An ice maker that has quit, or keeps making a handful of small, hollow cubes, usually isn't broken in the way people expect. An ice maker needs three things: water arriving at the right pressure, a freezer cold enough to freeze it, and a mechanism free to dump the finished ice. When one of those is missing, production slows or stops. Working through them in order saves a lot of guesswork.
This guide covers the ice maker built into a refrigerator's freezer or door. Undercounter ice machines get their own section further down.
Start with the simple stuff
Is it switched on? Many ice makers have a wire arm on the side that shuts production off when it's raised. Others have an on/off switch on the ice maker itself or a setting on the refrigerator's control panel. It's easy to bump the arm while reaching for something.
Is the bin jammed? If you've been away, or the ice hasn't been used for a while, cubes fuse into a solid block. The ice maker senses a full bin, or the auger in a door dispenser can't turn. Empty the bin, break up the clumps and let it start fresh. This is common in lake houses and second homes that sit unused between visits.
Is the freezer cold enough? Ice makers are designed for a freezer running around 0°F. If the freezer has drifted warmer, the ice maker waits longer between cycles or stops. Put a thermometer in the freezer for a few hours. If it's well above 0°F, the ice maker isn't your real problem; see our article on a freezer that won't freeze.
Follow the water
If the freezer is cold and the ice maker is on, follow the water from the wall to the mold.
- The supply valve. Find the shutoff that feeds the refrigerator, often under the kitchen sink, behind the refrigerator, or in the basement or crawl space below it. Make sure it's fully open. Older installations sometimes use a saddle valve clamped onto a copper pipe, and those can clog or partially close over time.
- The water filter. A filter that's overdue for replacement restricts flow. If the dispenser at the door runs slowly as well, the filter is a strong suspect. Replace it with the part number listed in your manual and flush water through as the manual directs.
- The line behind the refrigerator. Pull the refrigerator out carefully and look for a kinked or crushed line. Plastic lines kink easily when the refrigerator is pushed back after cleaning.
- The fill tube. Inside the freezer, a small tube delivers water to the ice maker. If water drips slowly, it can freeze inside the tube and block it. A towel soaked in warm water, wrapped around the tube, usually clears it. Don't use a knife or an open flame.
Small or hollow cubes are a strong hint that the ice maker is getting too little water: low pressure, an old filter or a partly closed valve.
When the line freezes in winter
Charlotte winters are mild most of the time, but a hard freeze or a few days of ice-storm weather can freeze a water line that runs through an exterior wall, an unheated garage or a crawl space. The ice maker stops overnight, and the refrigerator otherwise works fine.
If that's what happened:
- Let the line thaw naturally as the weather warms. Opening the cabinet doors under a sink on an exterior wall lets warm room air reach the pipes.
- Once water flows again, check the whole run for leaks. Water expands when it freezes and can split a plastic line or crack a fitting.
- If you find a leak, close the supply valve right away and leave it closed until the line is repaired.
The long-term fix is rerouting or insulating the line so it's not exposed to the cold. In crawl spaces, a line strapped against an outside wall near a vent is the most vulnerable.
Undercounter and standalone ice machines
Dedicated ice machines, the kind built in under a bar counter or found in outdoor kitchens and basements, work differently from a refrigerator ice maker. Many make clear ice by running water over a cold plate, and they drain the melt and rinse water continuously, either by gravity or with a small pump.
These machines need periodic cleaning and descaling with the cleaner the manufacturer specifies. Mineral buildup on the plate or in the water system slows production and can make the machine stop. The manual gives the interval and the procedure.
Other things to check:
- Drain. If the machine drains by gravity, the drain line must slope continuously downward. If it has a pump, a clogged pump or line can shut the machine off.
- Ventilation. Front-vented units built under a counter need their grille clear. Outdoor units in the summer heat work hard; shade helps.
- Leveling. A machine that isn't level can make uneven ice or have trouble releasing it.
Brands like U-Line and Scotsman have detailed manuals for their undercounter machines. Follow those cleaning steps exactly.
When to call a technician
Call for a diagnosis if:
- Water reaches the refrigerator but the ice maker never fills
- The ice maker fills but never ejects ice, or ejects it partly frozen
- Water leaks into the freezer or onto the floor
- You hear a buzzing or humming from behind the refrigerator when the ice maker should be filling
- The ice maker has power but doesn't move at all
The usual parts at fault are the water inlet valve at the back of the refrigerator, the ice maker module itself, or a control that tells the ice maker when to run. Testing them means working with water and electricity at the same time. Unplug the refrigerator and close the water supply before pulling it out or touching the back panel.
A technician comes to the house, confirms where the fault is, explains it and quotes the repair before any work starts. If the problem turns out to be the water supply line rather than the appliance, we'll tell you that, since a plumber may be the right call.
See our ice maker repair page for what we work on, including U-Line ice machines. If the refrigerator itself is warm, start with refrigerator repair.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my ice taste or smell strange?
Ice absorbs odors from the freezer. Throw out the old ice, check for open food containers, and replace the water filter if it's due. If the taste persists, clean the bin with mild soap and warm water.
How long does a new ice maker take to start making ice?
Usually a day, sometimes longer. The freezer has to reach temperature first, and the first few batches are often small or irregular. Throw out the first batches to flush the line.
Can I turn off the ice maker if I don't use it?
Yes. Turn it off at the switch or arm and close the water supply valve. Leaving it on with no water supply can make the water valve buzz and wear out.
Should I leave the ice maker on in a lake house I only visit on weekends?
If you're leaving for more than a few days, turn the ice maker off, empty the bin and close the water supply. That prevents clumped ice and limits the damage if a line leaks while nobody's there.