How to Repair a Refrigerator Icemaker

You can fix your refrigerator icemaker yourself.

A few small, but frustrating problems can crop up with your refrigerator icemaker. Your refrigerator icemaker could leak, stop making ice cubes, or make smaller ice cubes than usual. Fortunately, you should be able to fix your icemaker yourself, instead of paying for am expensive and time-consuming service visit from a professional. Leaks can be repaired by replacing the water filter or the plastic tube that brings water into the refrigerator from the main line or buy replacing a valve. Replacing the filter can also help if your icemaker makes small ice cubes.

Things You'll Need

• Replacement water filter
• Replacement water tube
• Screwdriver
• Replacement valve
• Digital camera

Instructions

Leaks

1. Unplug the refrigerator and pull it out from the wall. Turn off the water supply. Disconnect the water line hooked into the refrigerator by pulling it off the connection.

2. Remove the water filter (near the bottom of the refrigerator) and insert a replacement water filter. If the hose looks damaged or worn, disconnect both ends and attach a replacement tube to the water line and refrigerator. Reconnect (or replace) the hose and turn on the water supply. Plug in the refrigerator and move it back against the wall. If the icemaker still leaks, you will have to replace a valve.

3. Unplug the refrigerator and turn off the water supply. Locate the valve outside the refrigerator door or in it. The vale has a plastic cover and is held in place by screws. Unscrew the plastic cover and take a digital photo of the value to record how the valve is attached, so that you will be able to install the replacement correctly.

4. Disconnect the valve from the refrigerator and the water line. Install the replacement according to the digital photo. Plug in the refrigerator and turn the water supply back on.

No Ice or Too Small Ice

1. Locate the L-shaped wire in your icemaker and pull it free and down. This wire acts as a switch for the water supply. It keeps the icemaker from overfilling the ice cube trays. If this wire gets stuck in the off position, your icemaker will not fill with water. The wire should be hanging down into the tray.

2. Make some ice with your ice maker and inspect the frozen ice cubes to see if they are as big as the ice cube tray allows. If your ice cubes are smaller than they should be, you should replace the water filter. The old, clogged filter slows the flow of water into the icemaker, preventing the trays from filling completely.

3. Unplug the refrigerator and pull it out from the wall. Turn off the water supply. Disconnect the water line hooked into the refrigerator by pulling it off the connection. Remove the water filter (near the bottom of the refrigerator) and insert a replacement water filter. Reconnect the hose and turn on the water supply. Plug in the refrigerator and push it back into place.

Tips & Warnings

• Take your refrigerator model and serial number to the hardware store to ensure that you get the correct replacement parts. In the case of the valve, you should take the valve to the hardware store as well.

• If the ice does not freeze completely, the icemaker needs to be tipped back. Raise the front legs of the refrigerator following the manufacturer's directions.

References

• "How to Fix Everything for Dummies;" Gary and Peg Hedstrom and Judy Ondrla Tremore; 2005