Ice Makers come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. When you are in the market for an ice maker you first need to determine which kind of appliance you require. Do you need one for use outdoors or indoors? If indoors, do your needs require a portable ice maker, or the under counter type? This article briefly discusses some of the available ice cube maker options.
For outdoor use, it is desirable to obtain a specially designed outdoor ice maker. They will include important features such as a sealed back – this will keep out unwanted water, dirt, bugs and other undesirables. While an outdoor unit will likely cost you in the thousands, you need to pay the extra money for the weather sealing in order to safely use them.
These outdoor units can be custom built to fit into a barbecue area in an outdoor kitchen. Many people like large units that will create enough ice to supply a large party or gathering.
In the indoor arena, ice machines come in two main types; countertop and under counter models. If portability and convenience is important, a counter top model has a lot going for it. These units generally don’t require any plumbing – the water to freeze is supplied by periodically filling a reservoir – so can be placed anywhere that you like.
A portable ice maker is ideal for uses in unplumbed bar areas, perhaps sat on top of a bar fridge. Portable icemakers like these are relatively cheap appliances, and can be found at prices beginning under two hundred dollars. They are also popular with people who want a ready supply of ice but are tired of relying on manually filled ice cube trays from their homes old refrigerator freezer.
The other major interior option for an ice cube maker is the type that installs beneath your countertop. Similar to an integrated dishwasher, these can be a little bit of a challenge to install. They will be plumbed directly into you water supply, and require a dedicated space for them to be placed.
The benefits of this are that a good installation can look very stylish, and the plumbing lines means you will not have to worry about refilling this type of ice machine. These units are considerably more expensive than the countertop models, but the extra money does buy you considerably more refinement.
Many people will choose their icemaker so that the finish of the front of the appliance matches that of their fridge freezer and dishwasher. By matching appliances like this it is possible to create a very elegant looking kitchen.
With all these different varieties of ice maker available, it should be easy to identify a unit suitable for your needs.
photo credit: Creative Commons
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