The short answer
Here is what the symptom means on a Black+Decker refrigerator: odour in ice is nearly always absorption over time rather than a fault in the water path. Emptying the bin and using the ice faster fixes most of it; a filter overdue for replacement is the other half.
What you actually see
- No ice at all after a full day — A machine that has made nothing in a day has either no water, no cold or no permission to run.
- Ice that smells or tastes of the freezer — Odour transfer happens when ice sits for weeks, and it is a usage pattern rather than a fault.
- The ice maker fills but never harvests — Water goes in, the mould stays full, and nothing drops into the bin.
Causes, ranked for this refrigerator
- Water filter clogged or overdue — Ranks first because a restricted filter drops the flow enough to underfill the mould, which is exactly the hollow-cube complaint. This is the entry most often blamed correctly and diagnosed carelessly, so take the extra minute.
- No water reaching the fill valve — Second because no water is the second thing to rule out because it explains every no-ice complaint at once and costs nothing to check. Confirm it before moving on, because the entries below read differently once it is ruled out.
- Ice maker switched off or the arm parked up — Third because every ice maker has an off position and it is the single most common reason one stops, especially on a unit that has been moved or serviced. Rule it in or out properly here; a maybe at this position costs an hour further down.
What to check, in order
- First — the filter, where fitted — Bypass the filter if the cabinet allows it and watch the next few cycles.
- Second — the supply line and shut-off — Trace the line from the back of the cabinet to the shut-off and confirm the valve is fully open, not cracked open.
Checks an owner can do safely
- Step 1. Throw away the first two batches — After any water work, discard the first two batches. They carry whatever was standing in the line.
Tools: noneAbout 5 min
- Step 2. Confirm the ice maker is switched on — Check the wire arm or switch is in the run position and nothing in the bin is holding the arm up. This is the most common single answer.
Tools: noneAbout 5 min
- Step 3. Measure the freezer compartment temperature — Leave a thermometer in the compartment for several hours. A freezer holds food safely at 0 °F (−18 °C) or below, and a harvest cycle needs that cold.
Tools: freezer thermometerAbout 20 min
Before you open anything
Safety
Two isolations, not one: power at the plug or breaker, water at the supply valve. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Standing water under an energized appliance is an electrical hazard first and a plumbing problem second.
When this becomes a service call
The line is not about confidence, it is about what the next step needs. Call when the compartment is properly cold, water is arriving, the arm is down and the mould still never harvests — that is the module, and it is a part swap with a harness behind it.
Sources
General guidance- The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) — OSHA 1910.147 and manufacturer service manuals, fetched
- Refrigeration and Food Safety — USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, fetched
Nearest pages
What this page does not cover
One limitation worth stating up front: this page is written for the Black+Decker refrigerator range rather than for your particular unit. It does not name families, model numbers or control revisions. Where a page exists that does, it is more precise than this one and it is linked under Related pages.
Related pages
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
