Why is My Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working?

H&H Denton Appliance Repair provides refrigerator repair in Denton, including services to fix ice makers that are not working. Learn about common ice maker problems below:

Refrigerator ice makers are possibly one of the most convenient inventions ever. An ice maker is a small luxury most people certainly take for granted. Refrigerator ice makers are relatively simple machines that do not feature a lot of complicated parts that might cause issues.

Like with any repair, there are a few basic things that need to be reviewed before assuming the worst. And, it’s nice to know, if needed, you can replace an ice maker without replacing an entire fridge, depending on the brand and model. First, let’s take a look at a couple of the reasons for an ice maker breaking.

When the ice maker is making ice but it is not ejecting it it is usually means there’s a mechanical issue versus an electrical problem. This can happen when moving things around in the freezer, you could accidentally push or pull the control arm up or down. Most of the time the ice maker can get blocked with something else, including a chunk of ice. First, look to see if there is anything blocking this part from working the right way.

Before beginning the process of clearing out the freezer, check that the ice maker is on. This is done by pulling the control arm down. Sometimes, moving things around in the freezer might put it into the off position. If the control arm 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

If the switch is down and there’s ice but it is not dispensing it, there might be a mechanical or electrical failure. This will require a bit more diagnosing. Ready to proceed? First, we need to check the electrical connection. This could be unplugged from the back of the freezer when shifting or moving the freezer contents.

To check this, first unplug the fridge and pull it out from the wall. Turn off the freezer’s water supply valve. Locate the connection on the back of the inside of the freezer. Basically this is what connects the ice maker into the freezer. Ensure that it is actually plugged in properly.

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

Once complete, restore power to the refrigerator and then turn on the ice maker. It could take the solenoid a couple of seconds to react and fill the mold. When the mold is 100% full, wait around 4-5 hours to see if you have cleared the issue.

Check for Frozen Lines

More ice maker failures that can cause your ice maker to not produce ice are frozen lines. The water lines could be blocked with frost. This is an easy fix.

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

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

When your ice maker isn’t making large enough pieces of ice, there is a problem with the settings. To adjust the settings, take the upper part of the cover of the ice maker off and find a basic knob that has plus and a minus symbols. To do this, 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?