Tonight’s adventure was trying to be a handyman when I am so not wired that way.

Anyways, about two weeks ago the ice maker in the fridge quit producing eyes, and for that to happen in a house without AC is a pretty rough situation.

Last weekend, my friend Brian came over to walk with me through the symptoms of the problem. One thing led to the next, and pretty soon, the fridge was pulled forward, the lower cardboard back was off, and a funky color-coded connector of cords and tubes was sticking out of the back.

“If you are getting water from the main line, then the problem is probably in the feed to your ice maker. And that happens through this valve right here.” Pointing to the mostly metal and a somewhat plastic heart, he indicated a certain tube and pump assembly on it was probably failing.

“You can probably get another one online for $40 bucks. That’ll probably fix it.”

After our diagnostic session and after Brian went home, I went online and found a part number for the Frigidaire Three Coil Water Valve, a part that is pretty commonly used in a number of fridge models. I found a version of the part at Amazon for $33. And ten a search the next day found that part at McCombs for $18, $23 with shipping.

I ordered the part on Monday and received it on Thursday.

And in a mood and mode to try and get some stuff done around the house, I thought tonight I’d swap the parts out on the fridge.

I texted Brian for encouragement, found two videos on YouTube about how to complete the procedure, rounded up tools, and then waded into the process. I turned off the water under the sink, I unplugged the fridge. I removed the power connectors from the three pumps on the assembly. I detached the four water lines meeting in the mechanical heart. I followed the reverse order connecting the water lines to the new part, and then the power connectors. I turned the water back on and made sure nothing was leaking. I returned the valve assembly to its mount on the inside of the fridge compartment and reattached it with the two provided screws. I plugged the power back in.

And the fridge restarted fine, and after a few moments, I checked to see if water was coming through the spigot on the fridge’s front door. A trickle. Like before the part was changed.
I turned on the ice maker.

That was 40 minutes ago.

Nothing.

The part swap was a seemingly good decision. It made sense. Except for the fact that besides the fridge, there is a water softening system between the fridge and the main water line, and I can’t help but think something is going on that is blocking water from getting to the fridge.

I don’t know. I’m not a handy man. Trying to fix basic things is like trying to climb Mt. Everest for me.

I suppose bypassing the water softening system and just feeding the fridge with water straight from the wall would give us some additional answers. I am sure that is next.

But again, I don’t know how to do that.

Well, at least the kitchen isn’t flooded yet.

Yet.

To be continued.