Re: Replacing a Refrigerator Ice Maker

Teddie · ‎03-10-2010

YouTube is great for diagnosing a problem and for showing how to fix. It’s all beyond me but my husband in the past has used that and now my son is quite handy as well. As I already said, I’m very grateful.

DottieBlue · ‎03-11-2010

We just replaced our refrigerator with one that has no built-in ice maker. We just use old-fashioned ice cube trays. There is so much more room in the freezer section without the ice maker.

qvcaddition · ‎03-10-2010

@rockygems123

@rockygems123 wrote:
You all have given me such food for thought, really appreciate it!

@Sooner So true things have gone way up since 8 years ago!

And @shoekitty I like that suggestion about finding a diamond certified appliance repair person, if I fix it I want it fixed right

@jlkz I love the idea of using a large bowl and breaking up the ice. Think I will try that for now.

Also @PinkyPetunia & @qvcaddition I'm using a small tray with those large cubes which look very cool ha so I may make more room, get rid of some food in the freezer and have fun with some trays.

Thank you all! Think I'll start by making some room in the freezer by using some of the food I'll shop my freezer ha.

Then with summer coming, will see how long I can survive on trays. Will give me some time to research appliance repair people.

I am doing same. I only shopped for bread this month. I'm shopping from freezer and pantry. Whwn times are tough, we get tougher.

rockygems123 · ‎06-04-2012

@kaydee50 wrote:
We had a side by side refrigerator (hated it!!) that had an ice maker and water dispenser in the door. Couldn't wait for it to die and it finally did at approximately 12 years (it was here when we bought our condo). Replaced it with a top freezer, no frills fridge. We use very little ice and the trays work fine for us.

@rockygems123 Good luck getting it repaired!!

@kaydee50

I hated my side by side too, seems like there is no room in those! Very awkward to me.

Now my french door and door within door is great for room except for the goofy ice maker.

rockygems123 · ‎06-04-2012

@beach-mom wrote:
@rockygems123 - We didn't replace ours when it gave out a few years ago. DH HAS to have ice. We bought a countertop model here. I had to give up counter space, but he makes ice and puts it back in the freezer bin. The front door still dispenses cubes and crushed.

@beach-mom

That's interesting! So if you put ice in your bin it will dispense even if the ice maker is broken?

Love that, don't think we have that feature but will look into it.

shoekitty · ‎03-10-2010

before our last fridge bit the bullet, we did use the ice machine, and also purchased ice. Things aren't made like "olden days" lol. Refrigerators I had went on 20-25 years. Now...sad. You all all so right, less gadgets the better. The applience repairman last out, said dishwashers are bread and butter for him. He looked at out 25 year old KitchinAid dishwasher and said necer replace that unless it totally dies. Same for dryers Less bells nd whistles the better. Less computer parts to go out. I look at the stove/range we bought 20 years ago. Then it had many options and programs. You know in all the years we have had it, the only option besides, bake, broil, time cook I have used is the timer, proofed and dehydrate. And you can dehydrate in any oven at a low temp, lol!

“sometimes you have to bite your upper lip and put sunglasses on”….Bob Dylan

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

@rockygems123 wrote:
@beach-mom wrote:
@rockygems123 - We didn't replace ours when it gave out a few years ago. DH HAS to have ice. We bought a countertop model here. I had to give up counter space, but he makes ice and puts it back in the freezer bin. The front door still dispenses cubes and crushed.

@beach-mom

That's interesting! So if you put ice in your bin it will dispense even if the ice maker is broken?

Love that, don't think we have that feature but will look into it.

Yes @rockygems123 ! I thought he was crazy at first! But it seems the part that is broken is the part that actually makes the ice and not the dispensing part.

Sometimes the ice does get stuck together, but he takes our wooden meat mallet and breaks the ice up.

Teddie · ‎03-10-2010

Yes, as I’ve said, my daughter and SIL pour reverse osmosis water into their unit on the counter, then pour the ice into the ice maker in freezer. They can still dispense the ice that way, whole or crushed.

sandy53 · ‎03-12-2010

I have had the ice maker replaced once in my Kenmore Elite side by side. I think my repair person ordered the replacement unit from Amazon. If I remember right, it was less than $150. Now it is not working again. I use ice every day all day, so I will probably replace it again.

In the meantime I am buying a bag of ice at Walmart when I get my weekly groceries ($1.88) and dumping it into the bin. It dispenses well through the door.