Why is my GE Opal ice maker not making ice? (FIXED!)

Having no ice on a hot day is a mild inconvenience that might drive you a little crazy. But if you bought a special ice maker, and you still have no ice, it can be very frustrating.

Lucky for you, most causes of ice maker failure are minor and can be fixed in a few minutes. A deep clean might also be necessary if you haven’t been cleaning the unit regularly.

Below, we’ll help you understand what causes your ice maker to stop making ice and how to troubleshoot them.

Why is my GE Opal ice maker not making ice?

A GE Opal ice maker will not make ice if there isn’t enough water in the reservoir. If it is set to Cleaning instead of Ice Mode, your unit also can’t kickstart ice production.

Other causes that impede ice production include unideal ambient temperatures and mineral buildup.

Before making a service call, here are a few simple steps to start ice production on your Opal ice maker.

• Confirm that the ice maker is plugged in and turned on. Make sure the power cord is plugged in properly into a grounded outlet.

• Reset the ice maker. Pull the power cord and keep it unplugged for 3 to 4 hours to let the system reset.

Keep reading our guide below for more helpful tips and step-by-step instructions on troubleshooting your GE Opal ice maker.

Causes and Solutions

If a GE Opal ice maker isn’t producing ice, check if there’s enough water in the reservoir. Make sure the ice bin is installed properly.

Check the ice chute for any mineral buildup. Wrap a vinegar-soaked towel on the chute overnight, then descale your ice maker to remove any remaining residue.

Here’s a quick troubleshooting guide for an Opal ice maker that isn’t making ice.

Causes	Solutions
The circuit breaker keeps tripping.	• Turn off all the lights and unplug the appliances connected to the tripped circuit breaker. • Locate the circuit breaker that keeps tripping. • Move the switch on the tripped circuit to the OFF position. After a few seconds, slide the switch back to the ON position. • Plug in the ice maker and confirm that it has power and is functioning properly.  • If the circuit doesn’t trip, plug in other appliances and lights one at a time. • If the circuit trips again, call a licensed electrician who can help you resolve the issue.
Cleaning Mode is active.	Locate the switch at the back of the Opal ice maker. Slide the switch to the ICE option to start a new cycle.
The ice bin isn’t installed properly.	• Push the bin all the way into its place to make sure it’s seated properly.  • Give our Opal ice maker enough time to start ice production.
The water level is insufficient for ice production.	• Pour potable water into the reservoir up to the max fill line.  • Never use hot water because it impedes ice production and may damage your ice maker.
There are bubbles in the tube.	• Readjust the tube until water starts flowing into the Opal ice maker.  • Once you’ve restored water flow, further adjustments aren’t necessary.
The ambient temperature is unideal for ice production.	Install your Opal ice maker in a well-ventilated room with ambient temperature ranging between 55°F and 90°F.
The ice maker has mineral buildup.	• Pour white vinegar (ice maker cleaner) into the water reservoir until it reaches the max fill line.  • Leave the vinegar in the reservoir for 18 hours. Skip this step if you’re using ice maker cleaner. • Add a towel soaked in vinegar to the ice chute to dissolve any mineral buildup. • Locate the sensors and clean them with vinegar. Then, wipe them clean using water. • Unhook the drain tubes behind the ice maker, then lay them down on the sink. Or, drain the vinegar into a bucket that is below the level of the ice maker. • Pull out the drain plugs and let the vinegar drain. • Reinstall the drain plugs. • Pour 5 cups of fresh water into the reservoir.  • Press the display button to start the rinse cycle. After 3 minutes, the water should stop circulating and the indicator light will start pulsing. • Drain the water from the reservoir. Lay the drain tubes on the sink or place them over a bucket. • Remove the drain plugs. Wait for the water to drain completely, then reinstall the plugs. • Rinse the ice maker at least 2 more times.  • Reinstall the drain tubes. • Slide the switch back to Ice Mode. Give your ice maker enough time to start producing ice.

The circuit breaker keeps tripping.

Does power keep on going off in one part of your house? You most likely have a tripped circuit breaker, which is why your Opal ice maker can’t make ice.

In most cases, a tripped circuit is caused by an electrical overload. It happens when the electrical demand exceeds the capacity of the circuit.

A circuit that keeps on tripping can damage the appliances connected to it. If it isn’t addressed, it can also cause fire and electrocution.

Solution: Turn off all the lights and unplug the appliances connected to the tripped circuit breaker. Follow these steps to reset the circuit.

