FIXED KRMF606ESS01 Water dripping from Ice Bin?

[Djseto]

Model Number

KRMF606ESS01

Brand

KitchenAid

Age

1-5 years

Hello. Long time listener, first time caller. I'be been having an issue where there is water dripping from what I think is my Ice Bin and pooling up. I've read through several posts here but so far no luck. I just replaced the Ice Door per this thread but it didn't help.

I've run all the diagnostic tests I could find across multiple threads and everything appears to be OK. No issue with any thermistors or ice maker. It's been driving me crazy. I also checked the water reservoir after doing a fill test. No leak there. Not sure if it's related, but my fridge is set to 33F and my interior standalone fridge thermometer shows about 37-40F.

I had a KitchenAid certified company come out and they said the temp is with normal range. My only thought is that the ice isn't cold enough and it's melting a little? The temp variance doesn't bother me but the pooling water is driving my wife and I nuts. I can't tell if it's coming out the weep hole or elsewhere. I'm going to tape a paper tower over the whole to see if it catches water or if the water is leaking from where the ice drops out or the maker.

 

[Djseto]

So I taped a paper towel to the Weep hole last night and it was dry this morning but there was still water pooling. The door bin under the ice bin was wet so I think water is dripping from the ice bin down to the door bin and then down to the large bin that runs horizontally across the front.

I also came across another thread here where someone posted a graphic of how fridge temps vary so I moved my thermometer to another location (lowest shelve, all the way back) and it read closer to 35F so maybe temp regulation isn’t an issue. Still can’t figure out where this water is coming from. Freezer temp is set to 0F and it is almost spot on.

 

[Jake]

That's very odd, I've not run across that before on this model, are you sure its not condensation? No air leaks coming in?

If you turn the ice maker OFF overnight is water still pooling there? Try that if you haven't yet.

 

[Djseto]

That's very odd, I've not run across that before on this model, are you sure its not condensation? No air leaks coming in?

If you turn the ice maker OFF overnight is water still pooling there? Try that if you haven't yet.

With the ice maker off, it doesn’t appear to leak. My wife however uses ice like it’s going out of style so I can’t really leave it off more than one night or she gets cranky.

I noticed in the ice bin door that there are water stains in the plastic and I also see a bit of frozen water near the door where the ice drops out. Perhaps the water is coming from the ice maker and it’s dripped down the door into the door bin which then drains into the horizontal bin?

 

[Djseto]

Also, definitely not condensation. I’ve had this fridge for 5 years and this started a few months back. Seals all around look good. No air leaks I can see visually.

Tonight I’m going to turn the icemaker back on and tape a piece of paper towel to the clear plastic on the ice bin door where those dried up water stains are. If that’s wet, then the water is def coming from the icemaker “door” at the top of the fridge where the ice cubes drop into the bin

 

[Jake]

Yes, then it sounds and looks like the water is leaking from the ice maker itself.

Here's the ice maker for this model: W11579560

 

[Djseto]

It’s def the ice maker. The paper towel was wet and frozen. The question is how is water leaking from the ice maker unit itself and is it something I can fix short of ordering a $100+ part (that is also out of stock in the link you sent). I wonder if it’s wherever the water line connects to the ice maker? I don’t quite know how the ice make works but it still makes ice so not sure how it’s making ice and also leaking water out at the same time…?

 

[Jake]

Another member with your exact same ice maker and exact same problem replaced the ice maker that fixed it.

Here's his thread:

FIXED - KRMF706EBS01 KitchenAid Refrigerator Ice Maker Leaking Overnight

Hello all - We inherited a relatively lovely KRMF706EBS01 fridge but are having some issues water dripping from the ice maker (I've read the other two threads on the similar issues). Initially when we purchased it, the freezer evap fan was shot and making all kinds of noise (the reason why the...

www.applianceblog.com

It would be the ice maker, you are correct, since the ice maker is off and no leaks.

Here's the ice maker for your model: W11579560

 

[Djseto]

Another member with your exact same ice maker and exact same problem replaced the ice maker that fixed it.

Dang it. I swear I read every thread before I posted. I’ll have to see if I can find the icemake elsewhere or just order and wait

 

[Jake]

Yes, it seems to be currently on back-order just about everywhere right now.

 

[Djseto]

My taped paper towel is a good short term fix. It gets wet and then freeze but stops the water from pooling

 

[Jake]

Yes, that is a good short term fix for now.

 

[Djseto]

What’s your take on generic replacement parts? I’ve found some sites like this that have a part in stock and it’s cheaper.

 

[Jake]

I always use OEM parts, even if I have to wait for it to become off of back-order. I just tell my customers they have to wait as well, I refuse to put in non-OEM parts.

Most of my customers wait, but some do go refrigerator shopping, which is fine too.

 

[Djseto]

Replaced it with an OEM part. Didn’t fix it 🤬

Now what?

 

[Jake]

That's very odd, that should of fixed it. Then you have a very unusual problem and I would need to come out to see what's going on.

Since I'm too far away, contact KitchenAid to come out at 800-422-1230, then the KA tech can call the FACTORY HOTLINE from your house to investigate this problem.

 

[Djseto]

I’m trying to figure out how water is coming from the ice maker. Looking at the old one all I can think is that some water isn’t getting turned into ice and when the thing turns to eject ice, it’s throwing water out. Does the ice maker itself get cold or how does it “make” ice? Anything that could cause it not to get cold enough because I doubt I got a defective replacement part that does the same thing.

 

[Djseto]

Maybe the heater is coming too long and causing ice to melt and the the harvester is throwing water out? I’ve run all the diagnostics though and they come back fine

 

[Djseto]

Other thought is it’s filling the tray with water before the harvester dumps ice.

 

[Jake]

The ice maker tray has a thermistor attached to it that tells the ice maker its cold enough to dump the ice, then it does so, then keeps repeating the process over and over till the ice bin is full.

That's why its very important to contact KitchenAid to come out at 800-422-1230, then the KA tech can call the FACTORY HOTLINE from your house to investigate this problem.