LG fridges are known for their top performance and efficiency, but like all other appliances, they can face malfunctions every now and then. One of the most frustrating malfunctions your LG fridge can encounter, especially during summer, is the ice maker breaking down; imagine trying to get a couple of ice cubes and finding that your fridge has no ice.
While this can be irritating, there’s no need to worry; you will not need to go into the hassle of calling a technician and waiting hours to resolve the issue. This article will guide and help you understand the causes of your LG fridge not making ice and how to resolve them.
Why Is your LG Fridge Not Making Ice?
Several potential reasons could be causing your LG fridge not to make ice; for example, the ice maker is turned off, ice has clogged the ice maker compartment, the high freezer temperature, a defective door switch or seal, and many other reasons that we’ll discuss in the following troubleshooting steps.
1. Ice Maker Turned Off
The refrigerator ice maker can sometimes get turned off accidentally, making your fridge unable to make any ice. The ice maker switch is located behind the ice bucket, so you might turn off the ice maker while grabbing some ice cubes without noticing.
2. Ice Clogged the Ice Maker
The ice maker produces the ice and then ejects it into the ice bucket or a tray. If the ice melts and refreezes or doesn’t freeze properly, it leads to a blockage in the ice maker.
So, when the ice maker produces new ice cubes, they can’t find their way to the tray. In this scenario, you can hear noise coming from the ice maker; however, you won’t find any ice in the tray or bucket.
3. Freezer High Temperature
The LG refrigerator ice maker needs a specific temperature range to work properly; the range is 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 to -15 C). If the freezer compartment temperature is above 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the ice maker will not be able to produce ice properly or at all.
The freezer temperature can get high due to several reasons; for example, if the condenser coils are dirty or the condenser fan is not working. Another reason is that the evaporator coil has frost, which blocks the air circulation.
4. Defective Door Seal
The door seal is essential for maintaining the internal temperature of the fridge. If the door seal is defective, it will prevent the door from closing completely; as a result, the warm air from outside will enter the fridge compartment.
The compressor will then try to overcome the warm air by cooling the fridge excessively; this way, the fridge preserves fresh food.
Excessive cooling affects the freezer’s internal temperature, dropping below zero degrees. As a result, the water tube providing the water to the ice maker freezes, preventing the ice maker from forming ice.
5. Defective Door Switch
The freezer door switch is responsible for two things, first is to turn on the freezer light so that you can see clearly inside the freezer compartment. And second, to turn off the water dispenser and the ice maker, and when the door is closed, it turns them back on.
If the door switch is defective, it can lead to not turning the water dispenser and the ice maker back on when you close the door. So, the ice maker and dispenser stay tuned off, leading to no ice making.
6. Clogged Water Filter
The water filter ensures that your ice has no debris, foreign objects, or bad taste. So, when the water filter is clogged or dirty, the ice maker stops making ice as a safety feature; therefore, you will need to check the filter to ensure it doesn’t need to be replaced.
7. Insufficient Water Pressure
The water is supplied to the ice maker through a water line, and each water line must possess a water inlet valve that regulates the flow of water. A minimum water pressure of 20 psi is required for the inlet valve.
If the water pressure supplied to your house is below 20 psi, then the ice maker won’t operate because there is no water supply.
8. Defective Water Inlet Valve
If you have checked the water pressure and it’s above 20 psi which is above the minimum; however, the valve is not supplying water to your ice maker or dispenser. Then, the water valve might be defective.
The inlet valve is an electrically-controlled mechanical component; it can experience short circuits or electrical faults. So, check using a multimeter to determine if it’s working correctly.
9. Faulty Plumbing Connections
A faulty plumbing connection means there will be no water supply to the ice maker or the dispenser. As a result, the ice maker will not be able to make ice cubes.
The problem might be that a line is clogged, kinked, or damaged. Also, there might be a loose connection in the plumbing lines or a leak which decreases the water pressure.
10. Defective Ice Level Control Board
The ice level control board is designed to detect the ice level in the ice bucket using an infrared light beam. The light beam detects when the ice level reaches maximum height, so the control board sends a signal to turn off the ice maker.
A defective can send the wrong signal, turning off the ice maker without making any ice. A faulty control board can also turn off the ice maker and won’t send another signal to turn it back on.
11. Faulty Mold Thermostat
The LG ice maker has a mold thermostat that detects the temperature of the ice mold, which is the ice in the tray. When the temperature is proper, the thermostat sends the signal so the ice maker ejects the ice and fills the tray with water.
