Commercial ice makers
Nothing is more refreshing than an ice-cold drink on the patio or poolside. You may be tempted to put an ice maker as close to the action as possible. While it may cut down on trips back and forth to refill the ice bucket, it may not be the best idea for your utility budget or the longevity of your machine.
Here’s an overview of how commercial ice makers work and how being outdoors affects their operation.
What is a commercial ice maker?
A commercial ice maker is a machine designed to be used in commercial settings like restaurants, bars and hospitals. These machines range from ice machine heads that you find above fountain drink dispensers to countertop versions in hospitals. They freeze and dispense ice in cubes, nuggets or flakes.
Some smaller ice makers designed for consumers are portable and can be used outside temporarily. The portable Newair countertop ice maker makes up to 50 pounds of ice per day, but it’s not a commercial machine.
How a commercial ice maker works
Ice makers must maintain a constant temperature to function properly. This is easier to do when the surrounding area is a stable and moderate temperature. Commercial ice machines are happiest under 70 degrees (ambient air temperature) and 50 degrees (water temperature), even though some models claim to function normally at temperatures up to 110 degrees.
Air-cooling vs. water-cooling
Ironically, ice machines produce heat when generating ice. They need to get rid of that heat to cool the condenser and moderate the temperature of the machine. The heat is transferred out of the machine with air or water.
Air-cooled ice machine
Uses a fan to transfer heat of the machine
Much cheaper to operate than water-cooled units
Often the only choice available to you if you’re in a commercial building
Not appropriate outside because of the likelihood of dirt and grime getting into the machine via the fan
Water-cooled ice machine
Uses a dedicated water line and coils to transfer heat out of the machine
Can cost up to 90% more than an air-cooled commercial ice machine
Produces considerable water waste since water can’t generally be reused
Often the only choice outdoors or in areas with ambient temperatures above 80 degrees
Considerations with outdoor ice machines
While there are a few commercial ice machines designed for outdoor use (called “patio ice machines”), be careful. Patio machines are made of higher-grade steel and are fully waterproofed, but they have some drawbacks.
They usually produce less ice
Some only make 10-50 pounds of ice per 24-hour period (compared with over 300 pounds per day produced by a standard undercounter machine). Considering you need 1-2 pounds of ice per person per meal served (and more for ice-heavy cocktails), it may not make enough.
You may void your warranty
Double-check the warranty information on patio ice machines, as most warranties won’t hold if you use the machine outdoors. This is counterintuitive because they’re designed for outdoor use.
Your machine may not run well
Increased exposure to temperature fluctuations and outdoor dirt will slow down production and harvesting of ice, so your machine is not likely to run at its full capacity. It’s also more likely to need repairs.
Ice may suffer
Especially if in a dusty area, harvested ice is more likely to become dirty or have an off flavor.
How the elements affect your ice machine
Heat: If the air surrounding the ice maker is above 90 degrees, the machine starts to suffer and will eventually break down. These high temperatures can also melt the ice in the ice bin. It should be noted that while ice bins are typically insulated, they aren’t refrigerated. Your machine will have to work harder to produce less ice.
Cold: As temperatures dip, cold ambient air can trick the thermistor (or thermostatic bin switch) in your commercial ice maker, causing the unit to stop producing ice. Below 32 degrees, you risk a frozen water line.
Dirt: Wind can introduce more dirt and grime into your machine when it’s located outdoors. Dirt can get sucked into the condenser fan of air-cooled units.
Sunlight: If your unit will be exposed to direct sunlight, the UV rays can damage the outside of the machine. Direct sunlight also raises the overall temperature of the machine, forcing it to work harder to maintain equilibrium.
Rain: Water and electricity don’t mix. Rain can cause an electrical issue or even flood your machine.
Ideal conditions for a commercial ice maker
The ideal conditions for an ice machine are indoors and at a relatively stable temperature (somewhere between 50-70 degrees), preferably air-conditioned.
If you insist on placing your ice machine outdoors, it’s best in a temperature-controlled shed or garage.
You can also build housing for a freestanding machine to protect it from exposure to the elements.
Rachel Boller is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
