I’ve fixed a few appliances, and recently I started having issues with the ice dispenser on my KitchenAid fridge. So, I looked into how to fix it and thought I’d summarize what to do in case you have the same issue.
Generally, the first thing you should do is check that it is turned on. Also, new fridge installs can take 24 hours for the ice maker to start working. After that, the water valve or the water filter can be the issue, and you need to ensure both aren’t damaged.
In this article, I’ll explain how to do each of these steps, as well as, how what to do when you notice something specific such as when water isn’t getting to your KitchenAid fridge ice maker, if it’s not making ice fast enough, or it displays blinking lights or a message on the display.
KitchenAid Fridge Ice Maker Not Making Ice
I find having the fridge handle all the ice making it much more convenient than buying ice, and refilling ice trays. And was one of the main reasons I got the KitchenAid fridge that I did. Since I’ve noticed mine isn’t working I quickly learned how to get it working again and thought I’d share how to do it.
To turn it on there is a special wire arm on your KitchenAid fridge ice maker that you need to lower to turn it on. If it’s raised it means it’s off and it won’t produce ice. But, for exact instructions refer to your owner’s guide.
If it’s turned on but not creating ice then perform the following steps:
- Inspect your water filter
- Flush the water filter
- Check your water filter is one of those recommended by KitchenAid
- Schedule a repair technician to inspect it
I’ll explain how to do each of these steps below:
1. Inspect the water filter
If your fridge has a water dispenser try getting some water from it. If the water flow comes out normally then your water filter and water flow is fine, and it’s another issue. However, if the water comes out slowly, then you need to repair or replace your water filter. Or turn up the water pressure to your fridge.
You can remove the water filter using the instructions in your owner’s manual. Then you can test it to see if it’s clogged. Run it under the tap and see if water flows through it easily. If not, it can be clogged and needs to be replaced.
In the meantime, you can run your KitchenAid fridge without the filter until you get a replacement.
2. Flush the water filter
This step only applies if you recently changed the water filter in your KitchenAid fridge. And if your fridge also has a water dispenser. In these cases, there can be air in the water line. It needs to be cleared before your ice maker and water dispenser work.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on August 30, 2021.
Simply put a cup under the water dispenser and press it against the tab that you would to get it to dispense water for 5 seconds. Then stop and do it again until water comes out. That will clear any air in the water line and your ice maker can start working.
Here’s a video that shows how to do it:
3. Check your water filter is one of those recommended by KitchenAid
KitchenAid recommends only using a water filter that is KitchenAid or EveryDrop branded. Any other water filter may not work correctly. Inspect your water filter to see what brand it is with the help of your user manual.
If it’s not either of these brands then you should order a new one and use that instead.
4. Schedule a repair technician to inspect it
If you tried each of the above or have trouble doing any of the steps above, then you should get a repair technician in.
But, it can also be the case that your fridge isn’t getting water because of an issue with the water line. So, in the next section I’ll explain some additional steps that you can perform before getting a technician in.
KitchenAid Refrigerator Not Getting Water to Ice Maker
If you’ve identified that your ice maker isn’t getting water there are a few checks you can do initially, and there are some more involved steps. Here’s what you should do.
Ensure the water shutoff valve is open all the way. This is where the water supply from your plumbing system connects to the water supply line to your fridge. If it’s fully open, check the water supply line for any kinks.
Kinks can be massaged using your fingers to smooth them out. But, if it’s really bent and won’t spring back to its normal shape, then you should replace your water supply line with a new one.
It’s similar to a garden hose – when it has a bend in it the water can’t flow through. If it’s neither of these then you’ll need to inspect the water inlet valve. This is located in your fridge. Refer, your owners manual to see where it’s located.
It can be defective electronically if the wires are blown, and mechanically. It’s fairly straightforward to replace. But, it does require some handy man experience and you’ll need some specialist tools such as a voltmeter.
Here’s a quick video that shows how to test your water inlet valve:
If you find it is broken it’s best to refer to your owners manual to see instructions on how to replace it.
KitchenAid Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working Red Light Blinking
I find the blinking light and error message feature on my KitchenAid fridge very helpful, and as I was researching how to fix the ice dispenser on my KitchenAid fridge I noticed that sometimes it can be accompanied by a blinking red light. Here’s what it means.
Most commonly this is caused by a fridge being over temperature. Even once the fridge returns to the correct temperature the light can continue to beep. Reset the fridge by unplugging it at the wall for 1 minute and plugging it back in.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on August 30, 2021.
However, there are a range of issues it can be and it depends on what error message is displaying. It can notifying you that:
- It needs to be serviced
- The control panel interface isn’t working
- A door alarm
- ‘F’ Error Code
- ‘PO’ – power outage error code.
Depending on what error code is displayed, you’ll need to do something different. A full list of all of the solutions for each of the problems that can cause it to blink can be found by going to the official KitchenAid website and selecting ‘Other’ and then ‘Error Codes or Flashing Lights’.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on August 30, 2021.