RO water is fine for ice — if your pressure holds up

Yes, you can use reverse osmosis water with an ice maker, but the two things that bite people are water pressure and taste.

Most refrigerators with built-in ice makers need at least 20–30 psi to work right. An RO system stores water in a tank and delivers it slowly, especially after the tank drains. If your ice maker is slow, makes small cubes, or stops making ice entirely, the RO pressure is usually the culprit, not the water itself. A booster pump or a larger pressure tank fixes it.

The other thing is flavor. RO water is very low in minerals, which makes great clear ice but can taste flat or even slightly bitter to some people. If you’re making coffee or cocktails, that ice can change the drink in a noticeable way. Not bad, just different.

Also worth knowing: RO water is slightly more aggressive than tap water because it’s stripped of minerals. That’s rarely a problem for modern ice makers with plastic and stainless parts, but if you have old copper lines, they can corrode over time.

So: use RO if you want clear, pure-looking ice and your system can keep up. Just don’t blame the ice maker when it’s actually a pressure problem.

Clear ice is nice, but a full ice bin is nicer.