How to Store a Countertop Ice Maker for Winter, a Trip or a Move
Between uses, toss the ice and drain the reservoir if the machine will sit more than a day. For winter or a move, clean it (one BLITZ tablet, two Clean cycles, a fresh-water rinse), drain every drop at the drain plug or cap (usually on the bottom or the back), dry it 24 hours with the lid open, and store it upright indoors, above 0 °C. To restart, let it warm up, stand it upright for an hour, clean and rinse again, and throw out the first batch of ice.
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In this guide
The cottage is closing, patio season is over, or July 1 is coming. Unplug a countertop ice maker with water in the base, push it into the garage, and in May you get a slimy reservoir, or a machine that spent a Québec winter with ice in its pump.
This guide is for countertop and portable ice makers you fill by hand (NewAir, Igloo, Frigidaire, GE Profile Opal, Euhomy and similar), not the ice maker in your fridge.
Away for a weekend or a week: do you need to drain it?
Yes, if it will sit for more than a day. These machines don't keep ice frozen: it melts back into the reservoir and the same water gets pumped around again. Frigidaire's manual says to remove the ice and drain the water after each use. NewAir and Igloo say to change the water every 24 hours. GE says to drain the Opal when it's off for more than a few days, such as a vacation.
| Away for | What to do |
|---|---|
| Overnight | Nothing special. Change the water once it has been in for 24 hours. |
| 2 days to 2 weeks | Turn it off, toss the ice, drain it, wipe the basket, leave the lid open. |
| A month, the season, a move | The full routine below: clean, drain, dry 24 hours, store. |
How to store a countertop ice maker, step by step
You need: one BLITZ tablet, a shallow pan or towel, a soft cloth, about an hour of work and a day of drying.
- Stop it and toss the ice (5 minutes). Turn it off, empty the basket and unplug it. GE and Igloo both say to unplug the unit when it's not in use.
- Clean it before it goes away (about 1 hour). Igloo says its nugget ice maker should be cleaned before storing. Fill the reservoir with cool drinking water, add one BLITZ tablet, run the Clean cycle twice, drain, then run one cycle of fresh water. Wash the basket and scoop in warm, soapy water. Details in how to clean an ice machine.
- Drain every drop (10 minutes). Open the drain plug or cap (brand list below) over a sink, pan or towel and wait until nothing comes out. Then put the plug back so it doesn't get lost, as Igloo's steps say.
- Dry it for 24 hours, lid open. Wipe the reservoir, walls and basket with a soft cloth. Igloo says to keep the lid open and let the unit dry completely for 24 hours before storing. Dry the drip tray too: GE notes that water left there can leave deposits.
- Pack it. Scoop and manual in the basket, cord coiled loosely, lid resting ajar, machine upright, somewhere above freezing.
Tip: Stick a note on the lid: "Cleaned, drained, dried, October 20." In spring you'll know it needs a quick restart clean, not a rescue.
Why clean before storage? Whatever stays in the reservoir sits there for months. These real photos from the BLITZ product page show a countertop ice maker reservoir with brown residue and standing water around the drain and filter, then the same reservoir after cleaning.
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Where is the drain plug on a countertop ice maker?
Almost always low on the back or underneath. What each manual says:
- NewAir (ClearIce40, NIM044 nugget): a drain cap on the back. For the ClearIce40, NewAir says to plug it in without starting it, since a valve holds the water in otherwise, then remove the cap and wait a few minutes.
- Igloo (IGLICEBSC26 and nugget models): a drain plug on the bottom of the unit.
- Frigidaire (EFIC countertop series): a plug at the bottom of the reservoir. Slide the machine about 60 mm past the edge of the counter, then open it.
- GE Profile Opal (1.0 and 2.0): two drain hoses at the back. Unhook them, lay them down into a sink or bucket below the machine, remove the plugs, and put the plugs back when it stops flowing.
- Euhomy (IM-F): a cap on the back with a silicone plug inside. Like NewAir, plug it in without starting it, open the cap and wait a few minutes.
Where to store an ice maker in a Québec winter
Our advice: indoors, upright, somewhere that stays above 0 °C: a closet, a heated basement, a spare room. Not an unheated garage, a shed or a cottage closed until May.
None of the manuals we read gives a storage temperature. They agree on draining and drying it completely before a long break, and Silonn adds "Store in a well vented area." NewAir, Euhomy and Frigidaire warn that a unit brought in from the winter cold needs a few hours to reach room temperature before you plug it in. Their working ranges sit well above freezing: 7 to 32 °C for Igloo, 13 to 32 °C for the Opal.
Why we say above 0 °C: water expands when it freezes, and even after a careful drain a little can stay in the pump, the tubing or the water valve, where you can't see it. A heated spot takes that risk off the table. Frigidaire also says not to run its machines below 5 °C, and GE says the Opal is for indoor use only.
