There are several reasons your ice maker may suddenly stop working, including a blocked water dispenser, issues with your water supply line or a clogged water filter.
With proper cleaning, a quality ice machine will last around 4 to 5 years on average, sometimes even longer.
The most common causes are: The water fill tubes are blocked. The water inlet valve is blocked or frozen. The water filter is dirty or clogged.
Deciding to fix an ice maker depends on the age of the appliance, the repair cost, and the ice maker problem. For a newer ice maker with a minor issue, a repair is likely worth it. If your ice maker or fridge is old and the repair is expensive, replacing the ice maker or even the whole fridge might be the best option.
Refrigerator Auger Motor
If the auger motor is burned out or defective, the ice won't move forward and fall through the chute. To determine if the auger motor is defective, pull out the ice bucket and turn the bucket auger by hand. If the auger turns freely, use a multimeter to test the auger motor for continuity.
Scale. Build up of mineral deposits, or scale, is a big cause of ice machine failure. Make sure to clean the machine consistently, as well as replacing your filter every 6 months.
If your ice maker isn't producing ice at all or is producing crescents or cubes that are smaller than usual, it's typically indicative of a clog somewhere along the supply line. Cause: A common cause for a clog is frozen water in the line. Fix: To repair a frozen line, slide the refrigerator and unplug it.
Some ice maker repairs cost as little as $75, while replacement units will run between $260 to $450. If multiple parts need to be repaired, it might make sense to replace the entire unit. There's nothing more disappointing than placing your cup under the ice maker only for it to not dispense any ice.
Compressor Issues
The compressor is like the heart of your fridge. If it breaks, it's one of the most expensive parts to replace. Fixing a compressor can cost anywhere from $200 to $650.
If you don't hear a chime, but you can see movement from the ice maker, then the ice maker was reset. If you don't hear a chime and there is no movement from the ice maker, unplug the fridge or turn it off at the circuit breaker for 2 minutes. Then, power it back up and try again.
Some indicators may include odd tasting ice or water, slowly dispensed water, black specks in water or ice and, of course, limited to no ice production.
There are several reasons your ice maker may suddenly stop working, including a blocked water dispenser, issues with your water supply line or a clogged water filter.
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On Side-by-Side refrigerators, you can easily replace your icemaker. Learn how to replace the icemaker on your Side-by-Side Refrigerator: For safety, unplug your refrigerator from the outlet or turn off the power to the unit at the circuit breaker.
The blockage in the ice maker can be the main reason it isn't making ice. The ice maker can freeze over time or become clogged with a build-up of ice and frost. Check if the ice maker's assembly has an accumulation of ice, debris, or any other obstructing material.
The ice maker or dispenser could be jammed or broken, a dirty water filter or kinked water line could be blocking water flow or the water inlet valve could be clogged or faulty.
There are two methods for this: either an optical sensor or a mechanical arm, which detects when ice has piled high enough. If your ice maker won't stop making ice, it means ice is not piling high enough to reach the sensor or arm, typically because the ice bucket is not in the proper position.
Ice Maker Auger Motor
If the motor is not operating, then you can check it for continuity with a multimeter. We should check the motor resistance by inserting the probes into the holes marked “L” and “H.” Our multimeter should read around 4400 ohms to 8800 ohms.
While it can be convenient to have available ice at the touch of a button, the truth is that these machines simply don't last forever. The average lifespan of an ice maker is 5 years.
Your ice machine works hard, but over time things like mineral deposits and even bacteria can build up inside, leading to ice that tastes less than fresh. Experts say ice machines should be cleaned about once every 9 months, or more frequently if you live in an area with hard water or high humidity.