• Step 1: Locate the electrical service panel box in your household and identify the circuit that keeps tripping. 
• Step 2: Flip the switch on the circuit breaker to the OFF position.
• Step 3: Slide the switch back to the ON position after a few seconds.
• Step 4: Plug the Opal ice maker into a dedicated 3-prong outlet, then confirm that it can turn on and operate properly. If the power doesn’t go out, your ice maker isn’t the cause of the tripped circuit.

Turn on the lights and plug in the rest of the appliances, one at a time. If the power goes out again, faulty wiring in the appliance or light might be causing the circuit to trip.

Call a licensed electrician who can help you resolve the issue.

Cleaning Mode is active.

An Opal ice maker that is in Cleaning Mode can’t produce ice. You have to disable this mode to begin ice production.

For models with a round button in front of the unit, this button will light up in the color yellow if Cleaning Mode is activated. Models that don’t have a round button will display Cleaning.

On the bright side, nothing is wrong with your ice maker. All you have to do is deactivate the Cleaning Mode to kickstart ice production.

Solution: Locate the switch at the back of the Opal ice maker. Slide the switch to the ICE option to start a new cycle.

The ice bin isn’t installed properly.

Is your Opal ice maker on but isn’t starting ice production? Your ice bin might not be installed properly.

Ice production won’t begin until the bin is seated properly. It’s a common mistake, especially after emptying or cleaning the bin. 

Solution: Push the bin all the way into its place to make sure it’s seated properly. If your Opal ice maker has no other issues, it should begin producing ice after a while.

The water level is insufficient for ice production.

An empty tank is one of the most common reasons an Opal ice maker can’t produce ice. On models XPIO13BCBT, XPIO13SCSS, XPIO23BCBT, and XPIO23SCSS, the Add Water indicator should illuminate when there’s not enough water in the tank.

Solution: Pour potable water into the reservoir up to the max fill line. Never use hot water because it impedes ice production and may damage your ice maker.

There are bubbles in the tube.

If the Opal side tank is full but no ice is being produced, there might be bubbles in the tube. This happens if the tube connecting the tank to the ice maker isn’t lying flat.

Solution: Readjust the tube until water starts flowing into the Opal ice maker. Once you’ve restored water flow, further adjustments aren’t necessary.

The ambient temperature is unideal for ice production.

According to GE, your Opal ice maker must be installed in a well-ventilated area where the ambient temperature ranges from 55°F and 90°F. If the ambient temperature is too high, your unit will struggle to freeze the water into ice.

Low ambient temperature can also cause problems for your ice maker. If it’s too cold, you might end up with a frozen auger and low ice production.

To resolve this problem, your ice maker will enter Defrosting Mode and run a rinse cycle to warm up the unit. All you have to do is wait because it will start ice production once your ice maker has warmed up.

Solution: Install your Opal ice maker in a well-ventilated room with ambient temperature ranging between 55°F and 90°F. 

To prevent your ice maker from overheating, follow these tips:

• Keep the ice maker away from direct sunlight.
• Don’t install the ice maker near heat sources, such as ovens, microwaves, and cooktops.
• Maintain at least 3 inches of ventilation space on all sides.
• Don’t install the ice maker outdoors.

The ice maker has mineral buildup.

Ideally, you should fill the reservoir of your Opal ice maker with potable water. You can even use distilled water to prevent mineral buildup.

Hard water has high concentrations of minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can accumulate in your ice maker, eventually impeding ice production. 

If you don’t clean and descale the ice maker regularly, these minerals will build up and prevent your unit from producing ice. Not to worry, a thorough cleaning can get rid of the residue and resolve your problem.

What you’ll need:

