Air Cooled Ice Machines

Air-Cooled Ice Machines: Mini Setup, Mega Customer Service

Looking for some of the best commercial ice machines for your food service business? You’re in the right place.

Air-cooled ice machines are excellent ice-making solutions for busy operations that need to integrate ice production in a quick and cost-effective way.

Ice machines that use an air-cooled refrigeration system are preferred over other types of commercial ice machines for a few things. For starters, they involve a very minimal installation process. When you find the right space, you can immediately put your commercial ice maker to use upon receiving it! Unlike water-cooled ice machines, which typically require a cooling tower, its air-cooled counterpart involves no more than plug-and-play.

Air-cooled ice machines only require fans and vents that pull air to the condenser coils where it is distributed; no water lines needed. For this reason, an air-cooled ice machine requires less amount of water to make ice and is therefore likely to cost much less than a unit with a remote condenser or a water-cooled type of commercial ice maker.

The process of ice-making requires an air-cooled ice maker to expel air into the room it is installed, which means it will require extra space or clearance above, behind, and around the unit to be able to "breathe". Ambient air temperature also plays a major role in the performance of air-cooled ice machines, so it is important to have proper ventilation where it will be installed to ensure the unit runs at its best.

There is a wide selection of air-cooled ice machines available here on CKitchen. Countertop and undercounter styles are available for small to medium operations with limited floor space while modular styles, which give you the freedom to choose your storage bin, should serve high-volume productions well. Whatever type of ice you need for your operation--may it be cube ice, flake ice, nugget ice, gourmet ice, or even bullet ice-- there's an air-cooled ice maker for you.

Air-cooled ice machines may also be harder to clean and may emit heat that makes your kitchen hotter. With that being said, some municipalities have regulations against water-cooled units, so air-cooled ice machines may be the best all-around choice.

If you’ve decided that this is the best kind of commercial ice maker for you, CKitchen can help you find the right model that exactly fits your unique needs! We’re experts in commercial ice machines are trusted by some of the best brands in the field including Hoshizaki, Manitowoc, and Scotsman. Many of the units from these manufacturers are designed to meet Energy Star standards for increased energy efficiency and lower environmental impact.

If you’re not sure if air-cooled ice machines are for you, check our article on air-cooled vs. water-cooled ice machines.