How To Fix Bad Tasting Ice From An Ice Maker

22 May 2017
 Categories: , Blog

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If the ice tastes funny from your ice maker, it could be any number of problems. Bad-tasting ice is something you don't ant from a convenience. 

 In some cases, newer refrigerators have plastic lines that make the ice taste bad, or it could be the age of the ice maker. You don't have to replace the ice maker. Here are tips to troubleshoot bad-tasting ice from ice makers.

Prepare to Work

For this project, you need:

  • large bowl or bucket
  • wash cloths
  • vinegar
  • lemon juice (optional)
  • baking soda
  • liquid dish soap
  • food bags
  • new ice bin (optional)
  • water filter cartridge (optional)

Discard old ice from the bin or ice molds. Food storing methods and old food can cause the ice to taste bad. Toss foods that have gone bad, and seal good food in tight containers and plastic bags. 

Examine ice molds and bins for damage. The coating on bins and molds can flake over time, which gets into the ice. Shop for high-quality ice trays.

Clean the Freezer

Remove ice molds and bins, then soak them in warm water and several drops of white vinegar to help remove water deposits. Use a cloth to scrub them, rinse, then let them dry. Ensure you clean the shelves, ice maker mechanism, and the rubber gasket.

For stubborn stains, try white vinegar. Don't use abrasive cleaners inside of refrigerators, since the smell can transfer to ice. If the ice maker has a self-cleaning cycle, run a cap of lemon juice or vinegar through it.

Before you reinstall the shelves, wipe the back and sides of the freezer with a quart of warm water and four tablespoons of baking soda. This especially helps to eliminate the odor in new refrigerators that cause bad tasting ice.

 Check Water Supply Line

Bad tasting ice can be caused by temporary water contamination from the municipality doing work. Set a large bucket under the water supply in back of the unit, which is usually a hose running form the wall to the filter.

Turn off the water valve by rotating right, and disconnect the water line. Slowly turn the valve back on, and let water drip into the bucket or bowl, and watch for dirty water.

Let the water clear, and reattach the supply line. Replace damaged filters in older models with new in-line water filters. 

Check for frost build-up, and run a defrost cycle to remove frost. Remove ice that has been sitting awhile. If you don't trust your skill, or the ice still tastes bad, or fails to operate, contact an appliance service of visit a site like http://www.applianceservicescharlotte.com.