fun with the ice maker

sammyg2 · 08:49 AM

My fridge is a couple years old, a 35.5 cu. ft. LG.
I like my fridge.

The water that goes to the fridge for the ice maker and filtered water is tapped off the hose bib outside.
No biggee, it worked fine. Until ........

A couple weeks ago,the wife decided to use that hose bib for some reason, (which she never does).
When she was done she closed both valves, shutting the water off to the fridge. Evidently she did not notice that she opened one valve and closed two.

I came home and she told me the ice maker and filtered water from the fridge were not working. It took 10 seconds to trouble-shoot and after correcting the issue I told her, don't mess with that valve. Just leave it alone.

Last Wednesday I came home and she said, the ice maker isn't working again.
I asked, did you check the valve outside? She said "you told me not to mess with it" so now she was messing with me.

We have no idea who messed with it this time, maybe a neighbor, maybe someone needed water for their dog, who knows.
It's only about 10 feet from the sidewalk.
But I lined it back up correctly and removed the handle from the valve that needs to remain open in an attempt ot make it idiot proof.

But the ice maker didn't start working this time.

It's not "pining for the fjords" or stunned, "it is no more", "it has ceased to be", "bereft of life, it rests in peace", "this is an ex-ice maker".
I checked the manual, it says: "don't shut off the water to the ice maker unless you shut off the ice maker too".

Great. I'm thinking $75 service call, have to wait a week for parts which will easily cost $200 after the stupid mark-up.

So I do a quick search and find a brand new ice maker, same model number, for $105 with free shipping. It'll be here before the end of the week.
it'll take 15 minutes to install.

Aren't the inter-webs wonderful? Maybe they'll finally make honest men out of those repair guys.

Neilk · 07-25-2016, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Great. I'm thinking $75 service call, have to wait a week for parts which will easily cost $200 after the stupid mark-up.

So I do a quick search and find a brand new ice maker, same model number, for $105 with free shipping. It'll be here before the end of the week.
it'll take 15 minutes to install.

Aren't the inter-webs wonderful? Maybe they'll finally make honest men out of those repair guys.

I agree 100% with you, although in fairness to the repair people, that fix would require two visits to fix, one to diagnose and order part, and a second to install it. Lots of overhead in that. But the internet has been great, from repairing cars to small appliances.

djmcmath · 07-25-2016, 11:16 AM

You'd think someone would design an ice maker with an auto-shutoff feature so if it loses water pressure it doesn't break itself.

Evans, Marv · 07-25-2016, 11:47 AM

At least there was a reason yours died. Mine quit working after only about three years. I couldn't pinpoint a reason why - just quit one day. I did the same and ordered a replacement via the internet and did the replacement myself. Still working after three or four years.

MBAtarga · 07-25-2016, 11:47 AM

I learned several ice makers ago - if the solenoid is working to allow water to cycle, then just buy a brand new ice maker unit and install it. No sense in trying to diagnose what is broken, since they install as a unit anyway.

rusnak · 07-25-2016, 11:58 AM

I never knew that icemakers die when the water is shut off. That almost doesn't make any sense. As an aside, we are planning to install a commercial bagged ice machine in a walk in cooler. My equipment guy says that will never work. I'm not sure why. But he did say it needs a floor drain, water, and power. I'll ask him what happens if the water supply line freezes and there is no water to the unit.

sammyg2 · 07-25-2016, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusnak

I never knew that icemakers die when the water is shut off. That almost doesn't make any sense. As an aside, we are planning to install a commercial bagged ice machine in a walk in cooler. My equipment guy says that will never work. I'm not sure why. But he did say it needs a floor drain, water, and power. I'll ask him what happens if the water supply line freezes and there is no water to the unit.

I ain't no expert but here is the page from the manual that says it's a no-no:

onewhippedpuppy · 07-25-2016, 12:29 PM

I needed a nice agitator assembly for the door mounted ice maker in our fridge, from Sears the new part was $250-ish and only sold as a unit. Took apart the unit, found the part number of the motor alone, found the new motor for something like $40 from an industrial supply house.

sammyg2 · 07-26-2016, 03:51 PM

The new ice maker is ordered and on the way.
So guess what decided to start working again yesterday? LOL

That's OK, if it's gonna be like that I'll need a spare anywho.

masraum · 07-26-2016, 04:22 PM

I haven't used this place in a while, but I have used it several times over the years. It used to be one link, but it seems like they've split the site in two, but probably still the same place. In the past, I have used them for troubleshooting appliance issues and then ordered parts through them with great success. I think only the repairclinic.com place has the help anymore. It sure beats the hell out of paying for repairmen.

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