Ice Maker Not Making Ice But Water Works? (SOLVED!)

Ice on demand is a luxury we often take for granted until the ice machine stops making ice on a hot summer’s day. It can be quite frustrating, especially when you’ve made plans for pool parties and cookouts.

Built-in ice makers can produce about 3.5 lbs. to 6.6 lbs. of ice per day. It would be the perfect way to keep everyone fresh and cool for the summer.

Here, we’ll delve into why your ice maker isn’t making ice. We’ll also show you how to troubleshoot it.

Why isn’t my ice maker making ice?

There are several causes for an ice maker that won’t make ice, including a loose connection, a tripped circuit breaker, incorrect temperature settings, dirty condenser coils, a dirty/damaged door gasket, or a faulty sensor arm.

Before making a service call, try these simple troubleshooting techniques to resolve your problem.

• Confirm that the ice maker has power. Sometimes, the fix can be as simple as plugging in the power cord or pushing the power button.

• Reset the ice maker. To reset the unit, pull out the fridge’s power cord, then restore power after a few minutes.

If none of these fixes work, keep reading our guide below and learn how to diagnose your ice maker. Then, follow our step-by-step instructions to troubleshoot it.

Troubleshooting an Ice Maker That Won’t Make Ice

To fix an ice maker that won’t make ice, confirm that the refrigerator is plugged into a properly grounded outlet. Check if the water filter needs replacement or if the condenser coils need cleaning.

Make sure the freezer door is closed properly. Clean the door gasket or replace it, if necessary.

Here’s an overview of the most common reasons an ice maker stops making ice and what you can do to troubleshoot it.

Causes	Solutions
The ice maker isn’t receiving power.	• Confirm that the fridge is plugged in properly into an outlet.  • Inspect the power cord for signs of damage and replace it if necessary.  • Check your user manual to prevent voiding your warranty. • Check if the other outlets in the same circuit are working. If the circuit has tripped, reset it. • If the circuit isn’t tripping, call a licensed electrician who can check if your outlet is properly grounded.
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. • Flip the switch on the circuit breaker to the OFF position. Wait for a few seconds and flip the switch back to the ON position. • Plug in the ice maker and confirm that it has power and is functioning properly.  • Plug in other appliances and lights one at a time to test if they are working correctly.
The temperature settings are incorrect.	Set the freezer temperature to 5º F (-15º C) or lower.  Check your user manual to find out how to change the temperature as it may vary per fridge model.
The freezer door gasket is dirty.	• Disconnect power to your refrigerator. • Prep your homemade cleaning solution. Add 1:3 parts vinegar and water to a small bowl.  • Get a soft cloth or toothbrush, and dip it into the mixture. Open the freezer door and clean the dirty gasket thoroughly.
The freezer door gasket is damaged.	• Take out the new door seal from the packaging and lay it flat on a surface to remove any kinks.  • Prep the new gasket 1-2 days before installing it. • To begin the installation, unplug the refrigerator and open the door. • Starting from the top corner of the freezer door, pull out the rubber seal. Carefully work your way around the door until the seal is fully removed. • Position the new door seal over the shelving. Push the gasket into the groove, starting from the top corner again. • Restore power to your refrigerator.
The condenser coils are dirty.	• Unplug the power cord or turn off the circuit breaker. Move the fridge to access the coils at the back. • Unmount the panel to expose the coils. Skip this step if it doesn’t apply to your unit. • Use a soft-bristle brush to remove dirt on the vent and coils. • Vacuum all the excess dirt and dust. Use a damp cloth to pick up stubborn bits of dust. • Let the coils fully dry before restoring power.
The sensor arm is faulty.	• Unplug your fridge. Open your freezer door and make sure the rails on both sides of the upper tray are fully extended. • Lift the tray and remove it from the freezer. • Unthread the screw on the sensor arm using a Phillips screwdriver. Then, pull out the sensor from the ice maker. • Install the new ice maker sensor arm. Hold it in place while you secure it with the screw. • Hold the upper tray and tilt it to the rear. Gently lower it down onto the freezer box tray and push it all the way back. • Pull the tray forward to make sure the wheels are installed correctly. • Close the freezer door and restore power to your fridge. After a few hours, check if the ice maker has produced ice.

The ice maker isn’t receiving power.

Forgetting to plug in the refrigerator sounds a bit comical, but it does happen quite often, especially after routine maintenance. It’s also possible that the plug was accidentally knocked loose by pets, kids, or other adults in the household.

Without a steady flow of electricity, your ice maker will be unable to function properly. Luckily, all you have to do is plug in the power cord properly to fix the issue.

If that doesn’t solve your problem, you should inspect the power cord for signs of damage. A power cord can get damaged due to age, heavy usage, or excessive current flow, which prevents your machine from operating. 

Solution: Confirm that the ice maker is plugged into an outlet. If it still isn’t functioning, inspect the power cord and the outlet.

• Power cord: Look for signs of damage on the power cord, then replace it if necessary. Refer to your user manual for the best course of action.

If replacing the cord yourself can void the warranty, make a service call to the manufacturer.

• Outlet: To confirm that the outlet has power, unplug the ice maker. Then, plug in an electronic device and check if it is receiving power.

After, check if the other outlets in the same circuit have power. If a tripped circuit is the underlying cause of the problem, follow our step-by-step instructions for resetting the circuit breaker.

If the circuit isn’t tripping, call a licensed electrician who can check if your outlet is properly grounded. 

