Do all ice makers produce the same type of ice?
No, there are several varieties of ice shapes and consistencies depending on which unit you purchase. Clear ice is restaurant-quality, gourmet ice whose impurities have been removed so the cubes do not have the "cloudy" appearance of regular ice. This ice is completely odorless and tasteless, however, clear ice makers are usually more expensive. Ice may be produced in a variety of shapes, including actual cubes, cylinders, shot glass and crescents. Cylindrical ice is rounded and often has an indentation in the top and a rounded out bottom. Crescent ice cubes are similar to what many ice makers in refrigerators make, long with flat tops and round bottoms and resemble the shape of a crescent moon. Ice may also be produced in whole cubes, crushed or flake style.

Do you offer a built-in ice maker that will produce crushed or flake style ice?
Since crushed and flake style ice is typically found in commercial settings such as restaurants and hospitals you would need to purchase a commercial grade machine. We do offer commercial grade machines on our website that produce crushed and flake style ice but they are typically in a much higher price range compared to the average consumer model. We suggest purchasing one of the electric ice crushers offered on our website in order to achieve the same result at a much more affordable price point.

How much ice will the average consumer built-in ice maker produce?
Production amounts vary greatly depending on which machine you purchase. Please check the specifications section of the ice maker you are interested in on our website as the production and storage capacities should be clearly listed. The majority of built-in ice makers offered today are capable of producing far more ice in a 24 hour period than they are able to store.

Do all ice makers require a drain?
The vast majority of consumer oriented built-in ice makers do not offer a refrigerated storage bin. At some point the ice produced will melt and the resulting water may need to be drained from the machine. The most common way to achieve this goal is to establish a permanent gravity drain line. The gravity drain line will exit the back of the machine and carry the water to a nearby drain located below the ice maker. If your drain location is not below the machine, or is located several feet away, you may need to purchase an additional condensate pump to transport the drainage. Some ice makers will offer a built in condensate pump if you prefer to have the pump included within the body of the unit. If you do not have access to a drain and are unable to establish a permanent drain line for your ice maker you may need to periodically manually drain the water from the machine.

Are built-in ice makers designed for outdoor use?
If you wish to install an ice maker outdoors you should purchase a unit that includes an “outdoor use” designation from the manufacturer. An ice maker designed for outdoor use will include additional insulation throughout the unit as well as better shielding of the electronic components from the elements. The additional insulation will allow the unit to produce ice without overworking the internal compressor as the unit will be located in what is typically a warmer outdoor environment. You will still need to allow for drainage of the unit as you would with an indoor model. Should you choose to install an indoor ice maker in an outdoor environment you run the risk of shortening the unit’s overall lifespan as the internal compressor will be required to overcompensate for the lack of additional insulation. You will also run the risk of invalidating the warranty for your unit since indoor rated models are not designed for outdoor use.