Gone are the days of manually filling and refilling ice trays, or then you thought. The frustration of an ice maker struggling to keep upwards, or failing altogether, can cause hiccups in your family unit'southward daily routine. Walk through this ice maker troubleshooting guide to learn more than about some of the most common causes of an ice maker on the fritz, and help detect solutions that are often elementary enough to tackle yourself.

What are some common water ice maker problems and solutions?

Fridge ice maker problems tin can ofttimes be tied dorsum to a handful of principal components, including water valves and lines, the water filter, the water ice maker command arm, compartment temperatures, the ice bin and more. Select a topic beneath to larn more than nearly fridge water ice maker troubleshooting.

Gray side-by-side refrigerator with external ice maker

Ice maker is not working or not making enough ice

An ice maker that doesn't produce tin can feel like cipher more than than a waste matter of precious refrigerator or freezer space. Browse some of the mutual causes beneath that may assistance you pinpoint why your ice maker stopped working properly, or why your ice maker is not making enough ice, including uncomplicated solutions you can try yourself.

Clogged h2o filter

Cause: Your filter works hard to help reduce contaminants in your water, but tin can become clogged with particles it may trap over fourth dimension. A clogged filter tin can send less h2o to the ice maker, which may cause a subtract or halt in ice production.

Solution:Be sure to change your refrigerator'due south water filter once every six months, and exist on the lookout for signs of an old filter. Some indicators may include odd tasting ice or water, slowly dispensed water, black specks in water or water ice and, of grade, express to no ice product.

Lacking water inlet valve

Cause: If your water filter is upwards-to-date, the water inlet valve for your ice maker might be the culprit. With the right amount of water pressure, the valve opens and closes to feed water through to the water ice maker. A valve with pressure less than xx psi (pound-force per square inch) won't be strong enough to feed the correct amount of water into the ice maker.

Solution:First, cheque the water pressure feeding the valve with your own equipment or the help of a professional person. If the pressure is sufficient at 20 psi or higher, it means y'all may need to replace the h2o inlet valve.

Refrigerator or freezer compartment is too warm

Cause: Your ice maker may not be able to go along upwards with its intended rate of water ice production when the fridge or freezer temperatures are set too high, resulting in wearisome ice production, cubes that are likewise minor or no ice production at all.

Solution:Check the refrigerator temperature and freezer temperature, ensuring that the freezer is prepare to 0°F (-18°C), and the refrigerator temperature is somewhere in the range of 33–40°F (0–iv°C).

Command arm mispositioned

Cause: On select models, the water ice maker's control arm is a large plastic or metal handle that rests on the side or height of the ice bin, and is responsible for gauging ice levels in the bin and pausing ice production when the bin is full. If the control arm comes loose, breaks or is accidently pushed into the off position, it could lead to halted ice production.

Solution:Check the control arm to ensure that it's in the "on" position. Tighten the arm if information technology seems loose, or contact a professional if the arm is completely broken.

Frozen water inlet tube

Cause: You may find yourself stuck with a frozen h2o line when the temperature in the freezer or refrigerator compartment is prepare too low, or the insulation surrounding the water line isn't helping to prevent freezing.

Solution:The water line is located behind the ice maker, so accessing it typically requires completely removing the ice bin and maker. You may unfreeze the waterline at home with warm water or air, just it's best to leave information technology upwards to a professional with unique tools that help with the task.

Close-up of exterior ice maker and water dispenser interface

Ice maker is making ice, but is not dispensing

A dispenser refusing to release cubes into your loving cup tin be frustrating, especially when the water ice bin is visibly full. Some of the most common causes, and their potential solutions, include:

Ice dodder in the bin

Cause: The auger within the bin of your water ice maker is designed to break up ice clumps that class, only an water ice maker that isn't used often may form larger chunks than the auger tin take on. If you're hearing a loud grinding sound when you endeavour to use your water ice maker, this is likely the culprit.

Solution:Small ice chunks can be removed or broken up with your hands, just larger or more solidified chunks may crave removing and completely defrosting the ice bin.

Ice clump in the chute

Cause:Water ice that dispenses at unusual angles can temporarily cake the chute, and large chunks not properly cleaved up can block it entirely. Check for ice that's lodged in the dispenser by angle over and carefully looking upwardly into the chute.

