Know when to Repair and when to Repurchase

Have you ever noticed that your ice tastes bad? To some, it may sound silly, but it is possible for your ice maker to produce ice cubes that don't taste the greatest. There are many reasons for this, as outlined below with solution tips for each potential cause.

Your Ice Cubes May Be Old.

Unless you have it set otherwise, your ice maker will continue to produce ice cubes constantly. If you don't use these ice cubes as they are produced, they will eventually become stale. It may seem weird that ice can become stale like chips, but it is true. The longer you wait to use the ice, the more time you allow for the cubes to absorb various food odors. Ultimately, your best bet is to throw out any of the old ice and use the newly-produced ice cubes.

Your Water May Be of Poor Quality.

Particularly if you live in the city, you may have water that isn't of high quality. Without properly filtered water, your water may contain sulfur, salts, minerals and various other harmful contaminants that negatively impact the production of ice cubes. Therefore, you may want to consider installing a home water filtration system that is connected to the refrigerator. This helps to ensure that the water that is being used to create ice cubes is free from impurities, which increases the chances of good-tasting ice.

You May Have an Old, Dirty Filter.

If your home already has a water filtration system, you may want to check the filter. This is particularly true if the bad-tasting ice cubes just began. These filters need to be replaced regularly. As a general rule, you should replace them every few months, but it really depends on the amount of water used in the home, the quality of the water coming into the home and the manufacturer's instructions. Once you've installed a new filter, you should notice that the water is cleaner and your cubes taste significantly better.

Your Fridge May Have Spilled or Open Food.

If there are any open containers of food or even spilled food in the refrigerator, the odors will make their way to the ice cubes and impact the quality and taste of the ice. Therefore, you need to ensure you remove old food and wipe up any spills in the refrigerator in a timely manner. You should also consider placing a box of bowl of baking soda in the fridge to assist in absorbing odors. You can also use clean kitty litter, freshly ground coffee and activated charcoal to help eliminate odors in the refrigerator.  

If you've tried all of the above and are still dealing with bad-tasting ice, it may be time to call a professional appliance repair service for a full inspection of your refrigerator and ice maker. There may be an underlying problem that you can't diagnose or repair yourself.