Tag Archives: ice maker

Commercial Ice Maker Maintenance: Guide On How To Fix Common Ice Maker Problems

ice maker repair

Just like any other appliance, the ice maker tends to develop problems. The cool thing is that you can easily fix some of the problems with minimal guidance. Here are some of the common ice maker problems:

No ice

The ice maker fails to make ice when the bail wire is lifted, the solenoid doesn’t work or when the water’s route is blocked. There are a number of things that you can do to fix the problem:

Check the water supply: a clear sign that the problem is as a result of water supply is the buzzing sound and movement of the freezer arm. You should check the water line and ensure that it isn’t kinked behind or beneath the refrigerator.

Check the solenoid: the water line is usually attached to the solenoid located at the back and bottom of the refrigerator. The solenoid may be defective or not receiving any power.

You should disconnect the refrigerator from the power and then remove the sediment screen inside the solenoid. If the solenoid is defective you should hire a commercial appliances repair professional to replace it for you.

When testing the solenoid you should also check the seals and diaphragms and ensure that they are also functioning perfectly.

Ice maker doesn’t turn off

Does you appliance keep on making ice even when you turn it off? You can fix the problem by lifting the bail wire. When you do this you will shut off the ice maker. You should then remove the ice bin and using a screwdriver remove the ice maker and clean it thoroughly.

If you do this and the problem still persists you should hire a commercial ice maker maintenance professional to take a look at it.

Ice maker doesn’t eject ice

It’s very common for the appliance to make ice, but fail to eject it. The problem is often brought up by motor problems. You need to have the skills to replace the motor thus you should leave the work to an ice maker contractor.

Frozen ice maker

When it’s too cold it’s easy for the freezer pipes to freeze. The good thing is that it’s easy to fix the problem as you only need to warm the hose. To do this you need to train a hair dryer on the ice and melt any ice that may be blocking the mechanism. When warming the ice you should be keen that you don’t shot the wires causing fire.

Conclusion

While you can fix some of the problems, there are other problems that you can’t and have to hire an ice maker technician Falls Church. As rule of thumb you should ensure that the professional you hire is experienced and certified to work in your area.

How Long Do Refrigerator Ice Makers Last?

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It’s a sultry afternoon and you can’t wait to cool down. You pour your favorite drink and run to the refrigerator ice maker for a few ice cubes. You get a few blocks in your drink and you have a refreshing ice icy beverage. You can’t imagine your life without an ice maker.

How long do refrigerator ice makers last? You wonder.

According to refrigerator ice maker repair professionals, the ice makers often last for as long as refrigerators (usually 10-15 years). You only need to take good care of them.

How do you maintain refrigerator ice makers?

There are plenty of ways to do it. The most common ones being:

Descale the ice makers

Although standalone ice makers produce more ice than ice makers inside a refrigerator, you still have to descale them as they also experience calcium deposits (also known as scale).

If you don’t remove the calcium deposits, you risk damaging the machine parts hence shortening the ice maker’s lifespan.

The cool thing is each refrigerator brand has a protocol on how you should go about descaling. Check your manual and you will find a guide on how to go about it.

Cleaning the ice maker

Ice makers turn water into frozen cubes so it may sound absurd that you have to clean them. After all they are in constant contact with water, right?

Remember, ice makers are like other food handling appliances. If you don’t clean them and you keep them running in unsanitary conditions, you will be promoting germ growth which is a health risk.

Keep your refrigerator ice maker in top shape by sanitizing it regularly (at least once a month). Unplug the fridge and empty both the freezer and the fresh food sections.

Proceed to wipe down or handwash the interior surfaces using mild soap and warm water. Don’t use abrasive tools or harsh chemicals when doing it.

Before you return the items, ensure every item is dry. You don’t want your ice maker to be a harbor for germs, do you?

When doing the cleaning, don’t focus on the inside only. Also pay attention to the outside to prevent dirt and stain buildup.

Now and then, you will need to remove dried spills with a damp cloth.

Change the filter

Even ice makers inside refrigerators have a water filtration system. Water passes through an activated charcoal filter that removes common tap water impurities such as chlorine.

With time the filters get dirty and you can’t make quality ice from dirty water. To continue producing good quality ice, clean or replace the filter.

A tell-tale sign it’s time to replace the filter is to monitor the smell and taste of the resulting ice. If you notice a change in either of the two qualities, it’s time for a new filter.

