Ice Maker Parts Tips
Read these 12 Ice Maker Parts Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Appliance Repair tips and hundreds of other topics.
My Ice Cubes Are Cloudy
Many people want to do maintenance to replace Kenmore ice maker parts, Kitchenaid ice maker parts, etc. to try to get clear ice cubes. Unfortunately, there is no fix available for cloudy ice. This is a condition caused by air bubbles, which are trapped in the ice. Upon learning this, some people protest and point out that ice that is sold in grocery stores is always clear. Your ice maker parts are calibrated to create ice in a certain way, while grocery stores use machines which trap very little or no air in the ice made. Your ice machine parts can't do the same job as the commercial grade ice makers. Clear ice is nice, but if you simply must have it, you'll need to buy it from the store.
I've Made My Repairs, How Long Do I Have To Wait?
Once you have installed your ice maker parts, turned the water valve back on and made sure your freezer has been plugged back in to the wall socket, you will need to give your new ice maker parts a chance to work properly. This means allowing enough time for the water to move through the system, freeze, and be ejected as ice cubes into the ice tray. You could need to give the ice maker as much as two hours before you know whether you diagnosed the problem correctly. It's a good idea to do these repairs and replacement of ice maker parts on a day when you can hang around for the entire length of time it may take to make a new batch of ice. Doing so helps you recover from potential leaks and other problems that can arise from either a misdiagnosed problem or an incorrect installation or the ice maker parts that were replaced.
The Ice Maker Thermostat
Many do-it-yourself repair people are eager to try to fix everything on the fridge, freezer, and ice maker. The ice maker thermostat can indeed be diagnosed and replaced, this is one of those ice maker parts easily tested with an ohmmeter, and repair or replace it if the ice maker part is bad. There is, however, once exception. If your Kitchenaid ice maker parts depend on a digital thermostat, you cannot repair it. It must be replaced.
The good news is, once you have gotten familiar with the thermostat in your ice machine, doing similar repairs and replacements is a breeze. Thermostats are common in many household appliances. The biggest challenge you'll find is locating and disconnecting the thermostat.
Checking Your Water Inlet Valve
A filter screen on a water inlet valve is a Whirlpool ice maker part that can get dirty, block the flow of water and interfere with the operation of your ice maker. You can check the screen and test the inlet valve with an ohmmeter to see if it needs replacing. This Kitchenaid ice maker part is at the bottom part of the fridge in the rear. Shut off your freezer, and the water supply valve. The inlet valve has wires connecting it to the fridge. Disconnect them. There is a filter screen where the supply hose attaches to the inlet valve. Check and clean this ice maker part. If you find a lot of debris or other kinds of obstruction, this may well be your culprit. No additional ice maker parts will be necessary. If you still aren't sure this was your problem, you can test the inlet valve with an ohmmeter to see if the electrical portion has failed, but this Kitchenaid ice maker part can also go bad in a mechanical way. You may get a good reading on the meter, but still need to replace the valve if it has become mechanically defective. If your troubleshooting has exhausted all the other possibilities, replace the water inlet valve.
My Ice Cubes Are Stuck
If your ice maker is not ejecting the cubes properly, you should take a look at the ejector gear assembly. There are basically two kinds of ice makers; one version gives you access to all the replaceable or repairable ice maker parts. The other is what is known as a "module" ice maker. This type has all the parts grouped together in a unit. If you have this version, the ice maker parts you need to inspect can't be inspected or repaired. You can watch to see if the ice cube ejector blades are trying to work; if they don't, you will need to replace the whole control module. If you have the other type of ice maker, you can inspect your Kenmore icemaker parts, Frigidaire ice maker, etc. Look for a small box configuration with gears. The gears should not be worn or have teeth missing. If they are too worn, are cracked or are missing teeth, the gears should be replaced. Be careful when removing the gears. Some have fasteners that hold them in place; others simply sit on the shaft. Once you have the bad gear taken off, put the replacement ice maker gear part on and make sure the fit is good. Then try another batch of ice. The cubes should eject once more. If it doesn't work the first time, check the gears to make sure they are properly installed and try again.
I'm Still Not Getting Any Ice
If you have checked for ice in your water lines and made sure your Frigidaire ice maker shutoff arm is in the right position, there is another easy bit of troubleshooting you can try. Follow the water hose from the fridge to the sink area. The hose connects to a valve under the sink. This is called the supply valve. Check this valve to make sure you have enough water pressure. Open up the valve more. Ice maker parts usually work on a cycle. If enough water doesn't fill up your ice maker's mold before the cycle is complete, the result is very small cubes or none at all. Your Kitchenaid ice maker parts require that steady water pressure to work properly.
