How much did you pay to fix your fridge's ice maker?

By the time someone spots it, there’s sometimes subfloor damage or mold. - Replacement ice makers (OEM) aren’t cheap, and off-brand ones are hit-or-miss.

Couldn’t agree more with “trays are underrated.” I spent $120 trying to fix mine last year, only for it to start leaking again two months later. Gave up and grabbed a couple of those silicone trays - never looked back. Less drama, less mess, and honestly, the cubes are bigger anyway.

I get the appeal of trays - definitely less to go wrong, and you’re not paying $200 for a chunk of plastic. But I’ve seen a lot of folks give up on their ice makers without checking the basics. Sometimes it’s just a clogged line or a bad valve, not the whole assembly. Quick fixes can save a ton of hassle (and your kitchen floor). Trays are fine, but if you’ve got a bunch of people over, they just can’t keep up.

Never realized how much I’d miss having an ice maker until I moved in here and it quit working after a month. I almost just switched to trays, but honestly, like you said, they’re a pain when you’ve got more than two people over. Ended up doing some troubleshooting - YouTube is a lifesaver - and it turned out to be a frozen fill tube. Ten minutes with a hair dryer and it was back in business. Didn’t cost me anything except a little patience.

I get why people ditch the ice maker, but sometimes it’s just a simple fix. I’d rather spend a few minutes checking the basics than shell out for a new assembly or deal with trays all summer. That said, if it breaks again, I might just give up and go old school...

Honestly, I’m with you - those ice trays are a hassle, especially when you’ve got folks over and everyone’s grabbing for cold drinks. I had a similar issue last year, and it was just a clogged water line. Took me longer to pull the fridge out than to fix it. I’d rather tinker for a bit than pay someone a hundred bucks just to tell me it’s frozen up. Still, if it keeps breaking, I might just stick with a bag of ice from the store... less headache in the long run.

less headache in the long run.

I hear you on the hassle. Those ice trays are a pain, especially when everyone wants a refill at the same time. I get wanting to fix it yourself - pulling the fridge out is half the battle, right? Still, I always worry about messing with water lines and maybe causing a leak. Did you shut off the water supply before you started? I’ve read stories about folks getting a surprise flood. Sometimes paying for peace of mind is worth it, but yeah... buying ice is definitely the least risky option if it keeps acting up.