Reviewing New Air's Nugget Ice Machine! 44lbs Of Ice A Day!!!!!

[@mslaquinta1]

Making my 1st batch now & you have the only video I've found that answered my question about needing to dump & freeze ice made or store in bucket. Thank you so much

[@jethrobodinetull]

I'm so blessed to live across the street from a Sonic.

[@bretts1]

Can you do a video on cleaning it and any hidden areas inside that grow mold. I use 3 21 pound bags of store ice every two weeks. I also get bottle water for my dispenser. So it be run it bag a couple large bags and put in freezer. At 200 watts one would not want it running all the time unless a house full of folks using it.

[@ponchosalazar]

I used to do the same, putting the ice on the freezer after the machine gets full. The problem is that the ice comes out wet and when it freezes out you get a “block” of ice that you need to break afterwards

[@henryburchett8892]

How does the shape compare to opal and which would you buy? I got the GE opal version 1 for around the same price (but I also got the water tank which gives the opal a leg up imo)

[@midnyte13]

I love my opal…..2.0….the best nugget style ice

[@brenle2426]

There is a water tank with this one but it’s on top instead of on the side like opal. I have both and the only thing better about the opal is that you can install a water filter plus with the water tank being on the side you could place the opal under a cabinet. The Frigidaire being on top needs clearance to remove the tank or you would have to always pull the unit out. They both make great comparable ice.

[@mauricewilson930]

I love pebble ice with nice drink after a long day of work when I get home reflect on my day

[@boozeontherocks]

Great review Leandro, I could definitely use something like this .

[@PrincePalmUwU]

I drink juices more than soda and thats a plus. Thank you i am sold!

[@TheTribalBarGuy]

Since Christmas is still far away I will add this to my Wish list for now. Great review as always. Cheers guys!

[@NancyTitterud]

My Newair lasted a year, too expensive for that short a lifespan!

[@freepour]

oh no. Did you leave it on all the time? Did you clean it? We haven't tried it for a long time, but our Opal is 4 or 5 years at this point and going strong. But we only turn it on when we need to make ice.

[@rochellerochelle8398]

Mine is starting to leak after owning it for 10 months.

[@smokeytiki3185]

Hi Leandro- Thanks so much for doing this video! Is it fairly easy to maintain? And does it have clear instructions on maintenance?

[@freepour]

Yes instructions are clear and it’s very easy to maintain but you do need to be consistent to ensure that it works for a long while. I don’t keep mine constantly running and I drain the water between uses to stave off mold. I also run a 5:1 water/bleach solution through the lines every month

[@wiseforce7045]

Hi there... Thank you so much food this video.... ❓ Though....... When you said you started it in the morning about 8:00 and in about an hour was half full does that mean that then in 2 hours it would be completely full?

[@freepour]

It takes about 90 minutes to fill there’s a bunch of startup stuff that needs to happen when it first turns off such as dropping the internal temp to make the ice so the first half takes a little longer than the second

[@wiseforce7045]

@@freepour Wow you're awesome ! 👍 Thank you so much for taking a moment to reply ......., very appreciated ! 🙏 Stay kind and blessings to you ! 😊

[@MixingUpTiki]

Great review. When I was looking for a pebble ice machine, I didn’t even realize there were different options other than the Opal.

[@freepour]

There weren’t for a long time but now there are :)

[@MikeTrieu]

I've just received shipment of my unit and went though the requisite disinfection and flushing with HOCl and distilled water. And now I'm sitting in front of it on a Saturday morning listening to the sounds it's making. As other people have noticed, the ice making operation is quite loud with occasional staccato snapping noises. This is not the sound of the ice nuggets hitting the bin below. It sounds more like a high-torque blade shearing through the ice to cut off pieces of the ice. That already tells me that the texture of the Newair is much denser than that of he Opal. Other KZbinrs have observed the same as he owns both. This isn't the same fluffy, crunchy texture as the Sonic ice, it just mimicks the shape of it. I might have to return my unit 😮‍💨

[@MixingUpTiki]

@@MikeTrieu thank for the review.

[@ctwiggs]

Fantastic! My current machine is a warranty replacement for one that lasted two years. When this one dies in a few months, which I expect, I think you have found a better replacement!

[@freepour]

what brand was your old machine?

[@ctwiggs]

@@freepour hOmeLabs

[@Ms11kk11]

My Opal died in less than 2 years. There's no warranty and you're out of luck. I'd be better off going to Zaxby's/Sonic and buying their ice by the bag.

