Is the Hailang Ice Maker Quiet Enough for an Apartment?

There is a specific kind of frustration that comes with living in an apartment where the freezer is too small to hold more than one bag of frozen peas and two ice trays. I spent years cracking those brittle plastic trays over my sink, only to have half the cubes fly onto the floor. Eventually, I hit a breaking point after a dinner party where I had to run to the corner store at 9 PM because we ran out of ice for cocktails. I decided it was time to buy the hailang ice maker and see if it could actually live on my counter without driving me insane.

• First batch drops in under 8 minutes, but full-sized cubes take about 12.
• Noise levels are comparable to a modern dishwasher—noticeable but not disruptive.
• The bullet-shaped ice is soft and chewable, perfect for soda but fast-melting in scotch.
• Cleaning is mandatory every two weeks to prevent that 'plastic' taste.

Squeezing a New Appliance Into a Galley Kitchen

My kitchen is a narrow galley where every square inch of counter space is a battlefield. Choosing to add a dedicated ice maker felt like a massive commitment. I had to weigh the loss of prep space against the luxury of never touching a plastic tray again. The Hailang is surprisingly compact, roughly the size of a large bread machine, but you have to account for the heat vent on the side. If you shove it into a corner with no airflow, the compressor will struggle and your ice will look like slush.

I eventually cleared a spot next to the toaster. It doesn't look bulky, and the footprint is small enough that I can still fit a cutting board in front of it. For someone in a studio or a one-bedroom, this is about as small as a real compressor-based machine gets.

Does It Actually Make Ice in 8 Minutes?

The marketing claims 6 to 8 minutes for the first batch. In my testing with room-temperature tap water, the first drop happened at the 7-minute mark. However, don't expect a full bucket that fast. Those first nine cubes are thin, ghostly little things that melt almost the moment they hit your glass. The machine needs about three cycles to really get the internal evaporator cold enough to produce 'large' bullets.

By the thirty-minute mark, the hailang ice maker hits its stride. The cubes become thicker and last much longer in a drink. If you are planning a party, start the machine an hour before guests arrive. By then, the basket will be half-full of solid, usable ice. It won't actually hit that '26 lbs a day' mark unless you are emptying the basket the second it's full, but for a household of two, it’s more than enough.

The Decibel Test: Can You Watch TV While It Runs?

Noise is the dealbreaker for apartment dwellers. I’ve tested machines that sounded like a jet engine taking off in the kitchen. Since my 'dining room' is just a table three feet from the counter, I needed something quiet. I went with a sleek black ice maker finish to match my other appliances, and the noise level is surprisingly manageable. You’ll hear a low hum from the fan and the occasional 'clunk' when the ice drops into the plastic basket.

It registered around 48 decibels on my phone app from five feet away. That is quieter than my microwave. I can watch a movie in the next room without having to crank the volume. The only time it gets annoying is at night; if you leave it on, the sound of ice dropping in a quiet apartment can be a bit startling. My advice? Turn it off before you go to bed.

Throw Away the Hailang Ice Maker Manual (Read This Instead)

When you open the box, you’ll find the hailang ice maker manual, and it is a masterpiece of confusing translations. It’s almost as frustrating as the Frigidaire ice maker instructions that everyone complains about. The buttons aren't labeled intuitively, and the 'Add Water' light sometimes blinks for no reason.

Here is the real 'manual' you need: First, let the machine sit upright for 4 hours before plugging it in to let the refrigerant settle. If you don't, you'll kill the compressor on day one. Second, if the 'Ice Full' light stays on even when the basket is empty, wipe the infrared sensors inside the rim with a dry cloth. They often get fogged up by condensation, which tricks the machine into thinking it's full. Lastly, use filtered water. If you use hard tap water, the internal sensors will get scaled over with calcium in a month, and the machine will stop cycling.

The Final Verdict: Is It Worth the Counter Space?

If you have a massive fridge with a built-in dispenser, you don't need this. But if you are living the apartment life with a 'vintage' fridge that barely keeps milk cold, the Hailang is a solid investment. It’s fast enough for daily use and quiet enough that it won't ruin your dinner conversation. Just be prepared to give it a deep clean with vinegar once a month to keep the ice tasting fresh.

FAQ

Why is my ice coming out in one big block?

This usually happens if the ambient temperature in your kitchen is too cold or if you haven't changed the water in a few days. The cubes don't have time to separate before the next batch drops. Try using slightly warmer water or moving the machine away from a window.

How do I clean the Hailang ice maker?

Mix one part white vinegar with ten parts water. Run a few cycles with this mixture, then drain it using the plug on the bottom. Run two more cycles with fresh water to rinse out the vinegar taste. Do not use bleach; it can damage the plastic internals.

Does it keep the ice frozen like a freezer?

No. This is a maker, not a storage chest. The bin is insulated, but the ice will eventually melt. The machine is smart enough to catch that melt-water and recycle it back into the reservoir to make new ice.