Have you ever felt the frustration of waiting for ice to freeze? We know how you feel. There’s nothing worse than desperately needing a cool drink and having no ice to add to it because you’re waiting for it.
Fortunately for us, ice makers solve that problem by producing ice for you at reasonable speeds, ready to be used whenever you need it.
But ice makers can be really noisy! Choosing the wrong ice maker can mean zero peace for you or anyone around you. So, what options do you have?
All you have to do is find a good-quality, quiet ice maker. But that’s much easier said than done. That’s why we’ve reviewed 6 of the quietest ice makers on the market.
OUR TOP PICK
As with all ice makers, you can’t expect it to be completely noise free. But this is the quietest countertop ice maker by far.
In fact this particular ice maker has a reputation for being as quiet as a running fridge. With this in mind, you can be completely confident that the Vremi Countertop ice maker will make your kitchen a peaceful place to be in.
Having to fill up an ice maker every few minutes, is not really ideal. Instead of doing that, you get to pour up to 2.2 liters of water into the ice makers reservoir which should last you a pretty long time.
We personally loved that you only have to wait 8 minutes for the ice tray to be filled. This beats waiting ages for your ice to form in the freezer. Even though is great for at home use, it might not be fast enough for commercial use.
What about all the melted ice water left in the tray? It’d seem like a waste to not use it, right? The Vremi ice maker recycles the water for you, so you don’t have to stress about it. It also saves you a little bit of time, by switching off when the ice tray is full. It even lets you know when it needs a refill.
Unless you’re picky about what kind of ice you want in your drinks, then the fact that the ice maker only provides one type of ice (bullet-shaped cubes) will be totally fine.
If you’re not sure that you like the idea of using your hands to pick up the ice, then you’ll appreciate that the Vremi ice maker comes with your very own ice scooper.
What’s better than an easy installation? All you have to do is place it on your counter. You do have to wait 24 hours before you use it though, which is a bit of a bummer. But, this is a standard procedure for all ice makers.
Pros
- Recyclable water
- Automatic shut down (energy efficient)
- Quick ice
- Compact
- Free scoop included
Cons
- The size of the tray doesn’t allow you to make a lot of ice in one use.
- Not suitable for commercial use.
EDITORS CHOICE
Maybe you’re looking for an ice maker that has a big ice tray but doesn’t take up a lot of floor space. If that’s the case then the Manitowoc is going to be the quiet ice maker for you.
Because of the ice makers design, it takes up less space on the floor, but can hold up to 90lbs of ice which will take 3 hours to be made.
It delivers around 64 pieces of ice every 6-8 minutes, so you’ll never be without ice. With that being said, you’re going to need to use quite a lot of water to fill the ice maker.
Have you ever felt yourself shying away from cleaning an appliance, because its just so challenging to clean it? It’s just unpleasant. That’s why we really like how easy it is to clean this ice maker. It’s even been designed to resist fingerprint marks!
And we can’t not tell you about how the ice makers materials have also been designed with what’s called, Alphasan (an antimicrobial additive). It fights bacteria and prevents rusting.
One thing you do need to realize, is that since this ice machine is made to produce a lot of ice, it is nosier than smaller quiet ice makers. But the great part is, that it’s been known to be no nosier than a fan, which is considered fairly quiet, so it’s not going to disrupt the peace that much.
This is the quietest commercial ice maker we've reviewed.
Pros
- Makes lots of ice, quickly and quietly
- Perfect for commercial and home use.
- Easy to clean.
- Designed with a compact footprint.
- As quiet as a fan.
Cons
- Uses quite a lot of water.
BEST VALUE
If you’re looking for a quiet ice maker for everyday use, you’ll appreciate this ice machine. It does take a while to produce ice, making only 9 cubes of ice per 7-15 minutes. It comes in at a budget price point though.
This unit is better suited for home use, for someone who just wants a cool drink from time to time. It can house up to 2.6 pounds (1.2 kgs) of ice.
You can always keep an eye on what’s happening inside the ice maker. We like that looking through the top of the ice maker is not the only way for you to keep tabs on what’s happening inside.
Its LED design lets you see the amount of ice that’s been made, and you can also choose from 1 of 2 different sizes of ice.
The most important feature we want to share with you is how quiet the ice maker is. It’s lack of ice production makes up for the fact that it’s close to being whisper-quiet. You’ll never have an issue with the ice maker being on – you’ll hardly hear it.
There’s nothing worse than buying an appliance that adds no style to your kitchen. We want function and form. Thankfully, you’ve got lots of colors and finishes to choose from with the Frigidaire ice maker. It makes matching your appliance with its surrounding area so much easier.
If you read further on in the article, you’ll see how important it is for your ice maker to have a drainage system. The Frigidaire makes life easy by being designed with a drain plug. It’s as simple as pulling the plug.
Pros
- Almost as quiet as a whisper.
- Can be easily matched with its surroundings.
- Easy to drain.
- Can produce up to 26 pounds of ice per day.
