Why is My Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working?

Payne Appliance Repair performs refrigerator repair service in Michigan, including professional services to repair broken ice makers. Learn about common ice maker issues below:

Refrigerator ice makers are one of the most convenient inventions of all time. An ice maker is a little luxury many people certainly not appreciate. Ice makers are simple machines that do not feature a lot of complicated parts that might have problems.

As with any appliance repair, there are a few basic things that should be reviewed before assuming the worst. And, it’s good to know, if needed, you are able to replace your ice maker without replacing the entire fridge, dependent on the model. First, let’s discuss a couple of the causes for an ice maker breaking.

If your ice maker is making ice but it isn’t ejecting it it is usually means there’s a mechanical failure versus an electrical failure. This happens when reorganizing things around in the freezer, you accidentally push or pull the control lever up or down. Often the ice maker might be blocked with something, including a piece of ice. So, check to see if there is something blocking this from operating properly.

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

Check the Control Arm

When the switch is down and there is ice but it is not dispensing it, this might be a mechanical or electrical failure. This will need some more troubleshooting. Ready to get started? First, we must inspect the electrical connection. This could become unplugged from the back of the freezer or refrigerator when shifting or moving the food in the freezer.

To inspect this, first unplug the fridge and slide it out from the wall. Then, turn off the water supply. Locate the valve on the rear of the inside of the freezer. Basically this is what connects the ice maker into the freezer unit. Ensure that it is plugged in properly.

Next, remove any ice that’s inside of the ice maker itself. This can be completed by pouring in a little water to help to get any ice that is inside of there out.

Once this is done, restore power to the refrigerator and then turn on the ice maker. It could take the solenoid component a couple of seconds to engage and fill the mold. Once the mold is completely full, wait 4-5 hours to see if you’ve cleared the issue.

Check for Frozen Lines

Other ice maker failures that may cause your ice maker to not produce any ice are frozen lines. The water lines have been clogged with frost. This is a pretty simple fix.

First, unplug the refrigerator and locate the shut off valve. Shut the water off and get a hair dryer to warm the water line or just let the freezer sit without being on for a few hours until the line is thawed.

Some brands and models that feature a water filter that can clog or ice up. In these situations, finding the water filter is the first step. Then repeat what was done for the iced water line.

If an ice maker isn’t making large enough cubes of ice, there is a problem with the ice maker settings. To adjust the settings, take the top part of the cover of the ice maker off and find a basic control that has plus and a minus symbols. For this process, you might need a flat head screwdriver.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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