[@quatha]

this video with youtube subtitles "whats up guys and welcome back to barf life"

[@freepour]

The barf life report

[@MrMoney331]

I feel like you said it is $200 less than competitor but also right in the same range as competitor. Looks pretty nice though.

[@freepour]

yes, the Opal is on sale right now so I think the difference is just $50. $100 if you use coupon and buy it directly from Newair

[@ocelliotts]

I think he was meaning $200 less then the GE Opal's which are still around $650 (though there are some sales on refurbished or older model 1's) and then the second reference is to standalone counter top ice makers that make square, cubed and regular ice. those are more in the $250-$450 range. This and the Opal are the top two specifically "nugget" style ice makers that I'm aware of.

[@nancyeveritt6495]

The nugget/pebble ice from a commercial Scotsman Nugget Ice Machine is very pourous and instantly easily chewable, unlike crushed ice from a refrigerator/freezer ice maker. Is the ice from this NewAir Ice Maker closer in consistency to crushed ice or the pourous chewable ice from the commercial Scotsman? Same question about the Opal, please?

[@freepour]

I’d say it’s more akin to a Scotsman Machine’s pebble

[@nancyeveritt6495]

@@freepour thank you!!

[@MikeTrieu]

@@freepour Wait wait wait. I'm going to have to stop you there. That's not been my experience with this Newair machine. The pebbles feel as dense as regular cube ice. It's only the reduced volume that allows it to fracture more easily on the teeth. It's nowhere near the Opal or the commercial Scotsman. In other words, it's not really the "good ice", it just makes tiny ice cubes (and not very consistently-sized, at that). My model is the NIM044BS00.

[@ocelliotts]

@@MikeTrieu I agree. I've heard this machine produces harder "like ice" nuggets not soft nuggets like the Opal's which are easier to chew and less harsh on your teeth.

[@Bozemanjustin]

Bro! I had no idea this existed. I stick my ice in a bag and hit it with the ice Basher 3000 I would love uniform iced nuggets

[@jeremydunn8559]

The container isn't refrigerated for a reason, the ice constantly melts to keep it from sticking together. Pretty much all standalone ice machines do the same. Transferring it to your freezer does keep it, but also will cause it to freeze together a bit. Not a big deal, but explains why it constantly melts.

[@freepour]

Yeah I’m not really a saying it should be any other way but the constant unfreezing and refreezing will result in the nuggets becoming smaller and smaller over time. Not a massive consideration but just something to note

[@mikelemoine4267]

I address this by removing the bag within the first 15-30 minutes and giving it a smack on the counter. The ice will only be starting to stick together so it's easy to break it up. By then, the ice is no longer wet so it won't clump back up on you. A little extra work, but it saves you a hassle trying to break up a block later.

[@Ward_Savage]

How has this machine faired after using it for several months? Does it need a lot of upkeep or does it break randomly? I was thinking of getting one for my mom and I don’t want the Opal since many reviews say it breaks within a few months.

[@freepour]

We have not been using this regularly. We do however use the Opal, and we have for several years now and it's been great. But, we don't keep it running 24/7. We only run it when we need to make ice, and then we keep that pebble ice in the freezer. And we clean it on a regular basis. And with that is has been running flawlessly for over 3 years.

[@Ward_Savage]

@@freepour Thank you! I will keep this in mind!!

[@lcamphor7259]

We have had ours just over a year and it has stopped making ice

[@ClaySherwood]

I have one and I took it apart to clean it very good because we was getting black ice .Got it all back together and I forgot how the water tubes go can you help me with pictures

[@MrMoney331]

Also if you had to choose, you choosing the New Air or the OG Opal?

[@freepour]

if we had to choose right now, hmm. Probably the Newair. it makes ice faster, and the sleek black might look better (and no finger prints) plus save $100

[@MrMoney331]

@@freepour Welp time to throw mine in the trash. Lol. JK it works great but good to know there is a competitor out there!

[@weinermug]

After making the pebble ice, what's the optimal way to store it in a freezer?

[@freepour]

Yeah I put it in the freezer in either a plastic container or a ziploc bag

[@aznfootballplayer]

@@freepour great review. I just bought this ice maker. Stored a good amount in my freezer in an open air empty container and the pebbles ended up sticking together. Any tips on how to keep the pebbles just like how they come out of the maker itself?

[@mikelemoine4267]

@@aznfootballplayer Go back about 15 minutes after putting the bag in the freezer and just tap it on the counter once or twice to break it up. It won't be a solid block yet, but will be frozen enough that it won't be sticky when you put it back in the freezer. Works well for me!