Solution:If you see a handful of loose cubes, jiggle them free to release them. If ice in the chute seems lodged or stuck, information technology's best to place a take hold of nether the dispenser and requite the water ice time to melt on its ain. This helps protect the chute from the potential damage of dings or breaks caused by chipping at the ice.

Frozen auger motor

Crusade: Water ice makers that don't become much use may exist susceptible to parts freezing over, including the auger motor located behind the freezer wall. A frozen auger may non function to move new cubes forwards towards the chute, so yous may be able to get a few cubes earlier the ice maker stops dispensing.

Solution:Defrosting the auger motor can exist hard on the motor and the melting moisture may damage it, and so it'due south best to reach out to a professional for assist getting everything running smoothly again.

Open freezer door in side-by-side refrigerator revealing open, in-door ice maker

The water ice maker is making likewise much water ice

Ice maker command arms are designed to sense a total ice bin and intermission water ice product at the right times, so an overflowing ice bin can be a sign that something's not right. Every bit you narrow downwards the cause of too much ice product, it may exist helpful to turn your ice maker on and off every bit needed to avoid overflow. Luckily, common causes and solutions to backlog production may oft be simple and include:

Ice bin isn't positioned correctly

Crusade: An ice bin non positioned correctly may cause ice to miss the bucket when it's ejected from the mold, giving the appearance of ice overflowing.

Solution: Double check the bin's location, making sure it's positioned correctly to catch whatever ice that comes from the mold above.

Cleaved control arm

Cause: Your water ice maker'south command arm probable looks like a big plastic or metal handle that rests on the side or elevation of the ice bin, and is designed to raise with or sense the ice level and shut the ice maker off once the bin is full. A broken or damaged control arm may not signal the ice maker to stop ice production, leaving y'all with a mess of excess cubes to clean up.

Solution: Check that the control arm is firmly attached and has no breaks or cracks. If it appears broken, contact a professional person for help with a diagnosis and replacement or repair.

Missing shelf

Crusade: Some refrigerator models may crave a shelf designed to elevate the ice bin and assistance the command arm in judging the level of water ice in the bin. If your refrigerator is missing this shelf, you may experience an over-active ice maker.

Solution: Cheque your user manual or use and intendance guide to brand sure all shelving is deemed for in your fridge, and contact your manufacturer if you're in need of a replacement.

Hand filling water bottle beneath external refrigerator water dispenser

The ice has an odd taste

Strange-tasting ice in your favorite drink can be an unpleasant surprise, and may leave you wondering what'due south wrong with your ice maker. Some mutual causes, and solutions, for odd-tasting ice include:

Expired h2o filter

Crusade: One of the most common causes for foreign ice and water flavors is a worn-out h2o filter. The filter traps contaminants and, without proper maintenance, may become too chock-full with particles to exercise its task effectively. Your filter is essential in helping preclude odd ice flavors from your local water supply.

Solution: Keep up a regular maintenance routine of irresolute your water filter every 6 months to avoid the odd taste and contaminants that back-trail expired h2o filters.

Old ice cubes

Cause:  Ice that's been in the freezer for long can exist more prone to contamination than fresh ice, and tin become dried if it absorbs odors from the nutrient in the refrigerator or freezer.

Solution: Attempt dumping old ice and steadily rotate ice from the ice maker if you don't plan to use it regularly.

Poorly wrapped freezer items

Cause: Placing poorly wrapped food into the freezer, especially adjacent to the ice bin, gives ice the take chances to absorb potentially strong odors as food goes from fresh to frozen.

Solution: Use freezer-friendly supplies for packaging and wrapping frozen foods, to help ensure that frozen food maintains its quality longer and water ice cubes are spared the exposure to odors.

Close-up of full ice maker bin inside of freezer compartment

The ice maker is leaking

A leaky ice maker might drip into the ice bin and may crusade ice clumps to class, or leak exterior of the refrigerator or freezer and create a puddled mess on the surface beneath. Some of the nigh common causes of, and potential solutions for, a leaky water ice maker include:

Jammed ice clumps

Cause: Water ice clumps can form in the ice bin or the dispenser chute for a variety of reasons, which may result in a leak when compartment temperatures fluctuate or water ice in the chute comes in contact with warmer air exterior of the refrigerator.

Solution: Gently intermission up blockages with a long plastic or wooden handle, like a spatula, for difficult-to-accomplish places. Some ice clumps may be as well large or lodged to break upwards without dissentious the unit. In this instance, remove and defrost the ice bin or, if ice is lodged in the dispenser, place a towel and dish below the chute and let the ice to thaw naturally.