The circuit breaker keeps tripping.

Does power keep on going out on one part of the house? If so, you most likely have a tripped circuit breaker, which can be caused by an electrical overload, a short circuit, or a ground fault.

Your ice maker won’t be able to function properly if the power keeps on fluctuating. On the bright side, nothing is wrong with it, and it doesn’t require repairs.

Before calling in a licensed electrician, you can try to resolve the problem by resetting the circuit breaker. For safety purposes, make sure your hands are dry, then stand on a dry surface to the side of the breaker when you flip the switch.

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 circuit breaker in your household and identify the one that keeps tripping. The switch would be out of place when a breaker trips.
• Step 2: Move the switch on the circuit breaker to the OFF position.
• Step 3: After a few seconds, flip the switch back to the ON position.
• Step 4: Plug in your refrigerator. Confirm that it can turn on and operate properly.

Turn on the lights and plug in the other appliances in the circuit. If it trips, the appliance or light may have faulty wiring. 

We recommend contacting a licensed electrician who can help you resolve the issue.

The temperature settings are incorrect.

The temperature in your freezer must be between 0º F(-15º C) to 5º F (-15º C) to promote ice production. If it isn’t set to the correct temperature range, your ice maker will struggle to make ice.  

Solution: Set the freezer temperature to 5º F (-15º C) or lower. Check your user manual to find out how to change the temperature as it may vary per fridge model.

For instance, on a Samsung fridge, you can boost ice production using the Power Freezer function. Just press and hold the Power Freeze button for three seconds to activate the feature.

Once Power Freeze is activated, your compressor and freezer fan will run nonstop for 10 hours. Your ice maker will also start producing an entire tray of ice faster.

If your ice bucket reaches its maximum capacity after 10 hours, your fridge will automatically deactivate the Power Freeze function.

The freezer door gasket is dirty.

Over time, dirt and food scraps can get trapped on the rubber gaskets of your freezer door, preventing it from closing properly. When cold air continues to seep out of the compartment, it won’t be able to reach optimal temperatures for ice production.

If the door gasket isn’t damaged, all it needs is a good clean. We don’t recommend removing the gasket for cleaning.

What you’ll need:

• Soft cloth/toothbrush
• Vinegar
• Warm water
• Bowl

Solution: First, unplug the refrigerator and prep your cleaning solution. Add 1:3 parts vinegar and water into a bowl, then dip a soft cloth or toothbrush in the mixture. 

Gently yet thoroughly scrub away the dirt and gunk on the freezer door gasket. Never use harsh chemicals or abrasive tools to clean the rubber seals.

The freezer door gasket is damaged.

The best way to tell if your freezer door gasket is still effective is by performing the dollar bill test. Just insert a dollar bill or a piece of paper between the gasket and the freezer door, then close it shut.

Once it’s closed, carefully pull out the paper. If there is no resistance, the rubber seals are defective and require a replacement.

What you’ll need:

• New rubber gasket
• 1-2 days of prep time

Solution: Take the new door gasket out of the package and lay it flat on a surface to remove any kinks and creases. Leave the rubber seal for 1-2 days before installing it on your freezer door.

To replace a damaged door seal, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the refrigerator and open the door.
• Step 2: Pull out the rubber gasket on the door, starting from the top corner of the fridge. Work your way around the door until the seal is fully removed.
• Step 3: Position the new door seal over the shelving. Push the gasket into the channel, starting from the top corner again.
• Step 4: Restore power to your refrigerator.

The condenser coils are dirty.

Dirt and grime build-up on the coils will reduce the efficiency of your refrigerator and, in turn, your ice maker. Since dirty coils will cause the machine to work harder, it can lead to higher utility bills and premature appliance failure.

Luckily, you can clean the coils yourself with a small vacuum and a brush. It should only take a few minutes.

What you’ll need:

• Vacuum cleaner
• Soft-bristle brush
• Soft cloth

Solution: To clean your refrigerator’s dirty condenser coils, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the power cord or turn off the circuit breaker.
• Step 2: Unmount the panel to expose the coils. Skip this step if it isn’t applicable to your unit.
• Step 3: Use a soft-bristle brush to remove dirt on the vent and coils.
• Step 4: Vacuum all the excess dirt and dust.
• Step 5: Use a damp cloth to pick up stubborn bits of dust.
• Step 6: Let the coils fully dry before restoring power.

The sensor arm is faulty.

The ice maker has a sensor arm that can determine the quantity of ice in the bin. Once it detects that the bin is full, it shuts off ice production until you remove or empty the ice bin.

If the sensor is defective, your ice maker can’t figure out when to stop or start ice production. It will either stop producing ice or continue ice production even when the bin is full.

What you’ll need:

• Phillips screwdriver
• New sensor arm

Solution: To replace a Samsung ice maker sensor arm, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug your fridge.
• Step 2: Open your freezer door and make sure the rails on both sides of the upper tray are fully extended.
• Step 3: Carefully lift the tray and pull it out of the freezer.
• Step 4: Use a Phillips screwdriver to take out the screw on the sensor arm.
• Step 5: Remove the sensor arm from the ice maker.
• Step 6: Install the new ice maker sensor arm. Hold it in place while you secure it with the screw.
• Step 7: Hold the upper tray and tilt it to the rear. Gently lower it down onto the freezer box tray and push it all the way back.
• Step 8: Pull the tray forward to make sure the wheels are installed correctly.
• Step 9: Close the freezer door and plug in the fridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

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