Why is My Whirlpool Ice Maker Not Working [Quick Solutions]

Do you have a Whirlpool refrigerator with an ice maker?

If yes, then this article would be a helpful guideline for you and your appliance. People that own a Whirlpool appliance such as a refrigerator should be knowledgeable about where they can get part in case of an emergency.

Check the refrigerator’s installation if the motor seems to run too much. Keep the doors closed as much as possible, set the controls correctly, check the water filter, flush the water system, and check the water pressure. If the refrigerator is too warm inside then the flow tube is blocked, or the inlet valve is defective, etc. which can drive the ice maker not to work accordingly.

But many other factors are related to this problem which we have discussed down below in great detail and possible solutions that will help you troubleshoot the ice maker

Why Is My Whirlpool Ice Maker Not Working?

When an ice maker is not making ice means there is something wrong with the ice maker. The top 6 most probable causes are;

If The Refrigerator Is Too Warm

The ice maker will not create ice cubes deliberately if the freezer temperature is too much. Ideally, the temperature should be set between 0 to 5 degrees F. If the freezer temperature stays above fifteen degrees there is probably something wrong with the appliance’s cooling system.

This can be caused by accumulated debris on the condenser that could prevent the coils from properly dissipating heat. The collapse of the condenser fan motor to adequately circulate the air or frosted-over evaporator coils will restrict airflow. The evaporator coils being frosted over indicates a failure in the defrost system which is caused by a defective defrost control heater or thermostat.

Blocked Or Frozen Flow Tube

A frozen flow tube leading to the ice market tray can also prevent the ice maker from working. You can think of the flow tube by heating it with a hairdryer but be aware that a frozen supply tube is usually caused by insufficient water pressure or a defective inner valve.

Defective Inlet Valve

The refrigerator’s water inlet valve controls the water being sent to the ice maker tray. The inlet valve can get damaged both mechanically and electrically. A mechanical collapse could be compelled by the build-up of mineral deposits preventing the valve from opening. If this occurs you’ll need to substitute the valve.

If you want to clean out the old valve, it is not advised due to the risk of part collapse after repair. To decide if the inlet valve has died electrically, use a multimeter to experiment with the valve solenoid coils for continuity. If one or more of the coils test unfavorable for continuity the inlet valve will need to be substituted.

Low Water Pressure

To function properly the water inlet valve needs at least 20 pounds of water tension per square inch. You help determine this, shut off the water supply, disconnect the supply line from the inlet valve and hold the same line over a bucket. Turn the water supply back up and observe whether or not there is a strong flow of water jetting out of the line. An inadequate flow displays a problem with the water line or the water supply valve.

Faulty Door Switch

The good switch disables the ice dispenser when the refrigerator is open. A defective door switch will stop the dispenser from working even when the door is shut. As with the water inlet valve solenoids, you can use a multimeter to test the door switch for continuity to determine if the part has failed or not.

Malfunctioning Icemaker Assembly

One of the elements inside the ice maker assemblage could be malfunctioning. Since these components are usually not sold separately you’ll need to replace the entire assembly.

Let’s check a short videos for details

Whirlpool Replacement Parts

Maintaining an appliance such as a refrigerator is very important. To do this, it is necessary to know about the various parts of the refrigerator. Whirlpool uses specific parts for its refrigerators.

Condenser coil	Evaporator or freezer coil	Fan motor
Compressor	134A gas	Capacitor
Bulb holder	Charging nipple	OLP
Relay	Cooling fan	Thermostat
Door switch	Lamp	Timer
Defrost heater	Bio metal	Thermal fuse
Hinges	Bulb	Fan blade
Electrical AI-tub heater	Drier	Capillary or copper tube

Ice Maker Troubleshooting

If your freezer has recently been installed, please wait for 24 hours for the unit to stabilize and begin ice presentation. Once ice production starts, it can take up to 48 hours to fill the ice pail. If more than 48 hours have passed and ice production has not begun, please check the following items.

Try to dispense water
If the water is dispensed open the freezer door and pull out the ice bucket. Some models may demand you to extract the freezer top shelf before removing the bucket
Recognize the ice maker in the top back of the freezer chest
Check if the ice maker switch is on or not. The green light should emerge underneath the switch when the ice maker is on
Make sure that the ice maker connector is correctly plugged in
Check that the ice maker paddle is free. This paddle handles ice creation by sensing the ice level
If the ice maker is turned off, not plugged in, or the paddle is not free to move, please adjust it, and wait 24 hours for the first batches of ice. If all of these items seem okay, execute the ice maker diagnostic test

The Ice Maker Diagnostic Test

Turn off the ice maker and wait for 15 seconds, then turn it back on. Press the paddle 3 times. This will begin the diagnostic test. For your protection, please do not touch the ice maker during this time. In 3 minutes, you should notice the rake inside the ice maker turn 360 degrees. After 3 minutes, the ice maker’s mildew should fill with water.

Whirlpool Ice Maker Is Not Working | How To Fix It?

You’re most likely reading this article because the ice maker in your home in your Whirlpool refrigerator is not working. So here we want to give you six tips that will help you fix the refrigerator and hopefully you don’t have to call the service repair technician and save you some money.

Tips 1: Freezer Temperature Is Not Ideal

The ideal temperature for every freezer is zero degrees F. If it varies from that there is a potential that your freezer is too warm. Then the ice maker automatically regulates and may shut off by itself.

Tips 2: The Ice Maker Has To Be Turned On

Inside your fridge, there will be a compartment for the ice maker on the door. To get to the ice maker you have to open the door. Usually, on all ice makers, there’s an on/off button and you have to find out where it is. If it’s not in the on position turn it on because that’s probably the issue.

