Is your ice maker producing unexpected and random cubes shapes – tiny, hollow, huge, etc.? Or probably is it not producing ice at all? Well, the problem is not as difficult to solve as it might seem. According to refrigerator ice maker repair professionals, a simple manual jumpstart will do the trick to restore your icemaker to the optimal state.
But how do you jumpstart an ice maker? Here is a step-by-step guide on how to go about jumpstarting your icemaker.
Forcing an Icemaker to Cycle
Jumpstarting an icemaker is basically manually forcing it to cycle by bypassing the thermostat. The method might be slightly different depending on the type of icemaker. However, according to Dave’s Repair, most of the icemakers in the market today work the same.
The common cause of problems with icemakers is either frozen water in the line or a full storage bin. Whatever the cause, the first step to diagnosing the problem is to test the ice maker. This is done by manually forcing the ice maker to cycle.
Doing this will help you determine if there is a problem with the equipment or if there is an obstruction on the line. It is also advisable to jumpstart your ice maker if it hasn’t been used for some time to check if it is still in good condition.
The process does not require any special equipment or skill. Here is the process of troubleshooting your icemaker.
Step 1. Unplug the ice maker from the refrigerator – usually a screw or two plugs above the ice mold.
Step 2. Take it to the sink and dump out the ice. Use hot water to melt out any stuck cubes before plugging it back into the refrigerator. Ensure that you place the bin in place correctly as some refrigerator models have a cut-off mechanism that stops the ice production if the container is even a little off.
Step 3. Turn the icemaker switch on. Then open the front cover of the icemaker and manually turn the gear on the front of the icemaker clockwise. Turn until you hear a click sound. Now replace the cover (You might need a flat screwdriver for this process).
Step 4. On the right side of the ice maker, there is a rectangular wire arm. This is a sensor that alerts the icemaker not to make ice when there is a problem (mainly an obstruction in the water line or a full storage bin). Now push this arm downwards – when it is facing upwards, the ice maker will not produce ice.
Step 5. Now run the icemaker. The ice maker should now run with no problems unless the problem is mechanical and a simple jumpstart cannot solve.
Ice Maker Replacement
In most cases, if the ice maker does not work even after jumpstarting, then the problem might be bigger than expected. In this case, you have two options, either get a professional to do repairs or replace the entire unit.
Replacing the entire unit is the easiest and less expensive choice for most icemaker models. It is also important to mention that although icemakers might vary from brand to brand, most are in a similar design and fit just the same.
For example, most ice makers from Kitchenaid, Maytag, Kenmore, and Whirlpool refrigerators have the same designs and fit into either refrigerator. There are a variety of affordable ice maker replacement options on Amazon.
Conclusion
A simple troubleshooting exercise can help fix many ice maker problems. If your ice maker stops producing ice, starts and pauses, or makes irregular cubes, appliance repair Fairfax professionals advise that a simple jumpstart can help clear internal issues that could cause the problems.
The above process shows a simple step-by-step troubleshooting guide that applies to most of the icemakers models in the market today.
