Are countertop ice makers safe for everyday home use? While this question isn’t a common question related to ice makers, sometimes I find a friend of mine wondering whether the countertop ice maker is safe to use. They also question “Is it safe to use ices from ice makers?”
Although I am just a regular (but experienced) ice maker technician, not your home doctor, the countertop ice maker produces ice in the same water source from your home, just like a refrigerator. As a result, it is safe to say it is “safe” to use ices from ice makers.
For more technical details, I hope you will read my article of “Are countertop ice makers safe?” below for a better answer. I’ve made a comprehensive “Ice Maker FAQ” series collecting all common ice maker problems to help Ice Artisan readers quickly troubleshoot their ice maker units.
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Are countertop ice makers safe?
Yes, countertop ice makers are generally safe when properly used and maintained. Today, most of the countertop ice makers you can buy on Amazon undergo rigorous safety testing and typically carry certifications like ETL, UL, or CE that verify their compliance with electrical safety standards. Even an OEM ice maker that came from a random Chinese ice maker brand with meaningless name, it is claimed to have safety certifications. However, for Chinese brands, I must say the legitimacy of these certifications is questionable.
The primary safety considerations revolve around proper maintenance and hygiene. But still, I recommend you to learn how to clean ice maker as soon as possible, or else your ice maker can develop mold or bacterial buildup in water reservoirs and ice-making components. Most ice maker manufacturers sell an approved cleaner that you can use with auto-cleaning function of the countertop ice maker. If you don’t trust in a chemical cleaner, you can just use vinegar with warm water to clean.
Moreover, an ice maker needs proper ventilation. So to be safe, make sure you don’t put anything block both sides of your countertop ice maker, to prevent overheating. With this final precaution, I am sure the countertop ice maker is the safest appliance you can buy.
Ice makers have water, which can cause water damage if problems arise. To avoid this water damage, I write a different article on “How to fix ice maker leaking water?” Hope it help you in determining on buying an ice maker.
