Ice maker FROZEN over - how to FIX your freezer machine
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 พ.ย. 2017
- The ice maker inside my freezer froze over. It's totally covered in ice. This is an easy fix, simple to repair.
So, why did it happen in the first place? And how to stop it from happening again? I'm pretty sure for me the cause was someone (ahem wife ahem) opening the freezer door and scooping ice directly out of the ice bin into a cup. Which really isn't a problem, except sometimes a few stray ice cubes are "pushed" toward the back of the freezer, up over the back lip of the ice bin and onto the ice making machinery itself where it gradually adheres to the "machinery," growing a thicker and thicker layer until it has to be totally cleaned with the method I show. Ever since, I've been vigilant to remove those stray back ice pieces, and it's worked wonders. No more freezing over, and it's been years now.
TL;DR -- Keep the "machinery" at the back of the freezer (behind the ice bin) free of stray or escaped ice cubes to prevent this from needing to be thawed. - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Thanks man! I never had to do this before and I was able to fix mine in about 20 minutes! Sure appreciate you helping out the rest of us! YOU RULE!
The little inlet tube in ours was frozen. Worked like a charm and water's flowing again. Thanks!
Really appreciate the DIY to defrost my ice maker. Worked and took me 20 minutes. Love the content and saved me $$$$ to hire a appliance repair man.
Thank you. This helped. Made me feel better and I was able to do it in about 15-20mins after cleaning out the freezer. The ice is out and just waiting to turn it back on. It’s not dripping anymore so hooray! I will turn it back on in a bit to start the ice machine process.
Hey brother I cannot thank you enough my ice machine has been frozen for months I watched your video took me about an hour she’s up and running can’t thank you enough🎉
A really helpful video. Short clear and to the point. Very helpful.
Thank you. Mine is less than a year old and has frozen twice. This was my first Whirlpool appliance and I think my last. Thank you for the video.
Awesome quick fix. Working again.
Thank you much. Very easy to follow. I’ve never experienced this before and my fridge is 13 years old. I thought it might be a goner but with your help this single mom was able to fix it!
Thank You! It was an easy fix . Appreciate the information to help all of us!! You are great!
This is the same I’ve maker I have and I’m having a similar issue. Thank you for the shirt straightforward video tutorial. Excellent advice and I’m up and running again.
Exactly what problem I have, exactly what video I need! Thx
Thanks for this! Completely solved our problem right before we ordered a replacement valve.
Actually the bad valve can give that problem , and if the tube is not adjusted correctly. So keep the valve
After seeing you take the maker out of the freezer, I had an epiphany! That tip aline saved me so much time and hassle! Thanks!!
Just tried this every thing came out just like your video. Hopefully it works afterwards. Thanks for the video!
I just did this and also replaced my ice auger motor! I must have saved around $250! thank you so much for this super helpful video!
Thanks for the video. I had an unexplainable leak on my freezer side and I was convinced it had to do with ice maker. Sure enough that thing was frozen solid. Just thawed it all and got rid of the ice, now waiting for it all to dry. Fingers crossed. You're doing the lords work, my man.
dit it worked?
Thank you so much I fixed my ice maker during my lunch hour with my hair dryer and now it works perfectly. As a woman I didnt take it all apart out of fear of not being able to get it all back together. This was a great video. Thank you.
Awesome, Thank you for this video, my ice maker was the same as yours and luckily I found this video before mine got as bad as yours I fixed it in less than 5 minutes!! Thank you!!
Yes the video was helpful, however I am looking for "why this happened" ??? My incoming 'fill tube' keeps freezing up !!
I was going nuts trying to figure out why but this worked thank you my fridge is brand new and I didnt know they did this
Thank you so much! Just what I needed to know. We appreciate you and your instruction.
You defrosted it but never addressed the issue. Why it over filled and froze.
Dude! Awesome video! Right to the point!! thank you!!
I cant even get my ice bin out its frozen as well, I will give this a try tonight. Thanks for the video.
Many thanks, good idea
Outstanding!😊
Very helpful. Thank you.
So awesome I have the same exact problem and now I know what to do thank you.
Thanx totally worked !
The most likely cause was the drip he mentioned that was no biggie. Once the tube was thawed and the ice removed there should be no drip. In all likely hood the problem is the fill valve is not shuting off completely (like a dripping faucet) allowing ice to form and build up in the tube. If the ice maker is actively making ice the warm water is usually enough to melt a few drops of ice build up. But once the ice bin fills with cubes and the ice maker pauses itself, the ice buildup in the tube can grow larger than what the fill water can melt the next time the ice makers cycles. Once the ice in the tube becomes to restrictive the fill water sprays out into the freezer rather that gently flowing into the ice mold.
