Every big decision can benefit from careful consideration. At Memphis Ice, we help customers buy ice machines every day. To hopefully make your decision-making process easier, today we are outlining the five most important things to consider when buying an ice machine.
Keep in mind, you don’t have to figure this out alone. Want help? Just give us a call!
How much ice do you need to produce in 24 hours? How much of that will you need to store? If you have an 8 hour window where your ice usage is fairly steady…that would only require a smaller storage bin. On the other hand, if you’re using all the ice at 8 AM to load up trucks, you’ll need a larger storage bin. When the ice storage capacity aligns with the usage timeframe, it means you’ll always be in ice when you need it. Plus, understanding your usage allows us to figure out if a slightly larger ice machine (that could run fewer hours) would be a more economical choice. Here are more details on sizing your ice maker.
Where will your ice maker go? What’s the best location? The ideal space is large enough, climate controlled and has plenty of airflow (locking it in closet is not an option). For the best setup, the space has plumbing, water and a drain with 6-8 feet of the ice machine.
Which type of ice is best-suited for your application will determine your ice maker:
A condenser cools the ice machine. This cooling process can happen in different ways:
This is the time to decide if you’re going to be committed to cleaning the ice machine at certain intervals, or if you will hire a preventative maintenance company. Will you clean the ice machine yearly, bi-annually or quarterly? If you’re in an area which requires a water filter, how often will you change it?
P.S. Sometimes when folks are considering buying an ice machine, they realize that renting an ice machine is actually a better fit for their needs. Renting means you don’t have to worry about the big chunk of cash, the maintenance schedule, timely repair or the flexibility issues should your needs or output change.At Memphis Ice, our ice machine rental program has many benefits including peace of mind.
Thinking about buying an ice maker? Get in touch and we’ll present all the options, then help you decide what’s best.