Side-by-side and French-door fridges with ice makers and water dispensers are popular in St Francis Bay homes. When the ice stops, it is usually one of a handful of causes, many of which you can check yourself. This guide walks you through them.
Check that the water supply tap to the fridge is open, the ice maker is switched on, the freezer is cold enough (about minus 18), the water filter is not overdue, and the fill tube or dispenser line is not frozen. After time away, flush the line and discard the first batches of ice. Leaks usually come from a loose or cracked water line, valve or filter housing.
How a fridge ice maker works
Fridges with ice makers have a water line connected to your household supply, usually through a small tap behind or near the fridge. Water passes through a filter, then an electric inlet valve, and is sent through a thin tube into the ice maker tray in the freezer. When the water freezes, the ice maker ejects the cubes into a bin and refills. The water dispenser on the door uses the same supply through a separate tube.
Problems can occur at each stage: supply, filter, valve, tubing, the ice maker itself or the freezer temperature.
No ice at all
Work through these checks in order.
1. Is the ice maker on?
Most ice makers have an on/off switch, a wire arm that lifts to stop production, or a setting on the control panel. After cleaning or restocking, it is easy to switch it off by accident.
2. Is the water on?
Find the supply tap to the fridge. In holiday homes it is often closed when the house is locked up. Check that the household water supply is on too.
3. Is the freezer cold enough?
Ice makers need the freezer at around minus 18 degrees. If the freezer is warmer, the ice maker may not cycle. After switching the fridge on, it can take 24 hours or more to start making ice.
4. Is the filter overdue?
A clogged water filter restricts flow so the ice maker gets too little water. Most manufacturers recommend replacing filters about every six months. If yours has not been changed in a long time, replace it.
5. Is the fill tube frozen?
If water flows slowly, it can freeze in the fill tube before reaching the tray. You may see ice blocking the tube entrance at the back of the ice maker. Low water pressure or a weak inlet valve makes this more likely.
6. Is the ice bin jammed?
Cubes that partly melted and refroze can form a solid block that stops the ejector or blocks the chute. Empty the bin and break up any clumps.
Small, hollow or misshapen ice
Usually low water flow: a partly blocked filter, low pressure or a weak inlet valve.
Ice tastes or smells bad
Old ice absorbs odours from the freezer. Old water sitting in the line also tastes stale. Empty the bin, replace the filter, flush the dispenser with several glasses of water and discard the next few batches of ice.
Water dispenser not working
- Check the water supply and filter as above.
- The tube running through the fridge door can freeze if the fridge is set too cold or the door was left open. Setting the fridge slightly warmer for a while can let it thaw.
- The dispenser switch or valve may have failed.
Leaks
Water under or behind the fridge, or pooling inside, often comes from:
- A loose or cracked connection on the supply line behind the fridge
- A cracked or poorly seated water filter housing
- A leaking inlet valve
- A cracked fill tube
- A blocked defrost drain, unrelated to the ice maker
If you find a leak, turn off the supply tap to the fridge and call us. Water under a built-in fridge can damage cabinetry and floors.
After time away
St Francis holiday homes often leave fridges off or with the water closed for weeks. When you return:
1. Open the supply tap and check behind the fridge for drips. 2. Switch the ice maker on and give the freezer time to reach temperature. 3. Run several glasses of water through the dispenser to flush stale water and air. 4. Discard the first two or three batches of ice. 5. Replace the water filter if it has been more than six months.
Before leaving, close the supply tap, switch off the ice maker and empty the ice bin.
When to call a technician
- The ice maker does not cycle even with water on and the freezer cold
- The inlet valve buzzes but no water flows
- Leaks continue after checking connections
- The fill tube keeps freezing
- The dispenser does not respond
We repair ice makers, inlet valves, water lines and dispensers on Samsung, LG and other side-by-side and French-door fridges in St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Port St Francis.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a new ice maker take to make ice?
After switching on or connecting the water, it can take up to 24 hours before the first ice appears, and longer before the bin fills.
Do I really need to replace the fridge water filter?
Yes. Clogged filters reduce flow, cause small or hollow ice and can make water taste stale. Most need replacing about every six months.
Why does my ice maker leak only after I return from holiday?
Seals and connections can dry out or shift while the water is off. Check the supply line connections behind the fridge when you turn the water back on.
Apex HVAC is an independent company and is not affiliated with or authorised by any appliance manufacturer. This guide is general advice. For anything involving electricity or refrigerant gas, use a qualified technician.
Need a hand? See our fridge and freezer repair service in St Francis Bay.