I replaced the water valve when I dealt with this issue but it did not solve the problem. What are your thoughts on what else could it be?
The person in the video definitely did not resolve the cause of this problem, only the symptom.
Dima T Yes I agree. Do you know what would cause this to keep happening?
@dimat3164 As others have mentioned, the fill cup needs to be level/pointed towards the ice maker. I've ziptied them in the past make sure the fill tube is flush with the cheap plastic cup.
Thank you! best explanation I've seen...
Great video, but how do I defrost the actual water line? My ice maker makes really thin ice and I check the hose and it's freezes fairly quick. Thanks.
Great job
Thanks
thanks dude. This just got me out of a jam.
Thank you it’s helpful
Thanks. It worked
Thank you
How do you unfreeze the ice maker when the bucket is in the left door and the maker itself is inaccessible above the "roof" of the fridge compartment? I can lift up a small flap and see plastic teeth looking things but I can't see more than about an inch past that - no signs of ice or obstruction, but I suspect there is ice way back in there somewhere because a similar problem occurred into the main fridge compartment.
Absolutely could fix the problem. Proper machine should have a defrost mode to do this as well. Sometimes its just holding down two buttons.
Our ice maker has been turned off for about 6 months and now that we turned it back on, the water isn't coming out (the rotating mechanism is working and everything is clean). Do you think I should try to take a hair dryer to the water tube in case there is ice frozen in there?
Was racking my brain how i can get this giant ice chuck dislodged... hair dryer...of course...lol Wish I thought of it before watching but as soon as I saw the hair dryer the memories came back. Anyway, thanks for making the video.
You also need to ensure the fill cup is level or tipped toward the tray opening otherwise the fill cup will ice up.
Good video but why that line is getting frozen?
Great video 👍
@@fish0741 Actually, you are a COMPLETE idiot! I took the time to watch this video, and made a positive comment to the "poster"! It actually is a good way to thaw the device to remove for further diagnosis. However, it did not repair my device, and I should have followed up on my fix... Mine was in the timer mech. One of the gears were stripped which caused the ice-over in the ice-maker. 50¢ part, and haven't had a problem since I commented "great video".
The solenoid valve you are referring to, is the water supply, usually at the bottom of the fridge where the water connection is! Which could also be a problem!?
Bottom line! Don't hate on someone's post, because the vid did not "fix" your "particular" issue/problem, and you don't have any common/technical sense to fix things yourself!
Yes, YOU should call a professional, and get professionally screwed out of your money! Or maybe, you try to do this for a living, and are hard pressed to screw someone over?🤷🏼♂️
@@johncoffey8645 I'm a Service Tech with over 30 yrs. Exp. Sorry i was just stating facts to help people avoid the problem from happening again. The valve is the single most common problem for that type of issue, 98% valve 2% Ice maker. You must live in a State where getting ripped off is common. Been in Bus. for over 30 yrs. You don't stay in Bus. that long if your ripping people off. Good Luck
@@fish0741 generally speaking, most businesses are corrupt. That's the reason I opened my own automotive shop. Can't stand to see anyone ripped off. After 25trs, I've became a mechanic across the board. Not just automobiles.
We've done that no less than 936 times and it is a temporary fix AT BEST. Once, we called a repairman who was extremely kind, and offered great advice: IT'S DUST BACKED UP IN THE FREEZER / WATER TUBING.
@@skyflyr1015 probably has a lot of pets. That's what I'm thinking is going on with mine. Dust clogged up my ac and hot water heater this summer, not crazy to think it may get into the freezer somehow with hair and dander in the air 24/7
So, cleaning the tubing will solve it?
Yea, doesnt solve issue.. ive replaced the line itself and the solenoid/ valve completely and still happens.. besides dust in the tube?? That shoots water through it? Moss doesnt grow on a rolling rock.. now shit will build up in the pipes but like i said ive changed out everything and it still freezes up. I think that theres water thats sitting in the tube where it should be draining back some how but no idea how to achieve this without putting a relief hole in the system which is impracticable as it would leak out water when the machine trys to fill the maker.. but it needs some sort of syphon to pull the water back those 8 or 9 inches the water is in the fill pipe inside the fridge..
dude. you rule.