Also, each ice maker comes with an ice bucket. If it’s not installed properly the ice maker will also work.

Tips 3: Water Filter

If your water filter is obstructed this can cause many problems. And especially if you’re in an area that has hard water your filter can get clogged even easier. So you have to make sure this is changed out every six months or so.

Tips 4: Frozen Fill Tube

It fills the ice maker up with water. So pull out the ice tray and inside you have to find where the water enters into the ice maker many times if you don’t have enough water pressure or for other reasons that small fill tube will freeze, not allowing water to get into the ice maker. So just grab a hair dryer and thaw it out by blowing it on the tube which will clear the blockage out.

Tips 5: Faulty Door Switches

Many freezers have a door switch that controls not only the ice maker but also the lights on the refrigerator. If the fridge door is not turning the lights off then you need to get it checked out.

Tips 6: Water Line Clog

Make sure the waterline of your freezer is not kinked. It’s not clogged. Pull the fridge out, make sure it’s unplugged, turn the water off that supplies the fridge with the water, and then you need to unscrew the hose that’s connected to the fridge, unhook it and then check if the hose is clogged or not. If clogged, put that into the sink, turn on the water, and remove the clog.

Whirlpool Side-by-side Ice Maker Not Working

If your Whirlpool side-by-side ice maker is not working properly or at all, you need to check the water inlet valve, as it controls the water going into the refrigerator. They are usually located at the back of the machine behind the access panel but some can be found inside the fresh food section.

If your water inlet valve is failed no water may be getting to the ice maker preventing ice from being made. This could be compelled by a bad solenoid or jammed plunger or clogged valve. During the test cycle, your ice maker may have determined that the water valve is bad, and needs to be changed.

If not you’ll have to test the ice maker solenoid to see if it’s failed. To see if the part is carrying an electric current you have to test it with a multimeter. Set the continuity. Once you have it set, connect the probes to make it work again.

Once you have access to the valve remove the wiring harness and touch a probe to each terminal, the meter should show continuity. If you don’t get a reading then it’s failed you’ll need to replace the valve.

How To Reset A Whirlpool Ice Maker

If you verify that the power’s on and you still haven’t had ice in 24 hours, you may need to reset the ice maker. To reset your Whirlpool ice maker follow any of the hacks down below:

Trick 1

Push the door button and the refrigerator temperature button 3 times within 10 seconds. If the freezer display goes empty after all that effort, then the Whirlpool refrigerator is back in good working order.

Trick 2

Reset power to the product: power the unit down by turning off the circuit breaker or unplugging the product for 5-10 minutes. Power the unit up by turning on the circuit breaker or plugging the product back in. Ensure the cooling function is turned on. Test the control panel functionality.

Trick 3

Go ahead to the power cycle and turn it off for a few seconds and turn it back on. Place some paper towels underneath the ice maker to catch the water or ice that may be left on the ice tray. Use a pencil eraser to push the reset button; push and hold for five seconds. The unit is now in test mode. The bail arm will come down and go back up and the ice maker will twist and dump the ice.

There may be nothing in the ice tray when you reset it. The ice maker will return to the home position or and the water valve will turn on two times and fill the ice tray. At this point, you should be able to hear and see water filling the ice tray. If you do not see water filling the ice tray, check the water valve and make sure the refrigerator has water.

Why Is My Whirlpool Ice Maker Leaking Water?

To detect the exact cause of this problem you need to take out an ice tray first. Then remove the whole setup and take it out to inspect. Often, if your supply line has hard water it will damage the plastic around it and even create holes. Which could lead water to leak.

Also if the ice maker setup is not installed properly or not level it can lead to that water leakage inside. But if your ice maker is damaged inside or there are holes inside you have to change the whole setting and install a new one.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you reset a whirlpool ice maker?

You’ll find the reset button underneath the ice maker unit or at the top of the ice tray. Once you find it, push it fully and hold it that way for at least 5 seconds. After that, if you hear the beep noise, release the button. The reset procedure is complete.

How do I get my Whirlpool ice maker to work?

If your ice maker is not working the way it should have like leaking water or not making ice cubes then you need to find the real cause behind it. There are 6 most probable causes behind this problem, which we have already discussed earlier. So read through those problems and try to identify them. You can try to reset it as well and see if that works.

Why is my ice maker not working but water does?

This sort of problem occurs when the fill tube is clogged or has frozen. Because if it’s clogged water will not be able to pass through the tube to the tray or if water can not reach through the tube it will eventually get frozen. You can try to warm the tube with a hairdryer and melt the ice to regulate the water movement normally.

How do you unclog a whirlpool ice maker?

To unclog the ice maker, unplug the freezer, remove the icemaker tube and whole set up drain water, use ice maker cleaner, turn on the cleaning cycle, empty the water tray and check the tubes for any clogs. If everything looks right, reinstall the ice maker and wait 24 hours to see if it is working properly. If not, you may need to call for help.

How do I force my Whirlpool ice maker to cycle?

Look into the center part of the ice maker to find the rotating handle which pushes the ice cubes into the tray. Hold the plastic teeth that are on the handle and slightly pull that in a clockwise motion. When you hear a whining sound it indicates that the cycle has begun.

Is there a reset button on the Whirlpool refrigerator?

Yes. In most refrigerators, there is a reset button on the top or at the bottom of the ice maker. But if you don’t have one you can try to shut off or unplug the refrigerator for a few seconds and then turn it back on.

Final Verdict

Before refrigerators were a thing, keeping food fresh was a pretty tough job. During those days people used to use salt in their food or bury it in the snow or in the ground to keep it fresh. But now the refrigerator has changed the way we conduct our lives. Making it easier to preserve food. That’s why we need all the basics of our refrigerator for good maintenance purposes.