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Why Buy an Ice Machine?
Having a cold drink on a hot summer day is one of the easiest pleasures in your life. Thanks to the times, we now don't have to wait for ice to be shipped from the Arctic and it's easy to take it for granted until we run out of stock. If you've ever hosted a cocktail party, you can see how important ice can be. Once supplies dwindle, even a freezer equipped with an ice maker can't keep up with your demand, and ice trays won't help you because they usually take hours to freeze a small batch.
With the advancement of technology, we have ice machines where you can get a fresh batch of ice in minutes instead of hours. Most ice machines are equipped with storage bins to ensure that you have extra ice to meet your needs at any given occasion at any given time. If you've ever been in a party where you're short on ice or you're always buying ice packs, then buying an ice maker is a great solution. If you're a connoisseur of clear/gourmet ice, then you already know how important a quality ice maker is. Whether you are looking for quantity or quality, or both, this article will help you understand the world of ice machines. Read on to learn how to choose the best ice maker for your specific needs.
If you have never owned an ice maker before, it is important to understand the benefits and pain points of having one. By the time you read this article, you should already know that a quality ice maker will produce better ice than your refrigerator. However, it is more important to know that there are two different styles of stand-alone ice machines: traditional and clear/gourmet ice.
A traditional ice maker works almost identically to the ice maker in a regular freezer. The only difference is the shape of the ice. A clear ice maker, on the other hand, produces cleaner, tastier gourmet ice. If you're only concerned with quantity, a traditional ice maker will suffice. If it's quality you're after, you need a clear ice maker.
The difference in quality is the result of the freezing process. Conventional ice machines work on the same principle as ice cube trays. First, they fill the mold with water and then freeze the still water. When the ice is fully formed, a sensor signals the machine to release the ice into a storage bin. A second sensor then monitors the storage and automatically stops ice production once it detects that the container is full.
The transparent ice machine freezes out ice by running a slow, steady stream of water over a unit that has been cooled to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. This causes the ice to form from the inside out, and you can adjust the operating dial to grow the ice to the desired size, much the way a snowball grows when it rolls down a hill. Because only pure water freezes at this temperature, and gravity removes impurities from the water, these will be pumped out to the sewer by a funnel or pump.
Once the clear ice reaches the size regulated in your system, it is released into a self-contained storage tank. Usually there is no cooling in the storage tank, and even with insulating insulation, the ice will slowly melt after a few hours. So, to make sure you have enough ice available, the ice machine never stops making ice. The sporadic sound of a new batch of ice tumbling into the storage bin and the sound of the pump clicking away to deliver the melted water to the drain can be distracting to some people. Because of this, you may not want to install a clear ice maker in your living room or rec room if you're sensitive to noise.
It's also important to know that clear ice machines need to be cleaned at least once every 3-6 months. Cleaning precautions for different models are usually printed on the inside door of the machine and can almost always be found online and in the manual. Typically, the process involves removing all the ice from the ice bin and then cleaning the machine with a special cleaning solution. While cleaning an ice machine isn't particularly difficult, it does take time. As long as you know what to do, having an ice machine is a great way to make your favorite summertime drinks.
Nine Factors to Consider When You Select an Ice Machine
When running a business, whether it's serving chilled beverages to your customers or needing it to keep various products or foods cool, having enough ice on hand is a necessity, so choosing a good, suitable ice machine for your business is a important thing. A good ice machine will not only provide your customers with timely ice needs and increase your daily customer traffic; it will also increase your turnover. But that can be a challenging task for you, and there are many factors that you need to consider. These decisions include:
Choosing the right size of ice machine
Picking the right types of ice for your business
Making sure you have enough space
Ice production and storage capacity
Inlet pipe and drainage options
Water filters
Choosing the right condensing system
Have the right electrical settings
Style and design
1. Choosing the Right Size of Ice Machine
When you start choosing the right ice machine, you need to consider the different ice machine sizes. The size of the machine you buy determines the amount and type of ice it produces.
Choosing an appropriate machine size for your business can be a difficult decision. We have listed some ice machine features that may help you make your choice.
Built-in Ice Makers / Undercounter Ice Machines
Freestanding ice maker
Countertop ice maker and portable ice maker
For more details at: Different types of ice maker
2. Picking the Right Types of Ice for Your Business
If you want to choose the best ice maker, you also need to know what shape of ice is suitable for your business.
Ice machines can make various types of ice such as blocks, crushed, spheres, cubes and flakes. Some ice machines can make different types, while others make only one. These different types of ice are not just for aesthetic purposes, They are also intended to assist certain industries. For example, many commercial ice maker produce soft and chewable ice , so young children and hospital patients can chew the ice without damaging their teeth. Flake ice is moldable, making it ideal for seafood stores and food displays.
Here is a breakdown of some of the most common types of ice you'll find in ice machines:
Half Cube Ice
Full Cube Ice
Crescent Ice
Gourmet Ice
Nugget Ice/ Chewable Ice
Pearl Ice / Bullet Ice
Flake Ice
As you can see, there are different types of ice that offer different benefits. They all cool beverages and preserve perishable items, but their unique shapes change how quickly they melt. Ice with a large surface area tends to melt faster while cooling beverages at a faster rate. However, these fast-melting ice cubes also dilute the flavor of the drink more quickly.
If you're looking for ice that will cool your drink as quickly as possible, look for an ice maker that produces ice in flake or block form. Want to preserve the flavor of your drink for longer? Then consider an ice maker that produces clear, delicious ice cubes!
For more details at: 16 types of ice and uses
3. Making Sure You Have Enough Space
Even the best ice machines need to have the appropriate amount of space to operate.
