How To Winterize Ice Maker In Rv? All Answers

The only ice maker I ever had was my mom, and she scolded that neither of us ever filled the ice cube trays or put the cubes in a container she kept in the freezer. It wasn’t until I moved into my own house that I had an ice maker right in the freezer. But these dice were N-A-S-T-Y. They tasted funny and smelled even worse.

I tapped into an expert at the Lehigh Career & Technical Institute in Schnecksville, PA to find out what’s wrong with my gross ice cream maker (and more importantly, what to do about it).

It turns out that even if you don’t have smelly cubes, you should scrub your ice cream maker completely (which I definitely didn’t). “Ice machines should be serviced at least twice a year,” says Kevin Keeler, LCTI heating/air conditioning and refrigeration instructor.

And if you have hard water — which can cause scale over time and affect your machine’s functionality — consider cleaning your ice machine even more frequently. “Hard water deposits can build up on the coil and interfere with the ice making process by preventing the coil from freezing the water,” says Keeler.

But before you start cleaning, remove unwanted items from your fridge and freezer. A clean appliance produces the best-tasting ice cream, and an unexpected culprit for smelly, cloudy, or odd-tasting cubes could be those questionable leftovers left in the back of your fridge from last week. Food can transfer smell and taste to ice cream, so it’s important to keep an eye on what’s in your fridge.

Once you’ve cleaned up spills and thrown out smelly items, you can start cleaning your ice maker. Here’s how to do it.

Unplug the fridge.

Unless you’re doing this in the extreme heat of summer, or planning to leave your house in the middle of cleaning, there’s no need to transfer everything to a cooler.

The cleaning process won’t take long, but you don’t want the machine making ice while you’re there. Depending on the model, there may be an arm or lever that you can lift to turn the maker off, or there could be an on/off switch on the side or back. (But it’s safest to unplug it all the way.)

Clean your ice cube tray.

Your ice maker’s bin slides out like a kitchen drawer, or you may have to lift it before you can remove it. Throw the ice in the sink (or garbage disposal). If there is anything else that you can easily remove without hardware, such as B. a drip tray, do this now.

One important note: plastic items from your freezer should be hand washed – never put them in the dishwasher. Use a washcloth and warm, soapy water or a few tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in a gallon of warm water to wash and wipe down any removed parts. Rinse well and let air dry; They must be completely dry before being returned to the device.

remove ice.

If ice is frozen on the ice maker itself, use the warm water on a washcloth to melt and loosen it. You can also (carefully!) use an ice pick to break up the ice, being careful not to damage the device.

When the ice is gone, use the washcloth and warm, soapy water or a 50/50 water/distilled vinegar solution to wipe off as much of the outside of the ice maker as possible. Then turn to a toothbrush to access all the parts you can’t reach with the washcloth.

Use a dry washcloth to wipe away any remaining moisture from the icemaker. It should be dry before you reassemble it.

Check your filter.

You may not be aware that your ice maker has a water filter. When it gets clogged with all those minerals, it doesn’t let through as much water, affecting the performance of the machine. An old filter – probably the culprit of my own ice cream maker – can affect the taste of ice cream. “Water filters should be changed every six months,” advises Keeler. Follow your manufacturer’s guidelines. (A good way to remember this is to do this when you change your smoke alarm batteries.)

Do a few cycles.

If your fridge is stored in an unheated place like a basement or garage, or you’re moving to your summer home for the winter season; You want to protect your devices from being exposed to freezing temperatures.

Refrigerators can have residual water in the pump and hoses that can freeze in cold weather and damage your pipes. When water freezes, it expands and damages the plumbing in your home and unit. Taking some precautions to protect your refrigerator can prevent damage and optimize performance.

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There are two parts to successfully draining a refrigerator. The first is to remove stagnant water that has formed due to a clogged drain pipe. If the hose is clogged, the water will spill onto the floor or into the fridge. The second part is to unclog the drain line so the fridge can drain itself. These are related measures as the only reason there is water in the fridge other than someone spilling something is a clogged drain hose.

You may be wondering, can freezing temperatures damage home appliances? The answer is yes!

Winter weather is not ideal for most types of devices. Cold temperatures can cause equipment to freeze, crack, or explode.

Daryl Flood recommends that you take precautions during the colder months (November – April) to protect your equipment from extensive damage.

We’ve compiled the most common questions about device security and cold temperatures, as well as some practical steps you can take to protect your goods during the winter.

1. Can my devices be left outside in the cold?

No, equipment left outdoors in extremely low temperatures (below freezing) can cause serious problems, e.g. B. Cracks in pipes, water pumps, valves and drain lines.

2. Can my devices also be affected internally?

Yes, equipment in basements, garages, or next to cold exterior walls (e.g. cement) can pose a potential risk.

3. Can I store new equipment in a cold garage or basement pending installation?

Yes, your new, unopened device is unlikely to be damaged in your garage or basement unless it is connected to a water source.

Before installation, allow the unit to warm up to room temperature by sitting inside. If you’re still concerned, take an extra step by wrapping the boxes in insulation material or a woolen blanket to help.

4. Do I need to worry if I live in the south?

Yes, although less common, southern states have freezing temperatures extreme enough to affect appliances.

5. If I go on holiday in winter, should I turn off my heating?

No, the US Department of Energy does not recommend turning off the heater completely. Instead, turn it down enough to keep your house running efficiently, but not below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. How to protect refrigerators

If you have a second refrigerator or freezer in your garage or basement that is connected to a water supply and you are dealing with freezing temperatures, it is best to disconnect or insulate the hoses connected to the water source, to avoid damage.

If you must keep these devices plugged in, use a space heater near the water pipes on the back of the unit. Make sure you unplug the heater overnight or whenever you are not home to reduce the risk of fire.

