True Baton Rouge Appliance Repair is experienced in refrigerator repair in Baton Rouge, including services to repair broken ice makers. Learn about common ice maker issues below:
Ice makers are one of the most convenient inventions ever. An ice maker is a small luxury many people take for granted. Ice makers are simple machines that don’t feature a lot of complicated parts that could have problems.
As with any appliance repair, there are basic things that should be reviewed before thinking the worst. And, remember, if necessary, you are able to replace the ice maker without replacing an entire fridge, depending on the brand and model. First, let’s discuss some of the causes for an ice maker failure.
If an ice maker is making ice but it isn’t dispensing it it is usually means there is a mechanical problem versus an electrical problem. This occurs when reorganizing food around in the freezer unit, you accidentally shift the control lever up or down. A lot of the time the ice maker can get jammed with something else, including a piece of ice. So, look to see if there is anything blocking this from operating properly.
Before starting the steps of clearing out the freezer, check that the ice maker is on. This is done by moving the metal control arm down. Sometimes, moving things around in the freezer may put the switch into the off position. If the control arm is free, then there could be something stuck inside the ice maker or it is not receiving a good connection.
Check the Control Arm
When the switch is down and there’s ice but it’s not dispensing it, this might be a mechanical or electrical problem. This is going to need some more diagnosing. Ready to get started? First, we must inspect the electrical connection. This could be unplugged from behind the freezer or refrigerator when moving or shifting the freezer contents.
To inspect this, unplug the freezer and slide away from the kitchen wall. Turn off the freezer’s water supply. Locate the connection on the rear of the inside of the freezer. Essentially this is what connects the ice maker into the freezer unit. Be sure that it is actually plugged in properly.
Then, remove all of the ice that is inside of the ice maker itself. This can be completed by pouring in a small amount of water to help get ice that is in there out.
Once this is done, turn on the power to the fridge and turn on the ice maker. It could take the solenoid component a couple of seconds to react and fill the mold. After the mold is completely full, wait 4-5 hours or so to see if you’ve solved the issue.
Check for Frozen Lines
Other ice maker problems that will cause your ice maker to not produce ice are frozen water lines. The water lines have been clogged with frost. This is an easy fix.
Unplug the freezer and locate the water shut off valve. Turn the water off and grab a hair dryer to warm the water line or let the refrigerator sit without being on for a few hours until the line is thawed.
There are some models that feature a water filter that can clog or ice up. For these situations, locating the water filter is the first step. Then repeat the same process that was done for the frozen water line.
When your ice maker is not making large enough cubes of ice, there is an issue with the settings. To adjust the the ice maker settings, take the upper part of the cover off and find a simple dial 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?