Ice Maker Water Inlet Valve – Is It The Root Of Your Troubles?
Have you been experiencing issues with the ice maker built into your freezer? A lot of ice maker issues start with the inlet valve on the machine. Below, you'll find a list of problems associated with failing inlet valves, as well as how to troubleshoot the problem and replace the inlet valve.
Problems Associated with Failing Inlet Valves
- Not producing enough ice
- Improperly sized ice cubes
- Not enough ice being produced
- Bad tasting ice
- Discolored ice
- Leaking water
Check the Inlet Valve
The first thing to do is to cut the power to the unit. You can do this by unplugging the unit or flipping the breaker.
Now, turn off the water feeding into the ice maker. In some cases, the shut-off valve is located under the kitchen sink, but if it's not, you'll have to follow the waterline out of the back of the unit to where the shut-off valve is located.
Place a bucket under the water supply line on the back of the freezer and disconnect the water line. Catch water that drains out of the line in the bucket.
Snap a quick picture of the inlet valve before you do anything – this will help you get things put back together properly later.
Remove the screws securing the inlet valve. Wrap each wire with masking tape and label them as you disconnect them. This way, you'll know exactly what wire goes to what connection without guessing.
Grasp the connectors and carefully remove them. Inspect them for corrosion and debris. If you see that corrosion has formed, you'll need to replace the connectors.
Check the screen on the valve. This screen is typically the problem in many ice machines. Since it catches all of the debris before the water reaches the ice maker, it can become clogged and no longer allow water to flow freely as it should. If the screen is dirty, remove it, soak it in a cup of white vinegar and use a toothbrush to clean it. Rinse it well and check it. If it didn't come clean, you'll need to replace it.
Now you'll use a multitester tool to learn if the inlet valve is getting and sending the electrical current it needs. Set the multitester to X100 and touch one probe to one wire and the other probe to the other wire. If you do not get a reading between 170 and 500 ohms, the valve needs to be replaced. If it passes, your problem likely lies elsewhere.
Talk with a repair company like A OK Appliance Service for further assistance.
