Specifications
Technical Specs
From the manufacturer documents
Whynter IMC-490SS diagrams from the manual
Extracted from the manufacturer documents archived for the Whynter IMC-490SS: parts diagram. The same pages ship inside the documents linked above.
WhynterModel IMC-490SS
Whynter Portable Ice Maker 49 lb Capacity - Stainless Steel - Silver IMC-490SS
Specs as Whynter records them · How our numbers are made
Prices at 1 retailer
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The Whynter IMC-490SS is a free-standing ice maker with a stainless steel finish. This portable unit is designed to produce ice and features built-in ice-making functionality. The model carries the designation IMC-490SS and is manufactured by Whynter as part of their ice maker product line.
This appliance is suited for users who need a dedicated ice-making solution that can be positioned independently of other kitchen fixtures. As a free-standing unit, it requires appropriate countertop or floor space and access to power. The portable design allows for placement in various locations within a home, though specific space and electrical requirements should be verified before purchase to ensure proper fit and operation.
Price history
10 readings · hover or use the arrow keys to read one
10 displayed prices since May 2026; prices shown only in a retailer’s cart are never guessed.
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The Internet’s Verdict
Fridge.com analyzed 23 owner reviews and 4 video reviews of the Whynter IMC-490SS.
70%positive
3.8★ weighted·across 23 ratingsHow We Score It
Gathering the reviews
We continuously collect owner reviews and public discussions from major retailers and community forums, de-duplicate them, and set aside anything we can’t tie to a verified purchase.
Calculating the average
Averaged across every source we found (Amazon, AJ Madison, and other retailers). Each source counts in proportion to how many ratings it has, so a store with thousands of reviews moves the number more than one with only a handful.
✓ Updated regularly · No manufacturer input
What owners talk about most
- Ice maker — mentioned in 16 reviews· 3.9★
- Overall noise level — mentioned in 7 reviews· 4.7★
- Water line / connection — mentioned in 6 reviews· 3.2★
“Wow ! we are so enjoying having this ice maker ! Set it up and it went right to work. We wanted the water hookup because the ice maker in our fridge went out and I didn't want to buy a new refrigerator. No regrets, we love it !”
Owners Answer
The questions shoppers ask, answered from real owner reviews and discussions across the web — not the manufacturer spec sheet.
How much ice does this ice maker produce, and how long does it stay frozen?Based on 3 owner mentions
Reviewers consistently report that this unit produces ice quickly and in large quantities—one owner notes approximately 45 lbs per day. The ice stays frozen solid for extended periods due to strong insulation, which is a major advantage over smaller countertop models. Most users find the capacity sufficient for regular household use and entertaining.
Does this ice maker have a water line hookup option?Based on 4 owner mentions
Yes, this model includes an optional water line connection feature. Multiple reviewers specifically praise the autofill capability, which eliminates the need to manually refill the water reservoir and is cited as a major convenience upgrade over previous models.
How quiet is this ice maker?Based on 2 owner mentions
Reviewers report that the unit operates quietly. One owner specifically notes it "does not make too much noise," and another describes it as "nice and quiet." It is suitable for home and social settings without being disruptive.
What are the dimensions, and will it fit on a standard countertop?Based on 2 owner mentions
This unit measures 15 inches wide, 17 inches tall, and 17.3 inches deep, making it compact enough for most countertops and suitable for home, beach house, or outdoor use. Reviewers describe it as portable and practical for various settings.
What should I know about the water reservoir and fill sensors?Based on 1 owner mention
The unit has water level sensors positioned near the top of the reservoir. If you plan to use the ice maker without a direct water line hookup, be aware that the usable reservoir capacity is limited by the sensor placement—the ice basket will cycle off before the full reservoir is depleted. Direct water line connection is recommended if you want to avoid frequent manual refilling.
