You had one job–make ice. Perhaps your machine isn't ejecting ice, hums, or just isn't creating ice quickly. These fixes will help reset your ice maker in the event that your fridge still dispenses water. Let's jump into potential solutions.
First Steps
Verify that your fridge has power, and then reset your ice maker.
- Check the ice maker switch. This switch is usually located behind the ice bucket and frequently gets turned off by accident. If the switch is turned on but the ice maker still doesn't work, check the switch for continuity with a multimeter. Replace as needed.
- Check the control arm. The control arm is a metal bar connected to a directional switch. When the ice tray is full, the arm will be pushed into its vertical position.
- Lower the arm to resume ice production.
- Your ice maker may halt ice production while the water filter is clogged and the replacement light is on. This is a safety precaution that prevents the machine from making poor quality ice.
- If it's been more than 6 months since you've last replaced your fridge's water filter, replace it now.
Ice Is Clogging Chute
As ice is made, it falls into a lower storage tray. In circumstances where the ice doesn't fully freeze, or melts and refreezes, it can become a blockage for future ice. In this case, the ice maker will rattle and make noise while no ice is made. Check the chute where ice cubes are made to evaluate
- Remove the stuck ice with a wooden implement, hairdryer, or warm water and rag. Take care not to break the plastic bits.
Ice may have built up in the ice molds. Remove and pour warm water through the molds so the old ice will melt and new ice can form.
Freezer Temperature Is Above 10 Degrees F (-12 C)
Whenever your ice maker stops working, check the temperature of the freezer. If the freezer temperature is above 10 degrees F (-12 C) the ice maker will not work properly. It functions best when the freezer temperature is set between 0 and 5 degrees F (-18 to -15 C).
- If the freezer temp is too high, make sure the condenser coil is clean and the condenser fan is working to cool the condenser and compressor. These can get covered in hair in grime and can be cleaned with a condenser coil brush.
- Check the evaporator coil for frost—if too much frost builds up, the air can't circulate through the coil and you will need to check the defrost components for a failure.
Faulty Door Seal
Temperature may also be unstable due to a faulty door seal. Without a good seal, temperatures vary as warm air seeps into the food compartment. When the temperature sensor detects the warmer air, the controller keeps the compressor running overtime to maintain the correct 37-degree temperature for fresh food. This excessive cooling causes the freezer temperature to fall well below zero, which will freeze the tip of the water tube that provides the ice maker with water.
Keep in mind that for proper door suction and sealing, the doors need to be self-closing. Their weight helps maintain the seal.
- The leveling rollers or legs need to be adjusted to tilt the fridge back slightly. When a proper seal is made, within 24 hours the defrost cycles will thaw the water tube and begin ice production.
Faulty Door Switch
If the refrigerator ice maker is not working, the door switch might be defective. When the freezer door is opened, the freezer door switch does two things: it turns on the light in the freezer and turns off the ice maker and dispenser. If the door switch fails, the dispenser will not turn on.
- The switch can be checked for continuity with a multimeter. If it doesn’t have continuity, it should be replaced.
Low Water Pressure
If the ice maker still doesn’t work, the water pressure in the house might be too low. The water inlet valve which supplies water to the ice maker is designed to work with a minimum of 20 psi of water pressure.
- First, check the ice maker replacement date. Old filters can significantly reduce water pressure.
- Move along the line and check pressure at each point. It may help troubleshooting to start in the middle.
- Low water pressure at any point indicates a leak. Follow the pressure.
Faulty Water Inlet Valve
If the temperature is correct, but the ice maker won’t work, the water inlet valve might be defective. The water inlet valve is an electrically-controlled mechanical valve that opens to supply water to the dispenser and ice maker. If the water inlet valve is defective, or if it has insufficient pressure, it won’t allow water to flow through. As a result, the ice maker won’t make ice.
The valve requires at least 20 psi to function properly.
- Make sure that the water pressure to the valve is at least 20 psi. Close the water inlet valve, and then disconnect the water inlet hose. Hold the hose over a bucket, and open the valve.
If the water pressure is sufficient, use a multimeter to check for continuity to the water inlet valve.
- A water inlet valve should read a resistance value between 500Ω-1.5kΩ. Anything outside of this range suggests failure.
If the water inlet valve has sufficient pressure and is getting power, but the ice maker won’t fill with water to make ice, replace the water inlet valve.
Cracked Ice Cube Tray
Flex-tray or twist-try ice makers eject cubes by twisting of the ice tray. As this plastic tray ages, it becomes brittle and stiff, and more likely to crack.
Loose Or Leaking Plumbing Connections
Interruption in the flow of water through the water line leading to the ice maker can account for no new ice production. This can mean a closed valve, a kink or clog in the line, or a disconnect in the line.
- Inspect every valve, line, and connector for leaks. Replace and tighten as you go.
The water line may have become frozen as it moved through or near the freezer.
- Allow ice to melt in the line or fittings. Replace cracked plastic parts.
Faulty Ice Maker Assembly
If the ice maker is not working, it could be that the ice maker assembly itself is defective. There are several components in the control module of the ice maker that can fail, and most are not sold separately. Some ice makers have a relatively short lifespan and may not always be worth fixing.
- If other, simpler parts like the water inlet valve or shut-off arm have been ruled out, and the only thing left is the ice maker itself, replace the ice maker assembly.
- If you need a replacement ice maker assembly, iFixit offers several of the most common assemblies.
Ice Level Control Board
If the ice maker is not working the ice level control board might be defective. The refrigerator is equipped with an infrared light beam to detect the level of ice in the ice bucket. As the level of ice reaches the top, the beam is interrupted and the ice maker shuts off. As ice is used up and the level of ice drops below the beam, the ice maker starts up again. If the ice level control board fails, the ice maker will stop making ice.
Ice Maker Mold Thermostat
If the ice maker is not working, the ice maker mold thermostat might be defective. Inside the control module of the ice maker is a thermostat that monitors the temperature of the ice mold (ice tray). Once the mold reaches the proper temperature, the ice maker starts a harvest cycle by ejecting the ice cubes and refilling them with water. If the mold thermostat is defective, the ice maker doesn't advance. The thermostat can be checked for continuity. Replace it as needed. The freezer temp should be between 0-5 degrees for optimum performance.
Related Pages
Ice Maker Won't Stop Making Ice
Additional Resources
Ice Maker Instructable — Not Working
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