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WILDEBILL308's avatar
WILDEBILL308
Explorer II
Mar 27, 2015

How to keep the water valve to the ice maker from freezing?

Has anyone figured out a way to keep the solenoid water valve to the ice maker from freezing? It is in the compartment with the refrigerator and not much protection.
I found the solenoid water valve to the ice maker leaking. Must have frozen during the last cold spell on the trip back to Fort Worth from Pharr Texas. The weather went from 82 in Pharr to 23 west of Austin on 281 where we decided to get off the road as it was sleeting. I checked around the usual local RV places and they all wanted about $50.00 plus tax. Went on Amazon and got one for $23.00 shipped.
Not a hard job about 15 minutes after I got the part.
The part that took longer than changing the valve was cleaning up the rats nest of wires in this area. I just string tied the worst of it, making sure no wires were rubbing on sharp edges. Only found 4 places where the wires were run over sharp edges, 2 places the water line was rubbing on sharp metal. I still have to find a couple of small artist brushes to paint the drip tray and rest of bay.

(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s300/WILDEBILL308/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-03/th_IMG_20150311_125210_042.jpg)

After
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s300/WILDEBILL308/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-03/th_IMG_20150323_114430_533.jpg)

Bill
  • mchero's avatar
    mchero
    Explorer
    Mar 28, 2015
    Bill
    I have the Norcold 4 door. It has both Ice maker & In door water despenser. When I aquired the coach the water on door was non functional. I found the solenoid to be defective BUT it was also connected to the solenoid for the ice maker! I needed to order the two solenoids. The soleniod for the in door water is 12VDC and the ice maker solenoid is 120VAC. Mine had a foil wrap around both solenoids.
  • WILDEBILL308's avatar
    WILDEBILL308
    Explorer II
    Mar 28, 2015
    jetcare wrote:
    Where is the heated metal foil wrap that goes around the water valve? The line from the water valve to the ice maker is also heated if you have the factory parts.

    You can see the foil on the line to the icemaker but unfortunately someone didn't think it was necessary and removed the rest before I got it. Is the heat wire on a thermostat or how is it controlled?
    The problem was I was on the road coming back from Pharr Texas to Fort worth when the storm met me. When I got to the junction of 281 and 290 it was 23 and sleeting hard. Decided to get off the road at Miller Creek RV Park and wait out the road conditions. Wasn't thinking about the valve. I would have thought the heat with the refrigerator running would have ben enough but..
    Bill
  • Executive45's avatar
    Executive45
    Explorer III
    Mar 27, 2015
    Get yourself a cheap swimming noodle and cut off a piece, slit it lengthwise and slide it over the valve in cold weather. Easy and cheap....Dennis
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Mar 27, 2015
    when I winterized my icemaker I unscrewed the hose fitting, put on a cheap twist off hose valve, ran pink stuff out and closed the valve. the rest of the mechanism automatically drained itself.
    bumpy
  • jetcare's avatar
    jetcare
    Explorer
    Mar 27, 2015
    Where is the heated metal foil wrap that goes around the water valve? The line from the water valve to the ice maker is also heated if you have the factory parts.

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