Refrigerator Ice Maker Maintenance

Hot days create a need to have plenty of ice on hand for iced tea, lemonade and other cool, tasty beverages. Nothing makes this easier than having a built-in ice maker in your refrigerator. Most models come equipped with at least the option to have an ice maker added to the freezer for quick and convenient ice access. Still, these devices do require maintenance and repair to keep the ice flowing on those hot summer days.

Ice Maker Maintenance

Like any appliance which works day in and day out, your ice maker needs regular maintenance. This is especially important since you are ingesting the ice made by your device. Some regular maintenance items include:

  • Cleaning the supply lines. Every few months you should flush and inspect your water supply lines. You can do this by disconnecting them and checking them for cracks or pinched areas on the line, then rinsing them thoroughly with hot water. You can disinfect them by adding about a tablespoon of bleach to a gallon of hot water and pouring it through the lines, then rinsing.
  • Replace the water filter. Many ice makers have a built-in water filter which needs to be replaced to keep ice tasting great. Check the manufacturer’s information to determine how often to replace, usually about every six months. If you do not have a water filter for your ice maker, talk to your local plumber about adding one to improve the safety and taste of your ice.

If your refrigerator did not come with an ice maker, but has the option to add one, your plumber can help you get a kit installed and plumbed into your water supply. In no time at all, you will have fresh, ready-to-use ice for all your cold beverages.

Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing Septic & Sewer

Winterizing Your Outdoor Plumbing System

Depending upon the part of the country you live in, one of the most important things that you can do prior to the arrival of cold weather is to winterize your plumbing system.  Usually this will take place in October before temperatures at night dip below freezing.  Most homes have one or more exterior faucets or “hose bibs” where the homeowner can connect a garden hose to water their lawn and flowers, as well as wash their car.  It is critical that any water in the faucet itself, as well as the pipe, be eliminated before it can freeze.  Frozen pipes that fail are one of the leading causes of water damage in homes!

A plumbing contractor can assist a homeowner in two ways to assist in the winterization of the plumbing system, which services the exterior of the home.  First, a service call can be scheduled where the plumber will perform the service and drain all water from the pipe and shut off the water servicing the exterior faucet.  They will be sure to drain any water out of the pipe as well.

The second way the plumber can assist the homeowner is to install specialized faucets, which automatically drain the faucet and a portion of the pipe when the faucet is turned off.  Although most new homes are equipped with this type of faucet, most homes that are more than 15 years old have standard faucets.  As a part of this replacement, a qualified plumbing contractor will install a specialized shut off valve in the mechanical room as well, which will allow water in the pipe to be drained after the water is shut off.

A qualified plumbing contractor will be able to complete either of these tasks quickly and economically.  Remember that water pipes and freezing temperatures is not a good match!  To avoid unnecessary water line repairs, make that call today and get ready for winter.