Why is my Whirlpool ice maker not working? (Here’s why and how to fix it)

There’s nothing like ice-cold lemonade on a hot day. Whether you prefer the boozy or sparkling kind, we can all agree that this homemade thirst quencher wouldn’t be as refreshing without ice.

If your ice maker has suddenly stopped ice production, it can put a damper on your day—that is if you let it. Luckily, you can usually troubleshoot an ice maker in a few simple steps.

So you can beat the heat, we’ll walk you through the steps to fix a Whirlpool ice maker that isn’t working.

Why is my Whirlpool ice maker not working?

If a Whirlpool ice maker isn’t working but the water dispenser is, it’s most likely off. Ice production will also stop automatically if you leave the door ajar or if you don’t install the ice bin.

Smart Delay/Delay Ice can temporarily stop ice production. However, it will resume after 4 hours.

Before making any repairs or requesting professional services, here are a few ways to troubleshoot your Whirlpool ice maker.

• Confirm that the ice maker is turned on. Remove the storage bin to access the power button on your ice maker, then simply flip the switch to the ON position and reinstall the bin.

• Close the freezer door properly. If the door is ajar, your Whirlpool ice maker will automatically turn off ice production.

Causes and Solutions

To fix a Whirlpool ice maker that isn’t working, you might just need to turn on the ice maker, reinstall the storage bin, or close the freezer door properly. You should also check if Smart Delay/Delay Ice is on, then turn it off to start ice production.

Let’s take a look at the possible reasons why your Whirlpool ice maker isn’t making ice. We’ll also learn how to troubleshoot it.

Causes	Solutions
The ice bin isn’t installed.	• Open the freezer door. • Push down on the release lever and tilt the ice bin outward. • Support the base of the bin with both hands. Lift it up and pull it out of the freezer. • Slide the bin into position, then tilt it back and keep it in an upright position.  • The release lever should click once you install the bin in its correct position.
Ice is jammed in the ejector arm.	Use a plastic utensil to remove the ice in the ejector arm. Be careful not to damage the arm.
The Smart Delay/Delay Ice function is activated.	To deactivate Smart Delay/Delay Ice, click on the SMART GRID button on the Whirlpool dispenser’s control panel.
A large amount of ice was recently removed.	• Wait for your Whirlpool ice maker to produce ice.  Use Fast Ice to boost ice production within 24 hours. Just press the FAST • ICE button to turn it on. Fast Ice will remain active for 24 hours unless you’ll manually turn it off.
The fridge has an insufficient power supply.	• Confirm that the ice maker 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 freezer temperature isn’t ideal for cooling.	• Press and hold the TEMP button for 3 seconds to activate adjust mode. • Once activated, you will see the fridge set point on the display. • Push the TEMP button again to switch to the freezer temperature mode. FREEZER will appear on the display once it’s activated. • Click the Light button to view the Celsius temperature. Skip this step if you prefer to view the temperature in Fahrenheit. • Press Fast Ice to lower the temperature. • Tap the Filter button to save the changes.
The door gasket is dirty.	• Unplug the refrigerator and prep your cleaning solution. Add 1:3 parts vinegar and water into a bowl. • Dip a soft cloth or toothbrush into the cleaning solution. Wipe away the dirt and gunk on the freezer door gasket.  • Never use harsh chemicals or abrasive tools to clean the rubber seals.
The door gasket is defective.	• Unplug the refrigerator and open the door. • 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. • Position the new door seal over the shelving. Push the gasket into the channel, starting from the top corner again. • Restore power to your refrigerator.

The ice bin isn’t installed.

On the right wall of the freezer door, you’ll find the ice maker’s sensor, which can halt ice production to prevent overfilling. Aside from turning off the ice maker when the bin is full, the auto shutoff function also stops ice production when the bin isn’t installed.

If the ice bin is installed, but it isn’t in its correct position, you must remove it and reinstall it correctly. 

Since the design of the ice bin will vary per model, refer to your user manual for detailed instructions

Solution: To reinstall the ice bin, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open the freezer door.
• Step 2: Push down on the release lever and tilt the ice bin outward.
• Step 3: Support the base of the bin with both hands. Lift it up and pull it out of the freezer.
• Step 4: Slide the bin into position.
• Step 5: Carefully tilt it back and keep it in an upright position.

You’ll hear the release lever click when you install the ice bin in its correct position. 

Ice is jammed in the ejector arm.

