Frigidaire EFIC245-SS ice and water dispenser review

The Frigidaire EFIC245-SS is a countertop ice-and-water station, not just a bullet-ice maker. It forms two sizes of bullet-shaped cubes, dispenses cubes and crushed ice from separate controls, and has a separate water outlet. That combination can make sense in a shared drink area where a cup-ready dispenser matters. The trade is an unusually large countertop footprint, a modest two-pound ice bin, and daily-output claims that are not tied to test temperatures.

Choose it for dispensing, not simply for a large headline number

Frigidaire’s exact EFIC245-SS page describes a three-in-one ice dispenser, water dispenser and crushed-ice maker. The machine forms small or large bullet ice; an ice-cube outlet serves pieces into a cup, while a separate front puncher crushes ice. The manual labels the controls and outlets separately, so “crushed” should not be mistaken for a dedicated nugget-making process. If your non-negotiable is true nugget or pellet ice, this is not documented as that kind of maker.

Compared with a scoop-only maker, this adds cup-ready cubes, crushing and water outlets. That flexibility brings more parts to clean. Cold water is not independent: the manual requires ice-making to be on.

Read the production, harvest and bin figures separately

The product page states 33 pounds in 24 hours and says 16 small or large bullet pieces can be made in as little as 10–13 minutes. Those are manufacturer claims, not measured household results. The linked manual gives a 15–18 kg daily-output range—roughly 33–40 pounds—without explaining test conditions. The low end is close to the product-page number, but neither source supplies a paired room-air and water temperature. Treat 33 pounds as a comparison point, not a promise for a warm kitchen, a particular day, or a continuous cup-by-cup dispensing rate.

Storage is a different constraint. The page says the basket holds up to two pounds at a time. That is the amount available before you need to collect or transfer ice, not the daily production ceiling. It is a better fit for rounds of drinks than for building a large reserve in the machine. If you need more than two pounds waiting in the appliance, compare the exact basket limit before buying rather than extrapolating from the daily number.

Water options are flexible, but the installation kit is not established

The manufacturer page lists a 2.5-quart tank (about 2.37 liters). The manual describes filling it by hand or connecting a home water tube, and the product page says a water-line hookup is available. Both hand-filling and a home-water-tube route are documented. The sources do not say whether a hose, adapter or faucet fitting is included; verify the exact package before relying on plumbing. The internal reservoir is not evidence of an auxiliary top tank.

The water outlet is useful for a drink station, but the manual does not state a water temperature or a cooling range. It says the ice-making function needs to be operating for cold-water dispensing. If you want a dedicated hot-and-cold office cooler or a water dispenser that works while ice production is off, choose a product documented for that routine instead.

Measure the whole installation, including ventilation

The EFIC245-SS is not a compact under-cabinet choice. Its linked manual lists a body size of 13.4 inches wide, 17.7 deep and 17.8 high. It also calls for eight inches of clearance on all sides for ventilation. Measure the actual counter and surrounding space with that gap in mind; the appliance outline alone is not the operating footprint. The manual specifies a grounded 110–115-volt, 60-Hz outlet rated for at least 15 amps. It advises leveling the unit, waiting two hours after it is positioned following a move, and keeping it away from heat sources.

Cleaning and ice holding take owner attention

The manual includes an automatic three-cycle cleaning routine before first use: add water, hold the on/off control for five seconds, let the cycles finish, then drain the water. It does not give a total cleaning time, so a strict maximum-minute requirement cannot be checked. Routine care still involves stopping and unplugging the maker, draining the reservoir, wiping the interior with a soft cloth and warm water with vinegar, and washing the supplied fill cup and scoop. The manual cautions not to clean the evaporator fingers.

This is not a freezer. Frigidaire tells owners to move finished ice to a freezer; the manual says ice may remain in the machine for up to 18 hours depending on room conditions. That is temporary holding, not a documented powered frozen-storage mode. Ice may also stick together in the outlet; the manual advises using the included scoop to loosen it before pressing the dispensing control. Plan on checking the full and low-water indicators and moving batches when you want to keep them.

Who should compare another Frigidaire instead?

Choose the EFIC245-SS when cup dispensing, crushed ice and a water outlet solve a real serving problem, and you can spare the space and manage the cleaning routine. If you mainly want bullet ice, the EFIC120-SS-SC is a simpler maker-only alternative: its page lists two bullet sizes, a 2.3-quart tank, self-cleaning, and a nine-piece/seven-minute claim, but it does not document the EFIC245’s cup ice and water dispensers. If you need nugget ice, temperature-qualified daily output, measured storage above two pounds, or an independent chilled-water tap, neither the EFIC245’s crushed-ice puncher nor its unconditioned headline should stand in for that requirement.

The exact listing is EFIC245-SS, UPC 058465819330. A second manufacturer page adds “_Q” but reports the same UPC and description, so it is not treated as a separate performance configuration. Confirm the model code and line fittings with the seller. No verified ASIN is established; search by exact model rather than a guessed identifier.

Manufacturer sources: Frigidaire EFIC245-SS product page and the EFIC245-SS English/French manual.