More than 60 million plastic bottles are disposed of daily, and I don’t need to go into details on the shocking adverse effects of plastic waste on our environment.
Sadly, according to studies, tap water is also not clean and safe for drinking. You’re already aware of this, and probably that’s why you’re here, trying to reduce your footprint and enhance the quality of your drinking water.
Luckily, there are several excellent solutions to minimize plastic waste, including a water dispenser significantly. It’s best to run your drinking water through a dispenser to eliminate all harmful and toxic substances in your water.
But with many options, you probably got overwhelmed and needed a quick guide and reliable recommendation to save you from the stress of going through the endless options on the market.
You’ve come to the right place. We’ve expertly handpicked the top 3 best water dispensers with ice makers. Also, a buying guide section ensures you make an informed decision. Quick overview:
Best Water Dispenser With Ice Maker Reviews
1. COSTWAY 3-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser with Built-in Ice Maker
Coming with an elegant, sleek design available in either silver or black, the COSTWAY is a classy one to add to offices, homes, or any public space. This model is super powerful and has a sturdy construction guaranteeing extreme durability.
The COSTWAY 3-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser sports top-loading options, making it easy to tell when to refill or replace the water bottle. This model has a smart water barrel seat that is easy to detach for thorough cleaning. Thus, ensuring hygiene and good-tasting water for your household.
Built-in Ice Maker
The COSTWAY is equipped with a built-in ice maker, and this extra feature comes at a hefty price. – about three times a basic top-loading model. But if the built-in ice maker will always come in handy for you, the COSTWAY 3-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser is a better investment than purchasing a separate ice-making machine.
This extra feature boasts 9 bullet ice cubes in less than 14 minutes and has an ice basket to hold up to 4lbs of ice. This machine delivers about 27 lbs daily and automatically stops the ice-making process once it’s full of ice.
Water Dispenser
This model offers three temperature options: room temperature, cold, and hot water, and you can easily choose by pressing one of the three buttons.
Each temperature option has a designated spout to supply the preferred water. The hot water spout delivers extremely hot water to make instant breakfast or hot beverages without hassle.
Water Flow
The cold and hot water dispensers are centered like every other unit, and there is a space beneath both dispensers to slide in the ice basket for ice cubes.
The cool water dispenser offers up to 4 liters per hour, while the hot dispenser provides about 5 liters per hour.
Control Panel
Another impressive thing about this arguably best counter ice maker and water dispenser are its LED indicators which make it easy to know when the machine is running or not and whether it’s making ice, heating or cooling.
Temperature Setting
This 2-in-1 dispenser is equipped with a Tri-temp push button faucet to allow you to dispense room-temperature, cold or hot water with ease. The hot water supply is near boiling point, which makes it perfect for instant beverages and meals.
Energy Star
The COSTWAY 3-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser with Built-in Ice Maker is energy saving, ensuring you don’t have an expensive electricity bill at the end of the month.
Our Thought
Despite having elements and features to make it one of the best ice-making water coolers, this product is easy to use.
It features a space-saving and lightweight design, which means easy storage and transport. The buttons are strategically placed for a hassle-free operation. However, some customers complained it’s a tad noisy.
2. Soukoo 2-in-1 Countertop Water Dispenser w/ Ice Maker (Best for the Countertop)
- 【Water Dispenser Ice Maker 2-in-1】Our countertop ice maker can make 48lbs ice cubes daily, making ice as fast as 6-10 minutes. Three different size cubes makes it perfect for everybody. Water spout can dispense cold water, truly getting ices cubes and cold water within the same machine.
- 【Continuous supply】 Using 2,3& 5 gallon water jugs loading from the top to have continues cold water supply. Melted ice can be recycled and reused for next cycle of ice making. Never run out of ice and cold water with our 2-in-1 machine.
- 【Easy operation】Our machine features an easy operate panel with soft buttons: indicators with light give you clear instruct to operate this machine. Water spout can be extended to dispense cold water and concealed afterwards.
- 【Quite but powerful】Qualified compressor provides ultra quite mode during ice making period, ideal for your living room, bedroom, office, etc. Powerful compressor ensures long decade’s use and never fades out.
- 【Good Quality and Service】Soukoo has more than 10 years of ice machine development experience, with advanced ice making technology, excellent quality. The ice maker comes with a one-year warranty. Enjoy a pleasant shopping experience at Soukoo.
The Antarctic Star 2-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser is another go-to for anyone looking for a classy machine to install in the kitchen, office, or any public space.