Thanks, I have the same Ice maker and have the same problem, but do not have the same amount of ice frozen by ice maker. Just the dispenser where water keeps comes out. Have melted the ice in that little tray 3 times. Ice maker works for about a day before freezing up again. Have changed the filter but that did not solve problem, Question would be is the water control value not suppling enough water to keep ice maker from freezing or not stopping the water from seeping thru and then starts to freeze the trickle?
I have defrosted it several times and took out the control unit. Keeps freezing over. Any thoughts?
Is that only a temporal fix ?
Very nice video. Helpful even though my icemaker is a little different. Did you turn off your refrigerator?
No, actually. I didn't! I probably should have...? But no, it seemed to work just fine.
Is the Temperature at rong setting make it do that or why is it building up .
Well done video.. we will try this method. How often do you find yourself in this predicament? I sure hope we don’t have to do this every 3 months.
Not often. It's only happened to me once--been repaired for about a year now and still working.
Heat guns are available on amazon and harbor freight that have attachments to direct heat better than a hair dryer, but they work in a pinch. We use our heat gun to crisp pepperoni or brown/melt cheese. You dont want a hair dryer used on food for obvious reasons.
A heat gun blows very hot air. If you aren't extremely careful not to point it at the same piece of plastic too long, the plastic can get too hot, causing it to warp. Ask me how I know.
what if you melt all the ice and it happens again; over and over again. what is causing it to re-freeze if the freezer is on the warmest settling possible?
I wondered that too. We have the same problem.
This was so easy! But I'm having a hard time reconnecting the power!! I can't get it in!
? My frig is old so idk of there is an on off switch. My ice maker stopped making ice but I still hear the water sounds every few minutes, as in filling the ice maker . now I have a leak but not onto my floor in kitchen but thru wall into my garage. Ugh. Help. How do I stop the water from "filling" ice maker that is not working? Can I just stop or shut off the water source at least for now?
Yes... find the water shut off. May be in your basement, through a wall, somewhere -- there should be a way to shut off the tiny pipe (usually clear plastic, about 1/4" diameter) that feeds the fridge. This will stop the water feeding into your fridge. If you can't find it, it's definitely worth calling a plumber. Don't let water keep leaking--it'll ruin stuff quick.
Ice makers haven't changed much, so if there is no on/off switch (like my 12 yr Frigidaire Gallery has), there's always a wire arm that if flipped up, turns the ice maker off. Down position is on.
Hope you found your water supply valve. For future people, just follow the the water tube that attaches usually at the back and bottom of your fridge. If the fridge is near your sink, it likely feeds through the back of some cupboards and is sourced under your sink. Some fridges have the little tap and the feed right at the back of your fridge coming from the floor. If you see your tube feeding into the floor and can't find the tap in those two most likely places, then you need to check the roof of your basement and find where it feeds into the ceiling, and the tap would be there.
my ice maker makes ice, its that the dispenser in the door gets clogged with frozen ice - the ice bin gets stuck with ice and the shoot also gets stuck with ice. why? what changed? how can I cure this problem
Good Commonsense Instructions - Thank-you!
So you thawed the ice, but what did you do to "FIX" the problem. What was the root cause of it freezing up? I'm having the same problem an thawing it only gets it working again for one cycle...then frozen over again. I didn't want to mess with fixing it so I replaced the entire unit and still have the same problem.
Maybe the heating unit in the mold isn't getting the signal to warm up? Does that come from the ice maker itself or the refrig? Hmm....
Hmm... In my case I believe I tracked the problem to fully formed ice cubes stacking up at the back of the freezer -- above and to the rear of the ice 'bin'. How did they get there? Well, I'm pretty sure it was caused by a certain user (*ahem* my wife *ahem*) circumnavigating the ice dispenser on the front of the freezer and instead opening the freezer door and scooping up ice directly out of the bin. This scooping saves time (the dispenser takes 15 seconds to 'fill' a cup?) but has the effect of pushing ice backwards toward the rear of the freezer and out the top of the bin. First it was one or two pieces of ice, then three and four and they start to melt and congeal over time and clog the ice maker just above them. That's what happened to me -- I talked to my wife and it hasn't been a problem since.
Where does that leave you? Well, I'm not sure I guess... it might be that water is 'dripping' where it shouldn't be and contributing to an ice build up. Or maybe your ice isn't being ejected properly into the tray. Or your automatic 'shut off' mechanism isn't working, so it keeps making ice when it should be resting. Next time you that it out and have it all clean, I'd check in on the machine at regular intervals (once a day?) to see what's happening. The very first instance of something odd is probably snowballing into a total freeze-over, so it's all about tracking that first instance.
