If you have the problem of a refrigerator not making ice, this article will guide you on how to solve the problem quickly and easily.
Table of Contents
Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Making Ice But Dispenses Water – Solution
Check the following if the ice maker in a refrigerator is not making ice, even though the refrigerator is dispensing water:
1. Temperature Setting
Setting the freezer’s internal temperature above 10 degrees Fahrenheit will impede the ice maker from making ice. Ideally, the freezer should be set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for the ice maker to work and food to remain frozen. If it must be higher, it should not exceed 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Take a look at the temperature setting and adjust it to a lower degree if it is too high.
Other factors can contribute to increasing the internal temperature. Inspect the evaporator coils to ensure they are not frozen. If they are, manually defrost the freezer or use a hairdryer to dissolve the ice.
Next, check the door seal and any other opening that may let warm air into the freezer to form heavy frost on the coils and other parts. The problem may stem from the defrost system if the seal is working. Troubleshoot each component and replace faulty ones.
It also helps to check the condenser coils and fan. Clean the coils if they are noticeably dirty and ensure the fan runs when the compressor is. If it is not, it may be time to replace the fan. You may want to test it for continuity using a multimeter to determine whether or not you need only one replacement part.
The coils help dissipate heat from the refrigerator to keep it working optimally. But they have to be clean to perform. If they are significantly dirty, they cannot release the heat; the dirt will blanket them and trap the heat. As a result, the refrigerator and freezer will stop cooling.
If the condenser fan is not working, the coils will overheat and affect the compressor. The freezer may stop cooling properly, even if the refrigerator is cool because the freezer needs a longer run-time to cool than the refrigerator.
2. Water Inlet Valve
Inspect the valve to ensure it is fully open. If the valve is partially shut, it may not deliver enough water to the ice maker. Close and open it again, this time ensuring you turn it to the max. Monitor the ice maker to see if anything changes. Check the valve for deposits if the ice maker does not start producing ice.
Hard water tends to clog the valve with mineral deposits over time as the water passes through it. Consequently, the inlet valve stops working as it should. A look will let you know if it is clogged, and if it is, you need to replace the inlet valve. But if not, test the solenoid for continuity using a multimeter. If the valve’s solenoid is receiving power, yet it does not fill the ice maker with water, replace the inlet valve.
Low Water Pressure
It is important to note that low water pressure affects how well the water inlet valve functions. If the pressure is low, the valve cannot open to fill the ice maker. Therefore, determine the pressure of the water from the primary source. It should be at least 20psi for the valve to work optimally.
Dispense water into a glass and see how quickly it fills up. Sufficient water pressure should make it possible to fill the glass within 10 seconds. But if it takes longer, the pressure is lower than the valve needs to operate the ice maker. That may be why the machine is not making ice.
A clogged water filter affects the water pressure. It is recommended to change the filter every six months, sooner if you live in an area with a lot of construction or hard water. Therefore, if yours has been in use for longer than six months, it is time to replace it.
Sometimes, using the wrong filter can affect how well the water flows to the ice maker and even the dispenser. Therefore, ensure you purchase a replacement water filter using your refrigerator’s model number. When you get one, follow the instructions in the user manual for installing a new water filter.
3. Ice Maker
There may be a defective component in the ice maker, causing it not to produce ice while the water dispenser works. However, finding an individual replacement part may not be possible, though newer models may have such parts. If your ice maker comes in a more recent model refrigerator, you may find a replacement part and not have to replace the entire ice maker assembly. But if your refrigerator is an older model, you may have to replace the ice maker.
Refrigerator Not Making Ice or Dispensing Water – What to Do
If you find that your refrigerator is not making ice or dispensing water, it means water is not getting into the unit at all. Here are a few causes of the problem and what to do about them:
1. Clogged Water Filter
Ensure you replace the water filter every six months. That will help water to flow freely into the ice maker and reservoir. Therefore, check the change filter light to see if it is blinking. If it is, replace the filter. But if not, you can tell if you have used the filter for longer than six months. Always use the correct filter for your refrigerator; otherwise, you will encounter water problems in your refrigerator.
