GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker XPIO23SCSS, Stainless Steel (Renewed)

WORKS GREAT UNTIL IT DOESN'T THEN CLEAN. This is a great little machine. It produces nugget ice. The ice goes into a hopper, as the ice melts if mixes with the other water in the reservoir and continues to make ice. Result, once you put the water in you don't have to do anything else and ice will remain in the hopper until you take it out. You should follow the suggested cleaning regimen from the manufacturer, but who does. Eventually it will quit making ice. (About every 6 months). At that time unplug it and allow it to defrost overnight. The next day drain the unit. On the back you will see two hoses. If you have the additional storage tank one of the hoses will be connected to that. If not, the two hoses dead into a plug on the top of the machine. Simply unhook the hoses from the top and lay them into the sink and the unit will drain. After you get it drained and reattached the two hoses fill the reservoir back up with a mixture of hot water and bleach (you can use something else but i like bleach because it cleans well and you can tell when it is out of the machine because you won't have bleachy smell, see below. I usually use about a cup of bleach with the water in the reservoir. This is probably too much, but it suits me.) Now that you have the bleach mixture in the reservoir press and hold the button next to the power button on the front top right of the unit. A clean light will come on. Run it through the clean cycle several times. When it is finished drain the unit as described above. After that, run another cleaning cycle with a smaller amount of bleach. Drain, reattach the hoses, fill up with water, then drain, then reattach the hoses. Fill up with water again and turn on the ice. With each batch throw it out if it smells like bleach until all of the bleach is out of the unit. Then you have ice for another 6 months until you have to do it again.

Don’t buy. They make loud noises and quit making ice.

