Ice dispensers must be one of the best features added to a refrigerator.
The mechanism gives you access to ice, sparing you the trouble of refilling the water or waiting for it to freeze. This feature is pretty handy when you need a refreshing cold beverage, especially on a hot summer day.
But, at times, the ice dispensers may act up or stop working altogether. This has been a recurring problem for people who have Samsung refrigerators, and it can be pretty frustrating during hot weather.
Most of you would think that the only way to solve this problem is by calling a Samsung technician. However, we will give you some easy solutions and point out the common reasons for a samsung refrigerator not making ice.
So, without further ado, let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
Reasons Behind A Samsung Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working
While researching the Samsung refrigerator ice maker, we came to know that it might not work for many reasons. Hence, we decided to create a list of the most common problems that might arise and the probable solutions for each of them. However, you have to realize that, at times, the best way to deal with such issues is by contacting the company or a licensed professional.
Now, let’s check out the most common reasons behind the ice maker not making ice.
Ice Maker Is Turned Off
Most models of Samsung refrigerators come with buttons to control the ice markers. It can be as elaborate as a menu with several buttons or a simple panel with three or four options. Irrespective of that, the simplest reason for an ice maker not working is that it’s turned off.
By far, the ice maker being off is one of the most common problems faced, especially by people who have just purchased the fridge. At times you may even unknowingly pause the ice production while trying to select any other setting. So, it’s always better to have a look at the default settings present in a fridge before assuming that something is wrong with the appliance.
Solutions
First of all, whenever you get a new refrigerator, it’s important to go through the entire user manual. Even if you have previously owned a fridge with an ice maker, the mechanism and settings for the Samsung refrigerator models could be quite different. Hence, the user manual can help you figure out the best way to use the fridge as well as to keep everything running smoothly.
Other than that, Samsung has an elaborate troubleshooting section on its website. The different sections are helpful in guiding you with common problems that may arise in your fridge and how to solve them.
Coming to the solution of the ice maker being off, you may find that the “Ice Off” button lights up when it has been turned off. Pressing the button will switch off the light and start the ice-making mechanism. However, this setting may differ based on the Samsung fridge models as top freezer models may have an “Ice On” button.
On the other hand, the ice maker can be controlled through the app for more convenience in the smart Family Hub fridges. So, consider consulting the user manual to figure out how to power off or on the ice maker of your fridge.
Problems With Water Connections Or Filter
If you didn’t know already, you need to connect the Samsung refrigerator ice maker to a water line for it to work. So, for some reason, if that connection fails or is not up to the mark, the ice production may stop entirely.
On top of that, it can become a problem if there’s water buildup on the fridge body or the ice maker compartment freezes due to an improper connection. That’s why it’s essential to follow the manual while installing the water line for the ice maker after getting a new fridge.
Moreover, some models like the RS22T and RS27T require two water line connections. In that case, you have to be careful about avoiding any possible cross-connections. The mixup of the lines can explain why the fridge does not dispense ice after turning it on.
Another common water connection-related error seen is improper water pressure. For a Samsung ice maker to work, the water line needs to have the ability to fill around six ounces or 3/4 of a cup in ten seconds.
Similarly, the ice maker may often fail to work if the water filter needs a replacement, which may also affect the water pressure. On that note, the water filter may require frequent changes if your fridge has a water dispenser. But, in general, Samsung suggests changing the filter after 300 gallons of usage, which averages to six months.
So, if your Samsung ice maker stops working or produces too little ice, make sure to check the water pressure and the health of the water filter.
Solutions
After checking the water line connection, try to find out whether there’s a need to change the water filter. If so, follow the instructions provided in the manual and only use a water filter meant for a Samsung fridge.
An easy way to find out if the filter needs a change is to remove it and check if the ice maker is producing ice. If yes, then you will need to change the dirty water filter, which has probably accumulated gunk. Otherwise, the problem might be present in the water pressure from the source or with the ice maker components.
Once you have changed the filter, make sure that water pressure is 20 psi or more. If your home has a Reverse Osmosis system, the culprit could be low water pressure. In that case, you have to contact a plumber for further assistance to increase the water pressure.
If changing the water filter solves the issue, follow it up by power cycling the fridge. All you need to do is turn off its power or unplug it for two minutes and then plug it in. Then, you will need to reset the ice maker.
Resetting Your Samsung Ice Maker
You can reset the ice maker by pressing the “test button” present inside the ice market. For this, you will need to begin by removing the ice bucket inside your fridge by gently lifting it up and then taking it out. After that, hold the “test button” for ten seconds until you hear a chime.
After this, you can put the ice bucket back in its place and wait around six minutes for the test cycle to complete, which is indicated by another chime. Remember to at least wait between 8 and 24 hours for the ice maker to function normally.