How is the customer service and warranty support?Based on 2 owner mentions
Multiple reviewers praise Whynter's customer service as exceptional, reporting quick response times and effective troubleshooting. The company has replaced defective units and sent replacement parts with detailed installation instructions. Owners report positive experiences when contacting support with operational questions or issues.
Are there any quality or durability concerns I should be aware of?Based on 3 owner mentions
The vast majority of reviewers report reliable performance over extended use. One owner noted rust on an internal screw, and a small number of units have experienced ice tray motor failures—though Whynter's customer service has promptly replaced parts in these cases. Overall, durability is strong, with many owners using the unit regularly for over a year without issues.
Fit & facts
- Measures 15″ W × 17″ H × 17.3″ D, so confirm your alcove and door swing before ordering.
- Currently listed at $409.57 based on the live offers above.
Research done. Amazon has the best price today — $409.57
View DealSpecifications
Technical Specs
From the manufacturer documents
Whynter IMC-490SS diagrams from the manual
Extracted from the manufacturer documents archived for the Whynter IMC-490SS: parts diagram. The same pages ship inside the documents linked above.
Side-by-Side
Quick Comparison
How this ice maker stacks up against close alternatives on Fridge.com.
| Spec |  Whynter IMC-490SS Portable Ice Maker, 49-Pound, Stainless Steel Whynter · IMC-490SS |  Profile · XPIOX3SCSS |  COOLSKI · IM90SX-B |  COOLSKI · IM90BX-B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $409.57 | $549 | $312.99 | $305.99 |
| Width | 15 | — | 19.7 | 20 |
| Height | 17 | — | 32.9 | 33 |
| Depth | 17.25 | — | 14.6 | 15 |
| Color | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | — | — |
| Finish | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Sliver | Commercial Ice Maker-black |
| Top features |
|
| — | — |
| Where to buy | Get Deal | See details → | Get Deal | Get Deal |
What Owners Say
Customer Reviews
18 ratings
Amazon12 reviews · 4.8★ avg
- Great product
Wow ! we are so enjoying having this ice maker ! Set it up and it went right to work. We wanted the water hookup because the ice maker in our fridge went out and I didn't want to buy a new refrigerator. No regrets, we love it !
Becca lynVerifiedJan 18, 2026 - Great Unit at a Great Price
This is our 4th countertop ice maker, and by far the best. The others were much smaller and not as insulated leading to constant re-filling of the water reservoir and my spouse and I fighting over the remaining half-melted ice in the mornings. This unit is well insulated keeping the ice solid for very long periods of time and has a large enough capacity to provide enough ice whenever needed. The autofill feature is amazing, we will never go back to manually filling an ice maker. Great unit and a great value for the price. This unit is also the quietest of the 4 that we have owned.
MattVerifiedJul 17, 2025 - Lots of great ice all day long.
I love this icemaker! I bought it for our beach house where we have lots of guests in the summer. It makes ice quickly and keeps it frozen until we are ready to use it. The quality of ice is great. The capacity is perfect - it rarely runs out as it keeps making ice continuously. It does not make too much noise. I would recommend it to anyone,
Eddie from RaleighVerifiedJun 5, 2025 - It should be reliable.
Currently I am going through an exchange with the company. They said that they are sending out a new one to me. Last week, I had to return it. It never ended up working correctly. When it produced ice, it would clump all of them in bulk and not drop out of the ice Maker. This is just a fluke, because. I had this exact issue Maker for the last 7 years in the unit before, Never did this so I'm sure it will come out fine in the end.
Roger MayfieldVerifiedMar 29, 2024 - Probably the best ice maker
At the cabin, and in the RV we don't have a fridge that makes ice. This thing is wonderful, 8 minutes to at least one cup of ice. Works automatic. Just which it remembered the ice cube size after a unplug/plug power cord operation. Wife loves it, she's 100% American and loves her some ice, me on the other hand, it must be my Scottish heritage - ice is OK but it's not sliced bread...
Kelly SpencerVerifiedJan 11, 2021 - portable ice maker for any occasion.
