Has anyone rigged up a better filter for your ice maker?

[Bennylava]

Hi all. Just wanted to stop by and ask if anyone here has ever rigged up a better filtration system for your ice maker. And only the ice maker. The one in your kitchen fridge. So it would be using that tiny line, I forget what size it is. 1/4 diameter maybe? Anyway I pay for the good Ozarka water to be delivered in those 5 gallon bottles. But sometimes you can still taste the not-so-great tap water, from the ice.

Some refrigerators come with a small filter for the ice maker. I'm looking to improve that situation. But here's the catch - I'm just looking for something I can install in-line to the ice maker. I'm going to wait and do some big bad water filter later on when I refurbish the kitchen. So any ideas on filtering just the ice maker? Thank you!

 

[JRC3]

You can usually pull a panel inside the fridge and bypass the filter, some it's in the back....Then do whatever filter you want before the fridge. Some brands offer a bypass cartridge type plug to replace the regular filter. Me, I do R/O with a big carbon cartridge (in the white housing) as a polish after the other filters. This single housing could easily be done for just the fridge in a nearby cabinet or whatever.

https://www.menards.com/main/plumbing/water-filtration-softeners/whole-house-filtration-systems-accessories/omnifilter-10-whole-house-water-filter-system-housing/ob1-s-05/p-1444450663963-c-8685.htm?tid=825331174954847571&ipos=5

I use this one: https://www.menards.com/main/plumbi...32895503.htm?tid=-2637654644771415761&ipos=27

Could also do this inline instead of housing and cartridge: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IWEQ7FM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Screw those little expensive crappy stock filters.

 

[kngelv]

Ice can still taste funny even if the water is filtered. It has a lot to do with the air in the freezer. Ice usually tastes like a freezer smells.

James

 

[JRC3]

Ice can still taste funny even if the water is filtered. It has a lot to do with the air in the freezer. Ice usually tastes like a freezer smells.

Uncovered or loosely covered food is the main culprit. The fridge is usually cooled by air that circulates from the freezer. Even dedicated 1ce compartments are cooled with recirculated air.

Even ice with tightly sealed food will still get funky and stale when it's been around too long. I often dump my ice to let new ice get made.

 

[Showkey]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^That’s one benefit of two separated cooling units frig and freezer. ^^^^^^^^^

 

[dcg9381]

When we built the house, I installed a central line for reverse osmosis... We have one RO filter system (sits high in the house) - serves drinking water taps and freezer ice makers.

 

[nadogail]

I never change the filter to my ice maker. Our water utility provides a fine product. Many people have bottled water delivered to their homes but I am fine with what comes out of the faucet.

 

[duneslider]

I have a fridge in my garage and use a Hydroviv filter in the line headed to the fridge. I could also do this inside but it would be a little more hassle to pull the fridge out when it was time to change the filter. The fridge in the house also seems to have a better filter anyway so it hasn't been a problem.

The Hydroviv filter is "supposed" to be customized to your location to work better based on your actual water conditions. It seems to work fine but can't say it is better than comparable filters I have used in the past.

 

[reader2580]

I have a Kinetico K5 reverse osmosis system. There is a line from that to my fridge for the water and ice. The filter in the fridge has been removed as it was restricting the flow. You certainly don't need an expensive RO system like the K5. I have read some things about cheap RO systems not working with fridges as the fridges need a certain PSI.

 

[My Old Tools]

We have a stand alone ice maker. It has an inline filter....kind of like this. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y9S7L29/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[brownbagg]

we got three of those big resturant ice machines, we actually have a service that once a month, they change the filters and clean the machines, takes all day

 

[mike93lx]

I use this rig under my sink...completely kills the chlorine. I've thought about doing one on the freezer for ice, but haven't gotten to it yet

APEC Water Systems CS-Series Easy Install High Capacity Under-Counter Water Filtration System

APEC Water Systems CS-Series Easy Install High Capacity Under-Counter Water Filtration System CS-2500

CS-2500 delivers high quality filtered water at an affordable price. This easy to install under-sink water filtration system is made from high quality components and filter media to offer exceptional contaminant rejection rate and long-lasting, reliable performance. Removing lead, chlorine...

www.homedepot.com

SKU# 206468676

 

[JRC3]

we got three of those big resturant ice machines, we actually have a service that once a month, they change the filters and clean the machines, takes all day

The OP should do the same.

