Honestly, I get the temptation to just keep buying ice, but all that plastic and extra trips to the store bug me after a while. Messing with the water line does make me nervous though—one tiny leak and suddenly you’re mopping up the kitchen. I actually looked into countertop ice makers as an alternative. Not perfect, but less risk than fiddling with plumbing, and no more cracked trays. Anyone else tried those?
Title: How much did you pay to fix your fridge's ice maker?
Honestly, I get why countertop ice makers seem like the safer bet, but in my experience, they’re more of a band-aid than a real fix. They take up counter space, and if you’ve got a family or host people often, you’ll probably find yourself running them constantly just to keep up. Plus, most of the ones I’ve seen are a bit noisy and don’t always make the kind of ice you actually want.
I know messing with the water line sounds intimidating, but it’s usually not as risky as it seems—especially if you use the right fittings and double-check everything. I’ve fixed a bunch of these over the years, and honestly, a slow leak is pretty rare if things are tightened properly. If you’re handy at all, swapping out a bad valve or line is way less hassle than dealing with bags of ice or another appliance on your counter.
Just my two cents... sometimes tackling the root problem saves more headaches (and money) in the long run.
Couldn’t agree more about countertop ice makers being a pain. I’ve got a couple rentals and every time a tenant tries to “solve” the ice problem with one of those, it just ends up cluttering the kitchen and making this weird humming noise that drives everyone nuts. Plus, half the time they forget to clean them and then you’ve got mystery floaties in your drinks... no thanks.
I used to dread dealing with fridge ice makers, but honestly, once you’ve swapped out a water valve or replaced a busted line a few times, it’s not that scary. Last time I had to fix one, the part was like $30 and it took maybe an hour—beats paying $200+ for a service call. The only time I really ran into trouble was when someone tried to DIY with duct tape (don’t ask), but as long as you use the right fittings, leaks are pretty rare.
I’d rather deal with a wrench than another appliance on my counter any day.
I get where you're coming from about the countertop ones—they're noisy and honestly, nobody ever wants to clean them. But I’ve gotta say, fridge ice makers aren’t always a walk in the park either. Last time I tried to swap out a water valve, the old compression fitting wouldn’t budge and I ended up with a slow leak that took days to notice. Sometimes those “quick fixes” turn into a whole afternoon project if the fittings are corroded or the line’s kinked behind the fridge. Maybe it’s just my luck, but sometimes I wonder if a cheap ice tray in the freezer is underrated...
Last time I tried to swap out a water valve, the old compression fitting wouldn’t budge and I ended up with a slow leak that took days to notice.
I hear you on the “quick fixes” turning into marathons. That compression fitting battle is all too familiar—last time I tried, I ended up lying behind the fridge for an hour, flashlight in my mouth, feeling like a contortionist.
But honestly, I think ice trays are only “underrated” until you’re hosting more than three people or forget to refill them (which, let’s be real, happens a lot). Plus, the cubes always seem to taste vaguely of frozen peas after a while.
If you’re dealing with corroded fittings and stubborn valves, sometimes it’s worth swapping out the old copper line for a braided stainless steel one. They’re easier to work with and less likely to kink or leak down the road. It might not save you from crawling around on the floor, but at least you won’t have mystery puddles showing up days later.
Still, nothing beats that feeling when you finally get it working... until someone slams the fridge door and knocks everything loose again.
