Why is My Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working?

Calhoun Appliance Repair is experienced in refrigerator repair service, including professional services to repair broken ice makers. Learn about some common ice maker issues below:

Ice makers are perhaps one of the most convenient inventions of all time. An ice maker is a little luxury most people certainly not appreciate. Refrigerator ice makers are relatively simple machines that do not feature a lot of complicated components that can go wrong with them.

As with any appliance repair, there are a few basic things that need to be looked at before thinking the worst. And, remember, if needed, you are able to replace your ice maker without replacing the entire refrigerator, depending on the brand and model. First, let’s discuss a few of the causes for an ice maker failure.

When the ice maker is making ice but it isn’t ejecting the ice cubes it is usually a mechanical issue versus an electrical failure. This can happen when moving things around in the freezer unit, you might push or pull the control lever up or down. A lot of the time the ice maker will get jammed with something else, possibly a chunk of ice. So, check to see if there is something blocking this from working properly.

Before beginning the steps of clearing out the freezer, check that the ice maker is turned on. This is done by flipping the metal control arm down. Sometimes, moving things around in the freezer might put the switch into the off position. If the control arm is free, then there might be ice jammed inside of the ice maker or it is not receiving a good connection.

Check the Control Arm

If the control is down and there is ice but it is not dispensing it, there could be an electrical or mechanical failure. This will need some more troubleshooting. Ready to proceed? First, we must check the electrical connection. This can become unplugged from behind the freezer or refrigerator when shifting or moving the food in the freezer.

To check this, unplug the refrigerator and slide it out away from the wall. Then, turn off the water supply. Locate the connection on the rear of the inside of the freezer. Essentially this is what connects the ice maker into the freezer. Ensure that it is plugged in correctly.

Next, remove all of the ice that is inside of the ice maker. This can be done by pouring in a small amount of water to help to get any ice that is in there out.

Once done, turn on the power to the refrigerator and turn on the ice maker. It may take the solenoid a few seconds to engage and fill the mold. When the mold is 100% full, wait 4-5 hours to see if you have cleared the problem.

Check for Frozen Lines

Other ice maker issues that can cause your ice maker to not produce ice are frozen water lines. The water lines have been clogged with frost. This is an easy issue to fix.

Unplug the fridge and find the shut off valve. Turn the water off and get a hair dryer to warm the line or let the freezer sit turned off for a couple of hours until the line is thawed.

Some models that have a water filter that can freeze or ice up. In these situations, locating the filter is the first step. Then repeat what was done for the frozen water line.

When an ice maker isn’t making big enough pieces of ice, there is a problem with the settings. To adjust the the ice maker settings, take the upper part of the cover off and locate a basic control that has plus and a minus signs. To do this, you could need a flat head screwdriver.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• Refrigerator Noisy
• Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working
• Refrigerator Not Cooling
• How Does a Refrigerator Work?