This model features an elegant, sleek design to look appealing to the eyes without trading off durability.
It comes in a freestanding model, which means you can install this model just about anywhere you see fit.
Built-in Ice Maker
Moving on, this system features a built-in ice maker with an ice-making cycle lasting from 7 – 15 mins; but that’s not what’s impressive about this built-in ice maker.
This system detects the amount of water left, and if it’s not enough to make ice, it stops the ice-making cycle automatically. Further, it delivers up to 26 lbs of bullet-shaped ice cubes within 24 hours and has a storage capacity of 4.4 lbs.
Water Dispenser
The Antarctic Star 2-in-1 Water Cooler uses the high-density C5H10 foaming to deliver ice-cold water, which is one of three temperature options it offers. This model comes with a Tri-temp push button faucet to dispense hot, cold, or room-temperature water.
Water Flow
This best water cooler with an ice maker delivers about 5 liters of hot water and 4 liters of ice-cold water in an hour. Also, it produces about 9 bullet-shaped ice cubes in less than 7 mins, depending on the room temperature.
Control Panel
Equipped with soft-touch buttons and LED indicator lights, this product guarantees a care-free, simple operation.
Furthermore, the hot water dispenser sports a 2-steps child safety lock for a worry-free experience. This user-friendly child lock is primordial and prevents children from turning on the hot water causing accidental burns.
Temperature Setting
As stated above, this device offers your drinking water in three temperature options. It supplies hot water at 194 degrees F, which is perfect for making instant hot beverages and meals.
Ice-cold water is supplied at a temperature less than 46 degrees F for a chilly drink on a scorching hot summer.
Energy Star
The manufacturer has kept this machine’s energy consumption at the minimum level to prevent high monthly electric bills. Despite featuring an ice maker, this water cooler dispenser is cheap to run.
Our Thought
The Antarctic Star 2-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser with Built-in Ice Maker looks tremendous and delivers incredible performance. Don’t take our word for it; the manufacturer offers a 12-month warranty and 30-day return policy to protect your investment if the product does not live up to the hype.
3. Fooing 3-in-1 Portable Hot & Cold Water Dispensers with Nugget Ice Maker (Best Portable)
- Multifunctional Nugget Ice Maker Countertop - FOOING countertop ice maker machine combined with water dispenser, truly get ices and cold water in the same machine to meet your different drinking needs. With three types, including ice cube, cold water and hot water, you won’t worry you can't enjoy cold drinks/teas/chilling beers/champagne etc in summer.
- Quick Continuous Ice Making - This portable ice maker countertop is equipped with a high-efficient but quiet compressor that gives you 12 chewable bullet-shaped ice cubes in just 7 minutes per cycle, meeting your needs of ice. Besides, this table top ice maker machine can produce 144lbs ice in 24 hours, storing as much as 1.8 pounds of delicious ice cubes at a time, so you can enjoy fresh chilled wine, whisky, beer, juice, soda all day long.
- Continuous Water Supply - This counter top ice maker comes with a 3L water tank that can use 2,3& 5 gallon water jugs loading from the top to be filled for a continuous water supply or manually filled to minimize how often you need to refill it. The build-in basket holds 2.6lbs ice , enough to keep drinks cold all day long.
- Smart Countertop Ice Machine - The ice machine maker holds an LCD display and is designed with touch buttons to make the portable ice maker easier to use. By touch the button, you can get ice cubes, cold water or hot water. And the indicators light clearly indicates when it needs more water or when the ice bucket is full. The countertop nugget ice maker has a water tanks below the ice basket, and the melted ice can be recycled and reused for next cycle of ice making, no need to drain it.
- Ideal for Home/ Office Use - Size of tabletop ice maker is 16.9 x 10.9 x 18.8 inches, convenient and compact, this small ice maker looks good on a countertop while producing ice for whenever or wherever you need it. 45db sound level, the FOOING portable ice machine ensures a quiet environment and is ideal for your living room, bedroom, office, etc.
With a unique combination of robust plastic top and stainless steel body, the Fooing 3-in-1 Hot & Cold Water Dispensers with Nugget Ice Maker is indeed built to serve you for many years.
This model comes with removable water and ice separator and ice storing plate to add to its already-impressive easy maintenance. This water dispenser works well for any water bottle from 2 – to 5 gallons.
Built-in Ice Maker
What’s more? This built-in ice maker can detect the amount of water left, and if it’s not sufficient to make the ice, it automatically stops the system.
It has an ice-making cycle that can last up to 15 mins. This system can make a whopping 44lbs of ice within 24 hours and store up to 4.4 lbs.
