The ice maker on my Whirlpool isn’t working, but the water dispenser is.
We’ve become preoccupied with having ice accessible when we need it, but what happens when the ice machine breaks down? Don’t bother calling a service specialist just yet; we’ll show you how to fix an ice maker that isn’t functioning, even if the water dispenser is.
We expect our appliances to work when they are needed, but things can break down from time to time, and an ice machine may be found everywhere. Check to see if the ice maker’s shut-off arm is turned off. Turn the shut-off arm to the on position to correctly create ice.
To repair it, open the ice maker, inspect the water filter for dirt, and clean it.
For a variety of reasons, your ice machine may stop operating. This might be a problem if the water dispenser is still operating. Fortunately, the bulk of the problems are straightforward to fix.
Issues with the Ice Maker
- The ice machine must be reprogrammed.
- The control arm has been deactivated.
- The door switch is not working properly.
- The water filter is clogged.
- The weather isn’t nearly chilly enough.
- The water pipe to the ice machine is frozen.
- The water intake valve is broken.
Some of these problems are easier to fix than others. We’ve given the cures for each of them below to help you figure out what’s wrong and how to fix it.
Temperatures are not cold enough to for ice to freeze.
The freezer’s temperature is the next thing on the agenda. It’s conceivable that the temperature isn’t set low enough to properly freeze the ice.
It might be due to a faulty thermostat. First, double-check that the temperature in your freezer is set to 0 or 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Food must be frozen in order to be safe to store and eat. Anything that isn’t entirely frozen might mean that your freezer isn’t set low enough.
You may test this by touching the food in your freezer to see if it is completely frozen.
Turned Position of the Control Arm
If your ice machine stops working, it might be as simple as the well being accidentally turned off. Examine the control arm to ensure it is in the down position.
If you’re not sure which position is on or off, see your user’s handbook. You’d be surprised how frequently this occurs, and turning it back on can save you money on maintenance that wasn’t required in the first place.
Filter, filter, filter
It is likely that your water filter has become clogged or, worse, spoiled. Don’t worry; there’s an easy solution. When the water filter becomes clogged or fails, it restricts the supply of water to the ice maker.
Water will continue to flow from your water dispenser, but at a slower pace.
If your water dispenser works but the flow is weak, your ice maker may be short on water. Locate and clean or replace your water filter as needed.
For details on where to find it and how to clean it, consult your user’s manual. You may also need to look up the exact part number of the filter. Here are some of the best aftermarket refrigerator water filters.
Some additional concerns
If you’ve gone through all of the troubleshooting steps and haven’t found a solution, you may be dealing with something more serious. The engine in the ice maker may have failed. In this case, you’ll need either a new motor or a completely new ice maker.
Some ice makers utilize a laser to detect when the tray is empty, but these sometimes fail. You must test the laser to confirm that it is working properly.
Some Whirlpool ice producers also have a module. Power is delivered via the icemaker module to the water inlet valve, which must be replaced if it fails.
Conclusion
We discussed how the whirlpool icemaker isn’t working but the water dispenser is. Whirlpool refrigerators are typically reliable, however they are prone to breakdowns.
For a variety of reasons, including a blocked filter, the ice maker may cease operating even if the water dispenser is turned on. Let’s take a look at how to get your ice maker running again, whether it was due to a broken closed arm or a clogged filter.