[@Melody-285]

Just an idea - when I get a bag of ice from Sonic, I transfer it into styrofoam cups with lids & keep in the refrigerator - it doesn’t freeze this way - melts a little but will actually last for a couple of days

[@Leola-q6d]

Mines thin capsules only dumped once. Y it's a Frigidaire slow making

[@ernieforni3221]

Thanks for the review. I have always wanted to add a pebble ice machine to my home bar.

[@noahkohn9350]

Do you have any recommendations for small form clear ice ice-makers? Like the small, clear ice I can buy at my supermarket?

[@alexandreblracing]

Awesome review. I'm still waiting for a pebble ice maker that makes clear ice.

[@AndeyKurniawan]

is it dual voltage? 230V?

[@AICJ1991]

Is the Pebble ice it produces clear ice?

[@TainakaRicchan]

The melting and refreezing is very typical for ice that is stored just around 0°C/32°F, because, when Ice melts, it cools the surroundings, and the newly formed water is now below 0°C/32°F and freezes again. this has not nececarily anythign to do with the cooling or inuslation, but this may combound it, but is completely normal. This effect is why streets get so incredibly slippery around 0°C/32°C with light snow.

[@freepour]

Yeah it’s just not great for storing ice for cocktails.

[@MikeTrieu]

@@freepour Why would you need to store the ice at all? It regenerates a fresh layer the moment it senses there's enough melted ice water in the reservoir. Just keep scooping from the top and you'll never run out of fresh ice.

[@MrStickman13579]

got a pebble ice machine for about 300 and love it. worth it in my opinion if you can blow 300 lol

[@moeeds54]

can it be used for a small coffee store?

[@freepour]

Don’t see why not!

[@narayanasarneboina5194]

price

[@nathangreenberg3683]

So jealous I live in a small apartment so I have nowhere to put this but have dreams of owning one one day

[@mrc6182]

$550! Surely you jest! Same unit, labelled Insignia (Best Buy), currently $320.

[@freepour]

This is an old video and many more copycat units have come out since

[@One-Day-After-Another]

Here's what bugs me about these ice machines making ice.......then you transfer it to the ice bin in your main freezer... now all of the ice in the bin in the freezer is stuck together... It's sort of a learning curve... I take the ice bin out of my main freezer when it's full.. I get a butter knife and slightly break free and stir the ice loose then quickly put the bin back in and it's fine....doesn't take very long I just wish I didn't have to do this. I start with refrigerated water that's reverse osmosis so the waater is always cold...and the ice doesn't look the least bit melted when I transfer it to the freezer... but it is slightly "wet"... I think that's why it sticks.

[@kingssing]

is the ice clear or cloudy?

[@freepour]

its the same as all the other nugget ice, a little opaque

[@sherrysullivan3495]

It's nice to know that you're the only one that knows what crushed ice is and what terrible ice is it's good to know that there's one person that knows all that

[@carl_busch]

Great review. I want one for our house so bad.

[@justinrodriguez234]

How would the ice nugget size compare between this, the Opal, and Sonic ice? I really want to buy one but would love some insight to size. I think smaller pellets are way nicer 🙂

[@freepour]

Pretty consistent and very similar. Maybe a little bigger than the Opal Nuggets

[@justinrodriguez234]

@@freepour thanks so much! That’s really helpful ☺️

[@miksologia]

Like the machine and the review but a question arises: If thew pebble ice melts a little (i.e. is wet) in the machine and you then put it into your freezer, won't the wet ice freeze into a big chunk of ice in your freezer and be hard to use?

[@freepour]

yes, but you can use am ice pick or a maybe a fork to separate them. but try to leave them in the machine too long before transferring to freezer if you don't plan on using them right away.

[@jimewelsh]

Mine is really loud. I've had it about a week

[@MikeTrieu]

Yeah, that's the common complaint with this unit. This slick video failed to mention that aspect. Maybe just return it and get the cheaper Wamife nugget ice maker instead. That one has a better ice texture, isn't nearly as loud, and even has a more sensible separate basket (compared with lifting the entire "door" assembly like this model).

[@sassyantique5016]

I cant get my power light to go off. Help. Maybe im doing something wrongq?

[@MikeTrieu]

If by "go off" you mean "stop blinking" then there's no way to do that other than pulling the plug. Yeah, I found that annoying as hell, too.

[@joelramirez9431]

I just use my yeti and buy the ice at Sonic when I need it. Way cheaper

[@Cloudlover23]

Does it run off of batteries?

[@freepour]

No you plug it in

[@MikeTrieu]

Not by itself, but you could always plug it into a portable AC battery if your camping or something.

