After about a week with this product, it certainly does what it is supposed to do: produce about 2 full bins of ice in 24 hours ( about 12 pounds).
It was shipped to Hawaii, and delivered without a scratch either on the unit or on the box. Let it sit upright for 24 hours, so the refrigerant could expel any air bubbles.
Once you uncrate, check the door seal: you can look at all 4 sides and check that the door is not warped. You can also check by closing the door on a dollar bill and attempting to "slide" the bill up and down: you should have moderate to hard resistance along the entire gasket. If you do not, the unit may stay on excessively to compensate for the cold that is lost due to the door not properly sealing against the inner surface.
Installation:
If you have done some plumbing, but have little to no experience with compression type fittings, call a plumber "friend" or a licensed plumber for assistance with installing the water line. I have had experience installing compression fittings.
You will have to remove the back grate ( 4 screws-easy) to expose the 1/4" male thread, which sits at an angle protected by a splash guard.
Looking at some of the other reviews, I went to Home Depot, and purchased more 1/4" compression rings ( copper) as well as a copper fitting, only to find that those fittings do not fit the provided 1/4" tubing...well, they "fit", but way too tight, so I ended up using the parts provided: sleeve, female fitting and Delrin( plastic) compression ring. Be SURE to point the NARROW end towards the end of the tube, and DO put your nut and plastic compression sleeve on the tube BEFORE you insert the metal sleeve inside the tube! I used a small amount of pipe joint compound around the male threads on the ice maker. Tighten to 5lbs or less torque ( gently), and no leaks occurred.
I am using RO water from my Premier h2o RO-PURE RO unit, so I installed a push to connect Tee on the 3/8" plastic line, then a turn off valve, then uses the 1/4" tubing provided with the ice maker. Give yourself a generous length: enough to be able to pull the unit OUT of your install space to service, if necessary.
Operation:
Once I verified no water leaks, I fired up the unit, and within 3 hours I had enough ice to cover the bottom of the bin. I followed the suggestion to discard that ice, and started from scratch. 12 hours later ( or a bit less) I had a full bin of ice! I have found that, contrary to some other observations, this unit does NOT vent from the front! While the compressor is on, you can put your hand to the back of the unit, and feel the fan exhausting air. It does INTAKE from the front, so definitely keep that clear! How often it goes on will depend on how many times you open and close the door, as it does with any freezer, refrigerator, or ice maker, and it will determine if it ices up, and how often you will need to defrost ( it has a drain on the lower righthand side of the unit. You can turn OFF ice production manually by raising the sensor bar, or you can let the accumulated in the bin do that. The unit temperature knob was set to halfway, and that's where I kept it. It seems to keep the ice frozen: no water or defrosting from ice stuck together in the bin.
Conclusion:
The unit works very well, and imho, it is better to use it with filtered or RO water, as it will cut down maintenance over the long run. I also sprung for the two year additional warranty: cheap for an appliance!
If your needs are for more than 12 pounds of ice in 24 hours, better be ready to spend north of $1000, and have a floor drain installed!
For two people in a high humidity (Hawaii) environment (No A/C), this unit produces MORE than enough ice in one bin for a day. I have turned off ice production, and the ice ( over two days) has stayed frozen: no sticking, but the ice produced is NOT clear, if that matters to you.
Most of the issues owners were having I have noticed occurred in units purchased a few years ago. The "kit" comes with a metal(copper?) sleeve, metal (copper?) compression nut and a Delrin ( plastic) compression fitting, and it worked first time. Very Pleased!
| Brand | SPT |
|---|---|
| Model Name | SPT IM-150US Stainless Steel Undercounter Ice Maker with Freezer, No Drain Required |
| Product Dimensions | 18"D x 15"W x 25"H |
| Capacity | 6 Pounds |
| Wattage | 112 watts |
| Voltage | 115 Volts |
| Refrigerant | R600a |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Brand Name | SPT |
| Model Info | IM-150US |
| Item Weight | 55 pounds |
| Item model number | IM-150US |
| Installation Type | Undercounter, Built-In |
| Part Number | IM-150US |
| Special Features | No drain required, Reversible door, Equipped with powerful freezer inside |
| Color | Gray |
| Defrost | Manual Defrost |
| Material Type | Stainless Steel |
| Included Components | Ice maker, ice scoop, water line, user manual |
| Batteries Required? | No |