The position of the ice maker reset button may vary based on the model of your fridge. So, refer to the user manual to find the position of the button and remember to avoid pushing it with a lot of pressure.
Moreover, we found that resetting the Samsung ice maker every four or six months can get rid of common ice dispensing issues. But, it would be best if you didn’t do it too frequently as that may put too much pressure on the fridge motor.
Ice Bucket Is Stuck
Another common problem with Samsung refrigerator ice makers is the ice bucket getting stuck. This is usually due to some sort of ice blockage. That said, there might be frozen clumped ice inside the tray, or the whole ice maker might be frozen solid.
Your ice maker may develop this issue for a number of reasons, including the wrong temperature settings or even a firmware problem.
Alternatively, the ice cubes may fuse together if the ice dispenser hasn’t been used in a while. So, when using the ice maker after you have been away for a while, try resetting the fridge once.
Solutions
First, try removing the ice bucket from the ice maker, which should be present on the left side of your fridge. But, the location of the ice maker and the procedure of taking out the ice bucket may vary between Samsung fridge models.
If you aren’t able to remove the ice bucket, it might be stuck due to the ice. In that case, you can take a hairdryer and defrost the ice so that the bucket comes off easily. Or, you can force-defrost the ice maker to get rid of the extra ice.
Note that the way to force-defrost varies based on the model of a Samsung fridge. But, the most common method is to press down on the “Energy Saver” and “Fridge” buttons for eight seconds to enter the forced mode system. Here, you should be able to hear a beep with the display going blank. Now, you can use the “Fridge” button to scroll through different options and select the “Fd” command.
A loud beep will indicate that your ice maker is in the defrost mode, and it takes about six to eight minutes to melt the accumulated ice. Note that you can stop the defrosting by pressing the same two buttons used to enter the system. After that, reset the ice maker to test that it’s working properly.
Moreover, in some instances, the frozen block may be due to a water spill. Even though defrosting and resetting should get rid of a problem, you should still look for a hanging white wire. If the wire is visible, contact customer services as something might be wrong with the ice maker.
Nevertheless, Samsung suggests professional guidance if your whole ice maker is covered in a sheet of ice.
Other Common Issues
At times, your Samsung refrigerator ice maker may still produce ice, but it may be sludgy or covered in dirt. So, here are some problems that can be causing trouble in proper ice production:
Ice Maker Not Making Enough Ice
A typical problem seen in a Samsung ice maker is that it isn’t dispensing the amount of ice it’s meant to produce daily. Samsung states that any fridge from the brand comes with the capacity to produce ten pounds of ice daily. But, it can only hold two pounds of ice at a time.
Sometimes, when you don’t use the ice maker regularly, the ice can actually clump together and stop the ice maker from working properly. To prevent this issue, make sure to remove the ice every couple of days, ensuring it remains fresh and the ice maker is free from ice buildup.
Other than that, problems leading to this issue include low water pressure or a dirty water filter, as we have discussed above. Yet another issue can be with the door of your fridge. That said, if the hinge is broken, the door may not close properly, leading to hindered ice production.
The good thing about the Samsung refrigerator ice maker is that it will often display error codes if something isn’t working correctly. In that case, we recommend checking out the error code guide to troubleshoot the issue or contacting the Samsung support center for repair.
Ice Maker Producing Clumped, Small Or Dirty Ice
Do you feel that your Samsung ice maker is not making quality ice? To be fair, you can expect the usual ice dispensed to be a bit cloudy because of the mineral deposits caused by Samsung’s rapid freezing technology. The ice can be especially cloudy in areas with hard water, even if the filter tries to get rid of most of it.
And if the ice maker dispenses small shards of ice, it is usually because the water pressure is less than 20 psi. This might also be due to the water filter being dirty, in which case you should change it as soon as possible.
Tied to the previous issue is ice that comes out dirty or with black specks. Here, the problem is typically an expired or damaged water filter. At the same time, this can be caused by dirty or unclean water, so make sure to check the water supply if you get dirty ice.
Also, if you notice a broken ice bucket or any other damages inside the ice maker, contact Samsung for further assistance.
Final Words
That’s everything we had to tell you about a Samsung refrigerator not making ice. As you may already know, there can be many reasons behind the problem. So, do check for multiple issues and try troubleshooting based on the Samsung ice maker manual.
Having said that, if your fridge ice maker ends up still having issues, it’s better to contact the Samsung support center. Moreover, you should always refrain from tinkering with the ice maker or ice tray if your refrigerator is still under warranty.
Need professional help when it comes to refrigerator repair? Look for the nearest appliance repair services in your neighborhood.