In order to keep your refrigerator's ice maker working properly, there are some components that will require routine maintenance and inspection. Some of the most common problems that can occur with your ice maker are the ice maker not making any ice, making too much ice and not shutting off, the ice tasting bad, ice cubes too small or discolored and ice cubes not ejecting from the ice maker. Checking your ice maker for potential problems on a regular basis will keep it operating efficiently. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Inspect the water supply line for any signs of cracking or crimps in the line. A pinched water supply line can keep the water from getting to the ice maker, resulting in no ice or smaller than desired ice cubes. Check to verify that the water supply valve is open enough to provide an adequate supply of water to the ice maker.
2. Flush out the water supply lines if you are noticing a bad taste in the ice cubes. This can be done by disconnecting the lines and running hot water through them. Turn on the hot water at the kitchen sink and place one end of the water supply line near the tap, holding it in place to allow hot water to run through it. Place the other end of the supply line in the sink to allow the water to drain through.
3. Reattach the water supply lines to the water supply and refrigerator. Repeat step 2 for the water inlet hose which runs from the inlet valve to the ice maker. If the water supply lines are old or discolored, consider replacing them with new water supply lines.
4. Check the temperature in your freezer to verify that it is getting cold enough. The freezer's temperature should be at 5 degrees and can be set with a control dial, normally located in the refrigerator compartment of your appliance. To test the freezer's temperature, place a cup of cooking oil in the freezer with a cooking thermometer sitting in the cooking oil. Allow the oil to sit in the freezer for 2 hours and then check the temperature.
5. Check the ice maker's shutoff arm to verify that it is operating properly. To work normally, the shutoff arm should be in the lowered position. Inspect the arm for anything blocking it or preventing the arm from moving freely. Lift the arm up to see if the unit shuts off in the up position.
6. Unplug the refrigerator from the electrical outlet and remove the faceplate of the ice maker's shutoff switch with a screwdriver, located on the ice maker. Remove the entire ice maker unit from the freezer by undoing the screws that are holding it in place. Unplug the ice maker from the freezer and take it out of the freezer to work on.
7. Remove the mounting plate on the top of the ice maker by unscrewing the screws and lifting it off the unit. Locate the shutoff switch, which has three electrical wires attached to it. The shutoff switch is located directly under the shutoff arm of the ice maker. Pull the electrical wires off of the shutoff switch with needle-nose pliers and label them so you know put them back correctly.
8. Inspect the electrical terminals for any rust or corrosion. Use an electrical testing meter to verify that the shutoff switch is working properly. You should get a reading of 0 or infinity on the meter. If the shutoff switch is not giving a reading, replace it with a new switch and reattach the electrical wires to the switch.
9. Place the mounting plate back over the ice maker and attach it with screws, then reattach the entire ice maker unit to the freezer. Plug the ice maker wiring back into the freezer and put the face plate back over the front of the ice maker.
10. Plug the refrigerator back into the electrical outlet and allow the refrigerator to run for a couple hours. Inspect the ice maker to verify that it is working properly.
Tags: water supply, shutoff switch, verify that, supply line, supply lines, water supply lines, electrical wires