Water Dispenser
This product offers hot and cold water at different spouts with colored codes to take out the guesswork. It is a top-loading model, making it easier to know the amount of water you’ve left and when to refill or replace the water bottle.
Water Flow
This machine delivers hot water at 5 liters per hour and cold water at 4 liters per hour. This means an almost instant supply of hot or cold water to suit your needs.
Control Panel
The Fooing 3-in-1 Hot & Cold Water Dispensers’ control panel has LED indicators to make it easier to know the current operation: ice-making only, hot water, cold water only, or cold water and ice-making at the same time.
More so, it features a warning indicator to let you know when there is no water to make ice or the unit is already filled with ice.
Temperature Setting
This best water dispenser with an ice maker from Fooing offers hot water at a temperature higher than 90 degrees C and cold water below 8 degrees C. the hot water is close to the boiling point, making it perfect for making breakfast or whipping up some beverage to get your day started.
Energy Star
This system runs on a 500W heating element and supplies cold water-consuming 160W, which is relatively low compared to other models flooding the market.
Our Thought
The Fooing 3-in-1 Hot & Cold Water Dispensers with Nugget Ice Maker offers lots of perks that should keep your household hydrated. Plus, it’s compatible with any gallon size from 2 to 5, which takes out the guesswork and guarantees it’s a perfect one for your family.
What to look for When Buying a Water Dispenser with an Ice Maker
Capacity
Most bottom-loading and top-loading at-home water dispensers are built to house up to 5-gallon water bottles. Even the smallest model will hold at least 3-gallon of water. You want to stick with machines offering a large water capacity to reduce how frequently you’ve to take out and refill, especially a top-loading home dispenser.
Even better, you can settle for bottle-less drinking water dispensers to deliver endless supplies since they are connected to the waterline.
Ease of Use
Water dispensers are naturally straightforward and simple-to-use devices. However, some models feature a sophisticated design that requires a learning curve, which might take from a couple of hours to days. No one gets paid to understand a sophisticated system, so there’s no point splurging on a model that requires long hours to familiarize with.
This does not translate to choosing a less functional device. There are several high-performing models that are hassle-free to use. So before opting for a water dispenser, ensure you understand the complexity or simplicity.
Energy Efficiency
Most water dispensers are constantly on, which guarantees instant access to ice, cold and hot water at any time. This ensures you don’t have to sit and wait for a hot water supply or extra hours for ice. However, you don’t want a device that consumes a lot of energy while switched on. Thus, it’s best to settle for an Energy Star rating.
Also, if you only need a hot water supply in the morning to make cups of coffee or tea, then you should consider models designed to run its heating function only in the morning while leaving the refrigerator and ice-making machine functional throughout the day. This way, you can minimize energy consumption and cut costs on monthly energy bills.
Temperature Features
These machines are equipped with different water heating and cooling abilities. There are models built to heat your drinking water to a near boiling point, while others feature a refrigerator or a built-in ice maker to deliver ice-cold water or ice cubes.
The temperature range a water dispenser can offer depends on the cooling and heating technology they employ. You can not tell how well a unit will perform when dispensing extra-hot, ice-cold or room temperature water by merely looking at the machine.
Therefore, it’s best to check out other customers’ reviews about the water dispenser. This is the best way to determine how reliable a water dispenser is.
Safety Features
Most products offered at the present feature these characteristics, as you’ll see in our reviews below – and here’s why it’s essential. By now, you should have figured out that your charming little ones love to play with any device with buttons and lights.
Thus, it’s advisable to go for a water dispenser with child safety locks to prevent them from operating the machine. This ensures your kids don’t scald themselves by turning on the hot water.
Household Size
Moving on, the best water dispenser to opt for should also depend on your household size. If you’ve got a large family or often have friends over, you want to stick with water dispensers that hold up to 5 gallons of water. Else, you’ve to deal with refilling the machine frequently.
The best way to make the right pick is to assume each person drinks a gallon of water per day. Therefore, a family of 3 will consume about 3 gallons of water in a day. Smaller households don’t have to change or refill their water bottles because of their relatively low daily water consumption.
Available Space to Put It
Most water dispensers feature a space-saving design, usually 10 to 12-inch wide. However, some products can be up to 40 inches high, which isn’t perfect for people without floor-to-mid wall space. Countertop models are designed for people with lots of free kitchen counter space.
While most people prefer to install their water dispensers in the kitchen, you can choose to install these devices in a dining room, study room, or anywhere you have space and are easy to access.
