Why is My Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working?

Moreno Valley Appliance Repair is experienced in refrigerator repair in Moreno Valley, including services to fix broken ice makers. Learn about some common ice maker problems below:

Refrigerator ice makers are one of the most convenient inventions of all time. This is a small luxury a lot of people certainly not appreciate. Refrigerator ice makers are relatively simple machines that do not feature a lot of complex components that could cause issues.

Like with any appliance repair, there are some basic things that need to be looked at before assuming the worst. And, it’s nice to know, if needed, you are able to replace your ice maker without replacing the entire fridge, dependent on the brand and model. First, let’s discuss some of the causes for an ice maker breaking.

If an ice maker is making ice but it is not dispensing it it is usually means there is a mechanical problem versus an electrical issue. This occurs when moving food around in the freezer unit, you accidentally push or pull the control switch up or down. Often the ice maker might get blocked with something, possibly a piece of ice. First, look to see if there’s ice or food blocking this part from operating correctly.

Before starting the steps of clearing out the freezer, ensure your ice maker is on. This can be done by pulling the control arm in the down position. From time to time, moving food around in the freezer unit can put the switch in 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 receiving a good connection.

Check the Control Arm

If the control arm is down and there’s ice but it is not dispensing it, this could be a mechanical or electrical issue. This will require some more diagnosing. Ready to get started? First, we must inspect the electrical connection. This can be unplugged from behind the freezer or refrigerator when shifting or moving the food in the freezer.

To check this, unplug the refrigerator and pull from the wall. Then, turn off the water supply valve. Locate the valve on the rear of the inside of the freezer unit. Essentially this is what plugs the ice maker into the freezer unit. Ensure that it is actually plugged in correctly.

After that, remove all of the ice that is inside of the ice maker. This can be completed by adding a little water to help to get ice that’s in there out.

Once done, restore power to the refrigerator and turn on the ice maker. It may take the solenoid component a couple of seconds to engage and fill the mold. After the mold is full, wait around 4-5 hours or so to see if you’ve solved the problem.

Check for Frozen Lines

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

First, unplug the refrigerator and find the shut off valve. Shut the water off and then get a hair dryer to warm the water line or let the freezer sit shut off for a couple of hours and wait until the water line is thawed.

Some brands and models that have 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 line.

If an ice maker is not making large enough pieces of ice, there is an issue with the settings. To adjust the the ice maker settings, take the top part of the cover of the ice maker off and find a simple dial that displays plus and a minus symbols. For this process, you may need a flat head screwdriver.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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