Ice maker is an important feature of a refrigerator that most households just cannot live without. Whether it is storing ice creams or chocolates for kids or storing important medicines, the ice maker has become an indispensable part of our life. However, at times, the ice maker doesn’t work as well as it should. The first indication of a problem with your home appliance is when the ice maker is not producing enough ice, or worst not producing any ice. Before you start complaining to the retail store or the manufacturer, you must at least know how this part works.
Few steps to help you troubleshoot when you have refrigerator not making ice problem:
Step 1 – Check the condition of the shut-off arm of the freezer
Step 2 – Temperature of the freezer must be set at 52ºF or lower
Step 3 – Check the condition of the water supply line
Step 4 – Check the condition of the tail tube
How Ice Maker Works
The ice maker receives water from quarter-inch water supply line that runs from the water supply source to the refrigerator. The temperature of the water that enters the ice maker is controlled by a thermostat. Initially, the water fills the valve, which sends the water to the ice maker assembly. It is here the water is frozen.
When the water is frozen in the assembly, the thermostat shuts itself off. This makes the temperature inside the ice maker warmer, which helps in releasing ice molds. When the ice molds are ready for release, the motor inside the assembly turns on and rotates the ejection arm. This forces the ice to move from the molds to the collection bin. This completes the process and the cycle counties until the desired number of ice cubes are generated. When ice is not collected, the unit is shut off until the level of ice is not low enough for the cycle to restart.
Repairing the Ice Maker
If your home appliance is not making enough ice, you can try repairing the machine at home. Here are some tips to help you determine the cause of the problem and the steps you can take to troubleshoot the problems.
- Check the condition of the shut-off arm of the freezer. When the arm is in horizontal position, it indicates that the machine is off. When it is down, it means that the machine is on. To check the condition of the arm, you must remove the ice bucket. You should check the on/off position of your house appliance.
- Ideally, the temperature of the freezer must be set at 52ºF or lower. You can adjust the thermostat to get the desired temperature. If you don’t know the temperature inside the machine, you could use a cooking thermometer to check the temperature. Just put the thermometer in a bowl of oil and place it in the freezer. The oil will not freeze and the thermometer will give you an exact reading if you leave it in the freezer for a few hours. If the reading of the thermometer does not match the temperature you have set, you must adjust the freezer thermometer.
- You must then check the condition of the water supply line. To do this, you must move the refrigerator to get access to the water supply line. Turn off the water supply valve to disconnect water supply to the machine. Check each part carefully and replace the damaged parts.
- Check the condition of the tail tube. The tail tube can be found above the ice mold. If the tube is frozen, use a heat source such as hair dryer until the ice melts.
If these checks don’t help, you should get help from a refrigerator technician. It is in your interest to hire a specialist to do the service as inexperienced technicians can damage your machine. Today, it is not difficult to get a specialist dishwasher repairman, gas stove repairman, washer technician, refrigerator technician, and dryer service technician, if you know where to look. You can use the internet or get references from friends and relatives to the right service provider for your needs.
Broward County Areas That We Service:
Icemaker Repair, Range Repair, Oven Repair, Refrigerator Repair, Stove Repair North Lauderdale, Dishwasher Repair, Dishwasher Repair, Sunrise, Plantation Freezer Repair, Pembroke Pines, Lauderhill, Hallandale, Cooper City, Deerfield Beach, Washer And Dryer Repair, Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Same Day Appliance Repair, Fridge Repair Service Lighthouse Point FL, Washing Machine Repair, Appliance Service Hollywood FL, Dishwasher Repair Pompano Beach