Maintenance
Regardless of the type of water dispenser you own, there are specific maintenance instructions, such as filling the machine with a cleaning solution, draining the system periodically, removing the contaminants or scales, and many more to keep the product functional.
For bottom-loading or top-loading water dispensers, you will have to refill or replace the water bottle from time to time. How often you have to maintain a water dispenser depends on your water consumption. Also, products with filters require constant maintenance, usually once in six months, to ensure your water tastes good and is safe to drink.
Associated Costs
After the hefty upfront cost, most water dispensers except the countertop version have a series of associated costs. If you are looking to purchase a top or bottom-loading dispenser without a filter, it’s best to use bottled mineral water which can be costly in the long run.
What’s more? The number of filters the water dispenser uses determines the cost of replacing the filters. Most water dispenser coolers feature two filters: an activated carbon filter and a sediment pre-filter. However, keep in mind that these filters are replaced once every six months and are priced at about $50.
How Does a Water Dispenser With an Ice Maker Work?
The ice maker is an extra feature attached to a water dispenser to offer a constant supply of ice cubes. This system features a collection sump to pour water over the ice tray slowly, which is gradually frozen to create clear ice.
This built-in function usually has up to 15 minutes of ice-making cycles depending on the ambient temperature.
Benefits of Water Dispensers With Ice Maker
Let’s take a quick look at a couple of compelling reasons to purchase a water dispenser with an ice maker, shall we?
Better Tasting Water
One of the many reasons why people are dehydrated is the unpleasant taste of the water sometimes. Although water is tasteless, impurities in the water supply make it taste – usually awful.
Here’s where a water dispenser comes in handy to filter out the underlying culprit for better-tasting water without potentially harmful substances.
Convenience
The water dispenser offers clean, filtered water in both cold and hot temperatures instantly. This eliminates the hassle of frequent visits to your supermarket for a crate of plastic water bottles.
These machines are designed to give convenient access to pure water in the comfort of your home or office.
Environmentally friendly
There are bottleless models designed to deliver clean, good-tasting water without having to resort to bottled water bought at the store.
This way, you can reduce your footprint and attenuate plastic waste. With a water dispenser, your water goes through the same treatment received by bottled water, which means you will get high-quality drinking water without stocking up on plastic bottles.
Temperature Options
Most water dispensers offer filtered water in two options – cold or hot. This function provides users with more flexibility. And even better, models with a built-in ice maker offer ice to use for your cold drinks on a scorching hot summer.
Further, these products cool the hot filtered water to ensure the nearly-boiling water does not damage the water filters.
Easy to Refill
A water dispenser does not require a constant refill, which is one of the best perks it offers. The countertop design can be connected to your main water line for an unlimited supply of filtered water. However, the bottom-loading and top-loading water dispensers require you to take out and refill large water bottles when empty.
This task can be exhausting with the top-loading versions, which demands you lift the heavy bottle upside down, which requires precision and strength. But this isn’t an issue with the bottom-loading water dispensers, as you have to slide the water bottles in place.
Cost savings
Water dispensers are a go-to for many people for many reasons, but usually, it’s their cost-saving ability. While it might be a hefty up-front investment, users can quickly save back the initial cost.
If you spend more on water bottles every week, then the at-home water dispenser is the best way to save more.
FAQs
Will I Require a Water Filter on my ice Dispenser?
Most water dispensers and ice makers won’t require a water filter to work; however, some models need a filter bypass to function.
I just bought a water cooler, should I clean it before using it?
It’s not a bad idea to clean and disinfect your unit before using it if you don’t feel comfortable using it straight out of the box.
How cold is the Water Dispensed by Water Coolers?
Coldwater dispensed is usually below 50 degrees F.
Do ice Makers keep ice Frozen?
An ice maker is not a freezer and, as such, will only keep ice frozen for a short period.
Conclusion
Our top pick for the best water dispenser with an ice maker is the COSTWAY 2-in-1 Water Cooler Dispenser with Built-in Ice Maker. This unit is an excellent option because of its high quality, price, and features. If you are in the market for a well-built model that sits perfectly on the floor, then this unit is the way to go.
Also, you might be better off with the Northair Hot & Cold Water Dispensers with Ice Maker if you are still not sure how much water your household consumes. This premium machine supports any water bottle from 2 – 5 gallons to meet your household drinking water needs.
Above all, these systems are backed by a decent warranty that shows the manufacturer’s high confidence level. Plus, they are equipped with a child safety lock feature to prevent your children from scalding themselves accidentally.