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Isn't it a nightmare when you want to put some ice in your cola only to find the ice maker not working? Are you going to call the serviceman immediately? But what if you can repair the ice maker within the time for one phone call?
As an ice lover, I even can't endure the long suffocating time before the serviceman come. Having experienced breakdowns so many times, I can almost call myself an ice maker expert. To be honest, it is quite easy to fix the problem after you find the cause. Follow the article and try to work things out by yourself. You'll find that you can do much more than a mere phone call.
Here is the preview of four common symptoms, and you can find the solutions below each symptom if you continue reading.
- When there's no ice in the ice bin
- When the ice is too small or hollow
- When the ice becomes a huge chunk
- When the ice tastes strange
When there's no ice in the ice bin
1. Switch turned off
People may accidentally turn off the switch without noticing and then tragically find the ice maker not working. It can't even be called a malfunction, but do check this before troubleshooting. And it's worth mentioning that the switch can be found in different places depending on different brands. Some are in the display panel and some are inside the ice maker.
2. Frozen/clogged/kinked water line or faulty water inlet valve
The water line and water inlet valve are usually hidden behind the refrigerator that people tend to ignore. But when the water line is frozen, clogged, or kinked, the water can't flow into the ice maker so no ice can be made. If you find there is no ice in the ice mold, it's probably caused by the defective water line or valve. What you can do is to pull the fridge out, unplug it and turn off the water supply before you unhook the hose and valve. Examine the hose and check if the water can flow freely through it. Replace the valve if necessary. And the article about how to install a water line for a refrigerator may help you.
3. Clogged water filter
Water filters need to be changed every 6 months, and people forget this occasionally. Water filters would be clogged by impurities after long-time use. So, change your water filter if you have not changed it for more than 6 months. And if you just changed it within 6 months, it's better for you to reinstall it to check if it is installed correctly.
4. Wrong temperature
The ideal freezer temperature is zero degrees Celsius. A faulty thermostat may render a higher temperature in the fridge so the ice maker can't work normally. The thermostat with a degree dial could also be set manually. Check the dial inside the fridge and see if it's too high. Lower the temperature if needed. And here's a little tip: Storing the proper amount of foods in the fridge can help maintain the temperature.
5. Door switch
Usually, the door switch controls both the ice maker and the light inside the refrigerator. When you open the door, the light is turned on while the ice maker is turned off. However, if the door switch is flawed in some way, the ice maker can't operate well. If you open the fridge door without the light turning on, then this is the signal to call the serviceman.
6. Door seal
When the door can't be sealed tightly, the warm air outside would easily permeate through the tiny crack. The thermodetector which have detected the climbing air would constantly urge the fridge to operate to maintain the temperature. But the excessive temperature reduction would freeze the water fill tube through which the water flow. If you find this place frozen, don't worry, use your hairdryer to rescue it. But replacing the door seal is the fundamental solution.
7. Ejector assembly
Just like other home appliances, the inside assembly could sometimes be defective and need to be replaced. The ejector assembly by which the ice is pushed out is a place where small glitches happen a lot. If there is ice in the bin, but you just can't receive the ice outside the fridge, the ejector should be to blame.
8. Level control board
The level control board inside the fridge can detect the ice in the ice bucket with an infrared light beam and control the ice production. If it can't function correctly, the production of ice will also be influenced. But there could also be a possibility that you tilt the ice bucket in the wrong position.
When the ice is hollow or too small
1. Small water intake
The most common reason for this phenomenon is that the water intake is too small. And the small water intake may be due to insufficient water pressure, blocked or leaking water line, or clogged water filters.
2. Wrong adjustment of the dosing control assembly
If you have checked all the possible factors mentioned above, then go to find the dosing control assembly inside the ice maker. You have to take off the cover of the ice maker, and then find the screw and spring assembly that are marked with positive and negative signs. Screw toward the minus sign to decrease the amount of water entering the ice maker, and screw toward the plus sign to increase the amount.
When the ice becomes a huge chunk
If you find a huge chunk of ice in the bucket, it is possibly caused by the electricity blackout. The ice melted due to the rising temperature and froze again in the bucket when the electricity is on. This also happens when the ice maker is left unused for a long time. It is suggested that the ice bucket should be cleaned every two weeks to prevent clumping if it's not used frequently.
When the ice tastes strange
Strange taste could ruin the beer or whatever beverages where you put the ice. But it can be simply resolved by checking the following aspects. First, clean your fridge and ice bin regularly to avoid the residual bad odor produced by foods. Second, flush the water line and replace the water filter regularly to remove impurities from water.
These are the malfunctions you may encounter now or in the future. Before you make the service call, try to do the troubleshooting yourself. If you follow the instructions above, I am sure that most of you can save time and money on repairing your ice maker.
