There is nothing more refreshing than enjoying an iced drink on the terrace or poolside. You may want to operate the ice machine as close as possible. Although it may reduce the trip to refill the ice bucket back and forth, it may not be the best idea for your utility budget or the life of the machine.

The following is an overview of how commercial ice machines work and how outdoor activities affect their operation.

Commercial ice maker is a machine designed for use in commercial environments such as restaurants, bars and hospitals. These machines range from the ice maker head you find above the fountain drink dispenser to the countertop version in the hospital. They freeze and distribute ice cubes, lumps or flakes.

Some small ice machines designed for consumers are portable and can be used outdoors temporarily. The portable Newair countertop ice maker can make up to 50 pounds of ice per day, but it is not a commercial machine.

The ice maker must maintain a constant temperature to work properly. This is easier to do when the temperature in the surrounding area is stable and moderate. Commercial ice machines are most comfortable at 70 degrees (ambient air temperature) and 50 degrees (water temperature), although some models claim to work at temperatures up to 110 degrees.

Ironically, the ice maker generates heat when making ice. They need to remove heat to cool the condenser and adjust the temperature of the machine. Heat is transferred from the machine through air or water.

Although there are some commercial ice machines designed for outdoor use (called "yard ice machines"), be careful. Terrace machines are made of high-grade steel and are completely waterproof, but they have some disadvantages.

Some can only produce 10-50 pounds of ice every 24 hours (in contrast, standard under-counter machines can produce more than 300 pounds of ice per day). Considering that each person requires 1-2 pounds of ice per meal (more for ice-heavy cocktails), it may not be enough.

Double check the warranty information of the terrace ice machine, because if you use the machine outdoors, most of the warranty will not be established. This is counterintuitive because they are designed for outdoor use.

Exposure to temperature fluctuations and outdoor dirt will slow down the production and harvest of ice, so your machine is unlikely to run at full capacity. It is also more likely to need repair.

Especially in dusty areas, the harvested ice is more likely to become dirty or smelly.

The ideal condition for the ice machine is to be indoors and the temperature is relatively stable (between 50-70 degrees), preferably with air conditioning.

If you insist on keeping the ice machine outdoors, it is best to place it in a temperature-controlled shed or garage.

You can also build a housing for a free-standing machine to prevent it from being exposed to the natural environment.

Rachel Boller is a contributor to BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company whose mission is to help simplify your buying decisions and save you time and money.

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