Why is My Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working?

Webb Appliance Repair provides refrigerator repair in Mesa, including professional services to fix ice makers that are not working. Learn about common ice maker failures below:

Refrigerator ice makers are possibly one of the best inventions ever. An ice maker is a little luxury many people might not appreciate. Refrigerator ice makers are relatively simple machines that do not feature a lot of parts that will cause issues.

As with any appliance repair, there are a few basic things that need to be reviewed before assuming the worst. And, remember, if needed, you are able to replace the ice maker without replacing an entire refrigerator, depending on the brand and model. First, let’s take a look at some of the causes for an ice maker not working.

If the ice maker is making ice but it is not ejecting it it is usually a mechanical issue versus an electrical issue. This occurs when shifting food around in the freezer unit, you could jam the control lever up or down. Often the ice maker will be jammed with something else, possibly a piece of ice. So, look to see if there is something blocking this part from operating properly.

Before beginning the steps of clearing out the freezer, ensure the ice maker is turned on. This is done by flipping the control arm in the down position. From time to time, moving things around in the freezer may put the control into the off position. If the the switch is free, then there might be food or ice stuck inside the ice maker or it’s not getting a good connection.

Check the Control Arm

When the switch is down and there’s ice but it’s not dispensing it, there could be a mechanical or electrical issue. This is going to require a bit more diagnosing. Ready to begin? First, we have to check the electrical connection. This can become unplugged from behind the freezer when moving or shifting the food in the freezer.

To inspect this, unplug the fridge and move away from the kitchen 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. Be sure that it is plugged in the right way.

Next, remove all of the ice that is inside of the ice maker itself. This can be done by adding a little water to help get ice that is in there out.

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

Check for Frozen Lines

Other ice maker problems that could cause your ice maker to not produce any ice are frozen lines. The water lines have been clogged with frost. This is an easy problem to fix.

Unplug the freezer and locate the shut off valve. Shut the water off and then grab a hair dryer to warm the line or let the fridge sit turned off for a couple of hours until the line is thawed.

Some models that feature a water filter that can freeze or ice over. In these situations, finding the water filter is the first step. Then repeat the same process that was done for the frozen line.

When an ice maker isn’t making big enough pieces of ice, there’s an issue with the settings. To adjust the settings, take the upper part of the cover off and locate a standard dial that has plus and a minus signs. To do this, 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?