Jeff Flowers on February 24, 2014 21 Comments Here at CompactAppliance, we know ice makers. We also know that as you look for that perfect match, you may have a few questions. We’re hoping to answer those questions even before you know what to ask. Here are the most frequently asked questions we receive for undercounter ice makers, as well as their subsequent answers. Do I need a water line for my built-in ice maker? How do I install an undercounter ice maker? What type of ice do built-in ice machines make? What is the difference between ice production capacity and ice storage capacity? Do I need to use a water filter with my undercounter ice machine? Do I need a drain for my undercounter ice maker? What should I consider when shopping for an undercounter ice maker? How do I clean and maintain my undercounter ice maker? Should I use a gravity drain or a pump drain with my built-in ice maker? Can I use my undercounter ice maker in the garage? Do I need a special plug or dedicated power line to run my ice maker? If you have a question that you don’t see listed here, please leave us a comment down at the bottom here or give us a call at 1.800.297.6076. 1. Do I need a water line for my built-in ice maker? Yes, all built in ice makers require a dedicated water line. 2. How do I install an undercounter ice maker? Although we recommend using a licensed professional, undercounter ice maker installation isn’t as complicated as your might think. You simply connect the water line, run the drain line from the back of the unit, plug it in, and you are all set and ready to go. That said, always be sure to follow the installation instructions in your owner’s manual, as installation may vary from model to model. 3. What type of ice do built-in ice machines make? This varies by machine. Built-in ice makers produce different shapes of ice. These may include, crescent shaped ice, cubed ice, clear ice, pearl or nugget ice, and gourmet ice. Here are examples of each. Crescent Cube Clear Pearl/Nugget Gourmet 4. What is the difference between ice production capacity and ice storage capacity? Ice production capacity is the amount of ice the unit is capable of making in a 24 hour period, given prime conditions. If ambient temperatures are extreme, ice production capacities will decrease. Ice storage capacity is the maximum amount of ice the unit can store at any given time. In order to anticipate ice usage throughout the day, the storage capacity is typically significantly less than the production capacity. As with all units, the ice maker will stop producing ice once the bin is full and will start making ice again once some ice is used. (As a side note, many people wonder how much ice is a pound of ice. A quick and easy way to think about ice pounds is to consider the bags of ice sold at a convenience and grocery stores, which are 10 pounds each. So, an ice maker with a production capacity of 60 lbs. has the ability to make up to 6 traditional bags of ice.) 5. Do I need to use a water filter with my undercounter ice machine? Although water filters are not absolutely necessary, they are highly recommended. A water filter can help your ice machine last longer, will help your ice to taste better, and will lengthen the time required between cleanings. Almost all manufacturers suggest that you use some type of water filter. 6. Do I need a drain for my undercounter ice maker? Most undercounter ice makers do require a drain line, but there are exceptions, like the EdgeStar IB120SS, that do not. These models act as a freezer and keep the ice frozen, thus no need for a drain line. Other ice makers are not able to keep the ice frozen, and as the ice melts, it needs to drain. The models that require a drain will typically arrive with one free of charge. 7. What should I consider when shopping for an undercounter ice maker? There are several things to consider. First, you will want to consider where you are going to place the ice machine. You must make sure you will have access to a water line in the area you plan to install it. Also, consider the measurements of the space and find a unit that will fit appropriately. You will want to make sure there is access to a standard household 3 prong outlet to power your unit. Additionally, you should consider whether or not you will have the ability to drain the ice machine if necessary. Next, you will want to consider what type of ice you would like, such as crescent shaped, clear cubed, pearl or nugget, or gourmet ice. You should also consider what kind of finish you are looking for in the door, such white, black, or stainless steel. Arguably the most important consideration is how much ice per day you think you will need. Keep in mind that if your ambient temperatures are warmer than usual, you will need to anticipate a lower production than advertised. 8. How do I clean and maintain my undercounter ice maker? Every undercounter ice maker will include cleaning instructions in the owner’s manual; however, an easy to do is to first step is to unplug your unit and discard any ice that may be inside. Next, remove all parts that come into contact with ice from the machine and wash and sanitize them using an ice machine cleaner. Then, rinse them off in warm water and let air dry. Reassemble the machine and wipe all expose surfaces and, again, let air dry. Restart the machine and always discard the first batch of ice produced after cleaning. Be sure to refer to your owner’s manual for more detailed and specific instructions on how to clean your particular ice maker. Click here for more cleaning tips. 9. Should I use a gravity drain or a pump drain with my built-in ice maker? As a general rule, you should try to use a pump drain. However, gravity drains can work and work well provided you have the correct set up. If you wish to use a gravity drain, make sure that the drain is lower than the drain outlet of the ice maker, thus the water will flow downhill, using gravity. In addition, you will need to make sure that the drain is no further than 12 inches away from the machine. If these two conditions cannot be met, then you will need to go with a drain pump. Many machines come with a pump option; however, you can also purchase an external drain pump. 10. Can I use my undercounter ice maker in the garage? There are some outdoor ice makers that are approved for outdoor use and would work well in a garage because they are built to withstand the extreme hot and cold temperature often experienced in garages. If you are using a standard indoor undercounter ice maker, you should not attempt to use it in your garage. Indoor ice makers require a certain ambient temperature to work properly, and unless your garage is highly insulated or temperature-controlled, it probably does not fall within the ambient temperature range needed. You would start to see performance problems above 90°F and below 50°F. 11. Do I need a special plug or dedicated power line to run my ice maker? Most residential undercounter ice makers plug into a standard 110V – 120V 3 prong household outlets, so there is no special wiring or dedicated power lines needed.
