CANTON, Mich. - August 6, 2006 - The hot weather that's hit so many areas of the nation in recent weeks has many of us loading our freezers with ice cream and other cool treats. Chris Hall, president of RepairClinic.com®, recommends that homeowners check their freezers to make sure that they're not icing up, because this is a sure sign of a problem. And, for those summer drinks and cocktails, Hall has some tips for people whose ice makers are not operating properly or who find their ice has begun to taste bad.

"If you see frost or ice build-up on the inside walls, ceiling, or floor of your freezer, it's time to do some troubleshooting" says Hall, whose company, RepairClinic.com, provides consumers with the information and parts they need to fix their appliances. "And, while you're at it, there are a few easy maintenance items you can address that will ensure your freezer operates efficiently."

Essential troubleshooting and maintenance items to keep your freezer in tip-top condition
1. Most freezers self-defrost three to four times every day. But if a component in the self-defrosting system fails, the freezer continues to try to cool, causing frost build-up and a freezer or refrigerator temperature that isn't cold enough. If your freezer suffers from this condition, Hall recommends a quick visit to RepairClinic.com, where some additional diagnostic information can be found.

2. The gasket around the door should be kept clean in order to maintain a proper seal. If the gasket or interior of the freezer has become dirty or sticky, wash it with a damp rag and a little dish detergent. Appliance cleaning kits can be found for under $18.

3. To keep your refrigerator smelling fresh and to reduce strong odor cross-contamination of delicate foods, be sure to put all food in tightly sealed containers, especially onions and garlic. Fridge Aid deodorizer will remove odors much more effectively than baking soda. Cost: $8.95.

How to fix an ice maker that's stopped making ice
1. Make sure your icemaker hasn't been accidentally turned off. Look for the wire along the side of the ice maker that resembles a coat hanger. If the wire is in the raised position, the ice maker is turned off. If so, try one of these: (a) if your ice maker has a small red plastic lever, lower it to lower the wire; or (b) if there's no plastic lever, simply lower the wire. In either case, the ice maker should begin producing ice again.

2. The ice maker fill tube accessible from the back of the freezer may be blocked with ice. If so, melt the blockage using a hair dryer-but be careful to not melt any plastic parts! A leaky water inlet valve is often to blame when ice is found in this fill tube. Check to be sure there is no water continuously dripping into the ice maker.

3. The water supply may be turned off or clogged. Check the small shut-off valve where the water supply line attaches to the household plumbing. There should be a good flow of water to the refrigerator.

4. The water inlet valve may be defective. This valve is powered by the ice maker itself. If it's receiving power during a fill cycle but no water flows the valve may need to be replaced.

Does your ice smell or taste weird?
Impurities in your water can affect the smell or taste of the ice cubes. Hall suggests using a taste and odor water filter on the water-supply line, such as a charcoal-based universal water filter. Cost: $20.

Also, over time, the ice cube bin can absorb difficult-to-remove odors from the freezer and transfer them to the ice cubes. Hall recommends replacing the bin every two to three years.

Many more tips available online
Cleaning tips, maintenance instructions, parts and cleaning supplies for these projects and more can all be found at RepairClinic.com. Consumers can ask the RepairGuru, RepairClinic's online help wizard, for help with most every major appliance repair question.