Ice cubes smell like mildew?

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fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
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So we have an old-ish fridge hooked up in our condo, with automatic ice maker. When my Dad and I installed it, we got a whole install kit and hooked it up to the water line - IIRC my Dad insisted we hook it up to the hot water, which seemed odd to me but whatever.

Lately the ice cubes have apparently been smelling/tasting like mildew. I don't notice the smell at all, but some of the ice cubes have had a really odd taste to them when you put them in water.

Any thoughts on this? I just want to stop my gf from bitching about :roll:;)
 
Amdiggidy

Amdiggidy

Senior member
Jan 26, 2005
911
0
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Next time you have Strep throat, just pop a few in a glass, let them melt, and enjoy! Insta-Cure! :cool:
 
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Afro000Dude

Senior member
Feb 6, 2003
746
0
0
My freezer at home had the same problem. You can get a filter for the water line going into the ice maker at Home Depot or whatever home-improvement store you prefer.
 
Kyteland

Kyteland

Diamond Member
Dec 30, 2002
5,747
1
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It's possible that the ice is picking up the "mildew" flavor from something else you have in the freezer. You can rule that out by dumping all of your old ice and then see if the new ice it makes has this bad taste. It takes ice a while to pick up flavor from something else in the freezer, so if you still get this taste from the fresh ice then try cleaning out your ice tray. If it's picking up the flavor from something in the freezer, then clean your freezer and put a box of baking soda in there.
 
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fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
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Originally posted by: Kyteland
It's possible that the ice is picking up the "mildew" flavor from something else you have in the freezer. You can rule that out by dumping all of your old ice and then see if the new ice it makes has this bad taste. It takes ice a while to pick up flavor from something else in the freezer, so if you still get this taste from the fresh ice then try cleaning out your ice tray. If it's picking up the flavor from something in the freezer, then clean your freezer and put a box of baking soda in there.
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That shouldn't be the case because (A) we go through a lot of ice and (B) lately we've just been letting the ice run constantly and taking it out to make sure all the "bad" ice is replaced every time.
 
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illusion88

Lifer
Oct 2, 2001
13,164
3
81
I had a similar problem. My ice was discolored and had a foul taste. The chilled water that comes out from the fridge was also foul tasting. We replaced the water filter in the fridge and it started working fine.
 
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fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Originally posted by: illusion88
I had a similar problem. My ice was discolored and had a foul taste. The chilled water that comes out from the fridge was also foul tasting. We replaced the water filter in the fridge and it started working fine.
Click to expand...
We're about 99% sure there's no water filter.

Any other ideas?
 
Maximilian

Maximilian

Lifer
Feb 8, 2004
12,604
15
81
You guys have FRIDGES that make ICE CUBES??? Wow seriously i am impressed.

To make an ice cube i had to fill up the freezer drawer with water, and it came out as more of an ice brick, i made a sculpture/mess with it.
 
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zanieladie

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2003
3,280
1
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Sounds like a water filter might be the answer, OP. Couldn't hurt to try if they aren't expensive...
 
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WHAMPOM

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2006
7,628
183
106
Drain your water heater. A lot of guck builds up in the bottom of a water haeter. City water, when do they flush the pipes? Got your own well, hook up a hose and run that over-night. Next think about a filter, with a good charcoal drinking water cartridge for the ice maker.
 
Rubycon

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
485
126
Definitely install an inline filter on the supply line. It will solve your problems. Most carts are good for 20k gallons so you can easily determine when it needs replacing or just change it out annually.
 
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illusion88

Lifer
Oct 2, 2001
13,164
3
81
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Originally posted by: illusion88
I had a similar problem. My ice was discolored and had a foul taste. The chilled water that comes out from the fridge was also foul tasting. We replaced the water filter in the fridge and it started working fine.
Click to expand...
We're about 99% sure there's no water filter.

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...

Nothing I can think of. It's hard to believe it doesn't have a water filter for an automatic ice maker. Where idoes the water come in at? Is there anything wrong with the source water? I just find it hard to believe there is no fltering process.
 
F

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Originally posted by: illusion88
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Originally posted by: illusion88
I had a similar problem. My ice was discolored and had a foul taste. The chilled water that comes out from the fridge was also foul tasting. We replaced the water filter in the fridge and it started working fine.
Click to expand...
We're about 99% sure there's no water filter.

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...

Nothing I can think of. It's hard to believe it doesn't have a water filter for an automatic ice maker. Where idoes the water come in at? Is there anything wrong with the source water? I just find it hard to believe there is no fltering process.
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My gf insists there's no filter, as it was her Mom's old fridge, but who knows if that's true ;)

We'll pull it out maybe this weekend and check. Also installing an in-line filter is a good idea

Thanks all, I'll update once we pull it out
 
F

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Change the supply line over to the cold water side. You may be getting too much gunk from the hot water heater. Also, invest in a good quality ice maker filter. Cost aobut $15.00 at Home Depot or whereever, and should take only a few minutes to install.

http://www.h2owarehouse.com/omni-water-filters/fridge-water-filters.htm
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Thanks for that.

The hot water gunk thing makes sense, but why would it just start now? We've had this hooked up for over a year now. The kit we bought to hook it up included long plastic tubing of course and we ran it behind the counter over to the fridge; the hose was too long and it is coiled up in a couple places. Can "hot" (i.e. luke warm at best) water sitting in those coils start to mildew or something?
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,326
14,726
146
Well, if you aren't running enough water thru the line, then I suppose it's possible, but I'd suspect it's just your water tank. BTW, even though the idea that hot water technically freezes a bit faster than cold water does, by the time it runs thru the line to the ice maker, there's not a lot of "hot" left in the water, making it a moot point. Move the line to the cold water side. Get an icemaker filter. You'll be surprised at how good your water will taste...
 
F

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Well, if you aren't running enough water thru the line, then I suppose it's possible, but I'd suspect it's just your water tank. BTW, even though the idea that hot water technically freezes a bit faster than cold water does, by the time it runs thru the line to the ice maker, there's not a lot of "hot" left in the water, making it a moot point. Move the line to the cold water side. Get an icemaker filter. You'll be surprised at how good your water will taste...
Click to expand...
Agreed, my old man just isn't someone you disagree with when he's helping you ;) I think we'll tackle that this weekend.
 
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