2. Faulty Inlet Valve
Check the water inlet valve at the bottom back of the refrigerator. Ensure it is open to the maximum point, and nothing obstructs it. Close and open it again, this time ensuring you turn it to the max. Monitor the ice maker to see if anything changes. Check the valve for deposits if the ice maker does not start producing ice.
Hard water tends to clog the valve with mineral deposits over time as the water passes through it. Consequently, the inlet valve stops working as it should. A look will let you know if it is clogged, and if it is, you need to replace the inlet valve. But if not, test the solenoid for continuity using a multimeter. If the valve’s solenoid is receiving power, yet it does not fill the ice maker with water, replace the inlet valve.
In addition to the above, check the water pressure. If it is not sufficient, it will keep the inlet valve from opening and supplying water to the refrigerator. Your home may be on the reverse osmosis water filtration system, and if it is, you may have to remove the water supply to the refrigerator from the system. Use the refrigerator type of water filter instead because the filtration system tends to lower the water pressure.
3. Obstructed Water Supply Line
Inspect the water line to see if it is clogged with ice or debris. If there is ice, clear it with warm water or a dryer. But if there is debris, flush water down the line until you flush the debris out. You may have to disconnect the water supply line from the refrigerator to do it.
Make sure the line is not twisted at any point. Twisting or kinks will break the line and cause leakages. It will also restrict the flow of water to the refrigerator. How you position the line behind the refrigerator matters. The length of the water line also matters. Position it so that no object rests on it, and it does not twist.
Also, check the fill tube that goes into the ice maker. Low freezer temperature will cause the tube to freeze all the time. So, while the ice maker needs a low freezer temperature to function, it is also crucial not to keep it too low. Otherwise, it may cause problems with the ice maker and other components.
4. Open Door
Some refrigerators are designed to turn off the water dispenser and ice maker if the doors are not properly shut. They operate with a sensor or lever that triggers the dispenser and ice machine to stop working if the door remains open. Therefore, check the refrigerator and freezer doors where they apply. Ensure they are closed tightly, and the seals are working. If necessary, open and close them again, then try the ice maker and dispenser.
5. Refrigerator Lock
Many refrigerator models have a lock feature that disables the ice and water dispensers. Check the control panel to see if there is a lock on it; some refrigerators have their control panel on the inside frame of the door.
If you find one and it is illuminated, it means the lock function is enabled. Press the icon and hold it for about three seconds. The refrigerator may or may not beep as the lock function is disabled. But it will no longer be illuminated. Then, check the ice maker and dispenser.
Check out these other articles…
Refrigerator Handle [How to/Problems & Solutions]
Cooler Is Not Cooling [How to Fix]
Refrigerator Not Working [Problems Solved]
Freezer Not Working [Problems Solved]
Ice Maker Not Working [Proven Solutions]
Refrigerator Not Making Ice and Not Cooling – How to Fix
There are several reasons your refrigerator is not making ice and not cooling. A refrigerator that does not cool cannot make ice; the ice maker depends on the refrigerator’s cooling system because it does not have a separate one. So, check the following and fix them if necessary:
1. Fill Tubes
Disconnect the refrigerator from electric power and turn the water supply to the refrigerator off. Next, check the fill cup and tube at the back of the ice machine to ensure they are aligned and not frozen. If they are, remove any obstruction to water flow in that area. Also, check the tubing going from the valve to the fill tube in the ice maker. If there is any restriction or damage to any of the tubes, replace them.
2. Water Inlet Valve
Unplug the refrigerator from the wall outlet and turn off the water supply. Find the inlet valve at the bottom back of the unit after removing the access cover. Check for pools of water around the valve’s connectors; tighten connections if necessary. Also, check for damages to the inlet valve’s body. If you find any, replace the valve.
However, if none of the above applies, unmount the inlet valve from the refrigerator and run a test on it. Take a multimeter and set it to R X 1 scale. Then, test the terminals with the multimeter’s probes. If the needle on the meter does not move or you get a reading outside the range of 200ohms and 500ohms, the valve is faulty and needs a replacement.
