LG refrigerators usually come with convenient, easy-to-use ice makers. However, if you discover your LG is producing bad-tasting ice then you’re not the first to have this problem.
Thankfully, fixing this issue is pretty straightforward and rarely requires a technician. All you need to do is a bit of troubleshooting.
Problems with ice makers include ice sticking together, ice getting stuck, and ice tasting bad.
Bad tasting ice can be extremely frustrating as the fix isn't always obvious. But to help you troubleshoot, we've rounded up 11 common reasons an LG ice maker might be making distasteful ice.
Try to fix these issues first and hopefully this should fix the issue and give you delicious tasting ice for years to come.
1. Issues With Your Tap Water
Sometimes the source of your bad tasting ice is actually your tap water.
If you're in an area with hard water then the dissolved salts and minerals in the water can end up in your ice giving it a slightly bitter taste.
Other areas have excessive chlorine in the water (to stop bacteria growing) but this can also cause your ice cubes to taste terrible.
If you think this is the problem you should filter your water before using it to make ice. Many LG machines come with filters for this very reason. If they don't then you could get a filter installed for your entire house.
If you want to test this before investing in a full filtration system try filtering water and making ice cubes in a regular ice cube tray and see if they taste better than the ones the LG ice maker makes. If it does then it could be your water messing things up.
If your home’s pipes are corroded or have mold, this could also be impacting the taste of your water and, consequently, your ice.
However, if your ice tastes bad but your water is fine then there is probably something else causing the ice to taste terrible.
2. Odors From Your Fridge And Freezer
The odor from your fridge or freezer can negatively impact the taste of your ice.
Most fridges have a single compressor which means air is moved between the fridge and freezer section. So smells and flavors from last night's garlicky leftovers can end up in your ice making it taste bad.
If your ice tastes like garlic then chances are it's getting that flavor from the food in your fridge. Click here to learn how to stop your ice tasting like garlic.
Many refrigerators, not just LG, can reduce unfortunate odors through regular cleaning, keeping food in tightly sealed containers, and putting open bowls or boxes of baking soda into the freezer and fridge spaces.
In addition, many LG refrigerators are equipped with a Fresh Filter Multi Air Flow. The feature helps eliminate odors from a fridge and functions on two settings:
- Automatic
- Power
When the LG is on auto mode, its fresh air filter is on a cycle of 10 minutes on and an hour and ten minutes off.
But if owners switch to power mode, the LG fridge will perform a more intense air cleaning regime. Over a span of four hours, the filter will work on a cycle of 10 minutes on and five minutes off.
3. Water Filter May Not Be Installed Properly
Water filters that are not appropriately installed are ineffective. If you are uncertain how to install your LG’s filter, consult the manual for your model’s instructions.
But even one that looks correct will not function optimally unless it is on tight.
Also, once you’ve fixed the filter, you must flush it out, dispensing at least two gallons through it. Once you’ve finished flushing it out, toss out all the old ice.
A lot of people have found that simply fixing the water filter and making sure it was on properly actually solved the problem of bad ice.
Check out what this customer had to say on Best Buy's FAQ section for LG fridges:
We had this problem. Even after a month our refrigerator water tasted awful. It was the plastic or electrical taste. After reading the article below we found the filter was not seated properly. Be sure to turn the filter clockwise PAST the first stop. Just keep twisting it. Then run another 2.5 gallons of water through it. Don’t forget to throw out the old unfiltered ice!
There's also more info and responses on this topic on Houzz's discussion forum:
The fix ended up being exactly what “Shakes” alluded to in an LG forums post- the filter was not seated properly! Nothing was entering it, the water must have just been bypassing the filter the entire time. The key here is you push the filter in, twist to the right so it hangs onto the coupling, then TWIST HARDER to the right until it fully locks in place.
4. Odors Stuck On The Ice Maker Itself
Sometimes your ice maker stinks due to developing mold or other unsavory scum. You need to clean it, just as you would if ice is stuck in the ice maker.
- Unplug the ice maker/freezer
- Empty the freezer of ice and toss it out
- Remove the plastic parts of the ice maker
- Clean the plastic parts, ensuring it is free of mold and scum
- Clean the inside of the freezer
- Allow everything to air dry
- Replace all parts back into the freezer
- Plug freezer back in
5. Ice Has Gone Stale
Ice can go stale if it has been sitting around for a while.
Thus, if you've been on vacation or perhaps not using ice for a few weeks due to cold weather, it's time to toss out the cubes and let your ice maker refresh the supply.
6. Water Filter Is Too Old And Needs To Be Replaced
Ensure all your filters are up-to-date.
See your manual for instructions on how to change the water filters for your model.
7. Water Has Sat In Water Links Too Long
If you haven't used your LG in a while, then water has been sitting in the tubes, becoming stale and unsavory.
To fix it, flush out the tubes. Ideally, you want to pull out 2-4 gallons of water using the dispenser.
Once you've finished, be sure to toss out all the old ice so your supply will be fresh and tasty. You probably have to do this anyway since ice that's sat around is prone to sticking together. Click here to learn how to stop ice sticking together in your ice maker.
8. Mold And Dirt On Ice Maker Or In Pipes
If you have mold and dirt on your ice maker or pipes, then it is time to do a deep clean.
Pouring distilled vinegar into the tubes and using a bottle brush can help with the more inaccessible areas.
9. LG Ice Maker Is Brand New Leaving A “Plasticky” Taste
Manufacturing can introduce a lot of bad smelling chemicals into your fridge that can take some time to disappear.
Getting rid of chemical smells is best done by leaving your new LG off and wide open for one to two weeks. This will air it out completely.
However, many people are replacing a broken appliance and can't live without a fridge and freezer for two weeks.
Thus, if you need your LG right away, the first thing to do is flush out the system, drawing out at least two gallons of water through the dispenser. Then wash the inside of the ice maker.
If you have an air filter in your LG, turn it on to the power mode to help rid your appliance of a plastic smell.
Lastly, let the ice maker run a few batches. After each batch, dump the ice.
10. Check Your Water Lines Into Freezer
Water lines into your freezer can impact the taste. Grated stainless steel water lines are particularly notorious.
The top materials for a water line are copper or PX tubing.
Thankfully, water lines can be upgraded and replaced.
11. Contact Customer Support If You Have Tried Everything And Continue To Have Issues
While not common, there may be a part in your LG causing the problem with your ice.
If you have tried all the bad-ice solutions without success, then it is time to contact your LG customer support.
They can ship replacement parts or arrange for a repair if required.
Conclusion
Poor tasting ice can ruin an otherwise delicious beverage. Thankfully, there are usually ways to resolve it at home without spending a lot of money on repairs or replacements.
But with a little time and tenacity, your bad ice problems will soon be a thing of the past.
An LG refrigerator ice maker might be making bad-tasting ice for a few reasons. These include:
- Issues with your tap water
- Odors from your fridge and freezer
- Poorly installed water filter
- Odors stuck on the ice maker
- Stale ice
- An old water filter
- Water sat in the pipes too long
- Mold and dirt in pipes
- Fridge is brand new and needs to be aired out
- Water lines into the freezer have issues
- You need to contact customer support
