The short answer
Check the shut-off arm or switch, the freezer temperature and the water filter, in that order. Low flow makes small or hollow cubes; no flow makes none at all; and a freezer that is too warm makes none even with perfect water.
What you notice
- No ice at all — Supply, arm or a freezer that is too warm.
- Small or hollow cubes — Low water flow, usually the filter.
- Cubes fused into a block — Slow use, or a harvest fault.
- Ice tastes stale — Old ice absorbing cabinet odours.
- A frozen block in the mould — The fill tube has frozen.
- Not this fault: no ice with the freezer warming — Read the cooling page first.
Ranked for kitchen installations
- Shut-off arm raised or the switch off — First, and free to fix.
- Water filter overdue and restricting flow — Second, and the usual cause of poor cubes.
- Freezer not cold enough to harvest — Third.
- Supply valve partly closed or the line kinked — Fourth.
- Fill tube frozen — Fifth.
- Ice maker module or inlet valve failed — Last.
Check in this order
- Confirm the arm is down or the switch is on — Very often the entire fault.
- Read the freezer temperature with a thermometer — A warm freezer cannot harvest.
- Change the water filter if it is overdue — Flow, not taste, is the issue.
- Look into the mould for a frozen block — It names the fill tube.
Owner checks
- Lower the shut-off arm or switch the ice maker on — Check this before anything else.
About 5 min
- Read a thermometer in the freezer compartment — Harvesting needs a genuinely cold compartment.
Tools: thermometerAbout 25 min
- Replace the water filter and flush several quarts through — Flush until the water runs clear.
About 25 min
- Check the supply valve is fully open and the line not kinked — Behind the machine is where lines get crushed.
Tools: torchAbout 20 min
- Discard the first few batches after any interruption — Stale ice takes on cabinet odours.
About 10 min
- Stop before replacing the module, the valve or the fill tube heater — Those are wired parts inside the machine.
Water and cold
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Keep the refrigerator at or below forty degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer at or below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Turn the water supply off before disturbing any fitting, and never thaw a frozen fill tube with an open flame or a heat gun.
When to call
Call when the arm is down, the freezer is cold, the filter is new and the supply is open, but no water reaches the mould - the inlet valve and the module are inside the appliance. Call a plumber for a leaking supply valve or a damaged line. On a value-tier machine, ask what an ice maker module costs before agreeing, since it is often a significant fraction of the appliance.
Other faults on this refrigerator
Scope of this page
Generalized across refrigerator families under this badge in ordinary kitchen installations; where a family-specific or model-specific page exists it is the narrower answer. Not here: production rates, filter part numbers, valve specifications and harvest timings.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