While doing that, check the filter that screens the water for the refrigerator. The more you use the valve, the more clogged it becomes. And when it is filthy, it will restrict the water flow to the refrigerator. Fortunately, you can clean it. Remove the filter and soak it in a vinegar and water solution. Then, wash and dry it before replacing it.
Also, consider the water pressure. If it is insufficient, the water valve will not open to supply water to the ice maker. Therefore, check the pressure with the help of a plumber or do it yourself. Dispense water and check how long it takes to fill a drinking glass. If you fill ¾ of the glass in more than 10 seconds, the pressure is too low. Let a plumber fix the water pressure issue.
3. Water Filter
It is best to replace the water filter twice a year if your refrigerator needs one. In some cases, you may need to replace it more often due to the area you live in and the water quality. If you have never changed the filter in your refrigerator, consider doing so now. An old water filter becomes clogged over time with deposits in the water. The dirt obstruction will slow the water flow and prevent water from filling the ice maker.
The type of filter and filter location will depend on the refrigerator type. What works for one brand may not work for another. So, it is crucial to use specific water filters for your refrigerator, according to the manufacturer’s design.
4. Ice Maker
You may want to test the ice maker for faults. Consider replacing it if nothing else seems to get the machine up and running again.
But before replacing the ice maker assembly, take a look at the following:
5. Content Arrangement
There is a proper arrangement of the contents in the refrigerator for optimum cooling. Do not pack them too tight; keep them loose. Then, do not store too much in the freezer or refrigerator. Not only will it restrict airflow, but it may also turn the ice maker off. If the temperature is not cold enough, the ice maker will not work.
6. Temperature Setting
Ensure the temperature is set low enough to cool the ice maker and the entire unit. The freezer needs a longer time to run and cool, and when a refrigerator has a single cooling system, the cold air comes from the freezer into the refrigerator.
So, set the freezer’s temperature to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. If you take it higher, it must not go beyond 5 degrees. The refrigerator should be at 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, check the air bents and damper to ensure nothing is obstructing them and they are in good working condition.
7. Door
Run your hand down the length of the door seal to see if you feel any draught. If you do, the seal is weak and should be replaced. But if not, close the door of the unit on a dollar bill. The point is to see whether or not you can pull it out. If you can pull it out, replace the door seal.
The refrigerator’s internal temperature is compromised when the door seal is weak. The same is true if the seal is loose or dirty. So, if you don’t believe you need to replace it, check if it is only loose. You can fix it using a small screwdriver; push the seal back into place.
However, clean it with warm soapy water and a small brush, preferably an old toothbrush, if it is dirty. You will be better able to scrub stubborn stains off with it than with a cloth. Dry the seal after cleaning to prevent freezing.
Another thing to check is the door hinge. If you recently removed the door, the hinge may not be fixed appropriately. And if you overload the door, the weight may cause the hinge to sag. Additionally, the hinge may be weak from overuse. Through the gap, cold air will escape, and warm air will seep in. You can tell if the hinge needs an adjustment or a replacement by looking at the door alignment. If it is not aligned, fix the hinge.
8. Evaporator Coils
Disconnect the refrigerator from electric power and open the freezer door. Unmount the inside back panel and carefully lift it off. The evaporator fan is attached to it, so you need to handle it carefully. One look at the coils will tell you if they are frozen.
Manually defrost the freezer if the coils are frozen. Typically, there should be a thin frost layer on them, but the refrigerator will not cool if the coating is thick. If a manual defrost is too long, use a hair dryer to dissolve the ice.
Afterward, troubleshoot the defrost system. Check the defrost timer; it should automatically advance the system in and out of a defrost cycle. If it cannot do that, check if it has continuity using a multimeter. If the timer has no continuity, replace it. But if the timer is working well, check the defrost thermostat. It should close its connections so that power can flow to the defrost heater. But if it is faulty, it cannot close them, and the heater cannot work. Test the thermostat for continuity with a multimeter. Replace it if there is no continuity.