Product arrived when promised, in great condition and was used for a party of about 50 guests and performed as described beautifully. Would recommend it for home or outdoor use to handle any demand.
John L GoodchildVerifiedAug 1, 2019 - All ice makers are noisy. This one is less so than others
It is not particularly quiet, but the ice cubes don't seem to all fall at once. In general, it seems quieter. The pump isn't as noisy as the NewA*r we had for several years. And the ice cubes don't seem to get caught under the sweep when the water level gets low like our old one. I like the color. The stainless steel has been easy to keep clean so far, compared to the red one we had. It also looks smaller, in spite of being the exact same dimensions. The red one just seemed huge by comparison. I had to get out the tape measure to prove to my husband that the stainless steel was the same size as our old red one. Visually, it is that much less intrusive in the room. I can't say whether it makes more or less ice cubes or whether it meets the amount per day that it says but I did have one of the smaller versions for about a year, in a different brand and it could not keep up with our ice consumption, so by comparison to the 26 pound versions, this model churns out a lot more ice. If you make ice and try to store it in the freezer, you will be needing an ice pick. Like all ice makers of this type, the bullets (cubes) release because hot water is run back through the line to melt them off the tines. So these are wet cubes and will freeze together if stored in the freezer.
Heather W.VerifiedJun 9, 2019 - It uses a significant amount of electricity
I purchased this item as a back up ice maker as well as for when we go camping. I have used it four the past month and am happy with it. Not Estatic. I does not really keep the made ice frozen in the compartment and as a result it all freezes together in one block. When you take the ice out the cubes are dripping water. The cubes are a decent size but the center is hollow. The ice shape reminds me of a finger thimble for sewing. I am not going to send it back but I have some doubts.
flyboyVerifiedJul 28, 2018 - Five Stars
Love the product. Thank you.
Amazon CustomerVerifiedJun 10, 2017 - Cool off AND save money!
Love this ice maker! No more running to the gas station for ice. Makes a glass-worth of ice extremely quickly in the size you choose - small or large. Quiet operation...the only time we notice that it's running is when it dumps the tray of freshly made cubes into the collection bin. Recycles any unused melted ice cubes to eliminate waste. Can't wait for camping season to begin so we can use it in the camper and eliminate the need to repurchase ice for drinks and coolers every day. Cha-ching! :)
MJ1972VerifiedJan 12, 2017 - i love this ice maker
i love this ice maker. Trigger event for the purchase was my gloriously beautiful (in case she reads this) wife sending me to the store for ice @ 10pm when we had some friends over and our freezer ice maker was unable to keep up. I started my research and after about 2 days I had settled on this ice maker. We've had it for the last 2 months through this summer season and visits from our 11 grand children. We no longer run out of ice. Our home is under renovation, and these last 4 days we've stocked a cooler of gatorade for the contractors, and we've never run out of ice.Ok... we let it sit as directed for 4 hours, cleaned it out well. Filled it with water, plugged it in, turned it on, selected medium sized cubes and voila...ice started happening. It really is that simple. The ice is hollow. That's how it freezes so fast. My wife didn't think she would like it, but we both now think it chills the drinks faster. It definitely fits the glasses better than the big clunky stuck together ice coming from our in freezer ice maker. I've never timed it, but it doesn't take 15 minutes for each drop, definitely less..maybe 10? We use when we have a larger than normal demand for ice. Easy plug in...and go.It does make some noise...you can hear when it's running, but it's nothing major. As loud as my central air conditioning system running, and that's not loud. It's an excellent purchase, we've had friends comment and buy them. Easy recommendation... if you need ice...buy this.
BruceVerifiedAug 12, 2016 - Good icemaker!
