Jul. 28, 2025
If you’re constantly running out of ice, a countertop ice maker is a must-have for your home. Whether you love to entertain, have limited freezer space, or want to drink more water, running to the store for bags of ice–or waiting for trays to freeze–can be frustrating.
You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.
A countertop ice maker provides a steady supply of fresh ice on demand, so you’ll never have to worry about warm drinks again. Compact, efficient, and easy to use, these appliances fit seamlessly into any kitchen, bar, or entertaining space.
Keep reading to discover how a countertop ice maker can upgrade your daily routine and make life more convenient.
Many modern refrigerators come with built-in ice makers, but not all models have them. Even when they do, these ice makers can break over time, leaving you to rely on ice trays or store-bought bags of ice. If your freezer space is limited, this can be a real challenge.
A countertop ice maker solves this problem by providing a steady supply of ice without taking up valuable freezer space.
Even if you have a spacious refrigerator or an automatic ice maker, it’s still easy to run out of ice. A modern refrigerator typically completes an ice-making cycle in about 90 minutes, producing just eight to 10 cubes. That’s not nearly enough when hosting guests for holiday parties, game days, or movie nights.
Drinks like soda, ice tea, lemonade, or frozen cocktails can quickly deplete your ice supply. Before you know it, you’re either rationing ice cubes or making an inconvenient last-minute trip to the store. A countertop ice maker ensures you always have enough ice on hand, so you can keep the party going without interruptions.
Whether you're a frequent gym-goer or someone focused on improving your overall health, staying hydrated is key. If you drink a lot of water throughout the day or are working on being more consistent, a countertop ice maker makes it easier to stay on track. With ice readily available, you can enjoy cool, refreshing drinks at any time, helping hydration become a seamless part of your routine.
Choose from nugget or bullet-shaped ice, which are perfect for filling up water bottles or adding to smoothies.
Many cocktails rely on plenty of ice to achieve the perfect chill and consistency. From shaking up a refreshing mojito to serving a beautifully presented tumbler of whiskey, the right ice makes all the difference.
A countertop ice maker produces fresh ice every 10–15 minutes. If you’re particular about presentation, you can even choose a model that makes clear ice, keeping your whiskey crisp and free from the cloudiness of conventionally made ice. With the right ice at your fingertips, every drink is served at its best.
Living in a hot climate means you likely consume more cold drinks, making a countertop ice maker essential for daily refreshment. Relying on store-bought ice can get expensive and inconvenient. With a countertop ice maker, you can eliminate the need for regular trips to the store, saving both time and money.
Many rental units come with basic appliances, such as refrigerators without ice makers, and some may even have smaller models.
While built-in under-counter ice makers are an option, they’re not feasible for most renters. A more practical solution is a countertop ice maker. It provides all the ice you need without the need for installation, and you can easily take it with you when you move—just like any other small appliance, such as a coffee maker or toaster.
Outdoor living has become a huge trend in recent years, and if you’re someone who spends most of your time on the patio or by the pool in warm weather, you’ve likely turned that space into an extension of your home.
A countertop ice maker is a perfect addition to your outdoor oasis. It eliminates the need to run back to the kitchen for ice and ensures you always have ice on hand for drinks, whether it’s water, soda, or your favorite cocktails.
Just like taking a countertop ice maker on a camping trip or fishing excursion, it’s a game-changer for tailgating. Tailgates are all about fun, food, and plenty of ice to keep drinks cold for the whole crew.
A portable ice maker ensures everyone stays refreshed, no matter the size of your group. Plus, these compact machines are easy to transport and don’t take up much space in your vehicle, making them perfect for bringing along to the stadium on game day.
If you love hunting, fishing, or camping, having ice on hand is a must. It keeps your catch fresh for days and ensures your food stays cool, just like it would in your fridge at home.
The good news is, a portable ice maker is easy to bring along on all your outdoor adventures. Whether you're staying in a cabin, RV, or even just your car, you can power it using a regular AC outlet or a car inverter. This means you can enjoy fresh ice wherever your adventures take you.
Dorm rooms often come with more restrictions than regular rental spaces, and those tiny fridges? Many don’t even have a freezer compartment. Yet, college students go through ice quickly.
A countertop ice maker takes up little precious space in a dorm room, but yields big results. It’s also great for impromptu hangouts or hosting small events with friends. In fact, a portable ice maker makes a fantastic gift for high school grads heading off to college. Pair it with a freestanding beverage fridge for drinks and snacks, and you've got a thoughtful, practical gift they’ll use all year long!
Everyone’s needs are different, which is why Newair offers a wide range of options to suit your lifestyle. Whether you're looking for a built-in model that seamlessly integrates into your kitchen or a freestanding unit that’s portable and easy to use, we have you covered. Our selection includes models that produce different types of ice, from traditional cubes to chewable nugget or bullet ice, ensuring you can choose the perfect option for your drinking and entertaining preferences.
The trickiest thing to determine is how to choose the right amount of ice for your business.
Depending on your industry, ice can be used in a lot of different places that have nothing to do with drinks. So how can you account and estimate for all the ice your business needs?
First, since drinks are usually the primary area you’ll be using ice, you need to estimate how much you’ll need within your industry.
We’ve provided a helpful ice machine estimator to help calculate your industries ice needs. When choosing an amount, base it off your busiest AND HOTTEST day.
By thinking of your busiest day, such as a busy weekend or holiday, you’ll be best prepared during a rush in business.
Heat lowers ice machine production rate because it must work harder to produce a batch of ice. If you live an area with particularly hot summers, like Arizona or Nevada, you’ll need an ice machine with a little more output to make up for the drop in production.
Next, you need to consider where you’ll be using ice beyond what you need for drinks. If you have a bar well, how much ice is required to refill that area? Does the kitchen need ice for food prep? Do you run a medical center and use ice to reduce swelling?
Many of these questions can be answered by asking your staff and having a clear understanding of your business needs.
Running out of ice can cost you a lot in replacement ice from an ice delivery service. Ice delivery costs between $1-$3 per 10 lbs. and can take hours to arrive.
If you only have modest needs for ice cubes, you might consider using modular ice machines. These are smaller and can be countertop or undercounter ice machines, and they'll produce enough ice for the average bar or restaurant. These modular ice machines combine a low purchase price, great form factor, and convenience.
However, be sure to think ahead and consider if the ice makers you're looking at can provide the ice output you need. Consider if you can make and store enough ice ahead of time consistently, or if it's better to look into larger and more high-performing commercial ice makers.
If you want to choose the best commercial ice machine, you need to know what shape of ice cube you need as well. Nugget ice, cubed ice, flaked ice, and round ice all have unique effects on the look and experience of each drink. Choosing the right ice types for your business can turn into a key advantage against competitors that only offer a single ice type.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Luckboil.
Ice cubes come in all types of shapes, and they’re not just for aesthetic purposes.
Ice cubes shapes are designed to assist with certain industries. For instance, many commercial ice chip maker models produce cubelet ice (AKA nugget ice or flake ice), which is soft and chewable so young children and hospital patients can chew on the ice without damaging their teeth.
Flake Ice is moldable and great for seafood bars and food presentations.
There are plenty more ice types to choose from, consider the different types, and pick the best one for your business.
Even the best ice machine needs the right amount of space to operate.
If you choose an air-cooled machine (by far the most common model businesses choose), you’ll also need enough space for ventilation.
Air-cooled ice machines generate heat as they run, so they emit that heat out of vents located on the unit. Air-cooled ice maker installation requires enough ventilation and air flow to escape, or else it can re-enter your ice machine and cause a microclimate, where the internal temperature of your machine is much higher than the room temperature.
An overly hot ice machine will have a lower ice production rate and could cause serious issues if the problem persists.
You want to install your ice machine in a large room with plenty of ventilation and air flow. Ideally, you want only one wall within a foot and a half from the ice machine (preferably a side that doesn’t have venting). The goal is not to box the ice machine in, causing hot air to hover around the machine and possibly reenter the unit.
Every ice machine needs water to make ice, and that means ice machine installation needs proper drainage.
If you have a modular or self-contained ice machine installed on a bin or dispenser, you’ll need a floor drain for excess water to run.
Countertop ice machines and dispensers often run their excess water into the same drain used by a nearby sink, by using a wye fitting, reducer coupling, and either a 4" or 6" bell fitting (depending on machine model).
In each setup, you’ll need an air gap, to ensure water doesn’t run back up the drainage tube and back into your ice machine.
Almost all municipalities require an air gap with ice machine installations. If a health inspector finds that you installed your ice machine without one, you’ll likely receive a violation.
Depending on the model of the ice machine, you’ll need either a 115v outlet or a 220v outlet.
Typically, smaller machines require 115v, and larger commercial ice machines require 220v.
It’s easy to identify which kind of outlet you have. 115v receptacles look like your standard wall outlet with two parallel slots and a small round opening towards the bottom.
220v outlets look like the type commonly used with washing and drying machines. They come in a few different setups, but all require a dedicated neutral. There’s a good chance you’ll need to call an electrician to install an outlet that matches your ice machine needs.
Finally, GFCI outlets (the kind with “test” and “reset” buttons) can cause ice machines to shut down and cause damage to the machine. Hoshizaki advises using outlets that do not have a GFCI breaker attached.
While air-cooled machines, which use a fan to cool condenser coils, are the most popular type of ice machines for most businesses, there are options.
Water-cooled ice machines use water to cool condenser coils and are less affected by the temperature of the air around the unit. These machines are sometimes the only option for businesses with limited space or low ventilation.
Remote condensers have their condenser unit installed separately from the ice machine. The refrigerant travels through a line set to the condensing unit which is commonly installed outside or in a large area indoors with plenty of ventilation.
While water-cooled and remote units may seem to be a better option all around, they can end up being more expensive in certain situations.
If you live in an area where the outside water naturally runs 85 degrees or above, the machine will have to use more water to cool the condenser. This can cause water-cooled systems to waste gallons of water a day to operate, which can raise your water utility bill considerably.
Remote units often require a contractor to cut through walls and ceilings. The initial setup will be more expensive but often pay for themselves in the long run—that is if you don’t mind cutting into your wall or ceiling.
The final thing to consider is whether you should buy or rent/lease an ice machine.
While buying an ice machine gives you more freedom to do what you want, your costs don’t end with the price of the unit.
Ice machines require routine cleaning and maintenance to stay within city health guidelines and remain in working order, and buying a new or used ice cube machine means you’re responsible for paying for these services.
Leasing an ice machine (or choosing an all-inclusive managed ice machine rental from Easy Ice) is a far better option from a business standpoint. You save money on the initial price of the unit, and many leasing companies will take care of the cleaning and maintenance for you.
If there's an issue with the ice machine, a leasing company will send out a technician to repair the machine generally at little or no cost to you.
In the event they can’t fix the ice machine, your leasing company will often just replace the unit - a much better option than going out and buying a brand-new ice machine.
Most of all, you buy peace of mind when you lease an ice machine. Rather than take time out of your busy schedule to take care of your ice making machine issues, you can focus and invest more in improving your business.
The best commercial ice machine is the one that suits your needs, whether it's a modular ice machine or one of the best water-cooled ice machines available. When it comes to the right model of commercial ice machine, choosing comes entirely down to your needs and preferences. Keep your ice dispenser running and your ice supply running strong with help from the Ice Experts. Get started today by calling 855-550-, requesting a quote, or leaning more at easyice.com/our-subscription/.
We look forward to earning your business!
If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!
All Comments ( 0 )