Ice makers are incredible features inside refrigerators that many of us take for granted. The moment the ice maker begins to show signs of trouble, people freak out. Luckily, there’s a simple way to get your Frigidaire ice maker working again—reset the machine.
To reset your Frigidaire ice maker:
- Press and hold the on/off button until the LED indicators turn red.
- Wait for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Turn the ice maker back on by hitting the on/off button.
Unfortunately, resetting your ice maker isn’t a universal solution to every problem. In this guide, I’ll explain the various problems associated with ice makers and what you can do to fix them.
How to Reset Frigidaire Ice Maker
Ice makers are supposed to make ice as long as the ice bucket is running low continuously. When the feeler arm identifies a shortage of ice, the ice maker will kick it into high gear and begin preparing a new batch of ice. On average, you can expect your Frigidaire ice maker to produce around 3 pounds of ice per day.
But what happens when the ice maker seems to be slower than usual? Or what if the ice maker doesn’t make ice at all? These are serious issues that may be fixed by resetting the machine.
Resetting an ice maker is as simple as turning the device off and on again. Below, I’ll explain the precise steps you need to follow in order to reset your Frigidaire ice maker. Please note that these steps do not apply to all Frigidaire fridges; you should consult your owner’s manual to learn how to do it for your specific model.
- Press and hold the on/off button until the LED indicators turn red. The button should be located beside the freezer temperature buttons. If they’re not there, take a look at the side of the ice maker. Some models require pulling out the ice basket to access the control board.
- Wait for 1 to 2 minutes. Now that the unit is off give it some time to shut down completely. Leave the unit alone for 1 to 2 minutes, but you can certainly leave it overnight. The longer you leave the ice maker turned off, the better the chance it has of clearing whatever issue it’s currently experiencing.
- Turn the ice maker back on by hitting the on/off button. After waiting for 1 to 2 minutes (at least), it’s safe to turn the ice maker back on. You’ll know the unit is back on when the LED indicators flash green. When the ice maker turns on, the feeler arm should lower and rise depending on how much ice is in the bucket. If the arm is lowered, then the ice maker will begin preparing a new batch of ice.
Is There a Reset Button?
Yes, you can find a reset button in select Frigidaire ice makers. You can read the owner’s manual to learn whether or not your particular fridge has a reset button for the ice maker.
In certain Frigidaire models, you can access the reset button by carefully detaching the control board’s front panel. After exposing the reset button, press and hold it for 2 to 3 seconds until you see the feeler arm move. It should take less than 15 seconds for the ice maker to boot back up.
Frigidaire Ice Maker Won’t Reset
The likeliest reason your Frigidaire ice maker won’t reset is that the control board is completely frozen. This is typical if the freezer is on its lowest temperature setting.
If this happens, you can try heating the control board with a hairdryer. Hold the hairdryer at least 6 inches away while aiming it at the control board. Do this for 30 to 60 seconds or until the board can register button presses.
However, on the off chance that this doesn’t work, then you will have to perform a hard reset. Unplug the fridge from the wall receptacle and wait for 30 to 60 seconds before plugging it back in. Just like that, the ice maker is reset!
Frigidaire Ice Maker Still Doesn’t Work After Resetting It
Unfortunately, resetting an ice maker won’t fix every problem. At most, it will discharge the unit and reposition the feeler arm.
Now, let’s take a look at the various issues your ice maker may be experiencing and what you can do to fix the problem.
Ice maker won’t make ice
This is a problem that usually develops over time. The older the ice maker is, the less reliable it becomes at making ice. Unfortunately, this is a symptom that is associated with a wide range of problems, including frozen water lines, clogged filters, and a hot freezer.
Solution #1: Defrost the ice maker
Defrosting your ice maker is perhaps the best solution to this problem. There’s a good chance there’s a buildup of ice somewhere in the ice maker. To defrost the ice maker, simply unplug the fridge from the wall receptacle and leave it alone for at least 6 hours. The bigger the ice blockage, the more time it will take before it finally defrosts.
When the unit has defrosted completely, plug it back in and restart the ice maker. You’ll know whether or not the ice maker is working again when it begins filling the ice tray with water.
You can quicken the defrosting process by heating the ice maker with a hairdryer. Make sure to continuously move the hair dryer while you’re heating the ice maker so as not to cause irreparable damage to its plastic exterior.
Solution #2: Replace the water filter
Ice makers come with water filters to capture solid debris flowing through your home’s water supply line and into the device’s collection sump. This ensures that your ice cubes aren’t contaminated with tiny bits of minerals and whatnot. However, if you don’t remember the last time you replaced the filter, and if your ice maker is older than 6 months, then it’s time to replace the filter.
Solution #3: Check the door seal for damage
The door seal or gasket is in charge of both keeping the door shut with magnets and for preventing hot air from entering the freezer (and cold air from leaving). If the seal is damaged in any way, it may lead to a significant increase in temperature in the freezer, which can trigger the ice maker to shut off. The ice makers in some Frigidaire models will automatically stop working when the freezer’s temperature exceeds 10°F. So, check the seal for damage and replace it if it’s damaged beyond repair.
Ice maker not making enough ice
Ice makers fill up their ice trays based on a timer. If the timer expires and the ice tray isn’t full, then there’s probably something wrong with the water line or the feeler arm.
Solution #1: Reposition the water line
The water line from the collection sump runs directly to the ice tray. If the line is too low, the water may splash back, and only a tiny portion of that water will make it into the tray. A clear sign that this is the problem is if the ice maker is constantly jammed. Lower the water line so that it’s hovering a few inches over the ice tray. If it’s too low, none of the water will make it into the tray.
Solution #2: Fix the feeler arm
The feeler arm is responsible for telling the ice maker when to begin making ice and when to stop, depending on how much ice is in the ice bucket. If the bucket is full, the arm will rise, and the ice maker will cease all operations. If the arm is low, then it will trigger the ice maker to begin a new ice cycle.
However, over time, the feeler arm may have been pushed out of position. Try raising and lowering the arm a couple of times to free it up. If it feels too loose, continue doing this until the spring mechanism pops back into place. You may even have to disassemble the feeler arm mechanism to bring the spring back to its original position manually.
Ice maker takes too long to make ice
The ice maker in your Frigidaire freezer doesn’t have a separate cooling mechanism to freeze ice. Instead, it depends on the temperature setting of your freezer. So, if your freezer is too warm, it will take the ice maker longer to complete an ice cycle.
Solution #1: Lower the freezer’s temperature
Go to the control panel and adjust the temperature setting. Try lowering it one or two steps below its original setting. If that doesn’t work, continue lowering the temperature until it can’t go any lower. If that still doesn’t work, then you should try the following solution.
Solution #2: Check the door switch
Shutting the freezer door will depress the switch, which will trigger the freezer’s compressor to begin working. If the switch is faulty, your freezer will not get any colder, and you put your frozen food at risk of spoilage. You can tell whether the switch is faulty by listening closely to the freezer when it’s shut. If you don’t hear a whirring noise, inspect the switch for damage or replace it completely.
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