Having an ice maker in your kitchen is a blessing. You do not have to constantly refill ice trays and then wait for an entire day for the icebergs. If you are having a family gathering or friends coming over for dinner, your ice maker is going to help cool down the drinks instantly without you having to put in any effort. However, if you notice that your ice maker has suddenly stopped ejecting ice, you will need to consider hiring a refrigerator ice maker repair service. But you should know what is causing the problem so you can try fixing it yourself.
Ice Clumps In the Bin
A common cause of ice makers not ejecting ice is that an ice clump has formed inside. To help release the ice from the hold, it is slightly treated with heat to melt. This heat can be offered by simply opening the freezer’s door.
At the same time, the auger inside the ice maker is designed to prevent ice cubes from forming but if the ice maker has not been used in a long time, the auger will fail to turn on. As a result, the accumulation of ice turns into a big chunk.
In addition to that, if your ice maker has a chunk of ice blocking it, you will hear the auger trying to break it up. Therefore, you might notice a louder grinding noise. Moreover, you might also need to access the ice bin and rectify the ice chunks, which could become a bit difficult.
Depending on the size of the ice chunk or chunks, you might need to simply defrost the appliance. The reason is that some ice chunks could be a lot bigger for the auger to handle.
Ice Is Caught In the Raker
Ice rakers are not common amongst ice makers but if your ice maker comes with one, chances are that the high might get caught inside the raker. The raker is designed to rake through the ice cubes to evenly distribute the new ice cubes in the bin.
In fact, this part can actually help prevent system blockages due to ice build-up but if an iceblock does occur, it will eventually impede the performance of the raker. Ultimately, the ice blockage will prevent the ice maker from distributing ice.
The solution, in this case, is to manually remove the ice by hand. If you find that the raker arm is stuck, it means there is an ice problem. The raker should start working as soon as the ice buildup has been removed.
The Ice Dispenser Is Clogged
The same thing that happens with the ice bin, can happen with the ice chute as well. The ice chute can be jammed. As a result, you will observe no ice ejecting. In such situations, one usually opens the freezer and checks the ice bin. At the same time, you should also check the dispenser for any visible signs of ice chunks in the bin.
If there aren’t any, it means ice buildup has clogged the system. Then again, you will need to use your hands to remove the blockage. However, in the case where the blockage cannot be accessed or removed by hand, you will simply need to wait for it to melt.
The Auger Motor Is Frozen
Sometimes, if the ice maker is not used for a long time, the freezing temperature can freeze the auger motor situated behind the freezer wall. While the auger is designed to spin, it won’t in such a case. You might get a few ice cubes but without the auger working properly, the cubes won’t forward to the chute.
In this situation, you need to push down on the lever for a while as the auger motor runs and generates heat for the ice to melt. This technique has proven effective in several cases but will take a toll on the motor as well. Therefore, you have to be careful not to burn it. Keep in mind that the moisture from the melting ice could also damage the motor.
Final Word
In the end, ice makers not ejecting ice is mostly due to ice blockage. However, the tricky part is to determine where it has taken place. Some areas inside the ice maker are accessible, while others aren’t. Therefore, keeping the tips mentioned above in mind, remove the ice build-up and consult an appliance repair Springfield expert if the problem seems more complicated.