Refrigerator Repair
Warm sections, frost walls, leaks and noisy fans on top-freezer, side-by-side and built-in units.
More on Refrigerator Repair →Ice makers
Ice maker and ice machine repair
A refrigerator ice maker wants 40 to 120 psi at its water supply, while a standalone undercounter ice machine wants 20 to 80. Get the water side wrong and the cubes come out small, hollow or not at all.
The repair visit
How an ice maker call works
1
Describe it
Refrigerator or standalone unit, brand and model, and whether the door dispenser still gives water. That one answer narrows the cause a lot.
2
Check
Freezer temperature, the bin sensor, the filter and the supply pressure first, then the water valve and the ice maker itself. Written estimate before work.
3
Repair
A frozen fill tube means the ice maker has to come out to confirm it. Valves and modules not on hand may ship to Honolulu from the mainland.
4
Wait for ice
A new or repaired ice maker can need 24 to 48 hours before it fills, so the first full bin comes later than the visit.
Output by design
How much ice should a working maker make?
It depends on the design, from a tray every 45 to 65 minutes to a batch about every three hours, as these maker figures show.
| Ice maker | One batch every | Per day | Bin holds | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung, fresh-food side | 45 to 65 minutes | Not stated | 2 pounds | Ice piled under the maker stops it |
| Samsung, in the freezer | 85 minutes | Not stated | 2 pounds | Freezer must reach 0 F or colder |
| Frigidaire French door | Not stated | 3.2 to 3.7 lb | About 4 lb | Use ice twice a week so cubes stay apart |
| Frigidaire top-freezer | About 10 cubes per 100 to 160 minutes | 1.5 to 2 lb | Not stated | Often an add-on kit |
| Whirlpool upright freezer, new | About three hours | Not stated | Not stated | Can take 72 hours to reach full output |
Island water
Why do Honolulu ice makers act up?
Honolulu ice makers usually act up because of the water, not the cold. Oahu's public water has historically tested soft to moderately hard, yet the volcanic aquifers carry silica, and an in-line filter only partly helps, because it catches particles while dissolved minerals need treatment. A filter that is overdue or clogged slows the timed fill, and a slow fill makes small cubes. Leaks matter more here as well. In a humid home, water under a fridge should be dried within 24 to 48 hours before mold starts, and in a stacked condo it can reach the unit below. If the supply has to be shut off for any reason, switch the ice maker off too.
Fridge and freezer units
Undercounter machines
Water valves and lines
Filters checked
Two complaints
No ice versus a leaking ice maker
| What to look at | Not making ice | Leaking |
|---|---|---|
| First check | Ice maker switched on, freezer at 0 F or colder | Ice maker off, supply valve closed |
| Water side | Clogged filter, kinked line, low pressure; on reverse-osmosis water Whirlpool wants 40 to 60 psi at the valve | Loose fittings, a cracked filter or missing O-rings |
| Mechanical side | Feeler arm raised, rake jammed with ice | Cabinet out of level, defrost drain overflowing |
| Technician part | Frozen fill tube, restricted water valve, dead module | Leaking water valve on the refrigerator |
| Full guide | Ice maker not making ice | Covered in the FAQ below |
What do these ice maker symptoms mean?
Each symptom below points to a specific part of the ice maker cycle: the fill, the freeze, the harvest or the bin sensor. Matching the symptom to the stage saves a lot of guessing.
Small or hollow cubes
Low pressure or a slow filter shortens the timed fill. GE says a starved maker drops to 3 to 5 cubes a harvest instead of 7 or 8.
Buzz every few minutes
The ice maker is calling for water that is shut off. Turn it off until the supply is back.
Drips at the chute
On some door-mounted makers, a gap at the bucket gasket lets warm air melt ice, which then drips out.
Ice stuck in the rake
Jammed cubes stop the harvest. The mold can be hot when you check, so take care.
Door water, no ice
A frozen fill tube, which leaves the dispenser working. Confirming it means removing the ice maker.
Fresh food too cold
An ice maker left on with no water hookup can make the fresh-food section run cold.
How we work
An ice maker visit that checks the water first
In a Honolulu kitchen, the ice maker is the last link in a chain: house supply, line, filter, inlet valve, fill tube, mold. A repair that swaps the module without testing the chain often fails again. So the water side gets checked first, then the cold, then the part. The ice maker usually lives in a refrigerator, so our refrigerator repair page covers the cabinet around it, and built-in owners can read about Sub-Zero ice makers or Samsung refrigerators.
- Supply and filter tested
- Fridge and undercounter units
- Written estimate before work
- Leaks traced to the source
- Saddle valves inspected
- Honest wait for first ice
What we fix
Appliance repair in Honolulu
The six machines island kitchens and laundry rooms lean on hardest, each with its own page on causes, parts and cost.
Washer Repair
Top-load and front-load washers that will not drain, spin, fill or stop walking across the floor.
More on Washer Repair →
Dryer Repair
Gas and electric dryers that tumble cold, squeal, stop mid-cycle or never start at all.
More on Dryer Repair →
Dishwasher Repair
Standing water, cloudy glasses, leaks at the door and racks that come out wet.
More on Dishwasher Repair →
Oven and Stove Repair
Ovens that run cold or hot, igniters that click without lighting, and dead surface burners.
More on Oven and Stove Repair →Ice Maker Repair
Built-in and freezer ice makers that stop filling, freeze up, leak or make hollow cubes.
More on Ice Maker Repair →Ice maker repair by brand
01
Ice and water
It keeps calling for water that is not coming, so turn the ice maker off until the supply is back on.
Yes. A clogged or poorly seated filter slows the timed fill. Take the filter out and dispense water; if the flow improves, replace the filter. Samsung's quick test: a healthy line fills 6 ounces in under 10 seconds.
Yes, residential undercounter machines as well as refrigerator and freezer ice makers.
On some door-mounted ice makers, warm fresh-food air gets past the bucket gasket and melts the ice, and the melt drips out of the chute. Leveling the cabinet often closes the gap; if it does not, the gasket or bucket alignment needs a look.
No. A new or repaired unit can need 24 to 48 hours before it fills, and the bin takes longer again. Air in a fresh line can cost two or three empty cycles, and the first cubes may look or taste odd, so toss them. Keep the freezer door shut as much as you can while it settles.
02
Leaks and visits
Turn the ice maker off, then close the supply valve, usually under the sink, clockwise until it stops. Dry the floor quickly, since water left sitting in a humid home starts mold.
It senses a full bin. When the arm is raised or the paddle is stuck, production pauses, so check that nothing in the freezer is holding it up and that the bucket holds only ice. A scoop left in the bucket can read as full on some models.
It can. One maker warns that counterfeit refrigerator water filters can leak, and a cracked filter or missing O-rings will drip at the filter head.
Yes, along with Honolulu and the rest of Oahu; mention your neighborhood when you book.
A loud bang as the valve closes is water hammer from high house water pressure, while a softer thumping in the line during fill is normal.