 

[brownbagg]

we got the three machine because everybody got cooler on their truck, so 17 trucks can empty the ice machine almost daily. I got good small cooler so I only need ice every other day. about a three gallon bucket full, its usually in the 90's almost every day around here

 

[Walkers]

Just get an under sink RO unit. Anything less is just a waste of time.

 

[JRC3]

^
He's right.

I'm an R/O 'born again' and will never go back to the filthy taste of street water. You know how good that sit-down restaurant water is?...There's a reason why...R/O and/or a good charcoal polish filter.

 

[andyvh1959]

I got a GE side my side fridge/freezer with automatic ice maker and water/cubes on the freezer door. Really like, been drinking a lot more water ever since I got it. But not even six months after I got it the indicator came on to change the filter. Haven't done that yet so I assume the water to the freezer is just bypassing the filter.

 

[JRC3]

But not even six months after I got it the indicator came on to change the filter. Haven't done that yet so I assume the water to the freezer is just bypassing the filter.

It's not likely to be bypassing. Instead, the water is just flowing through the dirty media.

 

[andyvh1959]

Unless its a real cheap filter, as it build up more it should filter better until it can't pass water through it anymore.

 

[JRC3]

All that's inside a fridge filter is charcoal. As water flows by the charcoal media, it absorbs impurities. It's pretty much granular so whether it's new or "full" water will still pass around the media. Impurities get trapped in the pores of the media and the media doesn't change shape or size.

 

[andyvh1959]

Aha, kind of like the media in my little koi pond filter, and my cat's water fountain filter.

 

[check251]

I added a whole house filter in line with my refrigerator ice maker and water dispenser in the 1/4" copper tubing.
Installed it in the basement where the line was easily accessible. Needed an adapter fitting or 2.
I use the carbon filter cartridges. The replacement cartridges cost much less than the
filters designed for under the sink. Something like this:

 

[Pen & Wrench]

I did the same as dcg, we put in a Reverse Osmosis system for drinking water and plumbed the ice maker in the fridge to it, and it works great.

 

[Rc_Guy]

I never change the filter to my ice maker. Our water utility provides a fine product. Many people have bottled water delivered to their homes but I am fine with what comes out of the faucet.

Many people have a well in there yard where I live.

 

[JRC3]

Many people have a well in there yard where I live.

Roughly 20% of U.S. houses have a well. I am one of them. Explains my setup. Municipal street water disgust me now, My dog even turns his nose.

 

[Meursault74]

I got a GE side my side fridge/freezer with automatic ice maker and water/cubes on the freezer door. Really like, been drinking a lot more water ever since I got it. But not even six months after I got it the indicator came on to change the filter. Haven't done that yet so I assume the water to the freezer is just bypassing the filter.

The indicator doesn't measure the quality of the water. It's either time or some flow amount. I don't know which. I can "reset" my filter level on the fridge at least 3 times before I change the filter. I just go by taste. I get about 12-15 months before I feel the taste is where I want to change the filter. I have a simple carbon filter right before the fridge. The slot in bottom of the fridge for the OE type filter is now empty on mine. I prefer the inline filter. The internal carbon is the same. The inline one is cheaper. I can flush the inline one into a bucket before I connect the outlet to the fridge. No need to introduce any carbon particles into the fridge this way.

 

[bwringer]

I installed a fairly basic carbon filter behind the fridge for our ice and drinking water dispenser. The cartridges are easy to change out once a year. I also use the filtered water for coffee, and the cat has developed a taste for the good stuff...

It works great to get rid of the chlorine and "stale" taste of our city water. I also installed a little drinking water faucet with a carbon filter at our office -- we all drink a lot more water now instead of tea or soda.

As long as your water supply is safe to drink, a simple and inexpensive carbon filter may be all you need.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I got a GE side my side fridge/freezer with automatic ice maker and water/cubes on the freezer door. Really like, been drinking a lot more water ever since I got it. But not even six months after I got it the indicator came on to change the filter. Haven't done that yet so I assume the water to the freezer is just bypassing the filter.

On Ge frigs that light is controlled by a clock, has nothing to do with water quality. Just time since reset. No bypass of water.