Stand alone ice maker, who has one that has lasted more than a season?

[MotorSeven]

We use a lot of ice between the boat, the camper and at our swimming hole. Last May I bought this off the 'Zon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V84SQ1J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I only ran it on an inline filter, used the proper cleaning fluid to flush it out once every month or so, and now it's not making ice. Fortunately, I bought the extended warranty, so I just made a claim & have a $319.99 gift card as a refund. Is there a company that makes a smaller, commercial grade ice maker that won't break the bank?

We have and use a countertop ice maker, but it's low volume and low grade ice that melts really quick.

 

[bmaverick]

My work place has given up. It's dang expensive and they break from normal use within a year, than more so after the warranty.

What are we doing now? Dollar Tree ice trays. yep, cost less to repair and maintain.

These are silicone, very flexible and the cubes do not stick nor need to be banged out.

 

[MotorSeven]

I have been asked to recomend a make of ice maker for a bar, as this is not my usual type of work (i am in air con), can anyone recommend, a make, based on reliability/ best value etc... many thanks.

Finding real reviews even on commercial machines is not easy. Reliable commercial machines start at $2,500 and go up depending on features and capacity. I would find out what type of ice they prefer, then research only those machines, which narrows the field quite a bit.

In my limited searching, I think the Ice O Matic company is a decades old commercial maker, possibly "made in the USA"(that phrase can be pretty blurred these days):

Ice Makers Made in the USA (Check These Brands) | WhereDoTheyMakeIt.com

When the weather is hot there’s nothing quite like a drink loaded with ice to help keep you cool. Each year, more and more people across America are buying ...

wheredotheymakeit.com

 

[K5lwq]

I lease ice machines to restaurants, bars and many other places. We also sell and service them. Right now the main brand I buy for lease is Manitowoc. They have a 3 year warranty and have been very reliable for me.

But any ice machine requires regular cleaning and maintenance which is why most places just lease them from someone like me.

 

[Torvy]

I lease ice machines to restaurants, bars and many other places. We also sell and service them. Right now the main brand I buy for lease is Manitowoc. They have a 3 year warranty and have been very reliable for me.

But any ice machine requires regular cleaning and maintenance which is why most places just lease them from someone like me.

Is it the minerals in the water that clog them up? Just wondering if a filter would reduce the maintenance for you.

 

[ultrarunner]

I lease ice machines to restaurants, bars and many other places. We also sell and service them. Right now the main brand I buy for lease is Manitowoc. They have a 3 year warranty and have been very reliable for me.

But any ice machine requires regular cleaning and maintenance which is why most places just lease them from someone like me.

I had only manitowic at the hospital but outside of warranty there was zero service…

Reached out to Manitowic and learned the lesson the hard way… called around to commercial refrigeration companies and the consensus is buy new as the cost of a compressor replacement would be more than a new unit.

We used the Q45 at the stations.

 

[K5lwq]

Is it the minerals in the water that clog them up? Just wondering if a filter would reduce the maintenance for you.

We will not install one without a filter. Even if the customer purchased the machine. But the condensers need to be cleaned. We also run a cleaner through the head that cleans where the ice forms.

 

[bmaverick]

Finding real reviews even on commercial machines is not easy. Reliable commercial machines start at $2,500 and go up depending on features and capacity. I would find out what type of ice they prefer, then research only those machines, which narrows the field quite a bit.

In my limited searching, I think the Ice O Matic company is a decades old commercial maker, possibly "made in the USA"(that phrase can be pretty blurred these days):

Ice Makers Made in the USA (Check These Brands) | WhereDoTheyMakeIt.com

When the weather is hot there’s nothing quite like a drink loaded with ice to help keep you cool. Each year, more and more people across America are buying ...

wheredotheymakeit.com

One thing to do with all ice makers is, ensure you have great filtration of the water prior to the water feed lines into the machine. Our place has a 2-micro near RO 3ft tall filter. The taller the filter (more surface area) the better the flow for such low micros.

The filters are $268 right now and they are replaced 2X per year.