Both stand-alone and fridge-freezers experience issues dispensing ice. Let’s figure out what’s wrong by following the troubleshooting guid below. Be careful moving ice blockages before thawing the ice — plastic parts are brittle and easily broken when cold.
Most devices will refuse to dispense ice (or water) if the door isn’t completely closed. Check that the doors can close correctly and aren’t ajar. There may be an object preventing the closure, an issue with the seal, or faulty door sensor.
If the display has become locked — accidentally or intentionally — it will not dispense ice. Press and hold the lock key for three seconds to unlock. Verify the child lock is not enabled either.
Continual usage of the ice maker may result in an automatic shut-off to prevent the motor from overheating (just throw some ice on it!). If you think this might have been the case, reset the device by releasing the dispenser paddle and allowing a few minutes of rest.
When ice cubes are exposed to heat which allows them to move out of the tray, or due to a door not closing, the ice melts into a continually larger mass — an iceberg. Clearing your system from these ice blockages will likely remedy your dispensing issues.
Check the chute where ice cubes are made and see how large the blockage might be. Remove the stuck ice with a chisel, hairdryer, or warm water and rag while making sure not to break the plastic bits. Ice may have built up in the ice molds. Remove and pour warm water through the molds so the old ice will melt and new ice can form.
When the internal temperature of the freezer is too low and moisture is allowed into the compartment, the auger motor can freeze and will not be able to dispense ice. By holding down the dispense lever, the motor will warm up and melt the ice stopping its rotation. This is not ideal and wears your motor due to hard starting conditions. You may be able to use a hairdryer to heat your motor, or allow your freezer to return to room temperature.
In the event that your ice maker isn’t making ice, then your machine will not be able to dispense anything. Follow this guide to troubleshoot that problem.
