Why is my Samsung freezer not making ice?
If your Samsung refrigerator has a freezer with an ice maker, the chances are you’ve come to rely on it. That’s why it can be more than a mild inconvenience when your Samsung freezer stops making ice. However, there can be a few reasons your ice maker may have stopped working.
This article will take you through how to troubleshoot possible issues with your Samsung fridge freezer and its ice maker. It will also take you step by step through diagnosing the problem and deciding when it might be time to call in a professional.
Possible causes of Samsung freezer not making ice
There can be several reasons your Samsung refrigerator ice maker may have stopped making ice — anything from the ice maker being turned off to a defective motor. The following sections will explain how to go about troubleshooting each cause.
Ice maker is turned off
It may sound silly, but make sure that your ice maker didn’t accidentally get turned off somehow. Some Samsung fridges have a simple on-off button for the ice maker, which makes it especially easy for an accidental shut-off to occur.
Jammed ice bucket
Another reason for the lack of ice could be a jammed or frozen ice bucket. If you haven’t used your ice maker in a while, your ice bucket may become frozen, preventing you from removing it entirely.
If this occurs, though, the last thing you want to do is force it out. You also shouldn’t try to defrost it with something like a hair dryer.
Water pressure issues
If there’s a problem with your water pressure, it might be your water inlet valve. This supplies your fridge and ice maker with water. If the water inlet valve isn’t working or is in some way defective, the water supply can’t travel the way it’s supposed to, which can affect both the refrigerator’s water dispenser and the ice maker.
Frozen water line
Along with a defective water line, a frozen water line can stop water from moving the way it’s supposed to. If even a part of the water line is frozen, it can disrupt the ice production of your fridge.
Clogged water filter
If your ice maker has stopped making ice or makes small, misshapen, cloudy or dirty ice, it might be a clogged water filter. Debris can sometimes get in the water line, which eventually settles. The more you have in your line, the less room there is for the water to move through. If you don’t have enough water moving, your ice maker won’t be able to release ice cubes off of the evaporator plate.
Refrigerator door switch issues
A door switch tells your refrigerator when the freezer door is (or the doors on a French door refrigerator are) opened or closed. Your refrigerator is designed not to dispense ice (or water) if the door is open. A broken switch can lead the fridge to believe the door is still open and it won’t release the ice you want.
Defective auger motor
Look inside your ice maker and you may see an auger blade, which is responsible for pushing ice out through the dispenser. If there is something wrong with the motor that makes the auger move — such as being stuck or broken — ice can’t dispense from the ice tray.
How to diagnose Samsung's fridge/freezer ice maker problems
If your ice maker is having trouble, there are a few things you can check:
- Listen for any strange noises. Except for when dispensing ice, ice makers are fairly quiet. If your ice maker is noisy — making odd noises or humming — something could be wrong. If your ice maker is talking to you, it likely needs a mechanical repair.
- Check for any error codes and make sure the ice maker is turned on. Most newer models have a front panel where you can turn the ice maker on or off. Make sure that it’s on. If it still isn’t working, there are some additional places to look. Check the freezer temperature on the panel — too warm and it won’t make ice efficiently.
- Look inside the ice maker assembly. Look to see if there is ice and if it’s frozen into a solid block or if there’s something blocking the dispenser. If so, dump the ice, clean out the ice maker and give it some time to make fresh ice.
- If your fridge has an auger blade, test it. First, see if it moves freely when you move the blade by hand. If it does, check it with a tool called a multimeter, which can ensure that it’s getting power. If it doesn’t (or if it does but still won’t run), it might need to be replaced.
- Check that your fridge is level. Improper leveling can impact the way your ice dispenser makes and releases ice.
- Check the waterline. First, dispense water. If your refrigerator doesn’t have a water dispenser, you can do this directly from the waterline, but be prepared with a bucket and towels. Then, dispense the water into a measuring cup for 10 seconds. This should result in a minimum of 6 ounces in the measuring cup. If you get less than that, you have low water pressure. Finally, remove the water filter and repeat the test. This will check if the cause is a clogged water filter. If that fixes the problem, you need to replace your filter.
- If the problem isn’t the filter, you may need to increase the water pressure. You can’t do that from your fridge. Instead, open the valve more on the water line that supplies water to your fridge.
How to reset your Samsung ice maker
If nothing else has helped, you may need to reset the ice maker. To do this, use the test or reset button on your ice maker. For most Samsung refrigerators, this will necessitate removing the ice bucket to find the test button. If you have trouble, consult the user manual to find it. When you do, hold the button until you hear a chime (don’t worry, this can take up to 10 seconds).
After the chime, replace the ice bucket if you’ve removed it. The test itself will take six minutes. Ice should drop into the bucket and you should hear the water valve engage to fill the ice maker. When the test is complete, another chime will sound.
Don’t expect everything to immediately return to normal; it can take up to 24 hours for production to improve completely. During this time, it’s important to dispense ice; otherwise, ice will fill up one end of the bucket and the refrigerator will mistakenly think it’s full and stop production again.
When to seek professional help
If you still haven’t had luck getting your Samsung freezer to make ice, you might need the help of an expert. They can repair some more complex components of the ice maker to help prevent further damage to your fridge. That’s where Cinch Home Services comes in.
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Notice to the Reader
The content within this article is meant to provide potential solutions but aren’t guaranteed to fix the problem. To avoid further issues, though, please seek an expert opinion similar to one offered by a Cinch service provider.