Ice From New Ice Maker Tastes Bad

[Jeffy3]

Had a new refrigerator with built in ice maker installed last week, along with a new copper water line.The ice really tastes terrible, and has a musty smell to it. We do not have a filter attached. We never had a filter on our old refrigerator and ice maker and smell in the ice was never a problem. I know you're supposed to throw out the first few "batches" of ice from a new ice maker, but how do they define batches, the first few whole trays of ice or just the first few groups of ice spit out? Is it possible the smell will eventually stop? It's not from food because we keep ice in an open bag that is left over from when we didn't have the ice maker hooked up and that tastes fine.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

If your water is good, no need for a filter. Sounds like it is in the tubing and/or the machine itself. Do you have a water dispenser also? If so, run a fair amount of water to flush it out. The taste should improve gradually but it may take ten or more batches of ice to thoroughly flush out the mechanism.

[Jeffy3]

No water dispensor. Thanks for the response. Could you confirm how you define batches?

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Batch as in one "set" of cubes, not a full container full. It would take a day or two to freeze that much I'd guess.

[DK]

yes, it will get better over time. Just keep throwing the ice away until you are satisfied with the taste/odor. It may take 10 batches or it may take 500 batches. It makes no nevermind how many it takes, just keep throwing it out until you are happy.

I bought three whole house water filter systems and put under my sink. The kitchen faucet gets filtered twice and the fridge ice maker get filtered three times.

Taste and odor have never been a problem.

You didn't ask, but it took almost a week to fill my ice bin the first time.

[greg6755]

I agree with the one poster.

You are suffering the new-plumbing-rotten-tasting-water problem.

It will go away in time.

But it does take time.

I've tried running all kinds of water through new plumbing on the first day to get rid of the bad taste but with out luck.

But after about a week or so and it seems regardless how much or little water is passed through it goes away.

I think it takes that much time for flux or something to dissolve.

[hallerb]

yeah just keep tossing entire pans of ice till it goes away!

once did some water line work for my mom, the flux made the water ice taste bad.it cleared up.

2 weeks later more plumbing I was adding outside water outlets.

Trying to avoid more off odors / tastes I did most of the work opened the main valve to flush the lines, leaving a open fitting, then found the main valve was bad and wouldnt turn off:( FLOOD CITY:(

By the time it was over, the water company came and lots of digging looking for main house shut off.. street had been raised, adding to hassle

I walked out of hardwarte without paying, so distressed, fortunately the owner knew me and found it funny, I paid him. He mentioned my shoes squishing from water left footprints in his store. he waited till the next time I went there. embarassed:(

Once the water company got the main off they didnt want to wait while I replaced valve. Said see you monday.. this was saturday morning:(

The water company employee got double time for getting called out on weekend, 6 hours wether it only took him a minute, so he wanted to leave:(

After some yelling he remained and main valve was replaced:)

It was well, one of those days............

Once the water guy left I HAD to finish the plumbing and clean up the water the basement floor had low spots......

Thanks for reminding me, its funny looking back at it, my mom is dead the house sold, at the time HASSLE, now a fond memory:)

[Jeffy3]

Thanks for the story and the reassurance the smell should go away! It is funny how something that was so stressful can become a fond memory when the person you shared the experience with is no longer around.

[Jeffy3]

Anyone know what the difference is between a water strainer and a water filter?

[hallerb]

WISH I could talk to my mom, your never the same once a parent dies:(

[Jim Redelfs]

You got THAT right. BTDT.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Strainer is just a screen that keeps out debris, such as sand that may get carried from a well. . Filters are fine mesh material and it may have carbon to get rid of odors, chlorine, etc.