GE OPAL01GENKT Profile Opal | Countertop Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank | Portable Ice Machine Makes up to 24 lbs. of Ice Per Day | Stainless Steel Finish

The GE Profile Opal Nugget Ice Maker has been an absolute game-changer in my daily life, and I'm giving it a solid 5 out of 5 rating. Despite a minor noise issue, it consistently delivers the perfect nuggets of ice that I simply can't live without.Ice Perfection, Day and Night:I use this ice maker heavily, consuming 3-5 glasses of ice per day, and it has truly become an indispensable part of my kitchen. The quality of the ice it produces is nothing short of exceptional. The nuggets are perfectly sized and have that delightful chewable texture that elevates any drink.Regular Cleaning for Peace of Mind:With heavy use comes the need for regular cleaning, and I agree that it can be a bit of a chore. However, the peace of mind that comes with knowing I'm enjoying clean ice is worth the effort. The stainless steel construction makes cleaning a breeze, and it adds to the overall aesthetic appeal of the machine.Reliable and Aesthetically Pleasing:As a long-time admirer of the GE brand, I had high expectations, and this ice maker has not disappointed. Its reliability is top-notch, and it lives up to the reputation GE has built over the years. The stainless steel finish not only makes it easy to clean but also adds a touch of elegance to my kitchen.Convenient Side Tank and Water Alert:The addition of the side tank is a brilliant touch. It makes refilling the water reservoir a breeze, and I appreciate that I'm always aware of when it's time to add more water. It's these thoughtful features that truly set this ice maker apart.Three Years of Excellence:I purchased this ice machine three years ago, and it has been a consistent performer since day one. It has become an integral part of my daily routine, and I can't imagine life without it.

Update: The original product definitely had problems, but I was finally contacted by GE customer service and described how bad the warranty replacement machine I received in March was. Apparently, GE is now taking care of the complaints instead of "On-point" (I don't understand the relationship, but anyway...). GE has sent me a new Opal 2 machine. This is a newer version than my original machine. I did not get any warranty with this new machine (original warranty ran out in July) and GE provided the shipping label to return my rebuilt one. I feel that at least they've made an honest effort to address the problem.Original unit started making loud noise and finally quit working after 5 or 6 months (small fan inside the unit quit running). I had always performed the suggested maintenance. Shipped that one back and received a warranty replacement which was a rebuilt unit. The replacement seemed to work well and again, I would power off the unit, let it set for an hour and then do the descaling every month. Maybe the 2nd time I let the unit thaw, I found an orange fluid underneath dried to the countertop. I assumed someone spilled something and it ran under the ice maker. That happened a couple more times. Finally, about a month ago I found the orange puddle again with brown granules floating in it. Since the warranty period ended in July 2023, I thought I'd look inside the machine to see if the orange puddle was coming from the ice maker. It sure was - the inside bottom of the unit was full of a rusty sludge and mineral deposits coated a lot of the mechanism above. I have to believe that the replacement unit sent to us was leaking from the beginning and they were hoping that it would continue to work at least till the warranty ran out. I sent them a note about this via their trouble ticket system, but no word. I know warranties run out, but spending hundreds of dollars for something that didn't work more than 4 or 5 months and then receiving a warranty "replacement" that made ice that's potentially contaminated seems a bit underhanded.

I brought ours a year ago to replace a much cheaper unit that didn't live up to expectations.In contrast, this unit produces plentiful amounts of wonderfully crunchy ice without any of the mold build up I found in unit it replaced. Cleaning and use has been a snap.However it's is not a fire and forget unit. If one doesn't clean it, it will complain with a groaning noise that will wake the dead. Take the once every month cleaning recommendation seriously. This is done by setting it to a clean cycle with a vinegar and water mix. I run it four times, let it set overnight and then run it twice more in the morning with plain water.You could do the cleaning with a bucket to empty the unit, but I found it easier to just set by the kitchen sink. That way I don't have to move it around as it's not the lightest appliance.Another maintenance issue is a motor inside the unit and that is more painful. It needs to be oiled now and then (so far about every 4 months) or again, grinding noises that are very undesired. Such noises indicate significant wear to me, so it must be dealt with.You have to remove the back plate (9 screws plus 2 on the top panel to free the backplate). The motor is on the left if you're facing the back and has visible fan on top. 3-in-1 oil or a spray equivalent at the join of the fan and motor does the job here.That may sound like a lot, and I'm sure it may gave some doubts on dropping the $$$ this unit costs. But if one is willing to do the work, the reward is all the wonderful ice that one could want. I've had it keep up with the needs of a half dozen people coming over for visits.