Is your GE ice maker stuck and you are wondering how to fix it? Look no further; this article provides quick solutions to the problem.
Table of Contents
GE Ice Maker Arm Stuck – Quick Fix
If you notice that the arm on a GE ice maker is stuck, here is what to do in order to fix it:
Check the spring that forces the feeler arm down, after it goes up, to see if there is any damage. To do this, lift the arm up and let it go. If the spring is working well, the arm should fall without any pressure from you.
But if it does not fall, it means the spring is damaged or broken. You may have to replace the ice maker if this is the case.
It could also mean the spring has slipped out of its position. If this is so, then you can move the arm up and down until the spring moves back in or you take apart the ice maker and fix it.
Some GE ice makers have horizontal paddles that move under the ice makers and move out. These movements replicate what the feeler arm does on an ice maker.
If your ice maker has this paddle, the spring rarely breaks. What happens is that it slips out of place. Using a screwdriver, you may be able to push it back into place.
Otherwise, remove the screw that holds the paddle in place. Then, detach the paddle from the ice maker. You will see and be able to reach the spring. Push it into place and reinstall the paddle.
GE Ice Maker Bin Stuck – What to Do
If you find that the ice bin or bucket is stuck, it is most likely because it is frozen in place. Defrost the unit manually to thaw the ice causing it to stick.
Disconnect the unit from power. Remove items from the freezer and refrigerator and store them elsewhere. Make sure you store them where they cannot thaw easily because the defrost process will take many hours.
Lay towels or thick rags around the edge of the refrigerator, on the floor. Then, open the doors of the unit and allow the ice to start melting. This may take as long as 12 hours, depending on the ice buildup.
If you don’t need all the ice to melt, then monitor the ice bucket to know when it is loose enough to take out. This way, you will be able to tell when the ice has melted enough. Then, you can restore power to the refrigerator.
However, when you remove the ice bucket, determine why the ice is there in the first place. If it started forming from underneath the ice maker, the ice maker is damaged and should be replaced.
And if it started from the water tube at the back of the ice maker, it means the water inlet valve is to blame. Replace it.
When the Origin Is the Ice Bucket
There is also the chance that the ice came from the ice bucket. Check the bucket for cracks on the body. Replace it if you find any.
Next, check the seal around the door for weakness or damage. If it is simply loose, fit it back in place with your hand or a small screwdriver. But replace it if it is weak or broken.
Additionally, check the ice maker compartment for openings or cracks. Put a light bright enough to show reflections inside the compartment. Look inside to see if the light is coming through any crack.
If it is, seal the compartment around the left side and the back using a sealant – Epoxy works great here.
All these problems cause air to enter the ice maker compartment. And when air enters, the moisture in it freezes and forms ice. Over time, this speeds up the ice formation that causes the bucket to stick.
When the Origin Is the Ice Chute Door
Try to dispense ice from the ice dispenser if your refrigerator model has one. If ice does not come out, it means something is blocking the chute.
Check the flap that seals the chute tightly. If it is not resting flush to the chute, it means it is letting ice in through the chute and into the refrigerator. Ice builds up easily this way, starting from the ice chute and affecting the ice maker eventually.
Use a steamer to loosen and thaw any ice in the chute and around the flap so it can close properly. Keep it going until you can pull the ice bucket out and easily dispense ice.
Note: A steamer is better than a blow dryer because it is less likely to warp or destroy the plastic in the refrigerator. If any plastic part is destroyed, the refrigerator has to be replaced.
Other Possible Causes for an Ice Bin to Stick
If you don’t dispense ice often, it will melt and freeze again. Over time, it will become clumps that stick around the ice bin or bucket.
Shut the ice maker off and allow it to sit for a few hours. When the ice in the bucket melts somewhat, remove it and dump the ice.
Leave the ice maker off if you have no real or immediate need for ice. Otherwise, turn it on again but be sure to dispense the ice as often as the machine makes it.
Finally, if you are sure ice is not causing the ice bucket to stick, you may have to force it out. This is because the ice maker has likely worked itself loose and dropped into the ice bucket.
There is no other way to remove the bucket except to force it. Doing this will destroy it so be ready to replace it. The same may apply to the ice maker if there is any damage to it.
Ice Stuck in GE Ice Maker – Quick Fix
Turn the ice maker off and remove it from the refrigerator and look inside it. Dislodge any ice cube or cubes stuck in it with your hand. Then, put the ice maker back into the refrigerator and restore power to the unit.
But before this, ensure you did not pause the ice maker. Check the feeler arm or paddle, depending on the model. If the arm is up or the paddle is pushed back, push the arm down or pull the paddle out.
Check the Ice Bucket
In addition, check the ice bucket to see if ice is piled too high. If it is, reduce the ice or dump all of it out.