However, check the defrost heater if the timer and thermostat are in good working condition. At certain times in the day, the heater turns on to warm the coils to keep them from freezing. Otherwise, they cannot release cold air, and the refrigerator will stop cooling. But if it becomes defective, it cannot come on even when the timer and thermostat prompt it. Using a multimeter, test it for continuity. Replace the heater if you find no continuity.
9. Condenser Coils
Pull the refrigerator away from the surrounding surfaces and inspect the condenser coils at the back. If your model has the coils under the unit, you need to bend to see them. You should clean the coils every six months, more often if you have pets or live in a dusty area.
Take a vacuum cleaner and blow the debris from the condenser coils until they are clean. If you can reach them, clean them some more with a rag. Then, sweep the dirt on the floor and around the refrigerator.
If you have never cleaned the coils, they will be coated with a thick layer of debris, preventing them from dissipating heat. This will affect the refrigerator’s cooling capacity. And if the refrigerator does not cool, the ice maker will not work.
In addition, ensure you create a few inches of space at the back and sides of the unit. Pushing the refrigerator too close to the wall will restrict airflow around it and build heat at the back. The compressor will stop working with time, and the refrigerator will stop cooling.
10. Evaporator Fan
Locate the fan in the same compartment as the evaporator coils. You will find it fixed to the compartment’s cover, so remove the cover with care. First, ensure no ice is around it; ice can damage the blades and keep the fan from running. But if there is no strange noise before checking, there is likely no ice. Otherwise, replace the blades.
However, if the blades are not bent, turn them to check their functionality with your hand. If they turn well, the fan may not be defective. But if they are stiff, the motor is faulty. Check the motor windings for continuity using a multimeter to be sure. If there is no continuity, replace the fan motor or the entire fan assembly.
The refrigerator will not have cold air for cooling if the evaporator fan is faulty. When the evaporator or cooling coils release cold air, the fan’s job is to circulate it. Otherwise, there will be no cooling.
11. Condenser Fan
Test the condenser fan beside the condenser coils if the freezer fan is working, yet the refrigerator is not cooling. First, ensure there is no obstruction to the blades. If there is, clean the blades to remove debris. Then, turn them with your hand. If they don’t turn well, it may be due to a lack of lubrication on the motor shaft. Add a little penetrating oil and try the blades again. If they still do not turn well, the motor’s bearing may be worn.
Using a multimeter, check the motor for continuity. Replace the motor if you find no continuity. Or replace the entire fan assembly if you cannot find individual replacement parts. The fan cools the condenser coils and compressor while they operate. A defective fan will cause overheating and stop the refrigerator from cooling, affecting the ice maker.
12. Thermostat
Be sure the temperature control thermostat is correctly set. Most refrigerators recommend setting it to a middle point, preferably 5. If you set it too high, at 1 or 2, or too low, at 6 or 7, the compressor will not run smoothly, and the refrigerator will stop cooling. Therefore, adjust the thermostat and wait for the refrigerator to cool.
But if there is no change, turn the thermostat to the highest temperature setting and wait for a click. The click lets you know the thermostat is working well and not the source of the problem. However, remove the thermostat and check for continuity if you hear no click. Replace the component if there is none.
13. Start Relay
Disconnect the refrigerator from electric power and unmount the start relay from the compressor’s side. Shake it a little; a rattling sound means it is damaged and needs a replacement. The same applies if the relay smells as if it is burnt.
But if none of the above applies, test the relay for continuity using a multimeter. Run the test between the start and run terminals. If you find no continuity, replace the start relay.
The refrigerator stops cooling when the compressor does not run as it should. Since the compressor is the center of the cooling system, the unit needs it in optimum shape. Otherwise, nothing in it will coll, including the ice maker. The relay is the device that supplies power for the compressor to work. So, if it becomes defective, the compressor may only intermittently, which is not enough to cool the freezer.
14. Thermistor
Remove the thermistor from the refrigerator and put it in a container with water. Slowly heat the water and test the resistance of the thermistor. As the temperature is changing, its resistance should change as well. But if the thermistor remains the same or has no continuity, replace the thermistor.
The thermistor is the component that senses the refrigerator’s temperature and sends results to the control board. According to the temperature, the board will power the cooling system to turn off or on. But if the thermistor stops working, the cooling system may not run at all or run more than necessary.
