an ice maker, the ice maker comprising (i) a refrigeration system comprising a compressor and an ice formation device, (ii) a water system for supplying water to the ice formation device, the water system comprising a water reservoir adapted to hold water to be formed into ice and a discharge valve in fluid communication with the water reservoir, and (iii) a control system comprising an ice level sensor adapted to sense whether an ice storage bin is full of ice, a water level sensor adapted to sense a water level in the water reservoir, and a controller adapted to control the operation of the refrigeration system and the water system, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the controller, an indication from the ice level sensor that the ice storage bin is full of ice;
• causing, by the controller, the discharge valve to open to drain water from the water reservoir based on the receiving, by the controller, the indication from the ice level sensor that the ice storage bin is full of ice;
• receiving, by the controller, an indication from the water level sensor that the water reservoir is empty;
• and
• causing, by the controller, the discharge valve to close based on the receiving, by the controller, the indication from the water level sensor that the water reservoir is empty.