Frigidaire Ice Maker Not Working? 7 Ways to Fix It

Whether your Frigidaire ice maker is producing less ice than it should or no ice at all, this article will help you fix the issue so you can start enjoying chilled beverages once more. There are several potential causes of this problem, and we will run through each one, providing step-by-step instructions for resolving them.

Thankfully, troubleshooting this issue isn’t usually too complicated. You’ll probably be able to fix it yourself without having to call an appliance repair technician right away. 

Here’s what to do if your Frigidaire ice maker is not working:

1. Ensure the water line is connected and not kinked

The first step is to make sure that your Frigidaire refrigerator is connected to the water supply line. You can usually find it at the back of the appliance. It should run from the water supply valve to the refrigerator, and be connected to both.

If it is connected at both ends, check that the water valve is fully open, and that there are no kinks in the water line that could impede water flow.

2. Check the water filter

The next step is to ensure that the water filter isn’t clogged or due for replacement. You should replace the water filter on a Frigidaire refrigerator at least once every six months or for every 200 gallons of water filtered through it. 

When the filter is older or clogged, water flow can be restricted, meaning the ice maker won’t get enough water to perform optimally. As a result, it will produce smaller, hollow ice cubes, less ice than usual, or no ice at all.

To change the filter:

1. Find the filter; it’s usually in the top right or bottom front of the interior.
2. Remove the old filter by twisting or pushing and pulling it out.
3. Insert the new filter.
4. Run the water on your fridge for around three minutes to flush impurities or air out of the filter so it’s ready for use. 

3. Is the ice maker switched on?

Some Frigidaire refrigerator models have an arm, switch, or button that turns the ice maker on and off. If your fridge’s ice maker has one, check that it’s in the “on” position rather than “off.” Sometimes, you can accidentally knock the arm or button out of place when you move food items around, turning off the ice maker without realizing it. 

4. Does the ice freeze into clumps?

Sometimes, the issue isn’t that your ice maker can’t produce ice, it’s that all the ice has clumped together into a big block, which the ice maker is then unable to dispense. This can happen when you experience a prolonged power outage, as the ice cubes partially melt and then re-freeze when power is restored, fusing them together. Clumping can also occur if you don’t use the ice maker frequently, which means at least twice per week.

If you see ice in the ice maker tray or bin, check whether it has clumped together. If so, discard the clumps and allow the machine to make a new batch; hopefully, this will resolve the issue. 

5. Try defrosting your ice maker

Ice buildup and blockages caused by freezing somewhere in your ice maker—be it the ice maker mold, ice chute, water fill tube, or dispenser mechanism—can prevent it from producing ice properly.

Therefore, defrosting your entire ice maker assembly will remove any ice buildup, allowing it to function optimally again if this is the cause of the problem. There are a few ways you can defrost your ice maker:

• Forced defrost: Some models have a forced defrost feature that you can run which heats your freezer for about 30 minutes. Refer to your user manual for instructions on turning on this setting.
• Unplug the appliance: Simply unplugging the appliance and leaving it to defrost for a few hours may resolve your ice maker issues. However, you will need to transfer food items out and store them elsewhere temporarily to prevent them from spoiling.
• Use a steamer or hairdryer: You can use a steamer or a hair dryer on a mild setting to defrost different areas of the ice maker that may be frozen over, such as the dispenser mechanism or water fill tube.

6. Check the freezer temperature

If your freezer is not at the correct temperature, it can also prevent your ice maker from working. Freezers should ideally be around 0° F to function optimally, but if yours is, say, 10° F, this is enough of a change to inhibit the ice maker. You can put an appliance thermometer inside your freezer to check its temperature.

If your freezer is too warm, there can be various potential causes, including:

• It’s set to the wrong temperature setting.
• The door seal is faulty, which lets in warm air.
• The door is opened too frequently, letting in warm, moist air.
• The condenser coil is dirty, so it cannot dissipate heat efficiently.
• The freezer air vents are blocked, restricting airflow.
• One of the refrigerator fans is not working.
• The evaporator coil is frozen over.

7. The ice maker is defective

Unfortunately, sometimes the ice maker can become defective and will need to be replaced, especially if you’ve had your Frigidaire refrigerator for many years. Several key components within the ice maker can fail that are not easily fixable, since sourcing these individual parts may not be possible. 

Therefore, if you’ve ruled out most of the other possible causes on this list, it may be time to replace the entire ice maker itself. Depending on your level of DIY experience, you may opt to call in a service professional to remove your old ice maker and install the new one.

However, many people choose to do it themselves. Here are the steps involved:

1. Unplug the appliance for safety and turn off the water supply.
2. Remove the old ice maker by unscrewing the screws holding it in place and disconnecting the wiring.
3. Install the new ice maker. Read all the installation instructions carefully, secure it into place with screws, and connect the wiring.