Good luck!
The signal to heat the formed ice in the mold and eject it should come from the program built into the icemaker itself. The fridge just supplies power and a cold house for the unit. Beyond that, I don't know. Is it possible you're overdue to change your filter or running your fridge w/out one. I don't ice up like this so far, but my ice forms then won't eject on its own. Other videos that show to eject w/ a blow dryer (which works quickly so the unit ejects the ice) say that a filter change usually has it working well again.
Same here on my stupid GE side by side, did you ever fix it, defrosting is fine, but why is it happening in the first place.
What happened if you did that and it does it again then what do you do keep repeating the process ?
i had the same question for the same issue. following
man im not finna do all this is there another way ?
You didn’t specify the problem of WHY IS IT FREEZING OVER. WHAT IS THE CAUSE.? Mine is doing this on my 2 year old W.Pool fridge. I just got done replacing g the defrost ( evaporator) thermostat and was wondering if something is related.
Did this solve the problem?
Advice:To avoid expensive damage, best keep any screw driver or sharp instrument well away from any de icing attempt.
warm air is getting into ice room which is causing the freeze up - the water line is going thru the back wall and it is not sealed tightly. - when melting ice - just unplug unit for 24/48 hours with doors wide open - it will melt the ice - ice maker and water valve communicate when to fill ice maker - so if this is ongoing issue then change the main board.
But how do you FIX the problem
defrosting the ice maker is simple but it dows not address the root cause. Why is if freeezing over? I defrosted mine and it made ice for 24 hours and then froz over again. why
/ solution? thanks, Jim
I wish icemakers had a defrost system
You only thawed it out, no reason for the freeze up in the first place! Why does it freeze up?
Hmm... In my case I believe I tracked the problem to fully formed ice cubes stacking up at the back of the freezer -- above and to the rear of the ice 'bin'. How did they get there? Well, I'm pretty sure it was caused by a certain user (*ahem* my wife *ahem*) circumnavigating the ice dispenser on the front of the freezer and instead opening the freezer door and scooping up ice directly out of the bin. This scooping saves time (the dispenser takes 15 seconds to 'fill' a cup?) but has the effect of pushing ice backwards toward the rear of the freezer and out the top of the bin. First it was one or two pieces of ice, then three and four and they start to melt and congeal over time and clog the ice maker just above them. That's what happened to me -- I talked to my wife and it hasn't been a problem since.
Where does that leave you? Well, I'm not sure I guess... it might be that water is 'dripping' where it shouldn't be and contributing to an ice build up. Or maybe your ice isn't being ejected properly into the tray. Or your automatic 'shut off' mechanism isn't working, so it keeps making ice when it should be resting. Next time you that it out and have it all clean, I'd check in on the machine at regular intervals (once a day?) to see what's happening. The very first instance of something odd is probably snowballing into a total freeze-over, so it's all about tracking that first instance.
Good luck!
@@fix-itworks4179 why would ice cubes collecting in the back have anything to do with a the water tube freezing?
@@ohmusicsweetmusic I had that problem, yet not all freezers would. The ice, caught on the shelf below the fill tube may make the water freeze a little when filling...too much and it will freeze over.
Because warm air is getting in through the back of the ice fill tube, the crimp clamp is commonly not clamped on tight enough; also another culprit, the water inlet valve- can malfunction and call for water when it's not supposed to aka weeping inlet valve. To try to narrow down the possible causes you could temporarily disable the water supply at the wall/ turn the ice maker off for at least a week or two and plug the fill chute with putty (temp not permanent putty) to see if it comes back.
@@ydnar71 I'm confused, why would warm air cause the water tube or outlet spout leading down to the ice maker freeze? I appreciate your help. I'm getting close to solving this!
I’m bald, but do have my own hairdryer. I use it for my pits my bush. And icemaker.
But WHY does it do this? This tells you how to get it running again, but when it freezes up again, how do you fix the issue?
Right?
Reply
I think I mentioned this in another comment, but I'm pretty sure for me the cause was someone (ahem -wife- ahem) opening the freezer door and scooping ice directly out of the ice bin into a cup. No problem, except multiply by 100 refills of scooping and it tends to push a few stray ice cubes toward the back of the freezer, up over the lip of the ice "bin" and onto the ice making machinery itself, where it gradually adheres to the "machinery," growing a thicker and thicker layer until it has to be totally cleaned with the method I show. Ever since, I've been vigilant to remove those stray back ice pieces, and it's worked wonders. No more freezing over, and it's been years now. TL;DR: Keep the "machinery" at the back of the freezer (behind the ice bin) free of stray or escaped ice cubes.