Chad says June 19, 2014 at 9:42 pm I am looking for an ice machine that stores ice. All of the non commercial ice makers don’t cool ice. I need a small ice maker that keeps ice cold. Of course I could be reading it wrong. An info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Reply
Sarah says June 20, 2014 at 9:19 am Hey Chad, Great question! That is true of most ice makers: they produce ice but do not keep it frozen. Compact Appliance, however, does have an ice maker that freezes the ice it makes. For this reason, the ice maker doesn’t require a drain! It’s called the EdgeStar Built-In Ice Maker. Model: IB120SS. Click on the name to check out the product page; it might be exactly what you’re looking for. Reply
Laurie says February 19, 2015 at 12:32 pm Hi Chad, I moved into a home that had an old Scottsman ice maker that had some sort of leak and thus I had to replace two walls because of mold issues. I am very scarred about getting another one. This one has a drain pump that does not work. First, is it better to get a ice maker that does not have a drain pump so you don’t have to worry about water not draining and causing mold in the walls? Second, there are so many brands ranging in price. Do you pay for what you get, meaning is a more expensive one better than a cheaper one? Why are some brands $2000 and some $4oo? And lastly do the consumers rating really mean anything ? I say this because the Edgestar that you rate so highly on your site was rated very low on another site. Because of the mold issue I had I am very careful so not to make a wrong decision and need your help. Reply
Mary bean says July 23, 2015 at 8:33 am We have well water with a water softener and reverse osmosis filtering system. The ice maker in my new GE refrigerator doesn’t work especially well. What special accessories and other things should I consider for selecting an under counter ice-maker? Thanks. Reply
Brenda says February 11, 2016 at 12:05 pm Is there a certain amount of space that needs to be behind an ice maker and the wall to keep it running efficiently? Reply
Dave Roush says April 12, 2016 at 10:55 am We have an Edgestar IB450SS ice maker. It has been a very good machine for the last 7years. It has started not freezing cubes and we have done all the troubleshooting tips and followed the YouTube videos. Called local refrigeration repair people, contacted Sears because they sell them, and called the company who wants us to ship the 76# unit back to them in Texas. Do you have any suggestions?? Reply
Robert hammond says May 23, 2016 at 3:36 pm Seldom is our built in ice machine used. Came with the house. Can I turn the machine off and not cause damage? Reply
steve hoskins says October 25, 2016 at 1:54 pm Turning off will stop ice making and all ice will melt. Reply
steve hoskins says October 25, 2016 at 8:58 am Can I turn off my under cabinet ice maker so it does not make noise when not using for a while? Will present ice keep? Will it take a long time to remake ice once restarted? Reply
Greg says December 9, 2016 at 7:36 am Can I put the ice maker on its side while transporting? It would only be for an hour’s drive Reply
Betsy says February 20, 2017 at 1:17 pm We have a built in Scotts man ice maker if you go out of town for awhile should I turn it off? Reply
jean says May 21, 2018 at 7:28 am going to be out of town for about a month. Have a Scotsman ice maker. Should I turn it off and leave door open? Reply
Michele Ball says May 8, 2017 at 6:37 pm we’re looking for an ice machine in southern FL outdoors. How do the high exterior temperatures effect the performance of the machine? Will it work, does ice melt extremely fast as its not a freezer? Reply
Judi says June 4, 2017 at 11:39 am I had to remove my under-the-counter ice machine. Now my main problem is how do I put it back so the drain from the ice machine will go into the drain pipe .Is there an easy way to get it lined up without having trial-and-error and a flood in my basement Reply
Bob Wood says August 13, 2017 at 5:16 am I have just purchased a Polar T316A under counter ice maker. Unfortunately it does not chill the ice after making! There for will continue to make ice since it has a drain which continually empty’s the melted ice. My question is three fold,1.How expensive is it to allow it to run in this way. 2. Would it be okay to make a hopper which is 4 kilos of ice then switch it of until you need top up since it only takes 16 minutes to make its first batch.3. is this just as expensive to do or the same cost to run in this manner. Reply
Tim Berardi says March 31, 2018 at 6:19 pm Kitchenaid Model #KUIX505E installation instructions say that it is not recommended to have a reverse osmosis if the ice maker has a drain pump. Why would this matter? We would like to have the pump and the RO system. Reply
Ron Kuenkler says July 20, 2018 at 1:09 pm I have an Electrolux undercounter ice maker that has recently been unable to keep up ice production Most times there is only a small pile of ice in the bin It seems to still be going through all it’s normal cycles The area around the unit seems to be warmer than I remember Any thoughts Reply
Jordan says August 2, 2018 at 11:57 pm HEY all, I just installed a new ice machine at work. I was wondering if I can use the old filter form the old unit. Or if I really should switch them out. OLD filter is only 120 days old. Reply
Laura says September 14, 2018 at 4:33 pm We bought a house with an under-counter ice maker we never use. It seems like a waste of electricity as well as a leak risk. Is there any harm in emptying the ice and simply turning it off? Is there anything else we need to do? Turn off the water supply? Reply
LA Ricketson says November 16, 2018 at 7:00 pm I don’t want my 15″ Jennair sitting directly on my hardwood floors. Is there a 15″x20″ plastic drain pan out there somewhere? Or, is there something more common to put under it? Reply
Thomas Sibilsky says July 17, 2019 at 1:55 pm How do I reverse the door on the ice machine ? Is there a video that I can view? Reply
