GE Opal Nugget Ice Maker Gen 1 vs Gen 2 - Part 4

[@eleventwenty]

Thanks for the video. I was able to clean ours out pretty quickly and efficiently after watching. I used a metal straw cleaner and bent it 90 degrees to get into the nooks and crannies whiched worked better than anything else I saw suggested. Thanks again!

[@Davidwesley6]

I’m Absolutely grateful for you’re 4 videos! Great job!👌🏾

[@jamesf.newman9381]

I have the original first build so 7 plus years when I saw your video I knew my reservoir would be a mess but there was hardly anything in it to my surprise. I don't know if it was the filtered water we were using or just dumb luck but now I will clean the reservoir as well. Thank you for the video

[@ElaineBarlow]

You're extremely lucky and YES if you have been using filtered or distilled water the entire time that is going to be a HUGE help. Most of the people who have contacted me or sent me photos have very hard water (as do I) and they just didn't know they needed to worry about it. The original first build you mean the actual OPAL before it was bought by GE? wow ... that's an ARTIFACT ♥ Thanks for watching my videos and thanks for your comment. I hope you continue to have a great experience with your first build.

[@jamesf.newman9381]

@@ElaineBarlow My current issue is not making ice on a continuous basis as it once did. It starts fine and creates cubes but seems to get stuck in fill mode and doesn't stop to create more. I have the top of trying to figure out what is wrong. It seems like a program/firmware issue.

[@jamesf.newman9381]

@@ElaineBarlow Yep the original OPAL

[@ElaineBarlow]

@@jamesf.newman9381 I didnt know the original OPAL units were still being supported. When GE bought the company, they kind of ... reworked the First Builds and put out a patched together new version and even THAT version is a mess mainly because you really couldn't fix the problem with the originals. The Gen 2 is a new build that fixes most of the issues with the original design. I know GE has a separate division for the OPAL rebuilds but I didn't know the true ORIGINALS even were getting support. I'm surprised it worked this long for you. I think you should invest in the Gen 2 at this point.

[@jamesf.newman9381]

@@ElaineBarlow You may have discovered this already about access to the reservoir but just in case if you remove the two top screws beside the reservoir and remove 3 or 4 screws from the back panel left-hand side near the reservoir it is much easier to remove the top and replace.

[@brandimills585]

Thanks for doing this video. My 2.0 will arrive tomorrow and I had no idea you were supposed to clean the inside like that!

[@ElaineBarlow]

amazon.com/gp/product/B08F7TT8PY

[@trancee]

I appreciate this, looking forward to part 5

[@ElaineBarlow]

Honestly, I hadn't planned on a part 5 but I guess I can do one. The machine is actually performing perfectly even after a month. No problems with mold or anything. I will probably do a video when I open it up and check the reservoir. I want to see if there is any major build up like in the first gen.

[@JamesDavis-pt7ju]

Glad I saw your videos before I bought the Gen 1. My wife saw it for $98.00 and thought it was a great buy. Seeing your video made me wary of the Gen1. Thanks for the informative video.

[@PlanBMarketing]

Thank you for making your videos. I bought this for my wife and she could never keep it clean for more than a week. Little did we know the white tank on the inside of our unit was disgustingly full of algae…just nasty. I will stick with ice from my fridge…thank you!!!

[@ElaineBarlow]

The Gen 1s are awful to deal with and once you skip it for a week or so, it just gets worse and worse. I haven't had any trouble so far with the Gen 2.

[@khristinedavenport8584]

❤

[@denierlexiese]

You got me to clean out my gen 1. It wasnlt over the hot side aonit wasnt that bad for me. These things break all the time though

[@tlstew8225]

So looking forward to the next video 📹! Thank you so much!

[@terrywilliams8172]

I have the gen 1. Since we have well water, I have used distilled water or bottled water for our ice maker. It’s probably about 3 years old. I have the extra water reservoir hooked up. I have cleaned it but never opened the top. I have gunk, I saw just the other night from my hoses and quit supplying water to the ice machine. This is the first time for this to happen. I just cleaned it a month ago. I have no doubt that when I take the top off that I’m going to want to 🤮 especially since I have had it for 3 years. I also didn’t know that I needed to take it apart and clean it. It makes so much since about the reservoir setting on top of the heat now. Thank you for sharing this. Maybe time for a new one. I’m interested in seeing how you clean the gen 2 and taking it apart to clean. Thank you again.

[@ElaineBarlow]

Thanks very much for your comment and story. I think many people don't realize they need to get into the machine and clean it. I know I didn't for over a year ... The Gen 2 has been performing in such an amazing way for me. I have had no issues with mold in the bottom (which I used to in Gen 1) or forming in the ice tray itself (which I used to in Gen 1). I wanted to wait several months before doing another video on the Gen 2 so I can see how it performs with regular usage.

[@tlstew8225]

@@ElaineBarlow I really appreciate you taking the time to share all of your research and information! You are definitely right about the mold surprise! I was horrified when I opened mine and saw my "algae farm". I was so squeamish and freaked out by what I saw ... I was just like throw it away. Well hubby cleaned it and showed me how and I was okay... that is until I saw your awesome video 📹 😀! Now I want a new one G2 here I come!!! Thank you 😊 💓

[@ElaineBarlow]

@@tlstew8225 So glad I can help! I hope to get to my next Gen 2 video soon! I think if people understood how much actual maintenance has to be done on these they probably wouldn't buy them LOL so that's probably why GE doesn't mention how to really get in and clean everything also they make it near impossible to take it apart and clean it properly. It makes me so sick to think how much mold I was consuming all those years with the Gen 1.