Cons
- Makes small amounts of ice at a slow production rate
RUNNER UP
Brilliant for commercial use, you can trust in this ice makers ability to produce top-notch ice at a speedy production rate. It houses up to 25lbs per production and can make 50lbs of ice in one entire day.
Unfortunately, it only provides one kind of ice, bullet-shaped cubes. But this kind of ice is perfect for serving in drinks at restaurants or bars.
Installation is made easy, because the ice maker has been designed to be freestanding or it can be built-in. The sleek design makes the ice maker a pleasure to have around because its pleasing to the eye.
Like most ice makers, the ice doesn’t stay frozen in the tray. With this ice maker, any water left in the tray won’t be reusable so its not as resource efficient as you’d probably like.
But, its not the end of the world, especially since the ice will probably be used up quite quickly.
A water hose and gravity drain hose is included in the purchase, making set up and installation easier.
We’d also like to note that an aluminum scoop is recommended for this ice maker, because the ice needs to broken up after it’s made. The scoop just makes breaking up the ice a quick process.
We love that the Whynter UIM-502SS ice maker is much quieter than most ice maker models. It's bigger than a quiet mini fridge but still looks stylish.
Pros
Makes a lot of ice at a fast rate.
A lot quieter than most models like it.
Comes with important components – you don’t have to buy extra components.
Cons
Not resource efficient – doesn’t reuse water.
RUNNER UP
Have you ever thought of how great it’d be to control your ice maker even when you’re not in the same room? If you haven’t, you might like the idea regardless.
You get to schedule how much ice the Opal ice machine makes and how much directly from your phone using Bluetooth. Just download the FirstBuild app and connect.
If you’re not keen on hooking the ice maker up to waterline, you have the option of using the ice maker without it.
Filling up the reservoir can be a bit annoying, and you might have to do that quite a bit because this ice maker only holds 2.5 quartz (almost 3 litres) of water.
At the same time, the ice machine makes your life a bit easier by reusing any melted ice water found in the tray.
We also like that the Opal ice maker comes with an accessory, a side tank. It gives you just a bit more time before you have to refill the ice maker.
Even though you have to wait 20 minutes for the ice bin to fill up, you’ll be getting 3lbs of ice. The kind of ice made is pretty similar to the ice you’d find at a restaurant, making your drink taste just a little bit special.
Keeping your ice maker clean is incredibly important. If you do decide to buy the opal ice machine, you’ll be getting not just a good quality ice maker, but also a cleaning kit and filter. An added bonus is that its pretty easy to install.
Just be aware that this ice maker is known to be a bit finicky. It has very specific requirements when it comes to what kind of water you use and can function poorly if you don’t meet those requirements.
It’s true that all ice makers require you to use filtered water and their quality can be damaged if you don’t. But this ice maker is more susceptible to unfiltered water and it will significantly reduce the ice makers quality.
When it comes to being quiet, the ice maker has a reputation for being just a bit louder than some of the other ice makers we’ve reviewed. But it’s still quiet enough that you won’t be overly disturbed by it.
To give you a bit of insight into how quiet it is, it sounds a bit like a gaming computer. Cleaning it weekly, prevents the ice machine from making any unwanted noises.
Pros
- Accessories, filter and kit included in purchase.
- Quick and powerful.
- Can be controlled with an app.
- Reusable water
Cons
- Needs to be cleaned weekly.
- Finicky design.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Quietest Ice Maker
What to look out for when you want to buy a quiet ice maker
Whether you’re trying to buy a new ice maker for your business or for home use, these are some of the things you should keep in mind:
The Type of Ice
Okay, so this is maybe more important for if you want to buy an ice maker for a business, but homeowners might also want a specific kind of ice. If you’re one of those people that like their ice precise, you’ll be happy to know that there’s quite a few kinds of ice available. Here they are:
- Cubed and half-cubed ice
- Crescent ice
- Flake ice
- Nugget ice
- Gourmet ice
If you’re looking to buy an ice maker for commercial use, you’ll need to choose one that can give you the best shape of ice suitable for your business type.
The Capacity of The Ice Maker
You need to know how much ice you want or need to produce because this directly affects how much storage capacity your ice maker will need. The capacity of your ice maker will determine how often you need to wait for ice to be made and how quickly it gets used up.
The Size of The Ice Maker
When it comes to an ice maker, size definitely matters. A smaller ice maker won’t be able to hold as much ice, but it will be much cheaper than a larger model. A big ice maker might be suitable for a large kitchen, but obviously not for small spaces and vice versa. So, make sure that you have enough space for the ice maker you want and that it’s the right size.
Where the Ice Maker is Installed
An ice maker needs sufficient ventilation, water and drainage. Without it, neither you nor your ice maker is going to be happy, this is why:
Water
It’s pretty essential that you make sure that your ice maker has access to clean, filtered water. If you can’t provide it with clean water, it can seriously damage the quality and lifespan of the ice maker.
Drainage
Without hooking your ice maker up to your drainage system, you’ll end up with a bacterial build-up inside the ice maker which you probably want to avoid.
