Ice maker for home is one of the examples of how industrial machinery, improving and decreasing in size, migrates to our everyday life and becomes an integral part of it. Of course, the absolute majority of people can do without an ice generator, preparing ice in molds in the refrigerator, but this method has a number of drawbacks: it's long enough, the containers take up a lot of space, and the ice itself can absorb odors . As a result, instead of a mineral with ice, you risk getting something with a persistent smell of sausages or stale meat. Therefore, if you like to receive guests, treating them with a variety of drinks with ice, it makes sense to purchase an ice generator for the house.
The generator of household ice is a small device, in size close to the bread maker. All that is necessary for its successful operation is a socket with a 220 V supply. Home ice makers, unlike industrial counterparts, do not require connection to a water pipe and, accordingly, do not need a special installation.
The principle of the ice maker
All devices for the production of ice at home - the compressor type. They work as follows:
- Water is poured into the specially designed container inside the generator and the machine is switched on;
- The water enters the main tank from the container. The working motor forms waves in it. From the excitement and movement of water, its small particles settle down;
- inside the tank there is a tube, through which freon flows, on it and ice sets;
- After a while, the water is drained, and hot steam is sent to the tube with freon, thanks to which pieces of ice fall off the walls and enter the container.
Types of ice makers
According to the shape of the produced ice, such devices are divided into three groups:
- Ice makers of cubic ice.
- Ice makers of finger ice.
- Scaly ice maker.
The latter are rarely used at home, since mostly scaly ice is used to decorate storefronts. Also there are desktop and built-in ice machines, which are worth buying, if you plan to use it often and have a sufficient amount.
What should I look for when choosing an ice maker for a house:
- power - it usually ranges from 150-250 watts;
- the amount of ice produced - at a time and per day;
- speed of ice production - can be 6-15 minutes;
- price - such devices are not cheap and on average their cost starts from $ 700.