A faulty thermostat will not detect the temperature of the ice mold, preventing the ice maker from ejecting ice and starting the harvest cycle. Therefore, you must check the mold thermostat to determine if it’s defective.
12. Firmware Glitches
The LG ice maker is vulnerable to firmware glitches and errors like any other electronic device. Some errors can prevent the ice maker from producing ice; in this case, you will need to reset the appliance.
13. Malfunctioning Ice Maker
Ice makers are known for their short lifespan; they are vulnerable to errors and failures. Unfortunately, the components of the ice maker are not replaceable, and the cost of repairing them is not worth it, so if the problem is with the ice maker itself, you will need to replace the whole unit.
How To Fix An LG Fridge That’s Not Making Ice?
Now that we’ve covered all the potential causes of your LG fridge not making ice, let’s discuss solutions to each issue so you can restore your fridge to working order.
1. Turn On the Ice Maker
If you suspect that you’ve accidentally turned your ice maker off, run it back on from the switch behind the ice bucket.
If the switch is not working, you must first test it using a multimeter. Set the multimeter to the ohms settings, and test the switch; if the switch shows no signs of electrical continuity, you will need to replace the switch.
2. Remove Ice Clogging the Ice Maker
If the ice is not frozen properly, it can block the ice maker; therefore, you will have to check it for any blockages. You can remove the ice in several ways, such as a hairdryer, chisel, or warm water.
In addition, check the ice molds; if there is ice buildup in the molds, you can simply use warm water to melt it.
3. Fix the Freezer Temperature
The freezer temperature can increase due to several things, so make sure to fix the issue step by step. First, check the condenser coils; if they are dirty, clean them.
Then, check the condenser fan; if it is not working, you must test it using a multimeter. If the fan shows no signs of continuity, replace it, but if the fan is just dirty, then clean it so it can work properly once again.
Lastly, check the evaporator coil; if it has frost buildup, you must defrost it to allow air circulation.
4. Replace the Defective Door Seal
A door seal can get damaged or worn over time, so if you see any signs of wear or damage, the solution would be to replace it.
Open the door and then remove the old door seal using needle-nose pliers. Insert the new seal into the channels and secure it in place.
5. Replace the Defective Door Switch
First, check the switch with a multimeter, then set the multimeter to the ohms settings to test the switch’s continuity. If the switch shows no signs of continuity, then you must replace it.
Open the freezer, and locate the switch, which will mostly be on the right side of the freezer. Insert a knife underneath the edge of the switch, push the blade to take out the switch, then disconnect the wires connected to it.
Once removed, connect the new switch and install it in the same position.
6. Replace the Water Filter
Water filters must be replaced every 6 months, so if you haven’t replaced the fridge water filter in a while, then you need to replace it.
The water filter location differs from model to model; the filter can be inside the LG refrigerator compartment on the top or back left. The filter also can be in the left door behind the left bin; after locating the filter, turn off the water inlet valve.
Empty any water left in the water line, remove the filter cover, and then rotate the filter in a counterclockwise direction to remove it. Install the new filter and rotate it clockwise to secure it in place.
7. Replace Water Inlet Valve
First, move your refrigerator to get access to its back. Unthread the rear lower access panel screws; on the right corner, you will find the valve secured to the cabinet with a mounting screw.
Unscrew the pins to free the valve from the cabinet. Then, using a flat-head screwdriver, push the horseshoe-shaped clip, and depress the car against the valve body.
The last step is disconnecting the old valve’s two harness connectors. Install the new valve in the same position, and secure it using the mounting screw.
8. Replace the Mold Thermostat
First, power off the refrigerator and unplug it from the power source. Open the ice maker compartment, and take out the ice bin; then unthread the screws mounting the ice maker to gain access to the wires at the top.
Gently remove the ice maker so you can see the wires. Disconnect the wires and remove the ice maker, unthread the grounding screw at the back of the ice maker, and then peel the tape covering it.
Then disconnect the wires connector from the thermostat and remove the thermostat from the foam. Install the new thermostat and connect it to the wires connector.
9. Reset the Ice Maker
First, remove the ice bin and place a container underneath the ice maker to catch any water. Press and hold the test button (reset button) on the ice maker for three seconds.
After the appliance finishes the test mode, it will be successfully reset.
Adrian is an ISCET licensed professional that has completed the National Appliance Service Technician Certification Exam and has the expertise to diagnose and repair any appliance. He is well-versed in the latest technologies and techniques and is always up-to-date on the latest industry standards.
