Frosty Factory Frozen Drink Machines & Accessories

Common Questions About Frosty Factory Equipment

What's the difference between air-cooled, water-cooled, and remote-cooled units?

Frosty Factory frozen drink machines each use one of three types of refrigeration: air cooling, water cooling, and remote cooling. Each style suits a particular need or business practice, with air-cooled and remote-cooled systems being the most popular. Air-cooled units typically work best for low-volume production, while remote-cooled units are far and away the best choice for high-volume establishments, such as theme parks or daiquiri bars.

Air-cooling units have a condenser built inside the machine that vents heated air directly from the casing. These models are typically the cheapest and smallest of Frosty Factory slush machines and are most suitable for low-volume usage. If you want to offer a small selection of frozen drinks at your establishment, a single air-cooled unit might be your best bet. However, if you expect to need more capacity than one or two air-cooled units can provide, we recommend investing in remote-cooled units. Air-cooled units are great for freezing and mixing small quantities of frozen drink but are not designed to keep up with heavy demand. We offer a guide to installing Frosty Factory air-cooled units.

Water-cooled units use water, which must often be recirculated, to absorb excess heat. This recirculation requirement means water-cooled units are not ideal for most locations. Only places that already have recirculation equipment available – such as locations where the local municipality is set up for it – should typically buy water-cooled units. However, these models do not put off heat around the dispenser and do not need clearance for venting.

Remote-cooled units are the most efficient of Frosty Factory's offerings. Much like central heating and air conditioning, remote-cooled units have a condenser that sits outside the building, so all the heat is vented externally instead of warming up the inside of your establishment. Remote-cooled units can also utilize one condenser per two or three dispensers, greatly increasing an establishment's production capability. If you're looking to open a daiquiri or slush establishment, you'll most likely need one or more remote-cooled units to keep up with demand.

Can I run several air-cooled units together?

One of the most common problems Frosty Factory slush machines encounter occurs when operators do not allocate sufficient venting space for air-cooled units. If you set air-cooled units side by side, each machine will take in the hot exhaust generated by those next to it. This intake prevents them from cooling properly, leading to unfrozen drinks, overheated machines, and voided warranties. Each air-cooled unit needs to be at least 24 inches from any other heat-producing unit. If you're hoping to offer a dozen flavors of slush drink, you'll either need a gymnasium to house them all, or you'll need to go with water- or remote-cooled units.

Can I run multiple dispensers off a single remote condenser?

Frosty Factory remote-cooled machines can run several dispensers off one condenser if you choose the correct model. They are listed as 2/1 or 3/1 on KaTom's website, which indicates two or three dispensers to each condenser. These models are the best options for frozen drink centered establishments, as multiple dispensers enable you to offer multiple flavors and keep up with high demand. Remote-cooled dispensers can be placed in close quarters, as they do not need room to vent exhaust.