Express Water Heavy Metal Whole House Water Filter Review

How It Works

To consistently produce high quality cubes of clear ice, the Whynter UIM-502SS Ice Maker relies on a two-stage process [3].

Stage 1) Freezing Cycle: During the freezing cycle, the high efficiency compressor pumps refrigerant, while a small internal fan motor blows air, and the water pump circulates the water. When the sheet of ice has been fully formed, the ice maker stops the freezing cycle and begins stage two, the harvest cycle.

Stage 2) Harvest Cycle: During the harvest cycle, the compressor continues to operate but the water pump stops. The hotgas valve opens, diverting hot refrigerant gas into the evaporator. The hot gas warms the evaporator, causing the cubes to fall, as a unit, off the evaporator and into the storage bin. When all the cubes are harvested, the freezing cycle restarts.

In total, the complete ice making cycle can take 15 to 40 minutes, depending on water temperature and ambient conditions.

Installation
Designed for free-standing, recessed, or built-in installation, the Whynter UIM-502SS requires adequate ventilation to function properly. It should never be enclosed, for example, in a cabinet while operating.

The user manual provides clear instructions for all three types of installation. You’ll need to position the ice machine near an electrical outlet, with unobstructed access to the water supply, ie, your kitchen faucet. A drain line and water hose with standard connections are included to facilitate the installation.

Be sure to keep the unit level once you finally have it installed. If you do run into problems, you’ll find the company’s customer support line is actually responsive and helpful!

Construction Quality
At seventy seven pounds, you can feel the sturdiness and quality of the components. Housed in a stainless steel casing, the UIM-501SS ice maker also has a brushed stainless steel door.

Internal components include:

• Distribution Tube: directs water into the ice mold
• Ice Mold: produces 32 large ice cubes
• Water Trough: holds water from your tap
• Float: prevents flooding of the tank
• Ice Bin:store up to 25 pounds of ice cubes
• Hot Gas Valve
• Compressor
• Built-in Fan And Condenser

The stainless steel door is reversible, allowing you to switch the opening direction from left to right or vice versa. You only need to remove some screws on the hinges of the door, and switch them to the other side. Step by step instructions are provided in the user manual to help you.

Performance
When you’re shopping around for an ice maker machine, you’ll inevitably come across two types. They both do the same thing but use different methods to varying degrees of complexity.
A drop cut ice maker produces a sheet of ice, which is then dropped onto a heated cutter. Then, there are whole sheet ice makers, such as the Whynter UIM-502SS, which pumps water over a cold mold, producing a single frozen sheet of ice.

Typically a drop cut ice maker machine has more moving parts than a whole sheet ice maker. This makes them noisier, more delicate, and less reliable, in our opinion. The Whynter UIM-502SS has a straightforward mechanical design that eliminates the need for a thermocouple or heated cutter.

One of the most impressive features of the UIM-502SS is how relatively low-noise it is. Since it pulls such low current and doesn’t have any thermal components, it’s much quieter than a drop cut types of ice maker. There’s a pump for directing the flow of tap water through the machine but it produces a reasonable level noise while its operating.

Operating the unit is straightforward:

1. Turn on your water tap and allow the water to fill.
2. Switch the ICE/OFF/WASH switch on the front panel to the ICE position. The ice maker should start working automatically.
3. After three minutes, the machine will automatically switch to the ice making stage. You should hear the sound of flowing water as it is pumped into the ice mold.
4. Once the first batch of ice is fully formed, ice will automatically be harvested to the ice storage bin below. You’ll hear the ice cubes fall into the bin and the machine will shut off.

The ice making cycle will start again once the ice cubes are removed or melted. At that point, the ice-full probe swings back to the operating position. When the ice storage bin is full, the sheet of ice cubes won’t fall completely and will hold the ice-full probe open. This prompts the machine to stop making ice.

Durability
In the case of the Whynter UIM-502SS, a single sheet of ice is formed in the cold mold, and then dropped into the bin. Instead of thermocouple, the machine uses a mechanical lever that is depressed by the last sheet to fill the bin. As a result, this ice maker can perform quickly, quietly and consistently day after day without wearing out its internal components or compromising quality.

Cleaning And Maintenance
Since the Whynter UIM-502SS doesn’t require an internal pump to move the water to the drain pipe, there’s much less maintenance to worry about. The brushed stainless steel exterior resists smudging and retains its attractive appeal with little cleaning required.

A removable ice bin can be quickly rinsed clean with soap and water to reduce the risk of contamination. If you suspect your tap water isn’t safe, have it professionally tested and invest in a quality water filtration system. This will certainly improve the quality of your ice cubes and reduce wear and tear on the machine.

There are 5 components that need to be cleaned and maintained regularly for the best results:

Interior: The ice storage bin should be sanitized occasionally. Clean the water trough before the ice maker is used for the first time and reused after stopping for an extended period of time.

Exterior: The door and cabinet may be cleaned with a mild detergent and warm water solution such as 1 oz. of dishwashing liquid mixed with 2 gallons of warm water. Do not use solvent based or abrasive cleaners.

Condenser: As stated in the user manual, a dirty or clogged condenser prevents proper airflow, reduces ice making capacity and may lead to component failure. Have the condenser cleaned at least once every six months.

Water Distribution Tube: If you find that the ice cubes are incompletely formed or the output of ice cubes is low, the water distribution tube may be blocked. You’ll need to gently remove the tube, clean it with a brush and reattach it securely.

Ice-making system: Depending on the level of hardness in your tap water, minerals that are removed from water during the freezing cycle will eventually form a hard scaly deposit in the water system. Cleaning the system regularly will help remove the mineral scale buildup.

Check out: Reviews of The Best Whole House Water Filters of 2024

On the back of the machine you’ll find the drain outlet and water inlet. Hoses are provided for each, as well as directions for connecting them to your water supply. A professional plumber can easily ensure your connections are secure and reliable.

Positioning the Whynter UIM-502SS will take some consideration. You’ll want to install it in the most convenient way so that you can easily access it, while having access to your waterline from the back of the unit. The drain line also needs access to an adequate drain source such as your kitchen sink. For these reasons, it’s recommended that you install this unit under counter.

With periodic maintenance of the key components and a proper installation, your Whynter UIM-502SS Stainless Steel Built-In Ice Maker should last you for years.