The process of making ice begins as water fills the ice molds, gradually freezing into shape. After freezing, a heating element softens the edges of the cubes before a motor gently moves them to the storage bin. The process repeats itself if the shut-off arm is not touching ice, indicating a need for a refill. Note that the exact process may vary by model.
Ice makers will generally create a new batch of ice every 3 hours. The cycle will continue to repeat until the bin is full and the shut-off arm is lifted by ice reaching the top of the bin. When the shut-off arm is not lifted by any ice in the bin, the ice-making cycle repeats itself.
Refrigerator ice makers have your back when it comes to keeping refreshing ice on hand. Several parts work together to make sure you never have to settle for room temperature drinks. A few parts of a refrigerator icemaker include a water valve, motor, thermistor, ice mold, collection bin, heating coil and a shut-off arm.
To get your refrigerator ready to make ice, make sure it is connected to a water supply during installation. When it’s up and running, place the ice bin below the ice maker and push it back as far as it will go. Then check that the control arm is set to “on”, usually in a lowered position. After the ice bin is filled, scoop the ice or use the front dispenser, depending on your fridge model. Consult your owner’s manual for more details.
In order for your ice maker to work, it should be connected to a working water line. If you do not have a water line connected to your refrigerator, you will need to have one installed.
If your ice maker is not working properly, it could be a simple issue, such as the ice maker may be paused or turned off, the dispenser may be blocked or the temperature may be set too low. You can troubleshoot your ice maker to try to narrow down and correct the problem yourself.