Ice Maker Not Working: Repair, Replace, or Use Ice Trays?

Question

My tenants asked me to fix the ice maker in my Samsung refrigerator.

The refrigerator itself works perfectly fine; only the ice maker is not working. Can I simply ask them to use ice cube trays instead?

If I decide to replace the refrigerator(It's 12 years old), can I downgrade to a simpler model? The current one is a side-by-side refrigerator with a water dispenser, and I've had nothing but problems with it over the years. Many technician refuse to fix Samsung refrigerators. I'd much rather replace it with a basic top-freezer model.

For context, they have been good tenants, so I'd like to handle this fairly. What would other landlords do in this situation?

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

They rented your place with an ice-maker so it's reasonable for them to expect a working ice-maker. (Maybe even legal?)

If I were you, I'd get a new fridge with an ice-maker. Do your research and don't spend too much. I agree with @JD Martin about no ice-makers in rentals.....if you can avoid it....

Note: I have had GE appliances in 3-4 of my houses (rentals and residences) in the past 10 years and have had no problems. Both high end (i.e. GE Profile) and rental level...

JD Martin · Answer

The ones inside the freezer not in the door aren't too bad. The door ones are horrible. The bigger problem is the renters move the fridge and kink the lines or pinch them or pull them loose and they leak, no one notices until one day they say "Hey the floor in front of the fridge is really spongy" 😅

Drew Sygit · Answer

Why not try telling the tenants that your technician refuses to fx it and volunteer to send them ice cube trays - and see what they say?

Maybe it'll be easy.

Jules Aton · Answer

If they are good tenants I would get estimate to repair and see how reasonable or unreasonable that may be. I'm not sure I'd replace a refrige for ice maker despite my baseline of wanting to keep tenants happy. I don't do refrigerators with water dispensers and if possible will not provide ones with ice makers in the future either because I don't want to be annoyed by this stupid stuff. I only have STRs right now but if/when that changes I may even consider adding a line in lease that ice maker is for tenants use but will not be replaced or repaired? Full disclosure I think those old axillary water lines are probably gross and don't use ice anyway so there's that. :)

Richard F. · Answer

In general, as @Bruce Woodruff said, you supply an appliance (of any type- large or small), you need to repair/replace as necessary..absent obvious physical, Tenant caused damage. Basic contract law...you can't change terms without both parties agreement.

For that reason, the only time I ever provided icemakers was for an executive level home where it is more commonly expected.

Also, the water filters for the icemakers sometimes leak, as well as the plastic water lines most use these days. They can leak for months with Tenants oblivious, all the while rotting your subfloor.

It's much cheaper to buy ice trays and provide packaged new ones at turnovers.

JD Martin · Answer

We do not hook up ice makers in any of our units. They are nothing but trouble in rentals. How long have they been tenants? How is their rent levels? Do you plan on offering ice maker service when they move out?

Ice Maker Not Working: Repair, Replace, or Use Ice Trays?

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