Careful: Don't seal a damp machine in a plastic bag or its box. Trapped moisture is what turns a clean reservoir musty. Dry it first, then cover it loosely against dust.
Before a move (July 1 included)
- Drain it a day or two ahead so it's dry before it goes in a box or a truck.
- Keep it upright. Frigidaire says never to tilt it more than 45° in transport or turn it upside down, and to let it stand 2 hours before powering on if it gets knocked over. NewAir and Euhomy say "do not tip over." Frigidaire's reason: tipping can make the compressor or refrigeration system work incorrectly.
- Pack the basket and scoop separately and tape the lid shut.
- Two people for the big ones. GE recommends two people to move the Opal 2.0 (37.6 lb, about 17 kg, empty).
New place? Our July 1 move-in cleaning checklist covers the other appliances.
How to restart an ice maker after storage
- Let it warm up. If it was somewhere cold, give it a few hours at room temperature before plugging it in (NewAir, Euhomy, Frigidaire).
- Let it stand upright for an hour. NewAir, Igloo and Euhomy ask for one hour before the first plug-in so the refrigerant can settle; Frigidaire says 30 minutes after a move. None gives a wait for a machine that simply sat in a closet, so an hour upright is our rule: it covers both.
- Check the plug and the parts. NewAir lists a drain plug that isn't in place as a cause of leaks. Make sure the filter screen and basket are in.
- Clean and rinse again. Dust and stale air get in over a few months: one BLITZ tablet, two Clean cycles, drain, one fresh-water cycle.
- Fill with fresh drinking water. On a cottage well? See our guide to testing hard well water.
- Throw out the first batch. The BLITZ product FAQ suggests it after cleaning, "to be extra sure." The first cycles run slower while the unit gets cold, NewAir notes. Then change the water every 24 hours.
Ice still tastes stale? See why countertop ice tastes bad. A leak, a damaged cord or a compressor that won't start is a job for the maker's service line.
Why BLITZ for the storage clean
- One tablet, and no vinegar smell to rinse out of your first ice.
- About $2 a season: one tablet before storage, one at restart. $24.95 for 24 tablets is about $1.04 a clean; the rest covers your regular cleans every 1 to 2 months.
- For countertop and portable ice makers. Not for ice makers built into a fridge or freezer.
- Rated 4.9 out of 5 (13 reviews) on goblitzclean.com, including one who runs it in the ice maker at the trailer almost every weekend.
- A Québec company in Laval, service in French and English. Free shipping in Canada from $40 ($7.95 below), most orders in 2 to 3 business days, 10% back in store credit, 30-day money-back guarantee. Also on Amazon.ca.
Frequently asked questions
Can I store a countertop ice maker in the garage?
Only a heated one, in our view. No manual we read gives a storage temperature, but an unheated Québec garage spends weeks below freezing, and any water left in the pump or tubing can freeze there. NewAir, Euhomy and Frigidaire also say a unit brought in from the cold needs a few hours to warm up before you plug it in. A closet or a heated basement takes the risk away.
How long should an ice maker dry before storage?
24 hours with the lid open, per Igloo's manual. Wipe the reservoir, basket and drip tray first so it dries faster.
How long do I wait to plug in an ice maker after moving it?
About an hour, upright (our rule). NewAir, Igloo and Euhomy ask for one hour at first setup for the refrigerant to settle; Frigidaire says 30 minutes after a move, or 2 hours if it was tipped over. If it came in from the cold, let it warm up for a few hours first.
Can I store an ice maker on its side?
No, keep it upright. Frigidaire says the cabinet should never tilt more than 45° in transport or use, NewAir and Euhomy say not to tip it over, and Igloo warns against turning it upside down. If it did end up on its side, Frigidaire says to stand it upright for 2 hours before powering it on.
Should I throw out the first ice after storage?
Yes. The BLITZ product FAQ says to throw out the first batch after cleaning, to be extra sure. It costs next to nothing and your first drink gets fresh ice.
Read next: How to clean an ice maker, step by step · Why countertop ice tastes bad
Sources: owner's manuals for the NewAir ClearIce40 and NIM044, Igloo IGLICEBSC26 and IGLICEND40SS, Frigidaire EFIC series, GE Profile Opal 1.0 and 2.0, Euhomy IM-F and Silonn SLIM01, GE Appliances' Opal draining page and the BLITZ Ice Machine Cleaner product FAQ, checked October 20, 2026. NewAir, Igloo, Frigidaire, GE Profile, Opal, Euhomy and Silonn are trademarks of their owners. BLITZ is not affiliated with them.
PUT IT AWAY CLEAN, BRING IT BACK FRESH
BLITZ Ice Machine Cleaner
One tablet in the reservoir, two Clean cycles, then a fresh-water rinse. Breaks down limescale and mineral buildup in the water lines of countertop and portable ice makers. 24 tablets, $24.95, about $1.04 a clean. Not for fridge ice makers.