Why Isn't There Any Ice?
There are two basic reasons why you may not be getting ice from your machine. Among the Whirlpool ice maker parts that your machine is built out of, there is an easily accessible part called the shutoff arm, which controls the amount of ice being made. This simple device is a plastic or metal bar--the one you always see when you open up the freezer to get ice.
When your Kitchenaid ice maker parts are working properly, the arm raises as the ice is made, then lowers again to start another cycle. When the arm can't lower because there is plenty of ice, the maker should shut off.
Sometimes the arm gets stuck in the up position, so the ice maker thinks there are plenty of cubes. If this is the case, simply lower the arm again and wait for the machine to make more ice.
You should also make sure that your freezer is on a good, cold setting. A too-warm freezer will result in a poorly functioning ice maker.
If you still have problems making ice, check your Kenmore ice maker parts--your water tubes may have ice in them. If so, carefully unclog them and try again.
How Often Should I Change My Water Filter?
Your water supply line is an ice maker part that should have a water filter, whether you own an ice maker that uses Whirlpool ice maker parts, GE ice maker parts, or any other brand. The filter keeps impurities out of your ice, but it can get residue build up in the mesh screen of the filter, which can alter the flavor and consistency of your ice cubes. Ice maker parts don't require constant attention, but there is a bit of routine maintenance you should do to keep your ice maker in top form. Many people only get around to inspecting the water filter when they start to have problems with the ice machine, but it is highly recommended to replace the water filter every six months. This not only insures you won't have a blockage, but also improves the flavor of your ice cubes. Some filters will even reduce the chlorine taste of your water, and filter out chemicals!
My Ice Tastes Bad, What Can I Do?
If the ice coming from your Frigidaire ice maker tastes bad, you may be able to save yourself an investment in ice maker parts by doing a few simple steps: 1. Remove any old food in the freezer. If you've been storing something for too long, it may affect the quality of your ice. 2. Completely wash out the freezer. 3. Finally, scrub out the ice bin. Now try running another batch of ice and see if the taste improves. If not, you may need to unplug the freezer, and flush out or replace the supply line. You should also do this if your ice comes out discolored. Ice maker parts that transport water should always be "food grade" parts. Don't buy ice maker parts like water tubes or hoses that don't have this rating.
How Do I Flush My Supply Line?
If you need to flush your water supply line, first turn off your freezer. If you have installed Kenmore ice maker parts before, you already know why it's important to turn off and disconnect the freezer, but first timers should know that there is an electrical hazard as long as the machine is plugged in. Never mix your repairs and replacement of Whirlpool ice maker parts and a "live" freezer. Once you have the unit disconnected, disconnect the water line from your sink to the water inlet valve on the ice maker. Flush this one first, using soap and water. Flush with pure water until you no longer see soap bubbles, then repeat the pure water flush again just in case. These ice maker parts should be free of all soap residues before reattaching the lines and sending water to the ice maker again. Next, do the same thing with the water line going from the inlet valve to the freezer. Once you have the lines replaced, make sure they are not leaking and then reconnect the freezer, and do another batch of ice.
I Need Help Ordering Ice Maker Parts
The first issue many people encounter when trying to order the right ice maker parts is finding the model number for their ice maker. If you are ordering Kenmore ice maker parts, you'll need to order from a website that sells Kenmore parts, the same goes for Whirlpool ice maker parts, etc. Free standing ice makers often put a label with the model number on the frame of the ice maker. Open the door and look or a white label, an aluminum tag, or some other marking with the model number inscribed on it. Ice makers that come as part of a refrigerator/freezer unit don't have a separate number. Use the model number for the fridge itself when ordering ice maker parts. When you are putting in orders online, make sure you have read the label properly. Some people can misread the number "1" as a lower case "L", and there are other common errors. Write down exactly what you see on the label and use that to order. If there are dashes or spaces between the numbers or letters, be sure to include them when you type the number in for ice maker parts ordering purposes.
Other Reasons Why Your Ice Maker May Not Be Making Ice
An icemaker has something called a fill cup, which holds the water from the supply hose as it is being drained into the ice mold. If this ice maker part is not aligned properly, water doesn't make it from the supply valve to the ice mold, and you don't get any ice. Check to make sure your fill cup is properly aligned. You can check this ice maker part by removing the ice bin and having a look, adjusting if necessary. If you have ice forming on the water spout, you could have a leaky water inlet valve, another ice maker part which will need to be repaired.
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