@@fix-itworks4179 Do you know of any other reasons why the water freezes up right at the outlet where the water would run down into the ice maker? The reason you gave for why it freezes up in the first place is not the problem I have. There's a different reason why mine is freezing up. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
My problem is the inlet tube keeps leaking so it just overflows amd freezes..
Water inlet valve need to be replaced since it is leaking water.
That's exactly my problem. The ice is fine but the water is leaking onto the ice making it become solid.
the line coming in froze and cracked on mine
How much do you pay
My Drawer is frozen into the machine. I can't remove the drawer.
Great video BUT why DOES ICEMAKER KEEP FREEZING UP...i have a LG french door that has two icemakers...first the lower one started leaking and made no ice...repair guy came and said he fixed it...now three weeks later the top icemaker is doing the same thing and now neither icemaker makes ice and both are frozen...i have freezer set to as hot as it can go..
Design flaw from what I've read. You'd need to modify it so that it doesn't happen again but it is the manufacturer's job.
zx xss a. b'@ c zdx 3AM c4'' ' '
The ice maker is not fixed, it will simply freeze again.
Thank you but you should mention be very careful not to burn yourself on the burner under the ice maker! I burnt the hell out of my hand, who knew there’s a burner there? Ouch!!!
noice video
"Sweet long hair"..Yeaahhss!!!
Hot water in my waterpik dissolves the ice within seconds. Works immediately.
Great for temporary fix but not a permanent solution and not a root cause fix.
Where is my defrost button on a kenmore side by side reriferator
Great video, BUT you never addressed the root cause of this freezing up issue.
Video should be titled how to defrost your freezer or how to melt ice.. this does not fix the issue at hand with the thing freezing up.. ive melted and removed the ice dozens of times but guess what, it happens again every other ice batch.. so its not fixing the issue.. an ice maker should not freeze up solid making it not produce more ice.. mine worked fine for 10+ years then suddenly started freezinh up every time id turn it on. No settings were changed but just started freezing up and no clue why. Theres nothing between the water connection to the solenoid to the freezer, just a tube connecting the supply line to the freezer ice maker. Yet its freezing up right there in the tube where it enters the freezer from behind and stopping up the tube.. like the water in the tube should drain back out once it finishes filling so it doesnt sit in the tube and freeze.. theres my 2 cents..
I'd rather call a helper.
you will happen again.i hink your ice maker water valve is leaking
Exactly
ANYONE can mekt the ice. WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE ICE UP. Mine has been fine for 9+ years and now freezing up. WHY and how to fix that. Because it will do it again 2 days after deicing.
mine re-froze after this
You'll need to observer the freezer in action--see if it's dripping somewhere it's not supposed to be. May be a leaking hose or something that's causing things to freeze up again. Get it thawed, back up and running, then place paper towels in sections to observe where drips are happening by letting it run for a few hours.
Mine does this whenever I turn it on after not using it for at least 24 hours.
Mine too
The main problem here, is that you didn't tell us what brand your freezer was.
This should be titled How To Clean Ice Maker. You didn't fix what caused this problem. J Bar's comment is how to fix this problem.
This is not a fix. I have an expensive Samsung refrigerator. One reason we bought it was the ice maker's capacity. When it's working, it makes a lot of ice. However, it freezes every 30 days and requires the use of hair dryer to melt the top of the ice maker so it can drop the ice cubes in the container.
There shoul;d be an adjustment on the ice maker tray to adjust output. Make sure all your gaskets and line inputs , where the water comes in, are sealed tight. It could be the auto-defrost timer , usually in the bottom of the unit.
replace your water inlet valve, but if its the kind that is in "the water inlet case assembly" in the freshfood section of the fridge, be prepared to spend like 2 hours replacing that one component. Usually they are located on the back of the fridge and easily accessible but Samsung has to be "innovative"...
YOu should have labeled your video HOW TO CLEAN YOUR ICE MAKER!!
Shut the fuck up
@@funkieee Whoa dude, you okay?? I agree, this seems like treating the symptoms, not the disease.
Didn’t fix the problem
Too complicated.
Very unprofessional way to work on fridges
He's not a professional, but it worked.
@@saintejeannedarc9460 I agree!