Anyone familiar with ice maker repair?

[RhondaHonda]

I have a Thermador freezer column and it appears the water keeps dripping after it refills the ice tray and is freezing in the ice bin and freezing the ice cubes together.

I called a local appliance repair place and according to my wife, he took some plastic off the back inside the freezer and thawed out some ice and it worked ok for a week or so but alas the problem is back.

I’m thinking the solenoid valve that controls water flow may have some scale or debris in it and it doesn’t let it seal off completely. I’m out of ideas but figured the vast knowledge here may have experience.

The column is mounted into the cabinets and heavy so I’d rather not unhook everything to get to that valve if people don’t think that’s the issue.

 

[RhondaHonda]

 

[TnT_M]

Our whirlpool fridge was doing this for a while. I finally got fed up and just replaced the whole unit. I watched a couple YouTube videos and ordered parts off Amazon. It was very easy to fix.

Just my $0.02

 

[RhondaHonda]

Our whirlpool fridge was doing this for a while. I finally got fed up and just replaced the whole unit. I watched a couple YouTube videos and ordered parts off Amazon. It was very easy to fix.

Just my $0.02

I can’t tell if it’s the actual ice maker or the water valve. The valve is mounted down low behind the freezer. Maybe I’ll try that first since it’s only $50 or so. I just don’t want to pull the column out if it isn’t the valve.

 

[Wireman1987]

Try following the manufacturers instructions for a descaling if that doesn’t solve the problem, it’s a solenoid not closing

 

[TnT_M]

I can’t tell if it’s the actual ice maker or the water valve. The valve is mounted down low behind the freezer. Maybe I’ll try that first since it’s only $50 or so. I just don’t want to pull the column out if it isn’t the valve.

Do you have hard water? I know when I was looking into fixing ours it was a seal that was the issue. Have you looked online for any sort of guidance?

Just my $0.02

 

[Wireman1987]

Do you have hard water? I know when I was looking into fixing ours it was a seal that was the issue. Have you looked online for any sort of guidance?

Just my $0.02

some manufacturers may suggest or recommend an inline filter

https://www.amazon.com/Inline-Water-Filter-Kit-Makers/dp/B01M8MUHEW

 

[Reggaemon]

It's the solenoid.

 

[Racer4]

RondaHonda you are on the right track, try cleaning the valve, might be best just replace it they are not that expensive.

 

[RhondaHonda]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I’ll start the process to get this thing unbolted from the wall.

We do have somewhat hard water. The house was built in 2014 but I believe the water lines were installed 4-6 years before, and this was the first house on the street. I know when we bought it in 2015 the shower heads were so clogged up with sediment they’d barely trickle. I imagine the same gunk got into that solenoid.

 

[Chevyc10]

Before retiring I was appliance parts distributor. If it’s dripping water from fill tube replace water solenoid valve.

 

[RhondaHonda]

Before retiring I was appliance parts distributor. If it’s dripping water from fill tube replace water solenoid valve.

Thanks. I just need to figure out how the column comes out. I hate install directions with just images and the ones I’m finding are for a slightly newer model.

 

[Chevyc10]

Thanks. I just need to figure out how the column comes out. I hate install directions with just images and the ones I’m finding are for a slightly newer model.

I don’t know what you are calling a column. Water solenoid valve is normally located on back of refrigerator. Remove cardboard panel to access valve.

 

[KJSmith]

If it was the solenoid, you would think it would dribble all the time.
Do you see it dribbling?

It could be a timing issue controlled by the icemaker.
Or it could be the icemaker not dropping all the cubes.
A service guy made it work for a week.

In my case, some of the coating came off the ice tray.
All the cubes were not harvesting.
When the ice maker called for more water, it overflowed due to the cubes remaining.

I bought an open box return from Amazon that fit my refrigerator.
It was $22.00 delivered.
it's been about 5 yrs.

 

[RhondaHonda]

I don’t know what you are calling a column. Water solenoid valve is normally located on back of refrigerator. Remove cardboard panel to access valve.

It’s a standalone freezer column, built in and secured to the wall/cabinets.

 

[RhondaHonda]

If it was the solenoid, you would think it would dribble all the time.
Do you see it dribbling?

It could be a timing issue controlled by the icemaker.
Or it could be the icemaker not dropping all the cubes.
A service guy made it work for a week.

In my case, some of the coating came off the ice tray.
All the cubes were not harvesting.
When the ice maker called for more water, it overflowed due to the cubes remaining.

I bought an open box return from Amazon that fit my refrigerator.
It was $22.00 delivered.
it's been about 5 yrs.

I think what happens is the water dribbles, but freezes up in the feed over the course of that week before it starts running out and dripping where I can see it. This is a guess though. I don’t think it’s the cubes not dumping out as that has not been the case. If I catch it after it dumps there’s just water in all of them. The 2nd pic is the ice maker removed and the hole the water comes out of. I need to put a camera in there I guess and watch it.

You’d think it would still drip if the solenoid even with the freezer off. I’ll dry everything and look in the morning.

 

[RhondaHonda]

Well, no water dripped overnight from that fill hole so I’m thinking maybe it’s overfilling or freezing in the pipe/chute before it gets to the ice tray. I may try and put a camera in the freezer and watch it.

 

[JHZR2]

I had seen that once or twice in our Bosch. We have good water and no other issues. It seems to me to be related to defrost cycles. Like something melts and drips, then re-freezes.

 

[RhondaHonda]

I had seen that once or twice in our Bosch. We have good water and no other issues. It seems to me to be related to defrost cycles. Like something melts and drips, then re-freezes.

That’s a good point. Maybe I’ll try and put a temp probe in there to see if it’s warming up on the defrost cycle. Any idea how often a defrost occurs?

 

[KJSmith]

How does that water chute attach?
In this picture, it looks like it may be leaking at that point.
It looks like you have water freezing just under that area.