7. How to winterize your fridge

Remove all food and drinks from the refrigerator.

Turn off the circuit breakers and unplug the cord from the wall.

Turn off the ice maker first and then the water supply.

Turn off the temperature control.

Clean the inside of the refrigerator with a baking soda solution (1 tablespoon of baking soda per 1 liter of water). Do not use cleaning products that contain bleach, as this may cause cracking and discoloration of your device. Wipe dry after cleaning.

Leave the refrigerator doors open to allow the interior to dry to prevent mold and mildew.

8. How to protect washing machines

Perhaps the most vulnerable appliance to extreme cold is your washing machine due to the constant use of water.

At the end of the wash cycle, excess water in the hoses and pumps can freeze and start leaking in warmer weather.

To prevent this, it is recommended to wrap the hoses with pipe insulation and disconnect the water pipes from the wall when the washing machine is not in use.

9. How to winterize your washing machine

Turn off all taps.

Disconnect all hoses from the water supply and ensure the water is drained from the hoses.

Remove the drain hose from the drain. Place the hose on the floor in a shallow pan to allow the water to drain from the hose.

Tilt the washing machine forward about 10 to 15 cm to allow any remaining water in the pump to drain out of the hose. If you have a stackable washer and dryer, DO NOT try to tip it forward as the unit could fall.

10. Additional tips to protect devices from cold

Keep your garage door closed as much as possible to keep the heat inside.

Keep foundation vents closed or covered.

Cover basement windows with blankets to keep drafts out.

Closely monitor your devices for leaks, cracks and overall performance.

For more tips and questions, contact the manufacturer.

11. Here are some household items that can be affected by cold weather

washing machines and dryers

refrigerators

ice machines

space heaters

dishwasher

waterbed mattress

grandfather clocks

Electronics: TVs, computers, DVD players, game consoles, stereos, and other AV equipment.

At Daryl Flood, our local and long-distance moving services include a specialist service provider who can assist you with separating, packing, packing and installing your electronics and appliances.

They ensure that your belongings are properly packed and secured for transport. If you require these third-party installation services, your Daryl Flood relocation consultant will advise you of shipping restrictions due to cold weather.

Please plan accordingly.

Winterizing your Splendide washer-dryer Washer-dryers present a unique challenge when the motorhome is to be stored where freezing temperatures can occur. In this case, the following measures must be taken to properly protect your washer-dryer from damage that can occur in cold temperatures. If you blow your bus down with compressed air, you still need to run RV antifreeze down the washer dryer to protect it. If so, follow winterization procedure A to winterize your washer-dryer. If you are pumping antifreeze through your RV’s water system, use winterization procedure B to overwinter it. In both cases, your washer-dryer will be de-winterized and put back into operation using the same procedure. If you would like to print this page or save it to your own computer, you can find a printable version of the Acrobat “PDF” page by clicking this link. Winterization Procedure A: 1. With the machine off, pour 1/2 liter of RV antifreeze into the washer drum. 2. Close the door. Set the program selector to a SPIN position. 3. Press the ON/OFF (IN) button. Wait 1-2 minutes. 4. Press the ON/OFF (OUT) button. Unplug the washer-dryer from the outlet (or disconnect the power supply). 5. Turn OFF the water supply hoses. Disconnect the inlet hoses from the faucets. Drain the remaining water from the hoses. You are now done! Winterize Procedure B: 1. With the machine off, turn the WASH TEMP knob to HOT. 2. Set the program selector to REGULAR in Cotton Heavy Duty. 3. Press the ON/OFF (IN) button and allow the machine to fill until there is antifreeze in the drum. 4. Set the program selector to RESET. Wait 5 seconds (status/door lock LED flashes). 5. Set the program selector to a SPIN position. Drain the antifreeze from the drum. 6. Set the program selector to RESET. Wait 5 seconds (status/door lock LED flashes). 7. Turn the wash temperature knob to COLD. 8. Set the program selector to REGULAR in Cotton Heavy Duty. 9. Let the machine fill until you see antifreeze in the drum. 10. Set the program selector to RESET. Wait 5 seconds (status/door lock LED flashes). 11. Set the program selector switch to SPIN. Drain the antifreeze from the drum. 12. Press the ON/OFF (OUT) button. You are now done! De-Winterization Procedure: 1. Flush the water lines with clean water. 2. Reconnect the water inlet hoses to the correct HOT/COLD taps if previously removed. Make sure the seals and hoses are in good condition and there are no leaks. Turn on the taps. 3. Plug the washer dryer power cord back in if it was unplugged or reconnect the power supply. 4. With the ON/OFF knob in the OFF (OUT) position, pour 1/2 tbsp. Powder detergent (or liquid equivalent) into the “Detergent” compartment inside the detergent drawer. 5. Set the program selector to an EXPRESS cycle. 6. Press the ON/OFF (IN) button and run the machine through the full cycle to remove any residual antifreeze. You are now done! Note: This information can be found in your Splendide user manual. Submitted by Mark Quasius – 2/07/06

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– Choose delivery frequency. You will only receive an invoice once your order has been dispatched. – We will easily send you a reminder before each delivery. Skip refills or cancel at any time.- Cannot be combined with promotional codes.I agree to the subscription terms and authorize Whirlpool to automatically charge my standard payment card for the then-current rates at the frequency specified below. I acknowledge that my subscription will automatically renew until I cancel it through the Subscriptions section of My Account prior to the refill order date.” data-months=”Months” data-guestpass-header=”Subscribe at to save on water filters!” data-guestpass-message=”As a Guest Pass user, you cannot subscribe directly to Inside Pass, but you can subscribe to one of our Whirlpoolfamily websites. Click on the following to be redirected to set up your subscription: Whirlpool.com Maytag. com “data-show-offline-label=”false”>