If ice is obstructing your Whirlpool ice maker’s ejector arm, it can affect the quantity and quality of the ice. Your ice maker might not produce enough ice, and if it does, it will produce small or hollow ice.

A jammed ejector arm can also cause your ice maker to stop ice production. If there isn’t any damage to the arm, removing the clog should fix your problem.

Solution: Get a plastic utensil and use it to remove the jammed ice in your ice maker’s ejector arm.

The Smart Delay/Delay Ice function is activated.

Whirlpool refrigerators with smart functionality may have the Smart Delay/Delay Ice function. Whether activated accidentally or deliberately, this can delay ice production for up to 4 hours. 

Not to worry, you can turn off Smart Delay/Delay Ice with a push of a button. Once deactivated, your ice maker will return to its normal ice production cycle.

Solution: To deactivate Smart Delay/Delay Ice, click on the SMART GRID button on the Whirlpool dispenser’s control panel.

A large amount of ice was recently removed.

Whenever you empty the ice bin or take out a huge quantity of ice, your ice maker will need enough time to produce new ice. 

On Whirlpool refrigerators, the ice maker can produce about 8 to 10 cubes of ice every 90 minutes. However, it might take about 2 to 3 days to fill up an empty bin.

Solution: Wait for your Whirlpool ice maker to produce ice. You can also opt to use Fast Ice to boost ice production within 24 hours.

Just press the FAST ICE button to activate it. Once the Fast Ice icon appears on the display, your ice maker will increase ice production for the next 24 hours, unless you’ll manually turn it off.

The fridge has an insufficient power supply.

Whirlpool ice makers have a 3-prong plug, which should go into a grounded 3-prong outlet. As the owner, it is your responsibility to meet this basic requirement as it reduces the risk of fire, electric shock, and injury when you’re using the ice maker.

Don’t install the ice maker outdoors as ambient temperatures below 50°F or above 100.4°F can affect its performance.

Solution: Confirm that the Whirlpool refrigerator is plugged into a standard 115V, 60Hz 3-prong outlet. If the power cord is plugged in but the unit 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.

A tripped circuit breaker is hard to miss as it causes power to go off in one part of the house instead of the entire household. 

Resetting the circuit breaker works in some cases, but in others, you might have to do a few extra steps to keep it from tripping.

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 fridge. Confirm that it can turn on and operate properly.
• Step 5: Turn on the lights and plug in the other appliances in the circuit. 

If the circuit trips, the appliance or light may have faulty wiring. Contact a licensed electrician who can help you diagnose and resolve the issue.

The freezer temperature isn’t ideal for cooling.

The factory setting for your freezer is 0º F(-15º C). If the temperature in the compartment isn’t ideal for cooling, your ice maker will be unable to produce ice.

Before adjusting the controls, check if the vents are blocked and simply clear any obstructions. Make sure your freezer isn’t overfilled as well to promote better circulation of cool air.

Solution: Set the freezer temperature between  -5°F to 5°F (-21°C to -15°C). To view and adjust the freezer set points, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Press and hold the TEMP button for 3 seconds to activate adjust mode. Once activated, you will see the fridge set point on the display.

• Step 2: Push the TEMP button again to see the freezer set point. The display will indicate FREEZER once the set points have been changed.

• Step 3: Click on the Light button to view the Celsius temperature. Tap the button for a second time to revert it to Fahrenheit.

• Step 4: Press Fast Ice to lower the temperature.

• Step 5: Tap the Filter button to save the changes.

The door gasket is dirty.

Some Whirlpool ice makers will automatically turn off ice production if it detects that the door is open. If you don’t often clean your freezer door, dirt, grime, and food scraps can get trapped in the rubber seals, preventing the door from closing properly.

If there isn’t any damage to the door gasket, you can wipe off the gunk with a homemade vinegar solution. To prevent damage to the gasket, avoid using harsh chemicals and abrasive tools for cleaning.

We don’t recommend removing the gasket for cleaning purposes. 

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 door gasket is defective.

Aside from a dirty gasket, a defective one will prevent the door from closing properly, which can halt ice production entirely.

If the door gasket is damaged, cleaning will not suffice. You must take out the defective gasket and replace it with a new one. 

Before getting a replacement, do the dollar bill test to check your gasket. Slip a piece of paper or a single dollar bill between the rubber gasket and the door.

Once closed, carefully pull the paper out. If there isn’t any resistance when you pull it out, your gasket is damaged and requires 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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