Ice Maker Not Making Ice? Samsung, Whirlpool, LG and Frigidaire

Most of the time an ice maker not making ice has not failed. It has been switched off, the freezer is not cold enough, or water is not reaching it, and all three cost nothing to fix. When those check out, the usual causes are a frozen fill tube, a failed water inlet valve or a worn-out ice maker, and each is a standard repair.

Keep your fingers away from the ice maker's ejector arm and the dispenser auger, and unplug the refrigerator before you remove any panel. Do not use a hair dryer or heat gun on a frozen ice maker; Samsung warns that trying to defrost the ice maker yourself can damage it.

Quick answer: ice maker troubleshooting chart

Ice maker not making ice? Checks to try first

1. Make sure it is turned on. On ice makers with a wire bail arm, the arm must be down; up means off. Other models have an on/off switch on the ice maker or an Ice On/Ice Off setting on the display, which may not respond while the display is locked.
2. Check the freezer temperature. Put an appliance thermometer in the freezer overnight. Samsung says the freezer must be at 0°F or colder to make ice, even when the ice maker is in the fridge compartment. Wait 24 hours after changing a setting before you judge the result.
3. Give it time. Whirlpool says a newly installed refrigerator takes 24 hours to begin making ice and 72 hours to reach full production, and that refilling the bin after you remove a lot of ice takes about a day.
4. Check the water supply. Make sure the shut-off valve is fully open and the line behind the refrigerator is not kinked. Pushing the refrigerator too far back against the wall is a common way to pinch it.
5. Replace an old filter. Samsung rates its filters for 300 gallons, about 6 months in an average home, and notes that an expired filter can cut the water pressure enough to slow ice production.
6. Seat the ice bin. On some dual ice makers, a bucket inserted the wrong way blocks the ice maker; make sure it clicks into place.
7. Run the test or reset. The brand sections below cover the procedures we could confirm. If yours has no button, Whirlpool's advice is to unplug the refrigerator for one minute and check for ice after a couple of hours.

Ice maker not filling with water

If the ice maker cycles but the tray stays empty, or the cubes come out small and hollow, water is not getting through.

• A frozen fill tube. Look where the small tube enters the back of the ice maker; a plug of ice there blocks every fill. It usually freezes because water trickles in slowly, from low pressure or a valve that does not close fully, so thawing it without fixing the cause only buys a few days.
• The filter, the supply line or the water inlet valve. A clogged or badly seated filter, low household pressure and a failed inlet valve all starve the ice maker. Our guide to a refrigerator water dispenser not working covers the filter, pressure and inlet valve checks in detail.

If your refrigerator has no water line, turn the ice maker off. Whirlpool notes that an ice maker left on without a water connection can buzz and make the freezer excessively cold.

Ice maker not dispensing ice

When there is ice in the bin but nothing comes out of the door, the problem is the dispenser side, not the ice maker.

• Clumped ice. Ice that sits unused fuses together. LG's fix is to remove the bin, shake it to separate the cubes, throw out any stubborn clumps and make sure the bin is dry before it goes back.
• Ice frozen around the auger. Frigidaire says ice can melt and refreeze around the auger after infrequent use, temperature swings or a power outage. Remove the bin, thaw and empty it, clean and dry it, and put it back.
• The dispenser timed out. On Frigidaire models, the dispenser shuts off after 3 minutes of continuous use to protect the motor. Release the paddle and try again.
• A locked display. A control lock blocks the dispenser on most models.

If the auger motor hums but does not turn, or the chute door stays shut, a part has failed.

Which part is it? A quick decision flow

1. Is the freezer at 0°F or colder? If not, the ice maker is not the problem; see freezer not freezing.
2. Is the ice maker on and the bin seated? Fix either and wait a day.
3. Does the water dispenser pour normally? If the dispenser is slow or dry too, the problem is the water supply, the filter or the inlet valve. If it pours normally, water reaches the refrigerator and the problem is at the ice maker.
4. Run the test cycle. Does the ice maker move? No movement at all points to the ice maker assembly or its power.
5. It moves, but does water fill the tray? No water points to a frozen fill tube or the part of the inlet valve that feeds the ice maker.
6. Ice in the bin but none at the door? Work through the dispensing steps above, then suspect the auger motor or the chute door.

Ice maker not working on a Samsung fridge

On most Samsung models the display has an Ice Off icon that lights when the ice maker is off; for ice, it should not be lit. Samsung's reset: remove the ice bucket, then press and hold the Test button until you hear a chime, and reinstall the bucket. One chime means the ice maker passed the test; several chimes mean it is time to contact service. Do not press Test again once the tray holds water or ice, or it can overflow or jam. If there is no sound or movement, turn off the power for 2 minutes and try again. Allow about 3 hours for ice production to resume and up to 24 hours for it to return to normal.

Samsung's door ice makers can also frost up when warm air gets in. Samsung's checks: make sure the gasket sits flush against the ice bucket with no gap, clear any ice or debris holding the dispenser flap open, and level the refrigerator so the front rests on the leveling legs with the front wheels off the floor. If the frost returns, it recommends service.

Whirlpool ice maker not working

Whirlpool says a common reason an ice maker does not make ice is that it was accidentally turned off. It recommends a freezer setting between 0°F and 5°F and at least 24 hours between temperature adjustments. Some Whirlpool ice makers have a reset button that you press and hold for a few seconds; your manual shows where it is. Without one, unplug the refrigerator for one minute.

LG ice maker not working

Many LG ice makers have an on/off switch on the left side of the ice maker; others use an Ice On/Ice Off button on the control panel that you press and hold for 3 to 5 seconds. LG recommends lowering the freezer to -4°F or colder and allowing 24 hours for ice production to begin.

LG's test mode: lay a towel down, then press and hold the test button on the ice maker (a paper clip on some models) for about three seconds. In the first two hours after the refrigerator is plugged in, the test runs only once; unplug for about 30 seconds to run it again. If the motor does not run, or no water appears in the tray, the refrigerator needs service.

Frigidaire ice maker not working

On Frigidaire top-freezer models, lowering the wire signal arm turns the ice maker on, and lifting it until it clicks turns it off. Frigidaire puts normal output at about 2.5 to 3 pounds of ice every 24 hours, and says to discard the ice made in the first 24 hours after installation. If the ice maker is on with no water connected, the water valve will chatter loudly. If the dispenser is stuck, use the thaw-and-clean fix above.

What usually fails

• Water inlet valve. No water reaches the ice maker, or the valve buzzes without filling. One that sticks open overflows the ice maker instead; see why is my fridge leaking water.
• Frozen fill tube. Usually a symptom; the repair is thawing it and fixing the low pressure or leaky valve behind it.
• Ice maker assembly. The test cycle does not turn, or the arm stops partway through.
• Auger motor or dispenser parts. Ice in the bin but nothing at the door.
• A freezer that runs warm. If the ice slowed down just as the ice cream went soft, see freezer not freezing.

If the test cycle does nothing or the tray never fills with the supply confirmed good, it is time for ice maker repair.

What it costs in Atlanta

The diagnostic visit is $80, and it is waived when you approve the repair. Repairs start at $180 labor plus parts, quoted in writing before any work begins. Inlet valves sit at the lower end, and a complete ice maker assembly costs more; see the typical totals on our pricing page. Every repair carries our 60-day parts-and-labor warranty.

Schedule a visit or read about our refrigerator repair service. Prefer to talk? Call (470) 778-4087.