In our experience, these things tend to happen when you really NEED ice! While different freezer brands have different parts for their specific brand, many of the common issues are the same. Since you asked, we should point out the common issues to check first!

  1. Make sure the ice maker has not been accidentally turned off.
  2. Check the arm of your ice maker to be certain it hasn’t gotten hung on a piece of falling ice. Wo
  3. Check the ice maker bin to ensure it is properly placed. Occasionally, this can prevent the ice maker from working.

If these easy fixes are ruled out, check to see if the ice maker is filling with water or not. If not, the water filter could be the culprit. If it’s clogged, you may not be getting good flow to the ice maker. If you change your water filter regularly, this is unlikely.

If the ice maker isn’t filling and it’s not an issue with the filter, here’s what you can check:

  1. Check the water line to the ice maker for kinks or leaks.
  2. Check the temperature level in the freezer. Occasionally, you can have a piece of ice in the water line.
  3. If none of the above is your answer, it’s likely a bad water valve.

Signs of a faulty water valve are:

  1. Ice cubes are smaller than normal.
  2. Water is running down the back of the freezer.
  3. You notice a frozen puddle of water in your freezer.

Before you begin your repair, here’s an easy test to determine if your water valve is faulty or if it’s the icemaker component.

  1. Fill the ice maker tray with water.
  2. Wait approximately two hours. If the ice kicks out into the bin, it’s probably the water valve. If not, it’s more likely the icemaker itself.

If you see any water behind the freezer, that’s also a sign of a leaking water valve. Here’s what a valve looks like for the icemaker:

Appliance Parts Ice Maker Water Valve
Appliance Parts – Water Valve Ice Maker

Changing a water valve out isn’t as difficult as you may think. Most people say it’s about a 15–30-minute process. Several videos are available to walk you through the process. Here’s a link to one we found. If you’d like to skip through troubleshooting, you’ll find the valve change out at the 5:52 timestamp.

Walter Valve Changeout (Courtesy of Mike Biker Canada via YouTube

If you need any help with your issue, give us a quick call. Be sure to have the information containing your brand, model number, and serial number. You’ll normally find this just inside the door of most refrigerators or freezers. If you’ve already determined you need parts, click to order online, or visit one of our locations!

Phone: 1-800-841-0312

Link to Locations

As always, we appreciate you! Please let us know if you need any help with your appliance repair project!