Kenmore Elite Refrigerator 795.72059.110 Issue with ice maker and water dispenser

[Bnp]

Model Number

795.72059.110

Brand

Sears Kenmore

Age

6-10 years

We are having an issue with our ice maker/water. They both stopped working a year ago. We had a repairman out who said we needed a new ice maker. It was expensive and we were thinking we might just get a new refrigerator since our was getting some age on it. We had checked out things like the water valve and the tubing and it was all good. We decided to get the new ice maker. It was installed but still didn't work.

The repairman told us the water line was frozen in the door and the only way to unfreeze it was to unplug the refrigerator for up to 7 days and let the line thaw. He said the door is so well insulated that is the only way it would work. ??

I found a tool online (ice surrender) and we used that and it defrosted the line and suddenly we were able to get water for the first time in over a year. We thought the freezer would produce ice several hours later. Instead, this morning there is no ice and there is also no water.

We used the ice surrender again and the water started working, but still have nothing from the ice maker. We haven't tried unplugging the refrigerator for a week for obvious reasons but has any even heard of doing that? Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[rickgburton]

What does an ice surrender do? Where do you connect it? Are you getting any error codes? Press the test switch (located on the bottom of the icemaker head) for about 3 seconds. The ice maker tray should turn to the twisting position and return to the flat position, then fills with water. Does it fill with water? If not can you hear the water valve solenoid being energized?

 

[Bnp]

An ice surrender tool is a syringe connected to tubing and you lead it through the water line from the water dispenser on the door. You fill it with hot water and the hot water melts the ice in the line. We used it and it was successful and we did get water last night but this morning it had stopped and still no ice. There are no error codes. The ice maker doesn't fill with water but you can hear the water valve being energized.

 

[rickgburton]

Air in the system can sometimes cause water to freeze in the line. After you use the ice surrender and get the dispenser working, run about a gallon of water thru it to make sure the air is all out of the system. Also check the ice duct door (cap duct motor) is closing all the way or it can freeze the water in the dispenser line. GE had issues with water lines freezing in the door but I haven't heard of LG having the same problem. Did both problems show up at the same time?

 

[Bnp]

This morning the line was frozen again so I ran the ice surrender and then ran a gallon of water out of the dispenser. The problems did arrive at the same time. The tech that installed the new ice maker mentioned the GE issue and said he thought that was our issue as well. He said the door is so well insulated that the only fix is a good thaw which means a week unplugged. If it comes to trying that....wouldn't the problem just reoccur once we plugged the refrigerator back in? Thanks for you advice!

 

[rickgburton]

He said the door is so well insulated that the only fix is a good thaw which means a week unplugged.

Wow, did he clean up that bull s**t before he left? If the door was so well insulated, why did it freeze in the first place? You're right, if you don't fix anything it will happen again. The maximum any machine needs to thaw unplugged is 24 hours with the doors open. Let's see where the ice is in the line. Use something like a length of weed eater string and try to push it through the water line at the dispenser. My guess is that's where the ice is. For the ice maker, disconnect the water line where it goes into the door or behind the machine at the top, get something to catch water and start the ice maker harvest cycle. That will tell us if the water valve is good or not good.

 

[Bnp]

No. He pretty much left that right there. After cleaning the line through the dispenser this morning this afternoon it is clogged again. The line freezes at about 12 inches. Cleared it and now the water dispenser is working again, at least for the next couple of hours. The valve from the back seems to be clear. The ice maker seems to be working but no actual water is getting to it.

 

[rickgburton]

The valve from the back seems to be clear.

For the ice maker, disconnect the water line where it goes into the door or behind the machine at the top, get something to catch water and start the ice maker harvest cycle. That will tell us if the water valve is good or not good.

Do this.