If you choose an air-cooled machine (by far the most common model chosen by businesses), you will also need enough space for ventilation. Air-cooled ice machines generate heat during operation, which will then escape through vents located on the unit, so you need enough space to ventilate and distribute the heat when installing this type of machine, otherwise it will re-enter your ice machine and create a microclimate, where your machine's internal temperature is much warmer than the room temperature.
An overheated ice machine can cause lower ice production rates and can create more serious problems if the problem persists.
You want to install your ice machine in a large room with adequate ventilation and air circulation. Ideally, your ice machine should be a foot and a half away from the wall (preferably the side without vents). The goal is not to enclose the ice maker and cause hot air to swirl around the ice maker.
4. Ice Production and Storage Capacity
After deciding on the type of ice machine and ice, the next step is to figure out how much ice you need. To do this, you need to consider two different criteria: the speed of ice production and the storage capacity of the machine.
If you regularly need to use a lot of ice, the speed of the ice machine's production will be more important than the size of its ice bin. When you plan to buy an ice machine to restock cocktail parties or to keep food fresh for your restaurant, look for a model with a large storage capacity!
A pound of ice is probably enough for you to make three cup of drinks. So, by calculating, we can know that an ice machine that provides 20 pounds of storage will allow you to make about 60 cup of drinks. If it can produce 30 pounds of ice in a day, that would produce about four drinks of ice per hour.
If you are filling a cooler with ice and plan to use a 2:1 ice to contents ratio, then we can know that 10 pounds of ice will provide the perfect amount of cooling for 12 canned beverages. So if you like to get away with a group of friends on the weekend and want to avoid buying bags of ice, consider an ice maker that can store more than 20 pounds of ice.
Keep in mind that any machine's ice production statistics are based on ideal conditions. If the ambient temperature around the ice maker is above 70℉, the expected production rate will be slower. Likewise, if the ice machine is not properly ventilated, it will produce ice at a slower rate.
Your commercial ice machine will have its needs, and one of those needs is its intake and drainage pipes. Some types of ice machine drainage systems include floor drains, standpipe drains and wall drains.
If you have a modular/ freestanding ice maker mounted on a bin or dispenser, you'll need a floor drain to allow excess water to flow away. undercounter ice machines and water dispensers typically drain excess water into a drain used by a nearby sink by using a tee fitting, reducer fitting and a 4-6" Bell fitting (depending on the machine model). Portable and countertop ice machines, on the other hand, prefer to send melted ice back to the ice maker to be refrozen.
Before you buy a commercial ice maker, you should find out what type of drainage system your ice maker will use. Or ask your ice machine supplier how to make this decision.
If you want clear ice, you might consider installing an in-line water filter in your ice maker. The filter helps remove sediment and other contaminants from the water to improve the taste and smell of the ice. In summary, ice machines already remove impurities from the water during the freezing process, so there is usually no need to include a filter inside the machine, and the vast majority of ice machines do not have built-in filters.
7. Selecting the Right Condensing System
Air-cooled machines use a fan to cool the condenser coils, and while they are the most popular type of ice machine for most businesses, there are other options available.
Water-cooled ice machines use water to cool the condenser coils and are less affected by the temperature of the air surrounding the unit. These machines are sometimes the only option for businesses with limited space or poor ventilation.
A remote condenser is a condenser unit installed separately from the ice machine, with the refrigerant reaching the condenser through a single line. The condenser is usually installed outdoors or in a large area indoors where there is sufficient ventilation.
While water-cooled and remote units seem to be a better choice, in some cases they can be more expensive than air-cooled machines. If you live in an area where outside water temperatures naturally reach 85 degrees or higher, the machine will have to use more water to cool the condenser. This can result in a water-cooled system that wastes several gallons of water per day to run and will significantly increase your utility costs. And with remote units often requiring contractors to cut through walls and ceilings, the initial setup will be even more expensive.
Depending on the model of ice machine, there are two outlet options: 115 volts or 220 volts.
Typically, smaller machines require 115 volts, while larger commercial ice machines require 220 volts.
It's easy to identify which outlet is which. 115v outlets look like your standard wall outlet, with two parallel slots and a small round opening toward the bottom. 220v outlets look like the type commonly used for washing machines and dryers. They come in several different settings, but all require a dedicated neutral wire. You will most likely need to call an electrician to install an outlet that meets the needs of your ice maker.
With the functionality of your ice maker decided, it's now time to consider the appearance of your new ice maker. Most models offer a finish similar to that of standard kitchen appliances. For a more personalized look, panel-ready models allow you to add a custom front panel to match the look of your surrounding cabinets.
In Summary
When choosing an ice machine, deciding where you plan to install it is the first step. Doing so will help you decide which kind of ice maker will work best in your space. Freestanding ice machines can be installed anywhere and are a great choice. But if you want to save space, a countertop or portable ice maker may be right for you.
Next, consider what kind of ice you want to make. If you want to chill your drink quickly and like to chew on the ice every now and then, then small cubes of ice may be the best choice. Clear or gourmet ice works better for those who want to cool their drinks without diluting their flavor.
It's also important to choose a machine that can produce and store enough ice to meet your daily needs. If you need a steady supply of ice on a daily basis, then pay more attention to how fast the ice machine produces ice. On special occasions when you have to use a lot of ice, you should be more concerned about the ice storage capacity.
With these decisions in mind, you only need to consider a few more features. For example, the drainage options, the need for an additional water filter, the right condenser, the correct power settings, etc.
Finally, choose a style. Choosing a timeless stainless steel finish is an easy way to match the style of your other kitchen appliances. Or, if you prefer a more personalized look, choose a panel ice maker.