I own two different GE Profile Opal nugget ice makers, and I have genuine pride of ownership in both of them. They're not appliances I merely tolerate sitting on my counter because they're useful. I LOVE owning them. This stainless steel Opal 2.0 in particular absolutely shines with elegance. It's beautiful to look at, beautifully made and somehow manages to be an even greater joy to actually use throughout virtually every day of my life. After living with two different Opal models, I'm completely sold on the entire series. My recommendation before ordering isn't to compare an Opal against a bunch of ordinary countertop ice makers. It's to compare the different OPAL models and determine which Opal is right for you. That's an important distinction. I genuinely think they're that good. PROS - Absolutely wonderful nugget ice - Gorgeous stainless steel appearance - Up to 38 pounds of ice per day according to GE - Produces up to 1.6 pounds per hour - Large 0.75-gallon water tank - No dedicated water line required - Meltwater gets reused to produce more ice - Illuminated controls - Included ice scoop - Wi-Fi/SmartHQ capability - Automated sanitize and descale functions - Substantial production without an enormous appliance - A countertop appliance I'm actually proud to display THIS STAINLESS STEEL FINISH IS GORGEOUS There's something particularly elegant about this version of the Opal. The stainless steel literally shines. It has the upscale appearance of a premium built-in kitchen appliance while still giving me the convenience of a countertop machine. I normally judge appliances primarily by how well they perform, but when something is going to remain visible on my counter every day, appearance matters too. This is one I actually enjoy looking at. It looks sophisticated, substantial and expensive — and every time I walk past it, there's a little bit of pride in knowing that beautiful machine is mine. Then I open it and remember that it's full of nugget ice. Even better. 😄 THE ICE IS THE REAL STAR OF THE SHOW If you've never experienced this type of nugget ice, it's difficult to explain why people become so obsessed with it. Think Sonic ice, movie-theater ice or the special little nuggets you occasionally encounter at fairs, carnivals and certain restaurants. It's not remotely the same experience as dropping a rock-hard conventional ice cube into your drink. These little nuggets are crispy, crunchy and incredibly satisfying. I personally find them considerably easier and more enjoyable to chew than conventional ice cubes. Of course, that's my experience rather than dental advice — anyone concerned about chewing ice should ask their dentist. But purely from an enjoyment standpoint? This ice is fantastic. I'D HAVE A HARD TIME GOING BACK TO LIFE WITHOUT AN OPAL I originally discovered the Opal series because my refrigerator — including its built-in ice maker — stopped working. For roughly a year, I either went without ice or had to keep spending money and making the effort to bring bags of ice home from the store. Getting an Opal ended that entire chapter. Now ice is simply THERE. I keep water in the machine, and it keeps making the ice I love. After becoming accustomed to that convenience, going back to buying bags of ice or waiting around for conventional freezer trays sounds almost prehistoric to me. THIS THING MAKES ICE FAST With my Opal machines, I've personally seen ice begin appearing in approximately 15 minutes, with a substantial amount available surprisingly quickly and roughly a full batch in around an hour in my experience. This Opal 2.0 is rated for production of up to 1.6 pounds per hour and as much as 38 pounds over 24 hours. Actual production can naturally vary depending upon conditions and use, but speed has never been something I've found disappointing about either of my Opals. I don't find myself standing around impatiently waiting for ice. By the time I remember that I started it, there's generally ice waiting for me. MELTED ICE BECOMES FUTURE ICE — I LOVE THIS DESIGN One of the smartest aspects of the Opal concept is something that may not be immediately obvious to a first-time owner. The ice bin isn't a freezer. Eventually, unused ice begins to melt. But instead of that meltwater simply being thrown away, the system can recirculate it and turn that water into fresh ice again. That feature is brilliant to me. I'm particularly conscious of this because I use bottled or very well-filtered water in my machines to help minimize mineral buildup and scaling. If I'm putting good-quality water into the machine, I certainly don't want it unnecessarily wasted simply because I didn't finish every nugget before it melted. With the Opal, today's melting ice can essentially become tomorrow's fresh ice. THE LARGE WATER SUPPLY MAKES THIS ONE PARTICULARLY CONVENIENT This model's 0.75-gallon water tank is another feature I appreciate. It allows the machine to maintain a substantial supply without requiring a dedicated plumbing connection. I have experience with another Opal configuration as well, so I've seen firsthand how the different reservoir arrangements can affect day-to-day convenience. This is precisely why I encourage prospective owners to compare the Opal models before choosing one. Watch some videos. Look at the different tank arrangements, capacities, footprints and features. Figure out which configuration makes the most sense for YOUR kitchen and YOUR ice habits. But I personally wouldn't let that comparison turn into analysis paralysis over whether to get an Opal at all. I'M STILL NOT HAVING MUCH LUCK WITH WI-FI If I have one recurring disappointment with my Opal experience, it's Wi-Fi. This model supports GE's SmartHQ system for features such as remote monitoring and scheduling, along with compatible voice-assistant functionality. That sounds great. Unfortunately, I've never been able to get the Wi-Fi functionality working properly with my Opals. Would I like it to work? Absolutely. Do I care enough that it diminishes my enthusiasm for the machine itself? Not remotely. I primarily want my ice maker to make phenomenal ice. It does that exceptionally well. Anything involving my phone is secondary. AND YES — AN OPAL CAN MAKE SOME STRANGE SOUNDS I've occasionally heard some pretty unusual noises from my Opals, including a rare grinding-type sound. This has happened VERY infrequently. What's important is that unusual sounds don't automatically mean the machine is destroying itself. The documentation discusses various sounds these machines can make during normal operation and helps distinguish expected operating noises from sounds that warrant troubleshooting. So if you're researching these and encounter reviews saying, "It made a weird noise!" don't immediately assume that's a reason to run away from the Opal. Learn what normal operation sounds like. Obviously, a persistent or genuinely abnormal sound should be investigated, but the rare strange noises I've heard haven't prevented my machines from continuing to perform beautifully. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN MUCH LESS DRAMATIC FOR ME THAN SOME REVIEWS SUGGEST I went into Opal ownership expecting substantially more maintenance than I've actually experienced. I've seen recommendations and reviews that make these machines sound as though you'll constantly be cleaning or descaling them just to keep them operating. That hasn't been my experience. I've had one of my Opals running for approximately four months without the frequent cleaning some people describe, and it continues working like a dream. I strongly suspect my insistence on good-quality water helps. That doesn't mean I'm recommending ignoring GE's maintenance instructions. Quite the opposite. This model includes automated sanitize and descale functions, and owners should absolutely follow the manufacturer's guidance for keeping their particular machine clean and operating properly. I'm simply saying that, in MY household and with the water I use, owning an Opal hasn't turned into the maintenance nightmare I feared. Most of the time, my experience is remarkably close to set it, keep it supplied with water and enjoy incredible ice. IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS This particular listing is for a Renewed Opal 2.0, so buyers should understand that they're not ordering the same thing as a brand-new retail unit. I'd review the specific Renewed condition description, warranty/guarantee and return terms that apply to the unit being ordered. I also strongly recommend using appropriately filtered water and following GE's cleaning and descaling guidance rather than assuming that my relatively low-maintenance experience will automatically be everyone's experience. GE rates this model for up to 38 pounds of ice per day and approximately 1.6 pounds per hour, but those are manufacturer specifications rather than production numbers I've independently measured. And while I personally find Opal nugget ice much softer and more pleasant to chew than conventional cubes, anyone concerned about the effects of chewing ice on their teeth should consult their dentist. Finally, Wi-Fi has been unsuccessful for me personally. If SmartHQ connectivity is a major reason you're considering this model, my experience shows that I wouldn't make the purchase decision solely around that feature. OVERALL IMPRESSION This isn't merely another appliance sitting on my countertop. I have genuine pride of ownership in my GE Profile Opals, and this beautiful stainless steel Opal 2.0 gives me a little extra reason to smile every time I see it. It shines with elegance. It makes phenomenal nugget ice. It's fast. It's convenient. It recycles meltwater back into future ice. It holds a generous supply of water. And it has become part of my everyday life to the point that I would genuinely hate to be without it. After owning two different Opal models, I have no desire to go shopping among competing brands the next time I need an ice maker. If one of mine eventually reaches the end of its life years from now, I'll replace it with another Opal. Period. I don't have anything to gain by saying that. I'm simply someone who spent approximately a year without a working refrigerator ice maker, discovered the Opal series and realized just how much something as seemingly simple as having incredible ice available every day could improve my quality of life. Compare the Opal models. Choose the features and configuration you prefer. Then enjoy having some of the best ice you've ever experienced waiting for you every single day. For me, GE Profile Opal isn't just my favorite line of countertop ice makers. It's the only line I'd personally want to own.

I would not recommend this ice maker refurbished or brand new. When it would make ice, the ice was good but the machine itself wouldn’t work for long. It would leak or constantly go into a defrost mode making it unusable. Returned

Love the ice maker but after just a short time of using it the machine is squealing and making a banging sound Will have to call manufacturer for Troubleshooting

works great

This Ice machine is a pain. It arrived looking brand new but simply will not make ice. I had to Google and try all the “tricks” in the attempt to get it to work properly. All failed. I recommend looking elsewhere for a reliable Ice maker. Do not buy

This is a great machine, however the refurbishment seems to have been rushed. A number of cooling fins on the compressor lines are crushed in. There are bits of shipping plastic stuck between seams of the machine where panels were apparently replaced. These can't possibly be removed without disassembling everything. The ice window on mine is also quite scratched and cloudy, but that's to be expected. I'm quite happy with this unit otherwise. It certainly makes a noise, but I wouldn't call it "loud." The design makes it basically impossible to leak unless you add too much water.