Undercounter Ice Maker Not Making Ice

First, is it actually broken?

Two things fool a lot of owners:

• It needs time. Sub-Zero says its undercounter ice makers may not cycle until they’ve been on for 24 hours. KitchenAid says to allow 24 hours to cool down, after which a batch drops about every three hours, and the bin can take up to three days to fill.
• The bin isn’t a freezer. On many of these machines, the bin isn’t refrigerated, so ice slowly melts and the machine makes more. Sub-Zero says this plainly for its UC-15I. Some melting is normal. Ice that melts fast usually means a warm room or direct sun on the unit.

Checks you can do

Turn the machine off and unplug it before you clean anything inside.

1. Power and controls. Make sure it’s switched on, no warning light is lit, and no delay or clean mode is running.
2. Water supply. Find the shutoff. It may be under the sink, in a cabinet next to the machine, or in the basement by a filter system. It has to be fully open.
3. Filter. If the replace-filter light is on, or it’s been a year, change it. Sub-Zero recommends its own filters; third-party ones haven’t been tested.
4. Water pressure. Reverse osmosis and well systems often deliver too little pressure. Sub-Zero suggests a booster or regulator if ice stops often on RO or well water.
5. Drain. The drain line can’t be kinked or looped. On pump models, Sub-Zero’s manual lists an open drain pump safety switch as one reason the machine won’t run, and says to check that the line isn’t kinked or crimped before calling for service.
6. Condenser. Sub-Zero says to clean it every 6 to 12 months. A clogged condenser behind the front grille makes the machine run hot and slow.
7. Clean cycle. Scale and slime on the water plate cut production long before the machine stops completely. Run the clean cycle with the cleaner your manual names. Don’t mix in other chemicals.

What the ice tells you

• Small, thin or hollow cubes: usually not enough water, from low pressure, a partly closed valve or a tired filter. Scale on the water plate does it too.
• A few cubes per batch: same causes, or a water distributor that’s partly blocked.
• Ice frozen into a block: often a drain or bin problem, and sometimes a control or sensor fault.
• Water running into the bin: a stuck water valve or a drain issue. Turn the water off and call.

When to call

• No ice 24 hours after the water, filter, drain and clean cycle all check out
• The machine runs and hums but the plate never gets cold
• The drain pump hums but won’t pump, or water collects under the unit
• Ice freezes into a solid block more than once

Don’t open the refrigerant side, bend copper lines or bypass the drain safety switch.

Homes, not restaurants

We repair residential undercounter ice machines: the kind in a kitchen island, a bar or a butler’s pantry. We don’t service commercial ice machines in restaurants or offices, and we don’t install new machines or run new water and drain lines.

If your ice maker is the one inside your refrigerator, that’s a different machine with different parts. See Samsung ice maker not working or our refrigerator page below.

See refrigerator, wine cooler and ice machine repair and Sub-Zero appliance repair. Regular cleaning prevents a lot of these calls; our appliance maintenance visit can cover it. The service call is $219, free if you go with the repair, with the exact price before work starts (how pricing works). OEM parts, 90 days on parts and labor for qualifying repairs, and same-day weekday service is often available.

Bay Appliance Repair is an independent, locally owned repair company. Brand names belong to their owners.

Bay Appliance Repair, 140 San Pedro Rd, Daly City, CA 94014 · (415) 585-5900 · BEAR #46247 · Mon–Fri 8am–5pm. We come to you; there is no walk-in counter.

Common questions

How long does an undercounter ice maker take to make ice?

Expect nothing for the first 24 hours after it's installed or restarted. KitchenAid says that after cooling down, a batch drops about every three hours, and the bin can take up to three days to fill. If it has had a full day with water on and still makes nothing, start the checks on this page.

Why does the ice in my undercounter ice maker melt?

On many models the bin isn't refrigerated. The machine makes ice, the ice slowly melts, and the machine tops it up. That's by design. Fast melting usually means the room is hot or the unit sits in direct sun. If the bin is supposed to be refrigerated on your model, a warm bin is a repair.

How often should I clean an undercounter ice machine?

Follow your manual. Many machines have a clean light that comes on when it's time. Sub-Zero says to clean the condenser every 6 to 12 months. Homes with hard water usually need the clean cycle more often, because scale on the water plate slows ice production well before the machine stops.

Do you repair commercial ice machines?

No. We work on residential undercounter ice machines in homes. For a restaurant, bar or office ice machine, call a commercial refrigeration company.