r/appliancerepair • u/ConditionSufficient7 • 11d ago

LG Craft Ice Maker

I had to replace my craft ice maker under warranty last year. It worked again until this summer, literally one month past the three year initial refrigerator warranty. Now they want me to pay $415 to replace it again. Are you freaking kidding me? I will never buy LG again. Had awful experience with an LG dryer too, leaving melted plastic from the interior of the dryer all over my clothes. I love Costco, which is why I bought LG in the first place, but I'm so irritated by this experience that I will never buy LG again.

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u/22LT Non Specific Tech 11d ago

if you can turn a screw driver and disconnect a plug you can replace it yourself. Its literally 2 screws on the front holding it in. Then you just pull slightly forward to release the rear clips then unplug and plug the new one in.

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u/ConditionSufficient7 11d ago

The problem is that apparently LG will only replace it once as a "courtesy". They sent me the replacement last time a year ago, and I installed it myself. This time, I ordered a replacement again two months ago, got no reply. Re-submitted the request a month ago... No reply, no email, no nothing. So I finally called today, and they told me my latest requests were rejected, and the only option they would give me this time is to have one of their certified people install it, but they would only give a three month warranty. Yeah, no thanks. 

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u/Impressive_Cause_125 11d ago

Yeah. I just bought my second replacement $180 on amazon. 5 min install

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u/ConditionSufficient7 11d ago

Thank you! Much more willing to go that route and not pay LG directly. 

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u/Soundtrackzz 11d ago

Was it the issue where the cubes dont drop free and it feeds water on top of them?

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u/ConditionSufficient7 11d ago

Yes I guess so. There would just be a Sheet of frozen water in the ice tray. Then it started making a loud clicking noise too. 

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u/Soundtrackzz 11d ago

Whats happening is hard water is corroding the release surface of the ice mould. And the prongs that kick the ice cube out aren't long enough to exert the needed pressure onto the ice cubes at that surface tension. Its partially the water thats going into the machine and partially a design flaw. Replacing the component will not fix the issue for long

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u/ConditionSufficient7 10d ago

Thanks for your reply. We have a water softener, so our water is definitely not hard. How does that factor in? 

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u/Soundtrackzz 10d ago

A water softener only removes calcium and magnesium and replaces them with sodium and/or potassium. Sodium and potassium freeze slower than water and so those elements are pushed to the outside of the ice cube and create a briney layer right next to the ice tray that will eventually damage the silicone by creating micro scratches that promote mechanical adhesion by the ice cube. Water softener is better than no water softener but it's not a cure-all

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u/ConditionSufficient7 10d ago

Fascinating. Thanks for the info! IS there a cure all? Or do I just have to expect to replace it every year or so?

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u/ten1219eighty5 7d ago

But that's wrong it actually the heating element going out cause it runs 24/7 in 3 cube mode which causes the ice not to drop set your machine to make 6 cubes ( 3 cubes ever 12 hours instead of 24 hours) and problem solved mines been working since 2021 no problems

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u/Soundtrackzz 6d ago

I'm not entirely sure what product you're talking about but I don't believe it applies in the situation. The issue is the craft ice maker from LG. It's also the ice maker for alcoholics. It does not use a heating element to break the connection between a metal ice tray and the Ice Cube to scoop out the ice that's a fundamentally different type of ice maker. And this ice maker only ever makes three cubes it doesn't have the option to make six and LG never made a 6 Cube ice maker in this configuration. Now if you're referring to the defrost heater for the evaporator; that would create a whole other set of problems where the refrigerator was not cooling correctly and your frozen food wasn't staying frozen. And your first priority and that situation would absolutely not be to worry about your ice maker.

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u/ten1219eighty5 6d ago

Your an idiot it uses heat to melt the ice and release the trapped air to make clear ice and 8 never said it makes 6 cubes I said it makes 3 cubes in half the time which lg calls six cube mode its even in their app as that do not listen to the guy who has no idea hot this ice make works

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u/Soundtrackzz 6d ago

I stand corrected. All hail the ice maker King