Ice Maker Not Getting Any Water? Here Are 5 Steps To Fix It

There are many luxuries in life that we are all guilty of taking for granted on a regular basis.

One of those luxuries you may take for granted is having ice at your fingertips whenever you want. You can just take a cup up to the door of your refrigerator and get ice at the touch of a button. Well, that is, until nothing comes out!

Like everything else, your ice maker can fail.

If your ice maker isn’t getting any water, first check the water filter. A blocked water filter is a common cause of an ice maker not getting enough water. In addition, make sure to check the ice maker water supply valve, water supply lines, and power.

While that sounds complicated – don’t worry!

In this article we’ll walk you through the 5 simple steps to fix common causes of an ice maker not getting water. If that sounds good, then let’s dive in.

What You’ll Need

• Ice maker filter
• Screwdriver
• Hair dryer
• Hot water
• Washcloth

Step One: Check the Filter

First, make sure that your ice maker has a filter. Without a filter, it could cause problems with the ice maker receiving water to create ice cubes. Therefore, make sure it has a filter to begin with.

The next thing you need to worry about is whether the filter is clogged. Just like the filter in your home’s heating and air conditioning system, ice maker filters require regular changing. Ideally, you should change this filter every six months (no longer than every 12 months). This helps to ensure that the water moving through the ice maker stays fresh and clean.

In the event that your filter has not been changed within the last six months to a year, it could be clogged. Once an ice maker filter has caught an excessive amount of debris, it will be unable to perform its job, leading to clogs. To remedy this issue, simply replace your existing filter with a brand-new one.

If you continue to have water flow issues, move on to the next step.

Step Two: Check the Water Supply Valve

Next, you want to check the water supply valve for any leaks. Usually, there is a copper or plastic line that runs to the refrigerator. Located at the back of the fridge, this is your water supply line. The water supply valve itself will be located either at the back of the refrigerator or beneath the kitchen sink.

Generally, it will be noticeable if you have a leak. You will notice moisture around the valve or possibly even on the floor beneath the valve. If there is none, then you are probably good to go.

However, you will want to ensure the valve is actually open. This is a little tricky, but if you’re brave then here’s how to do it:

1. Close off the water valve
2. Remove the incoming water supply line at the refrigerator
3. Place the hose in a bucket to catch the water
4. Open the valve and water should flow into the bucket.
5. Turn the valve back off, reconnect the hose, and turn the valve back on.
6. Check for leaks.

Step Four: Check the Water Supply Lines

If you are still having issues with no water getting to your ice maker and no ice being produced, then there is likely an issue with the water supply lines. These lines may be kinked, or they could be frozen. Whatever the case may be, you will need to pull the refrigerator out from the wall so you can get behind it and have easy access to the supply lines.

In order to see all of the supply lines, you will likely need to remove the access panel on the back of the fridge. This is a very simple task that can be performed with a screwdriver. Once you have removed the access panel, check for any visible kinks in the supply lines.

Look for any signs of blockages as well, such as ice inside the line. If you notice that there is an ice blockage and/or the line is frozen, that ice needs to melt! You can solve the problem in one of two ways.

The first way you can melt the ice is by unplugging the refrigerator and defrosting the freezer and fridge. This process will take several hours, and you will need to remove all of the food inside of the refrigerator and freezer and find something to do with the items that could go bad during that time.

In the event that you don’t want to remove all of your food and/or worry about the potential of spoiled food, you can work on manually unclogging the water line with heat. To do this, again, you’ll want to first unplug the fridge from its power source.

You’ll need something warm to melt the ice. This is where the hair dryer comes in – you can use it to gently blow warm air towards the frozen line. Just be careful not to end up sending a ton of hot air into all of the surrounding components, and definitely don’t use anything stronger – like a heat lamp.

You can also unplug the refrigerator, leave the doors open, and a fan blowing warm outside air towards it. Just make sure to protect food in your fridge and freezer first.

Whatever method of heat you use, make sure to continue the process until the ice has completely melted.

Once you’re done, return the access panel, plug the refrigerator back in, and push it back into place. Now, it is time to test everything out and see if it is working as it should. Keep in mind that it will take a couple of hours before the ice maker will begin to produce ice.

Step Five: Contact a Service Repair Technician

In the event that none of the aforementioned steps solve your water flow and ice making problem, it is time to contact a professional refrigerator service repair technician. He or she will be able to take a look at the unit, diagnose the problem, and perform the necessary repairs.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you’re able to remedy the problem on your own with the troubleshooting steps above.

Thank you for checking out this article, and if you run into any other problems in the house, be sure to check out some more guides and our other helpful reads!