Run a Rural Ice Delivery Service

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If our icehouse were just two feet deeper, we could hold an additional seven blocks . . . and our problems would be over! You can see, then, just how important it is to plan before you build. I'd say that—in general—a small icehouse should hold a minimum of 9,000 pounds and a maximum of 15,000 . . . which, given the dimensions of the blocks sold around here, would require roughly 60 to 100 square feet of floor space. (Remember, though, that the per-unit size and weight of bulk ice in your area may be different.)

While you're still in the planning stages, you may as well also talk with a heating and cooling contractor about the possibility of installing a refrigeration compressor in your icehouse. Now you don't necessarily need that equipment right away, but you might want to add it as your operation grows.

In our early days, before we bought any cooling apparatus, we could expect—say—15 blocks of ice to melt to about three-fourths of their original size within three or four days. That rate of attrition wasn't intolerable—in fact, you can expect some loss even when using refrigeration equipment—but within a year or so our business had grown to the point where we could afford to buy a 1-HP conditioner (today's price for a good-quality unit of the same size, new, would be about $400 to $600 ... while used models can be had for about $150 to $175). Later, we switched to two 3/4-HP conditioners (current prices: $300-$500 new, $100-$150 used) in order to be able to keep one running while the other was turned off and defrosting. This way, we can maintain a consistent temperature of 28° to 32°F in our cooler.

At any rate, anticipate such needs before you build, so that you can at least allow space for whatever equipment you might eventually install. Remember, too, to give your icehouse enough inside height to permit easy standing room . . . but no more (a 6-1/2-foot ceiling is about right in most cases). Also, plan to install sufficient lighting (one protected standard bulb is usually enough).

CONSTRUCTION FEATURES

Our icehouse is made of concrete block, with one walk-in entrance and no windows. The 10"-deep, 24"-wide footings and the 4 "- to 5 "-thick slab floor—which slopes gradually to a central drain that's connected to drainage tiles—were poured at the same time. The walls consist of ten courses of 8 "wide blocks, lined with 3-1/2"-thick fiberglass batts—installed between 16 "-on-center studs and covered by 1/4" exterior-grade plywood—over which we've also applied 1 " rigid-board insulation and a final sheathing of plywood.

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