[@yayamama76]

I wonder if it would help or hurt to turn the machine off between uses? I just got a Gen 1 during Amazon days after my Taotronics started leaking. This time I got five year warranty. Wish me luck!

[@ElaineBarlow]

We don't turn ours off because my family and I use a ton of ice every day ... You got a Gen 1? Good luck with that. I would never buy another Gen 1 again in my life. I wouldn't even accept one if it was free.

[@Herdnerfer]

Very helpful videos! Please do regular updates!

[@gstoner8432]

Let us know when the fan motor starts squealing. I've had my Gen 2 for a month now and it already does it. Looking online it seem there is a lack of oil in the fan motor assembly. Crazy thing it does not do it 100% of the time. But ours is in the upstair's master bedroom and not in the kitchen and the noise is unbearable when it occurs.

[@ElaineBarlow]

Will do. Nothing yet. Its just much louder than the Gen 1 when making ice but its nothing that bothers me. No squealing or anything. Just the machine rumbling when it makes ice and only for a short period.

[@margaretkoopman9154]

I'd use a toothbrush to get into that reservoir. I'm trying to get my Frigidaire cleaned, again a pain in the neck just trying to take it apart. Pipe cleaner for the tube. They could have done a better job by adding cleaning supplies. I also run filtered water through the ice maker. Didn't have mold issues until I started using tap water, and that was just once!

[@IWorkHereBro]

Thank you for the video. Looking forward to the Gen 2 update. I discovered the need to clean the reservoir about 6 months ago, but that’s not the end of it. Take the back and sides off of the unit and check out the hoses that feed all of the components. They are literally black inside. You need to take each one off and clean as well. Even after cleaning the reservoir and the hoses, and running bleach/vinegar, there are still black flakes in the ice every so often. Thinking there is mold deep in the unit I can’t get to. GE should accept trade ins for Gen 2 units as a courtesy.

[@ElaineBarlow]

with the Gen 1 then ENTIRE machine had to be dismantled to get to the mold. Gen 2 it looks a little EASIER to get to all the components and at least see what's going on. Gen 1 it was impossible to take apart. Gen 2 looks a bit more manageable. I'll post an update video when I get ready to clean.

[@khristinedavenport8584]

❤

[@educationjack5730]

Very informative, waiting for the next video on how the gen 2 is fairing out with what seems like it would have the same issues

[@ElaineBarlow]

No issues. No mold. No problems. Just did my first cleaning tonight (almost a month) and there was nothing to clean out. Inside looks amazing. Much better experience.

[@EvolveDigital.]

we need a update. You did great

[@wheeliewheelie]

we also had mold in our ice...have you checked to see how much mold is in gen 2...have you looked at other sonic ice makers...thanks for video...in the description of gen2 it says it has a uv filter to kill mold and bacteria....

[@michellefriedman6877]

What tube on gen 1 goes to the side reservoir?

[@ericvance215]

How often is your Opal 2.0 defrosting? I recently got the new Opal dispenser and it is defrosting every day, Sometimes twice a day.

[@ElaineBarlow]

Once a week or so for me. Maybe not even.

[@Laserking-sc6lm]

Just got a Gen 2 never had the Gen 1 but it won’t run water and the only videos I see about the Gen 2 are about how they work!

[@ElaineBarlow]

Where do you get it? If the water pump is broken then you should return it because its defective.

[@Laserking-sc6lm]

@@ElaineBarlow I got it from a place called brand smart! I’m most definitely gonna return it! The fan in the back doesn’t even spin if it’s supposed to at all!

[@chesterwass6838]

Hey we have had trouble with the gen 1 side tank. When it finishes a batch of ice it tries to fill the bottom tank but dumps water on the ice and melts it.

[@ElaineBarlow]

LOL sounds like a typical Gen 1 ... toss it in the garbage. Seriously. The Gen 1s are just all garbage. There should have been a lawsuit over them. Horrible machines.

[@newagainresurfacingn.q.ngu4218]

Thanks I was going to attempt to fix refurbished myself a gen1 from fb for $50 but no thanks mold

[@ElaineBarlow]

Stay far far away from any gen1 machines. Seriously. The design is simply flawed ... if you want an ice maker there are so many different ones on the market. You don't even have to go GE ... just don't get any gen1 ge from the original opal line.

[@ricgar7423]

Great videos

[@MikeTrieu]

HOCl, yaaas! 👍

[@HughMadBro]

Would you mind if I had your social??? I’m gonna open mine up today, hopefully with your help & then send you a pic of what I find I’m almost too embarrassed to post on YT NGL!

[@brenda4519]

Use a steamer

[@6xflowerranch890]

Did you buy the 2.0 or did GE just send you a replacement for the hassle and to keep you happy?

[@ElaineBarlow]

I have stated several times before that I purchased the 2.0 from Best Buy.

[@6xflowerranch890]

@@ElaineBarlow I didn’t ask you if you’ve stated before. I don’t follow you. You came up on a general search related to what I was looking for. If you don’t like to answer “general” questions or asked questions turn of your comments section or simply get off KZbin. Besides your content isn’t good and I just Couldn’t get past your clutter.