Scotsman Ice Machines for Home

The three Scotsman CU models

All three are 15 inches wide, air-cooled and 115V. Specifications from each product page.

Which one for your home?

CU0715MAX-1: the everyday choice

The CU0715MAX-1 makes the most ice of the three (80 lb/day, 53 lb on a hot day) and holds 36 lb, the largest bin in Scotsman's 15-inch range. Medium cubes are full-size, slow-melting cubes that suit every drink. It is the right choice for a family kitchen, a busy home bar, a basement entertaining space or a small office.

CU0415MAX-1: the lowest price

The CU0415MAX-1 uses the same 36 lb bin and the same medium cube at a lower price, with less output (60 lb/day, 40 lb on a hot day). For a household that needs 15-30 lb a day, it's plenty, and the big bin covers a party if you start it early.

CU50PAX-1: gourmet ice and no floor drain needed

The CU50PAX-1 makes Scotsman's gourmet cube, about 1 x 1-1/8 x 1-1/4 inch, a dense, slow-melting cube that looks premium in a rocks glass. Two features make it especially suited to homes:

• Built-in drain pump with a 10-ft drain tube, so it can pump meltwater up and out to a sink drain where there's no floor drain.
• UL approved for outdoor use when installed and operated within Scotsman's specified conditions, so it suits outdoor kitchens.

It also has a water-quality sensor that detects hard-water conditions, and it purges mineral-laden water with every harvest to keep cubes clear.

Features all three share

From the product pages:

• Front-breathing cabinet that needs very little side clearance (Scotsman recommends a minimum of 1/8 inch), so it can be built in flush between cabinets.
• An intuitive control panel that shows operating status.
• A unit-specific QR code on the CU0415 and CU0715 that links to service manuals, cleaning instructions and warranty history.
• R290 natural refrigerant.
• Standard 115V power.

Installing a Scotsman CU at home

1. Measure the opening. The cabinets are 15 inches wide. Check depth and height against the installation drawing, including legs, and your toe-kick.
2. Power: a dedicated 115V outlet behind or beside the unit.
3. Water: a cold potable water line with a shut-off valve. Water pressure must be 15-80 psig for the CU0415 and CU0715.
4. Drain:
5. CU0415MAX-1 and CU0715MAX-1 need a gravity drain below the machine's drain outlet, or a separate drain pump kit.
6. CU50PAX-1 pumps its own water out through the included tube.
7. Temperature: operating air 50-100°F and water 40-100°F (CU0415 and CU0715). Avoid unheated spaces in winter.
8. Water filter: a Scotsman AquaPatrol Plus AP1-P, or a compact inline filter, protects the machine and improves ice clarity.

How much ice will you actually get?

The rated output is measured at 70°F air and 50°F water. In a warm kitchen or outdoor space in summer, expect the 90°F figures:

For a party, turn the machine on a day ahead so the bin is full, and bag extra ice into a freezer the day before.

Heat and noise

These are air-cooled machines that release heat at the front: about 1,500 BTU/hr for the CU0415MAX-1 and 2,300 BTU/hr for the CU0715MAX-1. In a kitchen, that's similar to a small space heater on low. Keep the front grille clear so the machine can breathe; a blocked grille means less ice and more noise.

Running costs

Warranty for home installations

The CU0415MAX-1 and CU0715MAX-1 product pages list 3 years parts and labor on all components for qualifying commercial installations. Scotsman often lists different terms for residential applications (the B322S bin, for example, lists 1 year parts and labor for residential use). Check the CU50PAX-1 and the current residential terms on the product page, or ask us, before installing at home.

Scotsman CU vs other 15-inch options

See all 15-inch undercounter ice makers and residential ice makers.

Cleaning and care

• Clean and sanitize at least every six months; follow the instructions linked from the QR code.
• Clean the air filter every month or two.
• Change the water filter on schedule.
• The CU50PAX-1's water-quality sensor and harvest purge help, but hard water still needs regular descaling.

See how to clean an ice maker.

Planning a home bar around a Scotsman CU

Example: a kitchen island with a wet bar. The family uses about 15 lb of ice a day and hosts 25 guests once a month. The island has a 15-inch gap between cabinets, a sink drain at counter height and no floor drain.

• Everyday use (15 lb) is easy for any of the three models.
• Party day: 25 guests at about 1.5 lb each is about 38 lb, a little over one full bin.
• Drain: with no gravity drain, the CU50PAX-1 is the simplest choice because its built-in pump pushes meltwater up to the sink drain. The CU0715MAX-1 would need a separate drain pump kit.

If the homeowner prefers medium cubes and more storage, the CU0715MAX-1 with a pump kit holds 36 lb and makes 53 lb on a hot day, enough to refill the bin overnight before a party. If they mostly serve cocktails, the CU50PAX-1's gourmet cube is the better ice, and they can bag a few pounds into the freezer the day before.

Choosing a water filter

Scotsman's medium and gourmet cubes are only as clear as the water you feed them. A filter with a scale inhibitor:

• Reduces chlorine taste and odor so ice doesn't flavor drinks.
• Slows scale on the evaporator, which keeps production up and service calls down.
• Protects the CU50PAX-1's drain pump and water-quality sensor from sediment.

For these machines, a compact single-cartridge system sized for low flow is enough. Scotsman's AquaPatrol Plus range is listed in Scotsman water filters. Change the cartridge on the schedule printed on the housing, typically every six months, and sooner in hard water.

Vacations, winter and idle periods

Homes often leave an ice machine idle for weeks. Before you go away:

1. Turn the machine off and unplug it if you'll be away for more than a week or two.
2. Empty the bin and wipe it dry, leaving the door slightly open so it doesn't smell.
3. Shut off the water supply to the machine.
4. If the space could freeze, drain the water lines. Ice machines are not designed to sit below freezing, and a cracked water valve is an expensive repair.

When you return, clean and sanitize before making ice again, and discard the first batch.

Simple troubleshooting

For anything involving the refrigeration system or electrical parts, call an authorized Scotsman service agent.

Why Scotsman for a home?

Scotsman has built commercial ice machines for decades, and its compact CU line brings that equipment down to a 15-inch cabinet. For homeowners, the practical advantages are:

• Front breathing, so the machine can sit flush between cabinets with as little as 1/8 inch of side clearance.
• Large bins for the width. The 36 lb bin on the CU0415MAX-1 and CU0715MAX-1 is the biggest in Scotsman's 15-inch range and larger than most household units.
• Service support. Scotsman has an authorized service network, and the QR code on the CU0415 and CU0715 links straight to the manuals and cleaning instructions.
• A choice of ice. Medium cubes for everyday drinks, or the CU50PAX-1's gourmet cube for cocktails.

The trade-off, as with any commercial machine, is that you should confirm the residential warranty terms and plan the drain before you buy.

Medium cube or gourmet cube?

If most of your ice goes into soft drinks, water bottles and coolers, choose medium cubes. If most goes into cocktails, the gourmet cube is worth the lower output.

Common mistakes

1. Choosing the CU0415 or CU0715 with no drain. They need a gravity drain or a pump kit.
2. Installing outdoors without outdoor approval. Only the CU50PAX-1 is listed as UL approved for outdoor use.
3. Blocking the front grille with a kick plate or panel.
4. Expecting the rated output on a hot day.
5. Assuming commercial warranty terms apply at home.

Related collections

• Scotsman undercounter ice makers and all Scotsman ice machines
• Residential ice makers and built-in ice makers
• Outdoor ice makers and gourmet ice makers
• Guides: best ice maker for a home bar, outdoor ice maker buying guide