Short answer

Air-cooled ice machines are cheaper to install and use far less water, but they push heat into the room and lose output when the room is hot. Water-cooled machines keep output stable in hot, poorly ventilated rooms but use extra water, and some cities restrict once-through water cooling. Remote air-cooled condensers move the heat outdoors.

What the condenser does

Every ice machine must reject the heat it removes from the water, plus the compressor's own heat. The condenser does that job. An air-cooled condenser uses a fan to blow room air across the coil; a water-cooled condenser passes water through a heat exchanger; a remote condenser puts an air-cooled coil outdoors.

Side-by-side comparison

Air-cooledWater-cooledRemote air-cooled
Installation costLowestLow to medium (water + drain)Highest (line set, roof work)
Water useOnly for iceIce water plus condenser waterOnly for ice
Heat into the roomYesVery littleVery little
Output in a hot roomFalls noticeablyStableStable (depends on outdoor air)
Noise in the roomFan noiseQuietQuiet
Best forVentilated rooms up to about 30 °CHot, cramped rooms where water is cheapLarge machines, kitchens already too hot

How heat affects output

Ice machine output is usually published at moderate conditions, about 21 °C (70 °F) air and 10 °C (50 °F) water. In a 32 °C (90 °F) room with 21 °C (70 °F) water, air-cooled machines commonly lose 20–30% of their rated output. If your ice room is hot, either choose a larger air-cooled machine, improve ventilation, or move to water-cooled or remote condensing.

The water question

Once-through water-cooled machines send condenser water straight to the drain, and that water volume can be many times the weight of ice produced. Some cities and utilities limit or ban once-through cooling, so check local rules. Water-cooled machines connected to a closed-loop chiller or cooling tower avoid most of that waste.

Decision guide

  1. Is the room ventilated and below about 30 °C most of the year? Choose air-cooled.
  2. Is the room hot and small, with cheap water and no local restrictions? Consider water-cooled.
  3. Is the machine large (roughly 450 kg / 1,000 lb per day and up) or the kitchen already overheated? Choose a remote condenser.

Further reading

Quick answers

Which is cheaper to run, air or water cooled?
Usually air cooled, because water-cooled machines add water and sewer cost. Water cooling can win where electricity is expensive, water is cheap and the room is very hot.
How much clearance does an air-cooled ice machine need?
Typically about 15–20 cm (6–8 inches) at the air inlet and outlet. Check the spec sheet for each model.
What is a remote condenser ice machine?
The condenser sits outside, usually on the roof, connected by refrigerant lines. Heat and noise leave the room, and output stays stable without using water for cooling.
What is an air cooled condensing unit?
An air cooled condensing unit combines the compressor, a finned condenser coil and a fan in one assembly. The fan blows room or outdoor air across the coil to reject heat from the refrigerant. It is the standard heat-rejection method on most ice machines, walk-in coolers and display cabinets because it needs only power and airflow, with no water supply or drain.
Is an air cooled ice machine better than a water cooled one?
Neither is better everywhere. An air cooled ice machine is cheaper to buy and install and uses only the water that becomes ice, so it suits rooms that stay below about 32 °C (90 °F) with good ventilation. A water cooled machine is better in hot, enclosed rooms where airflow is poor, provided local rules allow its extra water use.
How much ice does an air cooled ice maker lose in a hot room?
Output is usually rated at 21 °C (70 °F) air and 10 °C (50 °F) water. At about 32 °C (90 °F) air and 21 °C (70 °F) water, an air cooled ice maker typically produces roughly 15–25% less ice. That is why sizing guides divide daily demand by 0.75–0.85 when the machine will stand in a warm or hot room.
How much water does a water cooled ice machine use?
Besides the water that becomes ice, a once-through water cooled ice machine sends condenser water to the drain, often in the range of about 380–750 litres per 45 kg of ice (100–200 US gallons per 100 lb), depending on model and water temperature. Some cities restrict or ban once-through cooling, so check local codes or use a closed-loop or remote air cooled option.
When should I choose a remote condenser ice machine?
Choose a remote condenser ice machine when the ice maker sits in a small, hot or customer-facing area such as a bar or kitchen line. The condenser is mounted outdoors or on the roof, usually within about 15–30 m (50–100 ft) of line run, so heat and fan noise leave the room while the machine avoids the water use of water cooling.
Can an air cooled ice machine be installed in a closet?
Only if the closet is ventilated. An air cooled ice machine rejects roughly as much heat as a small space heater while it runs, so a closed cupboard quickly overheats, cutting output and stressing the compressor. Keep the stated clearances, add louvred doors or extraction, or choose a remote condenser or water cooled model for enclosed spaces.