43960 Fremont Blvd. • Fremont, CA 94538 • Ph: 510-656-2230 • Fx: 510-498-4240

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Isn’t all ice the same?

Glacier Ice is superior to ice made in the home refrigerator. Homemade ice is often cloudy containing mineral deposits and odors absorbed from the freezer. Glacier Ice is naturally clear and made from water that is the quality of bottled water. Our unique packaging is especially designed to be conveniently used in the home freezer to replace poor quality homemade ice. Your beverages will look and taste better with Glacier Ice.

2. Why is Glacier Ice so clear?

Glacier Ice uses only top quality manufacturing equipment. Beginning with the purest water, the ice is frozen in large sheets and frozen solid at very low temperatures. The ice is then stored in our temperature-controlled warehouses and shipped in refrigerated trucks so the ice is always perfect.

3. “I Only Have Ice for You” is a cute slogan. Where did it come from?

Katie Nicholson, John’s wife, found the saying on a napkin when she was a little girl. She saved it and later found it when she and John were starting Glacier Ice Company. Who would have believed that Katie would marry an iceman and that slogan would become so recognizable?

4. Where did the phrase “The Iceman Cometh”originate?

The Iceman Cometh is the title of a world famous play written by Eugene O’Neil in 1946. The story takes place in New York City in 1912 and features a cast of down and out drunken bums congregating in a seedy skid row bar. They all await the annual visit by Hickey, the free spending sport who threw the biggest party of the year. However Hickey is not in his usual carefree mood but instead says he has faced his sad reality and encourages his friends to do likewise. There is never an appearance by The Iceman in the story but he is referred to as possibly being the reason for Hickey’s bad mood. It seems as though the iceman in that era had a reputation being a little too friendly with some of the lonesome housewives while making his deliveries. But in the end, Hickey is arrested for the murder of his wife and The Iceman is only a reference used to symbolize Death in Eugene O’Neil’s most well known work.

5. How are those spectacular ice sculptures made?

Glacier Ice Company manufactures only the clearest ice blocks to be used for ice carving. Starting with a 300-pound block of ice, the sculptors can create an unlimited variety of objects for virtually any theme.

6. What is dry ice?

Dry ice is solid CO2. It is not poisonous although extreme caution should be used when handling dry ice. Dry ice is 109 degrees below zero Fahrenheit and should never be touched with bare hands but instead only when using gloves. Never put dry ice in airtight containers. Dry ice is best stored in an ice chest or other insulated container. A 20-pound piece of dry ice will last approximately 48 hours when stored in an insulated container. It is primarily used to keep items frozen or to produce a fog like special effect. To make a fog effect, place pieces of dry ice in hot water. Twenty pounds of dry ice can produce a small fog effect for about 2 hours.

7. How can I have a snow scene?

Many Glacier Ice Company locations can provide snow to make a memorable, fun event. The snow scenes are done for retail, corporate and city events and can accommodate areas from 500 square feet and up. The snow making equipment has limited access so some areas may not be suitable for a snow scene. Residential snow scenes are extremely limited due to access and liability concerns.