Sometimes, the ice piles high without filling the bucket. All you have to do in this situation is to push the ice to the back of the bucket to level it.
The ice maker tends to shut off when the ice piles high in the bucket. It won’t eject more ice into the bucket even if it has more to eject, not until you reduce the ice in the bucket.
Finally, make sure to dispense ice from the bucket often. Doing this will prevent melting and refreezing. It causes the ice to stick to the bucket and not dispense as it forms clumps.
GE Ice Maker Rake Stuck – Solution
The rake sticks because there is a piece of ice in it. Remove the ice bucket and inspect the rake to be sure. If there is any piece of ice in it, remove it with your hand. After this, make sure the rake turns freely and smoothly.
To help ensure the ice does not cause the rake to stick, always dispense the ice in the bucket. Don’t leave it too full or too long with ice. It creates an opportunity for the ice to stick to the rake.
GE Ice Maker Stuck – Quick Fix
If you find that a GE ice maker is stuck in your refrigerator, it means it is frozen.
To thaw it, take the ice bucket out of the way and inspect the level of ice around the ice maker. This will tell you if you need to do a manual defrost or if using a steamer works.
If the ice level is high, defrost the freezer manually. This may take a while, so store your perishable items in another freezer or ice-packed cooler.
But if the ice level is not so much, use a steamer. We don’t recommend the use of a hair dryer because it is potentially dangerous, even though it works fast.
Thaw the ice until you can easily remove the ice maker. Run the machine under hot water to melt the last of the ice, being careful not to wet the part that holds the switch.
Next, look into the ice maker compartment to check why there is ice there. Seal the ice maker compartment with a good sealant if you notice cracks in it. And check the water pressure or water valve if the fill tube is frozen.
Additionally, check the gasket of the ice bucket for looseness or damage if your GE ice maker is stuck. Replace it if it does not seal tightly anymore. And inspect the ice bucket for any cracks. If you find any, replace the bucket.
This video shows what to do about an ice maker that is stuck…
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GE Ice Maker Stuck in Crush Mode – What to Do
Take out the ice bucket and check to see if any ice cube is sticking behind the bucket if you find a GE ice maker stuck in crush mode. Do this because when you go from crushed to cubed mode, a lever behind the bucket energizes to open a flap and let the cubes out.
So if there is any ice cube behind the bucket, it can stand in the way of the lever energizing. As a result, the ice maker will remain in crushed mode.
But if you find no ice cube there, see if you can dispense ice without the bucket in place. Close the door of the refrigerator and engage the lever to dispense. There should be an audible snap.
If you don’t hear the snap, the unit needs to be serviced. But if there is a snap, put the bucket back and try dispensing ice cubes again. If you still don’t get them, inspect the ice bucket.
Ice could be stuck inside it, making it impossible to dispense. So, melt the stuck ice with hot water, making sure nothing remains. Then, dry the bucket to remove every moisture.
Reinsert it and push it to the back wall of the freezer. Give the ice maker time to make more ice. When the cycle completes, choose crushed ice before choosing cubed ice. Then, try dispensing again.
This should fix the problem. But if it does not, it is possible the solenoid is not switching from crushed to cubed. Contact GE to report the issue and request service on the ice maker.
Note: Under normal operation, the ice maker dispenses a little crushed ice before dispensing cubes. This is especially true when you previously used the crushed selection before switching to cubed.
GE Ice Maker Paddle Stuck in Off Position – Quick Fix
The spring of the paddle may be broken if it is stuck in the off position. But before you settle on this, try moving the paddle in and out from the side of the ice maker. If it does not move, inspect the spring.
Remove the ice bucket and check the spring for looseness. If it is loose, unthread the screw that holds the paddle to the ice maker’s bottom. Now, put the spring’s bent end, at the top, into the little hole in the body of the ice maker, just above the paddle.
Next, put the spring’s bent end, at the bottom, into the little hole in the paddle. Thread the screw back on the paddle.
Turn off the ice maker, wait 30 seconds, and turn it on. Push the paddle 3 times in quick succession. If it moves smoothly and the ice maker kicks into action, you know you fixed it. Otherwise, replace the ice maker because you cannot fix the spring.
Recap
Fixing a GE ice maker that is stuck is fairly easy if you know why it is stuck. Always check the ice bucket, the ice maker compartment, the seal on the bucket as well as the fill tube.
But it important to note here that maintaining the refrigerator and ice maker regularly eliminates the problem of a GE ice maker sticking. Therefore, perform a regular check on them. If you cannot do this yourself, have a qualified service agent do it.
In addition, if you find that fixing any of the ice maker problems is too difficult or complex, contact GE Cares to request service.
Otherwise, use the chatbox to your right to chat with any of our qualified appliance technicians. No need for appointments, waiting periods or expensive in-house calls.
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