There’s nothing like a cold, frosty beverage on a hot summer day. Unless, of course, that first sip reveals smelly ice floating in your glass. Before you settle for a room-temperature refreshment, troubleshoot why your refrigerator ice tastes bad. Whether it’s stale ice or an old water filter, you may be able to fix the problem yourself.
What to Do When Your Refrigerator Ice Tastes Bad
No one enjoys ice that tastes as bad as it smells. But what where to start troubleshooting for a fast fix? Our guide helps identify the problem and solution when refrigerator ice tastes bad.
Open Food Containers in Freezer
If your ice maker ice tastes funny, you may want to take a look at what else is in your freezer. Open containers or poorly wrapped foods will emit an odor that ice can easily absorb. Even refrigerated items that aren’t properly wrapped can produce an odor that’s absorbed through refrigerator vents.
To prevent spoiled food odors from affecting your ice, clean out your freezer and refrigerator on a monthly basis. Dispose of any old or unused items. Make sure food containers are correctly sealed and that all food is wrapped appropriately to prevent odor absorption.
Stale Ice Cubes
Just like food, ice doesn’t stay fresh forever. If allowed to sit for awhile ice can absorb contaminants or particles in the freezer and become stale or even moldy. At this point, you may notice your ice maker smells like mildew as well as the ice itself.
If you haven’t used your ice in more than a week, dispose of any old cubes in the ice bin. Wash the bin with warm, soapy water and allow it to dry completely before replacing it. If you don’t need ice for a while, seal remaining cubes in plastic bags and turn off your ice maker until it’s needed.
Old Water Filter
A refrigerator water filter works by screening out contaminants from your home’s water supply before providing drinking water and ice. However, if the filter becomes clogged with particles and impurities, these contaminants will remain in the water. When this occurs, you’ll find your refrigerator ice smells bad and may also have an odd taste.
To avoid this outcome it’s recommended that you change your refrigerator water filter every 6 months. Change it more frequently if you find your ice takes on a bad smell or taste.
Home Water Supply Issues
When your refrigerator ice tastes bad, the problem may actually originate with your water supply, and not the refrigerator itself. As water travels to your home via underground pipes, it can absorb minerals or pollutants that may affect its taste. Even with a refrigerator water filter, some impurities can still remain and affect the taste of your ice.
Your local water company can analyze your water supply to help determine the impurities that may be causing a bad taste or odor. An additional home filtration system can help screen them out while a water softening system can help homes with a hard water supply.
If your refrigerator ice tastes bad after these troubleshooting tips then the ice maker may be malfunctioning. Call Mid America Service to help with any ice maker repair.