Ventilation
Ice makers create heat, and they continue to do this throughout the day, so you need to make sure that there’s a channel set up that allows the air to escape. Not doing this can cause some serious damage to your machine. (Also an important consideration for quiet microwaves.)
The Durability of The Ice Maker
Ice maker components are super expensive to replace so you should ensure that the ice maker you’re interested in is durable. It’s really helpful to look at reviews to see whether an ice maker will last you a long time. Taking a look at the warranty will also give you and idea of whether the ice maker has been made to last.
The Design of Your Ice Maker
We’re sure that this is fairly obvious to you, but we wanted to mention that choosing a design you like is important. If you’re thinking of buying a countertop ice maker, then you know that it’s going to be standing out for everyone to see. If you don’t like the design of the ice maker, you won’t really enjoy having it around.
How To Make a Noisy Ice Maker Quiet
Is your ice maker starting to sound a bit like a quiet blender? If your ice maker is in the habit of screeching at you there’s not much that you can do to solve the problem. But sometimes an ice maker will start making noise after a period of use. Even the quietest ice maker can still be made a little quieter.
Here are a few things you can check for to quiet an ice maker:
Clean your ice maker
It goes without saying that appliances don’t work very well when they’re dirty. (Even a quiet range hood will make more noise than necessary.) An ice maker that’s not clean tends to make additional unwanted sounds. As you probably guessed, the solution is to clean the components in the ice maker.
Vinegar is a great cleaning solution to use. You can put two cups of vinegar in a spray bottle with one cup of water. It works well and gets rid of 82% of mold.
Replace or repair the temperature control unit or compressor
A damaged temp. control unit or compressor is a common cause of ice maker noise. It would be worth checking these components out and seeing if they need some help.
Should You Buy a Used Ice Maker?
If you want to cut down on cost, you might be considering buying a used ice maker. We completely understand that. But you need to be super careful. There are a few factors that determine whether you’re going to get a used ice maker that’s still in good condition. Here are some of the things you’ll want to think about:
- Do a thorough maintenance check.
We know it’s a bit tiresome, but you’ll need to make sure that the ice maker you want to buy has been properly maintained. You’ve got to do some deep digging and look inside the ice maker. If you end up buying an ice maker that hasn’t been taken care of, well, it’s going to break. That means you have to spend more money on replacing the worn-down parts. Look for internal corrosion as well.
- Previous installation environment – ask about it.
Where the ice maker was previously installed will depend on whether it’s going to run smoothly, as it should. If the ice maker has been installed in places like, the outdoors, areas with no air conditioning, low ventilation areas, bakeries, breweries, warehouses, factories and busy kitchens, it might be best to look for another ice maker. An ice maker needs to kept in areas where the surrounding temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).
- A damaged evaporator
Evaporators are what freeze ice. If the ice maker you’re interested in has a hard time freezing ice, it could be because the evaporator is damaged. Replacing an evaporator costs a lot of money, so you’ll want to steer clear from that kind of ice maker.
Under counter vs Countertop ice maker?
The truth is, they both have pros and cons. It’s up to you to decide which will work best for you. Here’s some of the pros and cons of under counter vs countertop ice makers:
- Under counter ice makers
Pros
- You don’t have to install them more than once – they’re a permanent fixture.
- Most models are automated.
- You can trust in their large production capacity.
Cons
- They take up a lot of space since they’re pretty big.
- They require added components – a waterline and drain.
Countertop Ice Makers
Pros
- They’re compact – they save space.
- They’re portable – you can move them easily.
- Some Models are automated.
Cons
- Doesn’t have the capacity to hold a lot of ice.
- Slower production rate than undercounter ice makers.
What are the most common ice maker problems?
- When the ice maker stops dispensing ice.
If this happens it could be because the ice maker doesn’t have access to a sufficient supply of water. One thing you need to be aware of as well is whether the water pressure is right. If it’s too low, no water will flow into the ice maker and so it won’t dispense ice. The filler could also be blocked or turned off.
- When the ice maker leaks.
You can fix this problem by making sure that the ice maker is level with the floor or counter. Take a look at the water pipes to see if they’re damaged. You can check the filler cup too – make sure it’s positioned correctly.
- When your ice maker dispenses smelly ice cubes.
This happens when your ice maker hasn’t been cleaned in a while. You’ll need to clean the filter.
- When the Auger Motor Freezes.
This happens when moisture enters in behind the freezer wall. Something like this normally occurs when you don’t use the ice maker for a long period of time. There is a way to solve the problem, but just for a short while. So, you may want to call a technician. It’s not great, I know, but worth it since you’ll get the issue sorted out.
Conclusion
Choosing a quiet ice maker that has all of the best features can be seriously tricky. We’ve reviewed just 5 of the quietest ice makers on the market. But of course, you get to decide whether the ice makers we’ve reviewed are what you’re looking for.
If your ice maker is being unusually loud, don’t give up hope. You can try one or two things to sort it out.
Remember the buyer’s guide and don’t be afraid of buying used ice makers but be really careful and keep in mind the different problems that a used ice maker might have.