it says it makes 26 bullets per cycle but i only get like 12 small ones, feels scammy.

Diagnosis

The discrepancy between the advertised 26-bullet yield and your actual output of 12 small bullets is typically caused by a failure in the thermal exchange process. The Kismile unit relies on a small refrigerant system to flash-freeze water onto the aluminum evaporator pins. When the internal temperature of the evaporator doesn't drop low enough, the water doesn't adhere fully to the pins, causing the "bullets" to release prematurely or form stunted, undersized shapes. This is almost always triggered by "heat soak." If the unit is placed in a tight corner or a warm kitchen, the condenser coils cannot dump heat efficiently. When the heat stays trapped in the chassis, the cooling cycle is compromised. Furthermore, using room-temperature tap water forces the machine to spend a significant portion of the cycle just cooling the water to the freezing point rather than actually forming ice. This results in fewer, smaller bullets per harvest cycle as the machine triggers the "drop" mechanism before the ice has fully matured.

How to Fix It

To maximize the yield per cycle and reach the 20-26 bullet range, you must optimize the thermal environment and the input temperature.

1. Pre-Chill the Water: Fill the reservoir with filtered water that has been refrigerated to approximately 38°F (3°C). This removes the initial cooling load from the compressor, allowing the evaporator pins to freeze the water instantly upon contact.
2. Establish a "Heat Buffer": Move the unit to a location where there is at least 8 inches of open air on all sides. Do not place it under a low cabinet or next to a toaster/oven. If the side vents are blocked, the refrigerant cannot condense, and ice production will drop by 50%.
3. Stabilize Ambient Temperature: Ensure the room temperature is maintained between 68°F and 72°F. If the room is 80°F or higher, the machine will struggle to reach the necessary sub-zero temperatures for full-sized bullets.
4. Perform a Deep Descale: Even small mineral deposits on the aluminum pins act as insulators, preventing water from freezing solidly. Fill the tank with a mixture of 50% white distilled vinegar and 50% warm water. Run two full cycles and then run two cycles of plain distilled water to rinse.
5. Avoid "Mid-Cycle" Opening: Do not lift the lid to check the ice while the machine is humming. Opening the lid introduces warm air directly onto the evaporator pins, which can cause the ice to partially melt and trigger a premature harvest.

If That Didn't Work

• Check the Water Level Sensor: If the machine is triggering a "Clean" or "Add Water" light prematurely, it may be cutting the cycle short. Use a soft brush to clean the sensor probes at the bottom of the reservoir to ensure the machine knows there is enough water to complete a full 26-bullet freeze.
• Inspect the Cooling Fan: Listen closely to the back of the unit. If you hear a grinding noise or no fan noise at all, the condenser fan is failing. Without the fan, the refrigerant doesn't cool, and you will only get a handful of small ice shards regardless of water temperature.
• Verify Power Stability: Ensure the unit is plugged directly into a wall outlet rather than a crowded power strip. Voltage drops can cause the compressor to run inefficiently, leading to weaker cooling cycles and smaller ice bullets.
• Reset the Thermal State: Unplug the unit for 30 minutes to allow the refrigerant gas to settle and the internal components to reach true room temperature. This "hard reset" can sometimes resolve glitchy cycle timings.

Heads Up

• Mineral Buildup: Hard water is the primary enemy of bullet ice makers. Use distilled or filtered water to prevent calcium carbonate from coating the evaporator pins, which permanently reduces ice size.
• The "First Batch" Rule: Always discard the first two batches of ice after a long period of non-use; these are typically smaller and may contain dust or residue from the internal lines.
• Avoid Overfilling: Do not fill the reservoir past the "MAX" line. Overfilling can lead to water leaking into the internal electronics or causing uneven water distribution across the pins.
• Avoid Frequent Lid Opening: Every time you open the lid, you lose the "cold pocket" of air, forcing the machine to work harder to recover the temperature for the next cycle.