Ice Makers – 21 Things You Must Know
Having an ice maker machine can be really convenient. Come read and find out if these machines are useful for you!
1. What Is The Difference Between Ice Maker And Ice Machine?
An ice maker is the compartment in your freezer that turns water into ice, while an ice machine is a machine dedicated to making ice only.
However, a lot of the times, you’ll see people using these two terms interchangeably, so unless it is specifically mentioned, ice maker and ice machine are both the same thing – a machine made to make ice only.
The ice made by a specific ice machine tends to be clearer and free of air bubbles, which can make your drinks taste much fresher.
2. How Much Are Ice Making Machines?
On Amazon, ice making machines generally cost between $100 to $150. However, the can go up to $200 if they have additional functions, such as self-cleaning.
We think that this Frigidaire ice maker is one of the most popular ice machines out there, receiving more than 12,000 ratings on Amazon, and costs within reasonable range. Check it out now on Amazon.
3. Do Ice Makers Use A Lot Of Electricity?
Ice maker uses around 350kWh of energy per month. Assuming this is the typical energy cost of $0.06 per kWh, it would cost approximately $20 a month.
Overall, we would say – ice makers use only a little bit of electricity.
4. Can A Refrigerator Have An Ice Maker Without Water Line?
Yes, your fridge can certainly have an ice maker without water line! If you’re an old school person like me, you can probably get used to adding water manually to the ice trays in a corner of your freezer.
In order to do this, you will have to buy an ice cube tray. We have found an Amazon’s choice ICEDIVE ice cube tray which would be perfect for those of you who do not have a water line in your fridge.
You may read more about water lines here in our other article.
5. Do Ice Makers Keep Ice Frozen?
The answer is – no, ice makers do not keep ice frozen after they have been made. The main function of an ice maker is to create ice to be used immediately, and not for prolonged storage.
In other words, if you plan on keeping your ice cubes frozen, you will have to transfer your ice cubes from your ice maker to your freezer.
6. How Long Do Ice Machines Last?
This depends on how you use your ice machines, but generally speaking, they can last up to about 4 to 5 years.
It goes without saying, that the more often you use something, the faster it gets worn out. So, it is safe to say that your ice machines might live a little shorter than the average lifespan if you use it very often, or if you do not take good care of it.
You can read more about the lifespan of ice machines on our other article here.
7. Should You Turn Off Your Ice Maker?
If you’re going to be away for a while (for example, going on a vacation), it is always a good idea to turn off your ice maker when you don’t need to use it. This helps you save cost in terms of electricity and water.
It is a common myth that ice makers do not use up any electricity when it is not making ice, and therefore there is no need to turn them off.
This cannot be further from the truth! Your ice makers are taking up electricity not only to make ice, but also to ensure the temperature inside is maintained at an optimum level.
8. Why Does My Ice Maker Ice Taste Funny?
One main reason why your ice maker ice tastes funny is probably because it is contaminated by other food that are also in the fridge. This is known as an ‘odor contamination‘!
Another reason why it might taste a little odd is because you’re using contaminated water. This can come from your water source, your water lines, or a faulty water filter.
One simple thing you can do is to check if your tap water also tastes strange, or if it’s just your ice. If your tap water tastes bad, then you might want to check with your water source. If it’s only your fridge water that tastes bad, then your water lines are the problem.
You may watch how to do it here in this YouTube video.
9. What Kind Of Water Do You Use In A Countertop Ice Maker?
The best kind of water to use in a countertop ice maker would be distilled or purified water. This is because there are minimal impurities in this type of water, which can minimize issues with mineral deposits in the ice maker machine.
10. Can You Put Juice In An Ice Maker?
You should not put juice in an ice maker. This is because juice can cause the sensors in an ice maker to jam up. It may be a better idea to make juice flavored ice cubes using the traditional method – an ice tray.
So, while it may be tempting to make ice that tastes like orange juice using your ice maker, you might end up with a broken ice maker instead. The choice is simple.
11. Does Ice Maker Water Go Through Filter?
Of course it does! Ice maker water goes through carbon filters, which is an important process to prolong the lifespan of your ice maker machine. This is because the filters help to minimize hard minerals which go through the machine, and therefore reducing the chances of it becoming faulty.
It is recommended to change the filter every year. You can find out more about installing refrigerator water filters in this video below:
12. Are Refrigerator Ice Makers Safe?
The water that comes out to your fridge may be contaminated, which is why refrigerator ice makers are not exactly the safest options for making ice!
It is often recommended to have a portable ice maker instead of depending on a refrigerator. This is because for portable ice makers, you are always pouring in fresh and clean water.
13. How To Get Clear Ice From Refrigerator Ice Maker?
In order to get clear ice from refrigerator ice makers, you will have to use a cooler to store warm water. Then, put the cooler into the refrigerator, but keep the lid off.
Leave the ice to freeze for about 24 hours, and voila! You will have some clear ice. Now, the next step is to cut the ice into smaller cubes using a knife or an ice pick.
14. Is An Ice Maker Worth It?
Yes, ice makers are worth it, especially if you need to use ice on a daily basis, and if you have enough space in your refrigerator.
However, if you don’t actually need ice all that often, you might want to save that space and put it to better use instead.
15. Why Does My Ice Maker Keep Freezing Up?
The simplest and most overlooked explanation for why your ice maker keeps freezing up is that your refrigerator temperature is simply too cold. The FDA set a recommendation that a freezer’s temperature should be 0° F (-18° C).
Another thing you might want to check, if temperature is not the issue, is the water pressure. Having an excessively high or low water pressure can cause your ice maker to freeze up.
16. Can A Refrigerator Have An Ice Maker Without Water Line?
Yes, your refrigerator can certainly have an ice maker without water line! If you’re an old school person like me, you can probably get used to adding water manually to the ice trays in a corner of your freezer.
17. Why Is My Ice Maker Making Whining Noise?
The most common reason why your ice maker is making whining noise is the build up of ice and frost. There is an easy solution to this – remove the ice and frost from time to time!
It is also possible that the drain pump is clogged up, which explains why you hear these strange noises when your ice maker is busy doing its job.
18. How Long Does It Take For Ice Maker To Make Ice?
Generally, most ice makers only take about 20 minutes to make one batch of ice. However, this varies depending on a lot of factors, such as its size and temperature.
You can often speed up the process by using cold water to make ice instead of room temperature water.
19. Will Ice Maker Work Without Filter?
No, a filter is not a requirement to make an ice maker work. Having a filter helps your ice maker produce ice that is clear and fresh, without any contaminants or odors.
However, with a filter, you won’t need to repair or maintain your ice maker as often. If you live in an area that supplies hard water, then it’s even more important for you to have a filter, as you will very soon start to see minerals building up in the unit.
20. Why Does My New Ice Maker Ice Taste Bad?
The reason why your new ice maker ice tastes bad is similar to the reason why there is such a strong smell in a new car. In a new fridge, there is often a lot of chemicals which are volatile, which become dissolved in the water used to make ice.
However, this is not a cause for concern, and the smell and taste will soon dissipate with time, just like how your car does not smell anymore after a few weeks.
21. How Do I Reset Ice Maker?
In order to reset your ice maker, first you must locate the reset button. Most of the time, the reset button can be found at the bottom of the ice maker.
It can be really scary when your ice maker stops working, and you’re starting to think that you should have never bought it in the first place. However, more often than not, it only takes the click of a button to make it all run well again, so fret not!
Watch this video to show some steps you can take to check what’s wrong with your ice maker:
