Commercial Ice Machines: Different Types & How to Choose One

iceandrefrigera...
Hi I'm Lester with Ice and Refrigeration systems. This specific video series is going to deal with ice machines. In particular, what kind of ice machine do I need? Do I need a remote air-cooled ice machine, do I need an air-cooled machine, or do I need an liquid-cooled ice machine? The features and benefits of each of those styles.
An air-cooled ice machine is an ice machine that has a fan on the inside of it and it takes air, the surrounding ambient air and it blows it across the condenser. The surrounding ambient air is what cools the condenser down so the refrigerant can cycle back through and extract more heat out of the water so the ice machine can produce ice.
So in this process, it takes your surrounding air - we're in about 80 degree air right now and take that and blow that 80 degree air on the other side of the condenser its going to blow out hot air, typically about 100, 105 degrees is what's going to blow out on the other side of that. Air cooled ice machines are by far and away the most popular ice machines that are sold in this country. They're designed to work in under 90 degree ambient temperature environments. On every ice machine, when you see an the ice machine rating that says this ice machine makes 300 pounds a day, or it makes 475 pounds a day.
What ice machine companies do, is they take their ice machines and stick them in a 70 degree room, and they shoot 60 degree water through it. Whatever that ice machine drops in 24 hours is the stated capacity.
So, you can shop apples to apples, but know that what you're seeing is numbers based on an ice machine in a 70 degree room, with 60 degree water shooting through it.
Realistically, you typically probably looking at an 85 degree room. You're typically looking at 70 degree water. This is going to affect the production because you've got more heat to take out of the water. And, the refrigerant's not being cooled down as much with 85 degree air, as it is with 70 degree air. So, you'll get about 85% of the stated production capacity. That's an air-cooled machine.
A Liquid-cooled machine. These machines are typically favored by people who are putting an ice machine in an environment that's not air-conditioned, or is in a very hot environment. if you're ice machine is going to be over 90 degrees ambient air you need to seriously consider a liquid- cooled or a water-cooled machine. Instead of using the surrounding ambient air, the refrigerant is surrounded by a water jacket, and a stream of water goes over the refrigerant tube and extracts out the heat. The heat instead of going in the room, goes down the drain. It's great for not heating up the room that the ice machine is in. And it's great because your typically your water is about 75 and it's very effective in cooling down the refrigerant so that your ice machine can make more ice. Now, here's the deal - the downside of a liquid or water-cooled machine is that, it will fill up a swimming pool in a month. And a 300 pound water-cooled ice machine will typically run your water bill up $30-$40 a month. It may be more in some parts of the country; it may be less in some parts of the country. But, that's the downside of a water-cooled ice machine.
Remote ice machine. This is where they take the condenser and they put it up on top of roof. A condenser and a great big fan would be up there blowing air across it to cool it down. It's great for two reasons: Number one, you're not putting any of the hot air into the room that you're trying to air condition. Number two, you're not using a bunch of extra water, they tend to be more energy efficient. The upfront cost a remote is substantial. You have to do a penetration you have to get a roofer to you have to run electricity up to the roof, so that the remote condenser can be wired in, and you have to purchase an additional condenser. This is a $2000 ice machine air cooled, it's a 2000 ice machine water cooled The remote version of it is $2000, too.
Additional Installation cost Typically costs minimally twice maybe a little bit more if you're going up real high, if a boom needs to be employed.
But, if you're using a large quantity of ice, typically when you have a 1400-1500 pound ice machine.
But, there are additional costs incurred with the ice machine costing more, and installation on that.
I hope you find this information helpful. And I look forward to talking with you some day. Thanks!
• Commercial Ice Machine...

[@tonymoran9794]

Great video, thanks! but fyi, the audio is tough to hear.

[@toddeden9813]

Nice job, very informative. Thank you.

[@vyhane]

Which would be best near an office environment? We have one that is really loud and can be distracting. Which would be a more quiet ice machine? I'm having trouble trying to find this information. Thank you for your help.

[@michaeltaylor3733]

I work in CSR and I specialize in selling Restaurant equipment such as Ice machines & refrigerators, and I just wanted to say this video answered every one of my questions. I had the toughest time understanding the difference and needs of each type of machine and you answered all of my questions perfectly and I understood it 100%.
Thank you for the awesome and very helpful video!

[@xFLEXxtaydog]

Great explanation. Great info! Thanks