You can also tell when to replace the filter by checking the manual. It could be as frequently as 3 months, 6 months, or even a year depending on the brand.

Fix clogs as soon as they come about

Refrigerator ice makers are more prone to clogs than standalone ice makers. Due to regular use, it’s common for the ice dispenser chutes to jam often because of frozen ice melt and smashed ice particles.

The cool thing is it’s easy to fix this problem especially with newer models. All you need to do is to remove the ice bin along with stuck cubes. Then using a warm, damp cloth, clean the bottom of the bin and ice chute.

You should then dry everything thoroughly then replace the bin.

If you have an older refrigerator model, check the ice chute for blockages. If there is no problem, cubes in the bin might have fused together and to prevent this from happening, empty the ice bin.

Fix problems as soon as you notice them

A funny sound, an indicator light, or a weird smell might seem harmless but it can be a sign of a serious problem.

So to be safe, make it a habit to address any problem you see with seriousness. Don’t ignore any issue regardless of how minor it appears. When you notice a problem, get in touch with a refrigerator repair Alexandria professional to look into the problem and fix it.

How To Fix An Ice Maker Not Making Ice

Virginia Refrigerators Repair

You have heard that making ice takes time, so you take your sweet time. You check your ice maker after a few minutes, and there is nothing. You come back after a few hours and still, nothing.

What could be wrong? You wonder.

A properly functioning ice maker should produce ice, so if yours isn’t, you have a problem you should address as soon as possible. To help you out, here are tips given by refrigerator ice maker repair experts on how to fix ice maker not making ice:

Check the water connections.

The failure of the appliance to make ice is most likely due to poor water connections. Since the connections vary depending on the refrigerator models, it’s hard to pinpoint where the connections are located, so check the instructions in your appliance’s user manual.

If you don’t have the hard copy manual, you can always download it online. Before you touch the connections, first confirm they are correctly in place and unobstructed.

Since you are inexperienced, avoid tinkering with connections in hard to reach areas as you can easily damage your appliance.

Check the power connections.

Sometimes you might get your pants in a bunch for nothing. You might think your appliance is faulty, but in a real sense, it’s simply switched off. Check the power connection to the ice maker. Is it switched off? If it is, switch it on.

Check the water supply line.

If you can see the arm swing into motion accompanied by a buzz, and yet the appliance isn’t making ice, it means the water valve is asking for water that isn’t arriving.

This often happens when the valve and the solenoid function properly, but the water supply isn’t.

Check your appliance’s water supply that will most likely be located behind or beneath the refrigerator. Find the shut-off valve behind the fridge or under the sink, turn it off, unscrew the copper line from the back of the fridge, put the copper line in a bucket, turn on the valve and see whether water pours out.

Confirm whether the filter has clogged up

Like a furnace and other appliances in your home, the ice maker will fail to make ice if the filters are clogged up. A dirty filter reduces the amount of water getting into the ice machine, reducing the ice maker’s chances of making ice.

If you find out the filter is clogged, clean it following the owner’s manual instructions.

Check the tap valve

The tap valve is a small device that connects the ice maker’s water supply tube to the water pipe. In some cases, the valve develops problems, so water fails to get to the ice maker.

If you do the inspection and find the valve malfunctioning, replace it together with the inlet valve. When undertaking the replacement, go for a valve that requires you to drill a ¼ inch hole instead of the self-piercing type.

You can purchase the connection kit and work yourself or hire a repair professional to do the work for you.

Take a look at the solenoid.

The solenoid attaches to the water line at the back and bottom of the fridge then travels to the ice maker. Sometimes the solenoid gets defective or fails to receive power resulting in plenty of problems.

Inspect the solenoid, unplug the refrigerator, and then remove the sediment screen inside and flush it with water. While at it, take a look at the seals and confirm they are in perfect working condition.  If not in good shape, replace them.

Look out for a frozen line.

It’s common to have a frozen water line, especially if you live in icy areas. To fix the frozen line, unplug the fridge, then locate the shut-off valve, often located under the sink or behind the fridge.

You should then turn the valve to the closed or off position then fill the turkey baster with warm water. You can also defrost the line with a hairdryer or by letting the fridge sit unplugged for at least two hours.

If you do this and still the ice maker doesn’t make ice, ask an experienced commercial appliance repair Northern VA professional to inspect the appliance. It might be having a more serious problem.