No ice, or small and hollow cubes? Check the freezer temperature, water filter, supply line and ice maker switch before you book a refrigerator repair.
A refrigerator ice maker needs cold air and steady water. Samsung says (opens in a new tab) the freezer needs to be at 0°F or lower to make ice, even on models with the ice maker in the fresh food side. LG points (opens in a new tab) to a freezer set too warm, an ice maker that is switched off, a closed water valve and an old filter as common causes.
Checks you can do yourself
- Make sure the ice maker is turned on, and that the arm or sensor is not stopped by clumped ice.
- Check the freezer section with a thermometer. If you adjust the setting, give it 24 hours to settle.
- Replace the water filter if it has been in for six months or more. LG, GE Appliances (opens in a new tab) and Frigidaire (opens in a new tab) all give that same six-month mark.
- Pull the refrigerator forward gently and look for a kinked supply line.
- Make sure the shutoff valve for the water line is fully open.
- Close the doors firmly and clear any food that keeps them from sealing.
What the ice tells you
Small, hollow or misshapen cubes usually mean low water flow, so start with the filter and the valve. Samsung links small, cloudy or clumped ice to a dirty filter, low water pressure or high mineral deposits. Ice that tastes bad often points to an old filter or stale ice, so empty the bin and let new ice build up.
If your home is on a well
LG notes that minerals and particles in well water can clog a filter more quickly. A home on hard or well water may need filters more often, and a fill tube that keeps freezing is worth mentioning when you call.
What not to do
Samsung warns against forcing out a frozen ice bucket or using a hair dryer on it, because that can damage the ice maker. Do not chip at ice with a knife either, since the fill tube and the mold are easy to crack.
When to call
Call if the freezer is cold enough and water reaches the dispenser, but the ice maker still will not cycle, or if water is leaking onto the floor. See our ice maker repair page for more faults, and our refrigerator guide if the whole unit seems warm. We repair refrigerator ice makers across Montgomery County and Howard County.