[@michaelagudelo9900]

If only we can get this in Australia:(

[@Deucehoru]

Eyes are warm, thank goodness cause I can't get the facade of ICU metal a 'hair' in my eyes is frustrating

[@bradjohnson3073]

Have had this unit about 3 months and it recently started making a loud squealing noise. Anyone else?

[@ocelliotts]

Is yours this brand or the GE Opal nugget ice makers, as they are known to do that. I'm very curious about this as well. My GE Opal 2.0 has been squealing and I've done 4 things to try to fix it with no remedy. It won't squeal for about half a day then starts again. I was looking at this one but if it does the same think I might just stick with the Opal as I like the fact that it's nuggets are softer than this one.

[@bradjohnson3073]

@@ocelliotts I this NewAir model. They replaced mine under warranty and so far the new unit hasn’t had any issues.

[@ocelliotts]

@@bradjohnson3073 That's awesome they replaced it. I've noticed almost all ice makers start to make the squealing eventually (typically just before 2 years). I hope yours does not and lasts you a long time.

[@rickradcliffe]

Is this the same ice as Sonic?

[@freepour]

Yeah pretty much. The sonic is made by a Scotsman machine which is a commercial version of a nugget ice maker

[@MikeTrieu]

It really isn't comparable. I don't know why this channel makes it out to be so (although, free gifts tend to skew perceptions). It's the same density as normal ice, just shaped liked tiny cubes. You're better off getting the Wamife (yeah, I know) nugget ice maker, even though it doesn't hold nearly the same volume of ice as this Newair. Another KZbinr I trust said the Wamife has a nearly indistinguishable mouth feel to Sonic ice and his previous Opal (which died in less than 2 years).

[@LindenRanch]

44 or 24?

[@MikeTrieu]

44 lbs. But that's about the only thing good about it. It's loud, doesn't produce ice like Sonic, and costs more than other units that actually do. Save your ducats and look elsewhere.

[@knightingify]

He obviously hasn’t used this very long and experienced the loud squealing, knocking, and other issues these cheap motors start making after a couple months. Unless you can put these things in a butlers pantry, garage, or other closed room, you 100% will be pissed off by the noise.

[@freepour]

That is true, we didn't put this through a long test. We have been using the Opal for 5 years and it's running flawless. But, with any machine like this you should not be running it all the time. We just make a round or two of ice and put that in the freezer and re-up when we need to

[@kevinvitale8980]

Thanks for the review, but not what I'm looking for.

[@KyleenDrake]

If it doesn't keep the ice cold then it's not worth it. Next!

[@freepour]

it does, but its not insulated like a freezer so it will get wet and melt a little. But these machines aren't really built to be on permanently. That will reduce the lifespan. We make a batch of ice and freeze it.

[@KyleenDrake]

@@freepour I bought one like it. It's not worth it. They make them where the ice stays frozen and doesn't half melt and I might like them. These small countertop ones, nope. Not worth it!

[@vicharlottejuarez6203]

Fail. I bought this machine based on your review. DUDE..ITS SO STINKIN LOUD! I can't stand 1 more minute of this machine.

[@freepour]

we never keep the machines running. Just to make a few rounds of ice to keep in the freezer

[@lennybuttz2162]

If you get the machine for free that is your payment so technically you are getting paid for doing this review and you are supposed to claim the worth of the product as income on your taxes. It seems like every ice machine only makes this pebble crap or the bullet shape which probably melts even faster than the pebbles. I wonder if there are any countertop ice machines that make actual normal sized ice?

[@freepour]

what do you consider "normal sized" ice?

[@lennybuttz2162]

@@freepour Cubes that 1.5 inches to 2 inches.

[@BJ-wo4mi]

New air isn’t to good of a company

[@jamming8519]

So, you just run your mouth for 5 and a 1/2 minutes and never show it actually making ice? Gee, that sounds legit!

[@MikeTrieu]

@@theheadofrichardnixon7252 No, he has an excellent point. The reason why he didn't run the machine in the video is because he doesn't want you to know the loud noises this thing makes as it's cutting the little cubes of ice off into the tray. Also, it's only that loud because the ice it produces is so dense. The cracking sound as the blade pushes through it is because it requires a lot of energy to induce a fracture. Just imagine what that feels like on your teeth!

[@ChristianCalson]

Looks ugly and cheap.

[@ieyeofday]

Pebble ice addict here....looking into bringing my obsession home so I can stop dragging my family to gas stations and keeping empty refill cups rolling around in my car.🧊👀❤😊