Kenmore Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Making Ice? (We Have A Fix)

One hundred years ago, ice was a luxury. Today it is considered a necessity by many people. When your refrigerator ice maker quits delivering a ready supply of ice, it is more than an inconvenience for some people. Figuring out why a Kenmore refrigerator is not making ice, but the water works can be a challenge.

Make sure that you didn’t trip the ice maker switch if the bin is full of ice cubes. Open the valve that controls the water so that water enters the ice maker and produces ice. Replace your water inlet valve entirely if it doesn’t pump water into the ice maker.

It is always a good idea to start with the most common problem and work toward the least common. That is the order that our step by step guide to diagnosing the problem with your Kenmore Ice Maker.

If water is not getting to your Kenmore ice maker, it can’t make ice. Most Kenmore ice makers get water through a line connected to the water tap or the hot water heater supply. Often these are plastic lines that can be accidentally kinked.

These supply lines often have a small valve to control the water should a leak occur. Make sure the valve is fully open. Debris in the water line can also clog these small valves. Opening and closing the valve several times may solve the problem.

Your Kenmore ice maker requires at least 2-PSI of water pressure to operate. A lack of water pressure may not allow the water inlet valve to operate or may not sufficiently fill the ice maker tray.

A kinked water line, a blocked water line valve, or low pressure in your household water system may be to blame. Often, a drop in water pressure while the Kenmore ice maker is filling the tray will cause the water inlet valve to close, resulting in smaller or abnormal shaped ice.

If a lack of water pressure is the problem, you should consult with a qualified licensed plumber to diagnose and fix the water pressure problems in your hose.

The water supply line connects to the water inlet valve on your Kenmore refrigerator. This valve opens when it gets a signal from the ice maker controller. When the valve opens, water flows to the ice maker to fill the tray.

The water inlet valve can fail, preventing water from reaching the ice maker. If the valve isn’t operating, it may be defective and need replacing. Low water pressure can also cause the water inlet valve to fail to operate.

You can test the operation of the water inlet valve with a multi-meter. If the water inlet valve on your Kenmore refrigerator is getting current from the ice maker, the valve is probably defective.

Most Kenmore refrigerator ice makers require the freezer temperature to be below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. If the freezer temperature is above 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the ice maker will not produce ice properly.

Check the thermostat setting on your Kenmore refrigerator. Turn it down a few degrees and see if your problem with your Kenmore ice maker persists. If your refrigerator does not drop the temperature enough to make ice, you may have a problem with the condenser.

Problems with the condenser on a Kenmore refrigerator require the attention of a qualified Kenmore service technician. Contact your local Kenmore dealer and arrange a visit from a service technician.

Your Kenmore ice maker has a small module inside the ice maker that controls the whole operation. It is fitted with sensors that monitor temperature, water levels, and the on/off switch status. If any of these sensors fail, or the ice maker module becomes inoperative, the Kenmore ice maker will not make ice.

Typically, these components of your Kenmore ice maker are not available as individual repair parts. The only recourse is to replace the entire Kenmore ice maker unit. While some homeowners may tackle this project, it is usually better to have a qualified Kenmore technician make this repair.

Some Kenmore refrigerators feature a through-the-door option that will dispense ice without opening the refrigerator door. The through-the-door feature helps the refrigerator run more efficiently by reducing the number of times the door opens.

These Kenmore refrigerators have a door switch to keep the ice dispenser from operating when the door is open. If the switch fails, the ice machine will not dispense ice when the door is closed. The ice maker may still be making ice, but it is not delivered through-the-door.

You can check the operation of the door switch easily. Locate the switch on the frame of the refrigerator. Open the refrigerator door and hold a small bowl or container beneath the chute where the ice is delivered. Depress the switch with your finger and have a second person activate the push bar on the door to dispense ice.

If the ice maker doesn’t dispense ice, the door switch may be defective. This repair requires opening the frame of the Kenmore refrigerator to get to the switch. A qualified Kenmore service technician can make this repair quickly and easily.

Many people don’t realize that some Kenmore refrigerators have internal water filters on the ice maker’s supply line. If these filters are not changed regularly, they can become clogged and prevent water from getting to the ice maker.

Consult the user manual to locate these filters. Replacing the filter will keep the water flowing to your ice maker. Your user manual will have recommendations on the frequency of replacement and the proper filters to use.

Something must control the flow of water into the automatic ice maker. Kenmore refrigerators equipped with ice makers have an electrically operated solenoid valve for this purpose. When the motor ejects the fresh ice cubes from the tray, the controller signals the valve to open and refill the tray.

The solenoid opens just long enough to refill the tray. This timed sequence is why the water pressure in the water line is so important. If the water pressure is too low, enough water may not flow to refill the freezing tray completely.

The Kenmore automatic ice maker has a small heating element. The heating coil beneath the freezing tray comes on just before the ejectors begin their work. This brief burst of warmer temperature is enough to let the ice cubes release from the mold. Most Kenmore ice makers have a temperature sensor in the ice mold that controls the heating element.

This same temperature sensor also controls when the ejection cycle begins by sensing when the tray’s water reaches a certain temperature.

Without some means of sensing when the bin is full of ice, the ice maker would continue to make ice without stopping. The Shut-off arm is the key to the management of ice production. The shut-off arm is normally in the lowest position. When the ejector cycle starts, the shut-off arm lifts out of the way and the fresh ice sumps into the bin.

After the fresh ice dumps into the bin, the shut-off arm lowers. If the shut-off arm doesn’t return to the lowest point, the ice production cycle cannot start again. The production cycle halts until someone removes ice from the bin. With less ice in the bin, the shut-off arm again goes to its lowest spot.

Without ice, most of us would find many of our favorite beverages less appealing. The convenience of ice on demand is something we now take for granted. When the ice machine in your Kenmore refrigerator suddenly stops working, it may not be a life-threatening situation. However, it is aggravating and frustrating.

We hope that these tips and tricks help you diagnose any problem you may have with your Kenmore ice maker. Though these ice makers appear simple, they are, in fact, quite complex little machines that can suffer several problems. Good luck with your Kenmore ice maker.