I've had this for about a week. I was looking for one with a water hookup and this was the only one I could find with pretty good ratings. Thus far I'm very pleased. It's just like a commercial ice maker - continues to melt and recycle if you don't empty the basket. However, it makes ice quickly, but if you then put it in your ice bin just realize you may need to break it up to use since technically it's already melting when you remove it.Follow up. Right after I wrote this review, the front button sticker started coming off - had the unit about a week. Glue apparently is not strong enough. I saw that in another review, but thought I'd take a chance knowing I could re-glue if necessary. I put some contact cement on button sticker and face of machine and made sure the sponge buttons went back in appropriate hole. Works fine after doing that, so I reduced overall stars to 4. Manufacturer needs to make sure whoever makes the stickers for them uses stronger glue.
vb summersVerifiedMay 20, 2016
Convinced? Amazon has it for $409.57
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Product Videos
7Sourced and aggregated by Fridge.com.
5 Best Ice Cube Maker Amazon Review
10 Best Portable Ice Makers 2017
Review: Whynter IMC-490SS Portable Ice Maker, 49-Pound, Stainless Steel
Best Ice maker 2020 | Ice Maker 2020 | Amazing 2020
Honest review after 1yr of use
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Documentation
Manuals & Guides
1Manuals, specifications, installation guides, and other documents available for this product.
Manufacturer documents archived by Fridge.com so links keep working when manufacturer URLs change.
Quoted from the owner's manual
From the Whynter IMC-490SS Owner's Manual
What the owner's manual for the Whynter IMC-490SS states about installation clearances, care and maintenance, and warranty terms — quoted word for word, never paraphrased.
Installation clearances
What installation clearances does the owner's manual specify for the Whynter IMC-490SS?
“When using this appliance in confined spaces, such as closets, be sure to allow proper ventilation to prevent overheating and fire. Allow at least 5” of air space on all sides of the appliance for good air”
Care and maintenance
How does the owner's manual say to clean and maintain the Whynter IMC-490SS?
“The outside of the ice maker should be cleaned regularly with a mild detergent solution, warm water, and use the soft cloth to wipe.”
“Do not use hard cloth to avoid scratching or damaging the surface of the unit.”
“Create a one part vinegar to 10 parts water solution and pour the solution into the water reservoir”
“Dry the interior and exterior with a soft and clean cloth.”
Warranty terms
What warranty terms does the owner's manual state for the Whynter IMC-490SS?
“This WHYNTER product is warranted to the original owner, purchased from an authorized Whynter dealer within the 48 U.S. continental states, for one year from the original purchase date against defects in material and workmanship under normal residential usage.”
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Brand Background
About Whynter
Whynter has carved out a distinctive position in the refrigeration market since its founding in 2006, operating from Brea, California with a clear focus on specialty cooling solutions rather than traditional full-size refrigerators. The brand's catalog of 65 products tracked on Fridge.com reveals a deliberate emphasis on beverage centers, which account for 24 units, alongside 14 upright freezers and 13 ice makers. This product mix reflects Whynter's strategy of serving consumers who need supplemental cooling for specific purposes—whether that means dedicated wine storage across their nine wine cooler models, portable freezing capacity for outdoor enthusiasts, or standalone ice production for entertaining. The company positions itself in the value tier, making these specialty appliances accessible to budget-conscious buyers who might otherwise settle for generic alternatives. Products like the IMC-270MS ice maker and CDF-177SB upright freezer represent the brand's core competencies. With an average rating of 4 out of 5, Whynter maintains respectable customer satisfaction while competing primarily on price and purpose-built functionality rather than premium features or brand prestige.
- Founded
- 2006
- Brand rating (aggregate)
- 4.0/5 · 61,676 reviews
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30-day price history
Deals use a 60-day price baseline; charts show 30 days of history.
60-day price baseline: Verified baseline unavailable.
Price tracking started May 14, 2026. Latest recorded price — $409.57 on Nov 12, 2026. Fewer than two readings fall within this chart window, so there is no trend to draw yet.
Lowest recorded new-condition price across tracked retailer offers. Retailer coverage can change.