Why is My Refrigerator Not Making Ice?
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Don’t Panic if Your Refrigerator Is Not Making Ice
It is incredibly frustrating when your refrigerator is not making ice. It’s annoying when you suddenly can’t have your favorite cold beverage to quench your thirst because your ice maker has stopped working.
Why did it stop and how can you fix it? Well, there are several possible reasons why it stopped working and a few things you can do to get it working again. Continue reading to learn how you can fix a refrigerator that is not making ice.
Why Is the Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Dispensing Ice?
A refrigerator not making ice could be due to several reasons, most of them with simple solutions. If you are having trouble with your ice maker, we can help you try a few things to attempt restoring it on your own.
But for now, let’s talk about the most common causes of an ice maker not making ice, which are:
- Clogged or dirty water filter
- Blocked water fill tubes
- Enabled paused command
- Malfunctioning heating element
- Frozen or blocked water inlet valve
- Out-of-position control arm
- The thermostat is set to low
Like every appliance, ice makers can break or simply not work properly. When your refrigerator or ice maker suddenly stops working, the first thing you need to do is to determine the problem.
Once you do, it will be easier to enact the correct repairs. With that said, let’s dive into the things you can do to fix a refrigerator not making ice.
Our resident home repair guru, John Turpin, has provided a list of common reasons why your shower may have low water pressure, along with some suggested solutions and DIY tips to fix it.
How to Fix a Refrigerator Not Making Ice
Learn how you can restore your refrigerator ice maker and keep it making more ice for you.
Check the Temperature and Operation Hours
The refrigerator must be operating for at least six hours for it to produce ice if it’s the first time you use it or you’re using it after some time. You’ve been using it for over six hours but the ice maker is still not working? In that case, check the temperature.
If the freezer is too warm or too cold, the fridge ice maker won’t be working properly. You will have to make sure that the temperature is set to the right numbers using the thermostat. Look for the thermostat, which should be somewhere inside the fridge compartment.
If the ice is too frosty, set it to a warmer temperature. If the ice is soft, then you can set it to a bit colder. Use the dials inside that allow you to decide how cold or warm the fridge and freezer are. Estimate what applies to your freezer and set it accordingly.
Set the Correct Mode
One of the problems regarding a refrigerator that isn’t making ice has to do with the settings. There are times when you pause or stop the ice maker for some reason, which you then forget to turn back on. It’s why your refrigerator has stopped making ice.
The solution for this is to put the fridge in the right mode. If your refrigerator has a digital display, you put it in ICE On mode through this panel. Typically, you simply need to press the button to turn on the ice maker. You can consult the owner’s manual to be sure.
Check the Ice Bucket
One possible reason why the ice maker is not making ice is that an ice cube is blocking the ice passage. This is why you must check and clean the ice passage regularly. It will ensure you don’t have ice blocking the way.
It could also be that the refrigerator is not making ice due to the ice clumping together. Try lifting the ice bucket flap to see if the ice maker produces ice. If you see the ice clumped together, simply dump it and allow the ice maker to make a new one.
Clumping often happens when the ice maker isn’t used frequently. It also happens when the freezer’s temperature is set too low. Also, ice may be clogging the dispenser. In that case, clear it by running warm water through the opening of the ice bucket.
Test the Ice Maker
You can find out if there’s anything wrong with your fridge’s ice maker by testing it. Some ice makers have this test button on them, located either on the side or the bottom. There will be a response tone when you press it and another tone at the end that tells you it is functional.
If the number of ice cubes produced is too small, there could be several problems the ice maker has. The ice maker could have issues regarding water pressure, water connection, etc., which you will have to confirm one by one.
Close the Flap of the Ice Maker
There’s a possibility that the ice maker isn’t making ice because warm air enters every time you open the freezer door. Typically, this shouldn’t happen thanks to the ice maker flap that keeps warm air out and prevents cool air from getting out.
If warm air still gets inside, you should check the ice chute. If the ice maker flap is not sitting flush, there could be debris or ice blocking it. Check if there is, remove them, and then close the flap to make sure warm air doesn’t get in.
Put the Ice Maker on Level
It’s generally overlooked, but it can still cause a problem if the ice maker isn’t hanging level in the refrigerator. If your ice maker is not level, the ice won’t be level in the mold as well. Like this, it’s not only the ice maker that won’t function properly but even the ejector assembly.
As such, make sure that the refrigerator is level by using a bubble level. If it’s not, be sure to adjust the fridge until it is level before you check the ice maker itself. In addition, make sure you have the mounting brackets flat and the screws tight.
How Long Should It Take for an Ice Maker to Make Ice?
If it’s a new refrigerator, it can take a while, roughly 6 to 12 hours. Some models even take 24 hours to make ice. The refrigerator needs time to cool adequately and be able to freeze water. After that, fridges typically complete a cycle time of around 90 minutes to produce 8 to 10 ice cubes. It varies, depending on the size of the tray, the volume of the ice cubes, etc.
How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Refrigerator Ice Maker?
The cost of replacing a broken ice maker in a refrigerator ranges from $300 to $450. The price includes a replacement unit, as well as the labor. This cost can go up or down if you only need to replace a component of the unit, such as the drive blade, fill tube, or filter. You will know a more accurate price estimate if you contact a local appliance repair technician and ask about it.
What to Do If an Ice Maker Is Still Not Working After Basic Troubleshooting?
If you’ve done what you can to fix your refrigerator that’s not making ice following common troubleshooting tips from the manual and online, the next best thing you can do is call a repair expert. Some ice maker issues can cause more serious and costly problems, so you should let an experienced appliance repair technician take care of them.
Hire a Local Appliance Pro
The methods above are effective DIY tips to investigate, diagnose, and fix why your refrigerator may not be making ice. But if you need professional help, then don’t hesitate to contact a local appliance repair pro using the phone number or form on this page.