15. Refrigerant
The refrigerant level in the compressor can stop the refrigerator from cooling. But you may not be able to check it if you are not trained. So, if all the other fixes do not work, consider hiring a qualified technician to check the compressor. That way, you will know if it needs more refrigerant and why it is reduced.
Typically, refrigerant should not reduce in the system. If you think it is a problem, the technician can check if the sealed system has a leak and recommend a permanent fix.
16. Compressor
It may also help to check the working condition of the compressor while checking the refrigerant level. A faulty compressor cannot run to cool a refrigerator, even when there is enough refrigerant. Therefore, test the compressor and replace it if you find an open circuit. That is if the resistance is not correct.
17. Main Control Board
Finally, check the main control board, only if nothing else seems to fix the problem. The board governs the entire function of the refrigerator. If it becomes damaged, the refrigerator will not work.
Refrigerator Not Making Enough Ice – Solutions
Check the setting of the thermostat in the freezer. If the setting is too high, the ice maker will not produce enough ice. It needs a low temperature to work and make the correct quantity of ice. Therefore, adjust the thermostat to a lower temperature setting. Remember that the higher the number on the thermostat, the colder the freezer. Also, the smaller the number, the warmer the refrigerator becomes.
If the thermostat setting does not solve the problem, consider replacing the water filter. A clogged filter will stop enough water from flowing into the ice maker. Plus, the little water it gets will be dirty due to the accumulation of dirt in the filter. If it has been in use for too long, change the filter. That may increase ice production.
Additionally, check the water inlet valve. If it is in good working condition, low water pressure may affect the quantity of water it supplies to the ice maker. But first, ensure it is fully open. Then, clean it to remove visible debris. Test it with a multimeter, and if it is getting power and the water pressure is enough, replace the valve.
Fridge Not Making Ice After Power Outage – Quick Fix
If you find that the ice maker in your fridge is no longer making ice after a power outage, check the feeler arm to be sure it is down, in the on position. Also, check the machine’s power button. Additionally, check the water supply line and the freezer temperature. All these and more cause an ice maker to stop working after a power outage, as this article explains in detail.
Refrigerator Not Making Ice and Leaking – Solved
There is a problem with the defrost system if the refrigerator is leaking and the ice maker is not working. The internal temperature is too high, so it cannot freeze the water in the ice mold. Troubleshoot the defrost system and replace any faulty parts. If the ice maker is also leaking, troubleshoot its components to find and replace the faulty one.
Also, the defrost drain may be clogged, causing the refrigerator to leak. Check the drain inside the freezer and clear ice blockages, if any. Locate the drain pan under the refrigerator and empty it. Wash and sanitize it before putting it back in place.
Refrigerator Will Not Stop Making Ice – What to Do
Push the metal arm on the ice maker’s side up to turn it off. It may be stuck, needing only a manual push to resume functioning. If the ice maker continues making ice even when the arm is up, it may be that the component is no longer working. So, replace it.
But if the metal arm is not the problem, check the plastic paddle inside the ice maker. The paddle should stop ice flow as soon as the ice bucket is full. If it malfunctions, it cannot control the ice maker from making more ice, and you will have an overflow. Replace it to see if the excess ice production stops.
The water inlet valve may be faulty and unable to close to stop supplying water to the ice maker. Check the inlet valve for faults if the arm and paddle are working well. The ice may be dirty, letting you know the valve is the problem. Consider replacing it.
Finally, check the ice maker. A malfunctioning ice maker may keep producing ice even when the ice bucket is full. So, replace the ice maker if all the above check out.
Recap
There are easy fixes if you have the problem of your refrigerator not making ice. If you follow our guide, you can perform most of the repairs yourself, but hire a professional technician if the repair proves too complex. Remember to disconnect the refrigerator from electric power before beginning any repairs.
Get Instant Help — Ask An Experienced Verified Appliance Technician
Need expert help? Click here to use the chat box on this page to speak with a verified appliance technician right away. No need for expensive in-home service calls. No appointments. No waiting.