Unlevel fridge or ice maker

Crusade: Ice in your refrigerator may melt slightly when at that place's fluctuation in temperature inside the compartment. An unbalanced refrigerator can forestall melted ice from accessing the drain intended to carry it abroad, which may upshot in leaky water pooling in the ice bin or traveling outside of the surface area.

Solution:  Showtime, use a leveler to ensure that the ice maker floor is level. If the results bear witness any misalignment, you may demand to reinstall the ice maker to ensure it's level, or adjust the refrigerator feet if the entire unit is unlevel.

Misaligned fill up valve and loving cup

Cause: The ice trays, or fill cup, built into your ice maker are filled by a water spigot located nigh the tray. If the spigot and fill loving cup are misaligned, h2o may non brand it into the fill loving cup and will leak directly into the icemaker. This water pools and may leak out of the bin before it tin freeze.

Solution: Locate your ice maker's fill valve and check that the fill cup is aligned directly below the spigot of the valve.

Close-up of open, standalone ice maker installed in brown cabinetry

The ice maker is making water ice cubes that are too small

Ice cubes that are hollow or likewise small tin can usually exist traced dorsum to two main factors: water menstruum and temperature settings in the fridge or freezer compartments. Common causes and solutions for small ice cubes include:

Poor water menstruation

Cause: Poor h2o menses to the water ice maker may forbid the trays from filling completely, resulting in cubes that are small, hollow or oddly shaped.

Solution: A handful of causes may contribute to poor h2o flow, but with each yous can expect a relatively simple fix. Commencement, brand sure your h2o filter is upwards to date to help avert clogs that reduce water period. Side by side, double check that the h2o line behind the refrigerator isn't kinked or twisted. Lastly, use a leveler to ensure that your refrigerator and water ice maker are level and so water distributes evenly throughout the water ice tray.

Improper temperatures

Cause:  Your ice maker may non be able to go along upwardly with its intended rate of product when the refrigerator or freezer temperatures are fix too high, merely temperatures too low tin can also pb to small or hollow cubes. Freezer temperatures below -10°F can crusade ice cubes to freeze too quickly on the exterior, which may trigger the thermostat in the ice maker to eject the cubes before they've become completely solid in the middle.

Solution: Keep your refrigerator and freezer temperatures at their optimal settings, ensuring that the freezer is fix to 0°F (-18°C), and the refrigerator temperature is somewhere in the range of 33–forty°F (0–iv°C).

White ice maker inside freezer compartment with full ice bin

The water ice maker itself is frozen

Determining the cause of a frozen ice maker can seem complicated when you lot take large chunks of ice blocking your line of sight. Luckily, the common causes listed below may exist quick to troubleshoot and correct.

Fridge temperature too low

Crusade: A refrigerator with freezing temperatures may cause the water inlet tube feeding your ice maker to freeze upwardly, making information technology hard for liquid to pass through and make full the ice trays. You may feel this more than often during uniquely cold times of the yr.

Solution:  Ready your fridge's thermostat anywhere from 33–xl°F (0–four°C), and your freezer's thermostat to 0°F (-18°C). Give both compartments 24 hours to establish their new temperature and begin to thaw the ice maker and inlet tube.

Frozen water inlet tube

Crusade:  It is possible that fifty-fifty refrigerators or freezers set to the proper temperature can suffer from a frozen h2o inlet tube, shutting the ice maker down before information technology can even become started.

Solution:  The h2o inlet tube is located at the rear of the water ice maker and can exist defrosted with warm air or h2o. Though you may be able to unfreeze the waterline yourself, it's all-time to leave it up to a professional to help diagnose and repair the problem.

Woman scooping ice out of ice maker and into ice bucket on counter

Not sure how to ready your water ice maker?

If you lot're still wrestling with a faulty ice maker, information technology may be fourth dimension to call a repair service or get your manufacturer involved. For Whirlpool® Refrigerators, take advantage of online resources like Whirlpool Client Care or schedule a repair online.

Shop for Whirlpool® Refrigerators and Water ice Makers

Your greatest ice maker repair efforts may reveal that your refrigerator can no longer keep up with your family'due south needs. If you're ready for a new appliance, browse the Whirlpool® Refrigerators and Ice Makers beneath to find the right fit for your kitchen.

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