Ice Is Here Again!

I finally replaced our broken ice maker!  It actually wasn't that hard to do.  We have a bottom drawer freezer with a refrigerator on top.  It only took a few simple steps to remove the old ice maker and replace it:

1-First, I unplugged the refrigerator.

2-I moved all of the food out of the fridge and freezer and put them in our basement fridge/freezer.  (You could use a few coolers filled with ice for this part if you don't have a second refrigerator.)

3-I cleaned and removed the entire insides of both the fridge and freezer with a simple solution of one part distilled vinegar to one part water.  This step took the longest because we had a lot of hidden spills underneath shelves and in crevices.

4-Vacuumed the coils beneath the freezer and wiped down all exterior components with the water/vinegar solution.  Removed all the dust I could possibly reach or see.

5-Removed the freezer drawer door and removed both interior baskets.

6-Took 3 quarter inch (1/4) screw/bolts off of the ice machine/freezer wall and unplugged electrical wires of ice maker to remove it.  This part was the quickest and easiest!

7-Replaced old, damaged ice maker with new one I purchased at appliance repair shop.  Simply had to swap out the electrical plug to make it compatible with my fridge and replace the new plastic hanging bracket beneath the maker with the old metal bracket from the previous maker.  Then I just re-directed the water tube into the new maker, screwed the three bolts in place, and re-connected the electrical wires.

8-Re-hung the freezer door, and reinstalled all newly cleaned baskets and shelving into the fridge and refrigerator.

9-Plugged in the main electrical plug of fridge.  (Didn't have to re-connect the water line because I never disconnected it.)

10-Waited 2 hours for freezer to cool down below 5 degrees Fahrenheit, and could hear water flowing into ice maker.  Another 1 to 2 hours later, we had our first ice cubes!

This is definitely an easy DIY job.  It just required a 1/4" socket tool that resembles a screwdriver.