When we buy an appliance like the ice maker, we may want to know when to replace ice maker, the longest time possible for the investment. Sometimes, you should buy another ice maker, instead of fixing it that can last for a very short time.
If you hear strange noises during ice maker run, or find the ice production a bit inconsistent, then perhaps it’s time you say goodbye to your ice maker. After years, even when you fully read my ice maker FAQ, it’s just not good enough. For business owners, you can’t let even one day off, so make sure you replace the ice maker when necessary.
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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When to replace your ice maker?
Most residential countertop ice makers have a lifespan of 1-3 years, which is reasonable because all countertop ice maker brands just offer a 1-year warranty coverage. It varies significantly based on water quality, maintenance habits, and usage frequency. Though most countertop ice makers at the moment are manufactured in China, buying one from reputable American brands seem to last longer.
Undercounter ice makers are expected to have a lifespan of 10 years, however it is only true in the situations of the high-end brands like Hoshizaki, Manitowoc, Scotsman and Ice-O-Matic. Typical commercial ice makers from a Chinese brand that offers 1-year warranty don’t hold water.
Do you know the symptoms that tell you when to replace your ice maker? Here they are:
Declining ice production
The most obvious indicator when to replace your ice maker is less ice production. Machines previously capable of producing 80 pounds daily now struggle to reach half that volume, are likely have critical problems. You can clean the ice maker, or just unclog ice maker to make sure nothing went wrong. But even after these maintenances, if the ice maker still produce less ices, I am certain it’s the problem of mechanical deterioration.
Inconsistent ice quality
Beside ice production, the inconsistent ice quality is a sign that you know to replace your ice maker. Cloudy, smaller-than-normal, or incompletely formed cubes indicate problems with the water filtration system or freezing mechanism. If your ice maker is a long time from the expiration of warranty coverage, and you find these inconsistent ice qualities, just replace for a new one.
Unusual operational changes
Sometimes, if you find your ice maker making strange metallic grinding or make a lot of noise during operation, or maybe it’s weirdly noisy for no reason; then I think there are problems within the compressor of the machine. Again, if you’re far from the warranty, you can just buy new one, because compressor is the heart of the ice maker, which costs about 60-70% of the unit’s value. Replacing only the compressor seems to be irrational.
When to repair your ice maker instead of replacing?
People only repair an ice maker expecting the repair cost to be far less than the original cost. Some people choose the limit to be 50% of the original cost, some may choose less, some’re willing to pay more for the repair. It is also depending on the working time of the ice maker, for example when you use an ice maker 10 years more than the manufacturer expected, paying more to repair seems to be a risk than a reward.
Also, new modern ice maker models will have better upgrades than the old ones. I know many friends of mine, technician too, prefer an old ice maker machine and believe that it’s reliable and durable than the new ones. However, old models will have discontinued parts, and finding the exact things to repair the old ice maker proves to be difficult.
Many people have love for their appliances, and only in this situation, I find the old ice maker worth repairing. Otherwise, I always advise you to follow my picks to buy the best ice maker.
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