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Is trouble with your ice maker giving you a brain freeze?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. You wouldn’t believe how many people own ice makers that have an attitude. Thankfully, resetting your ice maker can quickly solve most problems.
To reset any ice maker, first make sure the feeler arm isn’t stuck. If it is, push it down so it knows to keep working. Some models will use a reset button on the ice maker. If you find it, hold it down for 10 seconds. If that doesn’t work, turn off and unplug the ice maker for up to 15 minutes for a hard reset.
That’s the quick answer, though. Read on to cover resetting an ice maker in more detail – and get yours working properly again today!
1. Adjust the Feeler Arm
The first step to resetting your ice maker is for you to adjust the feeler arm. Now, I know what you’re thinking, the feeler what? What is that?
The feeler arm is the metal or plastic rod on the side of the ice maker. This rod moves up and down according to the level of ice in your ice maker. It stops it from making too much ice to prevent an overflow. If this rod is all the way up, this is the OFF position so the ice maker will not make any more ice.
What can you do if your ice maker’s feeler arm is stopping it from working? Here are some simple instructions.
- If the feeler arm is stuck, attempt to gentle push it down
- Once you push the arm down, water should start flowing to the ice maker’s water reservoir. If it does, you can stop here. If it doesn’t or if the feeler arm isn’t stuck, continue to the next section.
2. Press the Reset Button
Have you tried adjusting your ice maker’s feeler arm but had no success? Then you should press the reset button if applicable to your refrigerator model.
Holding the reset button down for 10 seconds is sufficient. Your ice maker should then reset. If it doesn’t, or it doesn’t have a button, move on to the next section.
3. Restart the Refrigerator
When it comes to restarting your refrigerator, you have two easy options. They are the following.
- Turning the refrigerator off at the on/off button then turning it back on again
- Unplugging the refrigerator and then plugging it back in
Does your refrigerator have an on/off button? Then press the button to turn the fridge off. Leave it off for 15 minutes. The refrigerator should reset the ice maker during this time.
But what if you don’t hear your ice maker immediately kick into gear? Try cycling the feeler arm up and down a couple of times. This often will initiate an ice maker test cycle and should fill with water. If not, keep reading!
Tips for Resetting Different Ice Maker Brands
Every ice maker is different. So you might need some more detailed instructions for resetting yours. Here are some tips for resetting the following ice maker brands:
- Manitowoc
- Whirlpool
- Samsung
- Frigidaire
- GE
Where to Find the Reset Button
If you want to reset your ice maker, it’s best to start with the reset button! But hang on, where is that located again? Of course, you could consult your manual to help you find the reset button. But…where on earth did you put the manual? Now, we’re just going around in circles.
Here’s the easiest way. The following is a mini-guide that will help you find the reset button for your particular ice maker. Once you’ve located it, make sure you follow the reset instructions that are included in this article.
| Ice Maker Brand | Where to Find the Reset Button |
|---|---|
| Manitowoc | Some Manitowoc ice makers do not have a reset button. To reset one, try turning the ice maker off at the power source. |
| Whirlpool | You can find the reset button at the bottom of the ice maker. Remove the ice tray to locate it. For older models, these might not have a reset button. |
| Samsung | Remove the ice tray. The red button you see is the reset button. Sometimes it may be covered in a clear/waterproof latex covering. |
| Frigidaire | The reset button is on the front of the ice maker, under the motor housing, past the front cover |
| GE | Some GE ice makers do not have a reset button. Some GE ice makers will instruct you to depress the white feeler arm (i.e. white plastic paddle) 5x which is said to initiate a test cycle, but I have never seen this work in person. I would leave this as you have it unless you’d like to find an additional resource for this section. |
How to Restart the Refrigerator
Do you have a kitchen with a built-in refrigerator? If so, then getting behind your refrigerator and pulling it out to unplug it may be more hassle than it’s worth. Refrigerators are bulky, and heavy, – especially ones with an ice maker. So, what can you do to save yourself (and your back) from pulling the refrigerator out of place to unplug it?
Most modern refrigerators come with an on/off button. Pressing this button makes it easier for you to restart your refrigerator. But how can you be sure if your refrigerator and ice maker come with an on/off button? Take a look at the following power button guide.
| Ice Maker Brand | Does It Have an On/Off Button? | How to Turn It On/Off |
|---|---|---|
| Manitowoc | Yes | Press and hold the power button for 3 seconds to turn it off. |
| Whirlpool | Yes | Press the button to operate. |
| Samsung | Yes | Some Samsung refrigerators have a separate on/off button for the ice maker. This will allow you to turn the ice maker off without powering the refrigerator off. |
| Frigidaire | Yes | Some Frigidaire refrigerators have an on/off button for the ice maker alone. You can find it on the front control panel. Press to operate. |
| GE | Yes | Press the power button |
Brand-Specific Walkthroughs
Manitowoc Ice Makers
A Manitowoc ice maker doesn’t typically have a reset button. So, what can you do to reset yours? Here are some simple steps that are specific to these types of ice makers.
- Adjust the feeler arm. If water doesn’t immediately start filling in the reservoir, go to step 2.
- Press and hold the off button for 3 seconds.
- Keep the ice maker unplugged for 15 minutes
- Turn the machine back on. If a blue light appears, you have successfully reset it.
Whirlpool Ice Makers
Some Whirlpool ice makers come with a reset button. This could be located in one of the following places
- Under the ice tray
- Under the ice tray and cover plate
Samsung Ice Makers
Most Samsung ice makers have handy TEST buttons. These buttons allow you to make sure that your ice maker is working properly, and will prompt it to do so if it isn’t. You might find using this button easier than unplugging your Samsung refrigerator.
Are you keen to try out this method? Then here’s what you’ll need to do.
- Remove the ice bucket
- Press the “TEST” button. It might say “TEST” on it or have an arrow pointing at it.
- Press and hold the “TEST” button until you hear a chime
- Put the ice bucket back in the ice maker
With Samsung models, it’s also worth double checking that the ice maker is in fact turned on at the UI (user interface) control board on the front of the refrigerator. Depending on the model, it may be required to hold down a button on the touchpad to activate/deactivate.
Frigidaire Ice Makers
Most Frigidaire ice makers have an on/off button for the ice maker compartment. Here are all the instructions you need to reset yours.
- Press the on/off switch until the LED light turns red
- Wait 15 minutes
- Press and hold the on/off button again until the LED light turns green
GE Ice Makers
Some GE ice makers do not have a reset button. So, what can you do to reset yours? Take a look at the following steps.
- Adjust the feeler arm. If water doesn’t immediately start filling in the reservoir, go to step 2.
- Press the on/off button
- Keep the ice maker unplugged for 15 minutes
- Turn the ice maker back on
TIP! Is the red “Check Water” light flashing? Then that might indicate that there is a problem with the water supply, not the ice maker.
Conclusion
If your ice maker stops making ice, you may wonder whether you’ll need to call a technician to come and look at it for you. But the truth is, simply resetting your ice maker might solve the problem! Hopefully this article has provided you with easy step-by-step instructions for you to reset yours.
Has this article been useful to you? Then make sure you check out some of our other free guides and articles on our website!
Have a great day!
-Craig
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