Ice tastes or smells bad

Old ice in the bin

Ice does not stay fresh forever. If you do not use ice cubes quickly, they slowly evaporate and take on stale qualities. Ice that sits in an open bin for weeks will shrink, stick together, and absorb the background scent of your freezer.

Water that sits motionless in the supply tubing behind the refrigerator can also develop a flat or stale taste before it ever enters the mold. When that water freezes, the cubes will carry the same off-flavor into your drink.

Emptying the storage bin regularly is an easy way to keep your supply fresh. Toss out cubes that look cloudy, frosted over, or smaller than normal.

1. Dump all current ice cubes out of the storage container into the sink.
2. Wash the bin with mild dish soap and warm water, then dry it completely.
3. Put the dry bin back in place and let the machine create a fresh batch.
4. Throw away the first two batches of new cubes to clear out stagnant water from the internal line.

Freezer odors

Air circulates continuously between your refrigerator and freezer compartments. If food is left uncovered or poorly wrapped, its smell enters the air current and settles directly onto the surface of cold ice cubes.

Pungent foods like onions, fish, garlic, leftovers, or open cartons of food are common sources of strange ice tastes. Even items stored in flimsy packaging can release scents over time. Because ice cubes act like sponges for airborne scents, they pick up these lingering smells very quickly.

Check your shelves and drawers for spoiled food, unsealed bags, or spills. Wiping down the interior walls and sealing all food in airtight containers or heavy freezer bags prevents odors from migrating into your ice maker.

An old filter

A refrigerator filter is built to handle a set amount of water, known as its rated capacity. Over months of regular use, the filter media fills with captured particles. Once a cartridge reaches the end of its useful life, it can no longer clean incoming water effectively.

As a rule of thumb, fridge filters should be changed about every 6 months. Pitcher filters are changed about every 2 months, faucet filters about every 3 months, under-sink cartridges every 6 to 12 months, and whole house sediment filters every 3 to 6 months. Always check the specific guidance on the product page and in your manual, as the interval on the product page and in the manual always wins.

Change your filter sooner if water flow slows down or if the indicator light comes on. Keep in mind that many fridge and reverse osmosis filter lights track time or water used. They do not test the water itself. For example, the Waterdrop WD-MXRC-1 replacement filter has a rated capacity of 300 gallons (1136 liters), a flow rate of 0.5 gpm (1.9 lpm), and should be changed about every 6 months.

Inline filters for ice makers

Some refrigerators do not have an internal filter compartment inside the cabinet. Instead, they rely on an inline filter installed directly along the cold water line behind the appliance, under a nearby sink, or in the basement.

Inline filters provide filtration for ice makers, fridge lines, RVs, and garden hoses. If your refrigerator does not use an interior drop-in cartridge, check the tubing running to your ice maker to see if an inline filter is present.

Just like interior fridge filters, inline cartridges wear out over time and must be replaced to keep water tasting clean. Before replacing an inline filter, always shut off the water supply valve to avoid spills. Run some water through a new filter before you drink it, following the flush steps on the box or product page.

Find the filter that fits

To solve taste issues, you need a replacement filter that matches your exact setup. Fit is matched by model: search the model of your system, the number on your old filter, or your fridge model.

Many models list their model number on a label. You can find this label on the side or front of a water system, printed directly on the old filter body, or inside a fridge on a side wall. For example, the Waterdrop WD-MXRC-1 refrigerator filter fits models like GE MXRC, GE 1E1013, GE 46-9905, GE 9905, GE FXRC, GE FXRT, GE HXRT, GE GXRC, GE HXRC, GE PS220814, GE WR97X10006, and fridge models ZIS36, ZIS42, ZIS48, ZISB36, ZISB42, ZISB48, ZISS36, ZISS42, ZISS48, ZISW36, ZISW42, and ZISW48.

Take note of your old part number before removing it. Having the exact letters and numbers makes it simple to match the right replacement.

Flushing your new filter

Whenever you install a fresh cartridge, tiny loose carbon particles and trapped air pockets can affect the initial taste and appearance of your water and ice. You should always run some water through a new filter before you drink it or let it freeze into ice.

Follow the flush steps printed on the box or on the product page. For refrigerator dispensers, this usually means running water through the door tap into a pitcher. For dedicated ice maker lines, dump the first few batches of cubes until the ice comes out solid, clear, and fresh.