• White vinegar or ice maker cleaner
• Towels
• Bucket

Solution: Every 2 to 3 weeks, you must descale your ice maker to remove any mineral buildup in the system. To descale your unit, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Pour white vinegar into the water reservoir until it reaches the max fill line. You can also use an ice maker cleaner to descale your unit.
• Step 2: Leave the vinegar in the reservoir for 18 hours. Add a towel soaked in vinegar to the ice chute to dissolve any mineral buildup.
• Step 3: Clean the sensors with vinegar. Then, wipe it clean using water.
• Step 4: Unhook the drain tubes behind the ice maker, then lay them down on the sink. Or, drain the vinegar into a bucket that is below the level of the ice maker.
• Step 5: Pull out the drain plugs and let the vinegar drain.
• Step 6: Reinstall the drain plugs.
• Step 7: Pour 5 cups of fresh water into the reservoir. 
• Step 8: Press the display button to start the rinse cycle. After 3 minutes, the water should stop circulating and the indicator light will start pulsing.
• Step 9: Drain the water from the reservoir. Lay the drain tubes on the sink or place them over a bucket, which should be below the ice maker.
• Step 10: Remove the drain plugs. Wait for the water to drain completely, then reinstall the plugs.
• Step 11: Rinse the ice maker at least 2 more times. Just repeat steps 7 to 10.
• Step 12: Reinstall the drain tubes.
• Step 13: Slide the switch back to Ice Mode. Give your ice maker enough time to start producing ice.

Maintenance Tips

Keeping your Opal ice maker clean and free of mineral buildup will help it run smoothly. Depending on the hardness of the water you use, you should sanitize regularly to prevent any debris from accumulating and causing any problems.

Here are a few maintenance tips.

Clean and descale the Opal ice maker regularly.

We recommend cleaning your Opal ice maker at least once per week. If you’re using tap water, your cleaning schedule should depend on the hardness of the water in your area.

The same goes for descaling. You must descale the ice maker every 2 to 3 weeks but you should adjust it based on the hardness of the water.

Water Hardness (grains per gallon)	Descaling Frequency
0-4	2 to 4 months
4-7	1 to 2 months
7-10	3 to 4 weeks
>10	2 to 3 weeks

To clean your Opal ice maker, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the power cord.
• Step 2: Let the Opal ice maker sit for an hour before cleaning it.
• Step 3: Remove the filter, if you’re using one. Then, reinstall the reservoir screen.
• Step 4: Check if there’s a large mineral buildup. Use a pen to try and dislodge any buildup at the top of the ice chute.

Mineral buildup won’t always be visible, but it will still impede ice production. Just keep following the steps even if the hard water residue isn’t visible.

• Step 5: Place the ice maker near a sink. Unhook the drain tubes behind the ice maker, then lay them down on the sink.
• Step 6: Pull out the drain plugs and let the water drain completely. 
• Step 7: Reinstall the drain plugs and plug in the ice maker. 
• Step 8: Flip the switch at the back to activate Cleaning Mode. The display will light up in the color yellow and pulse.
• Step 9: Mix 5 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of household bleach in a small bowl. 
• Step 10: Pour your homemade cleaning solution into the water reservoir.
• Step 11: Press the display button to start the cleaning process. 

The yellow light will spin and the water will begin circulating. After 3 minutes, the light will pulsate and the water will stop circulating.

• Step 12: Drain the water inside the reservoir again. Place the drain tubes over the sink, then pull out the plugs.
• Step 13: Reinsert the drain plugs once the water stops draining. 
• Step 14: Pour 5 cups of fresh water into the reservoir. Press the display button to start the rinse cycle.
• Step 15: Rinse the reservoir at least 2 more times. Perform steps 11 to 13 to repeat the rinse cycle.
• Step 16: Reinstall the drain tubes.
• Step 17: Slide the switch back to Ice Mode. Give your ice maker enough time to kickstart ice production.

Replace the water filter every three months.

A water filter can trap any contaminants in your water supply. It can help make your ice taste better and reduce mineral buildup.

Since it traps contaminants in the water, it should be replaced every three months. If you don’t, the buildup will restrict the flow of water, preventing your ice maker from producing ice.

Additionally, it may affect the flavor of your ice. You’ll usually notice a strange metallic taste which, sometimes, is accompanied by a foul odor.

To replace the water filter, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Pull out the old water filter in your Opal ice maker. Twist it toward you, then lift it up to remove it.
• Step 2: Remove the reservoir screen. 
• Step 3: Get the new filter with the fins facing up. Hold the fins with two fingers, and push the nozzle into the opening.
• Step 4: Slide the base of the filter in. Push the filter in until it’s installed properly.

Clean the sensors every six months.

An Opal ice maker has two small sensors located near the ice chute. One is small and clear, while the other is darker in color.

Sometimes, gunk will cover the sensors, preventing your ice maker from sensing the correct water levels. For instance, ice production might not start if the sensor thinks that the reservoir is empty—even though it’s full.

To clean the sensors, use a towel soaked in vinegar, or cotton swabs. Gently rub the surface until it is clear of any dirt and grime, then wipe it with a towel dipped in water.

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