Ice machines are used in various industries including bars and offices but a restaurant ice machine generally needs to be bigger and more efficient. The average machine can produce hundreds and hundreds of pounds of ice in a day and can hold anything between 80 and 100 pounds of ice in a collection bin. Because restaurant units need to be efficient, it is important to make sure you choose the right type of machine for your restaurant.



There are two main types of ice making machines- air cooled machines and water cooled machines. But which one is best for your restaurant? Well, each ice machine comes in various different sizes, from compact to standard and large, so the first thing you need to think about when purchasing a restaurant ice machine is the size you will need.

Once you have decided on your size, you need to decide which type of ice making machine will be the best for your restaurant, an air cooled or a water cooled machine and to help you make your decision, here are some of the differences between them.

Air cooled machines: an air cooled ice making machine is basically what it says; the refrigeration system is cooled by air. The good thing about an air cooled unit is that it uses less water and they are quite reasonable to buy. However, an air cooled unit can heat the air around it which can make the atmosphere quite uncomfortable, but air cooled ice machines are considered to be better for the environment.

Water cooled machines: the advantages of a water cooled units are that they are more energy efficient and they also do not raise the room temperature- which is good in a restaurant setting. They are also quieter than air cooled units but they can also cost more and in certain areas they can have expensive operating costs when water prices are high.

Machines for restaurants are important because customers always need ice with their drinks, but in the past both water and air cooled ice making machines were considered acceptable, but recently many businesses have decided to use air cooled machines rather than water cooled, despite their obvious efficiency and low running costs. The reason for this is that recently a few of the environmental agencies have decided not to put their seal onto water cooled machines because the amount of water that the machines used has been considered a waste of water because they use a very large amount of water- hence higher water bills when running a water cooled machine.

So, which ice making machine should use choose for your restaurant? Water cooled units are quieter, more efficient and do not heat the air around them. However they can cost more and are now being considered wasteful with water. Air cooled restaurant ice machines are cheaper to buy and use a lot less water, on a downside they are noisy and heat the air.