Whether you’re looking for a way to cool off during the dog days of summer or you enjoy having a frosty drink year-round, having a refrigerator with an ice maker is a real perk. A few ice cubes can bring a whole world of refreshment, so you can imagine the disappointment when your ice maker stops working.
If you’re dealing with a Hisense refrigerator ice maker not working, you could be wondering what the issue could be. After all, Hisense is one of the most reliable brands on the market. So, what does it mean when your Hisense refrigerator ice maker is not working?
Your Hisense refrigerator ice maker not working can be attributed to several different issues. It could be something as simple as the ice maker needing to be reset, or it could be indicative of a more significant problem. Perhaps one of the essential components is broken and needs replacement or realignment.
Reasons Why Hisense Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working
The reasons for your Hisense refrigerator ice maker not working are diverse, from issues with the power supply to problems with the ice maker itself. Determining what’s going on will help know how to fix it.
Here are some likely causes of issues;
1. Check For Power Connection
The first thing you should do when your ice maker stops working is to check and see if it’s properly plugged in. It may sound like a silly mistake, but it’s one that’s easily made.
Actually, if you can’t see any lights on the control panel, your unit may be off. Try turning it on. If it still doesn’t, check the outlet and, if necessary, the circuit breaker connected to the fridge to trace the source of the problem.
However, if the control panel is lit, the unit is likely receiving power, but there’s still something else going on. So, continue with the following steps to try and figure out the Hisense refrigerator ice maker not working mystery.
2. Clogged Water Filter
A water filter is the part of your ice maker that ensures the water used to make ice is clean. It’s the part that ensures that you get clean, fresh-tasting ice. So, it must be in good working condition. Otherwise, the entire process becomes compromised.
Now, as water passes through the filter, the filter will eventually become clogged with all the impurities it has filtered out. When this happens, some manufacturers like Hisense have programmed the ice maker to shut off automatically.
The thinking is that it’s better to have no ice than dirty ice. So, if your Hisense refrigerator ice maker is not working, it could be because the water filter needs replacement. That’s especially true if you haven’t replaced it in the last six months.
3. Faulty Door Switch
Your ice maker’s door switch is responsible for telling the ice maker whether or not the door is open. That’s why you see lights on the ice maker panel turn on and off as you open and close the door.
And as you probably know, your icemaker can’t make ice if the door is open. That would be a big mess. So, the door switch is an essential safety feature. Now, if the door switch is faulty, it will prevent the ice maker from working even when the door is closed. After all, as far as the ice maker is concerned, the door is still open. As a result, no ice production will happen.
Fortunately, testing the door switch is relatively easy to do. All you need is a multimeter. Once you have one, follow these steps:
1. Start by unplugging the fridge from the power outlet.
2. Locate the door switch.
3. Use the multimeter to test the switch for continuity.
4. If the switch doesn’t have continuity, it will need swapping.
4. Defective Ice Level Control Board
The ice level control board detects the level of ice in the ice bucket and signals the ice maker to stop producing ice once the bucket is full. And once the ice level goes low, it will use a laser beam to detect the new ice level and signal the ice maker to start producing ice again.
Once this essential component is defective, no signals will be sent to the ice maker. And when that happens, it doesn’t only affect the ice production alone but also could make the entire ice maker not function altogether.
5. Damaged Thermostat
A thermostat is the part of the icemaker that serves the crucial role of regulating the temperature. It’s the part that ensures your ice maker runs at the optimal temperature. So, if it’s defective, the entire ice-making process will be disrupted.
Fortunately, checking whether or not the thermostat has problems is simple and much like testing for most of your refrigerator parts. You’re good to go as long as you’ve got a multimeter. Just use this tool to check for continuity in the thermostat. If there’s none, then you’ve already diagnosed the likely reason your ice maker isn’t working.
6. Low Water Pressure
Yes, low water pressure can prevent your ice maker from working. After all, the entire process of making ice cubes starts with water. Usually, the minimum water pressure necessary for ice production is 20PSI. If the inlet water tubing delivers pressure that’s lower than that, your ice maker may not be able to work correctly or at all.
You see, when the water pressure is too low, the ice maker may not be able to get enough water. And when that happens, it can cause a whole host of problems, including the production of smaller ice cubes or no ice at all.
7. Inappropriate Temperature
For ice maker production to occur, an ice maker needs a temperature below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. If not, it simply won’t produce ice. So, if your Hisense refrigerator ice maker isn’t working at all, it could be because the temperature is too warm.
The issue doesn’t have to be the thermostat. It could be that the setting is too high or the ice maker isn’t cold enough. Perhaps you’ve set the ice maker temperature to match the fridge’s, which shouldn’t be so.
You see, the ideal temperature for a fridge is between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s too high for ice-making. So, ensure that the temperature is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. For optimal production, work with the 0 – 5 degrees Fahrenheit range.
8. Faulty Water Inlet
The water inlet is the component that supplies water to the ice maker. If it’s defective, you guessed it right, your ice maker won’t have enough water to make ice cubes. In case of blockage, you may not get any water, which is probably why the maker isn’t functioning in the first place.
You can always check the faulty water inlet by using a multimeter. It will allow you to check the continuity of the inlet valve. If there’s no continuity, the water inlet is defective and needs replacement.
9. Faulty Ejector Assembly
Still, another reason your ice maker may not be working is a faulty ejector assembly. This part of the machine pulls the cubes from the ice bin and directs them into the chute. That means in the event the ejector assembly is blocked, the ice cubes will have a difficult time getting into the chute. As a result, no ice will come out of your machine.
10. Frozen Auger Motor
This is one of the most common reasons your freezer might not work. The auger motor is responsible for picking up ice cubes from the bin and dropping them into the chute. If it’s frozen, the auger motor will be unable to move, which could even affect the functionality of the entire unit.
Fixes to Hisense Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working
The fixing your Hisense refrigerator ice maker needs depends on what exactly is wrong with it. The approach you’d use for fixing a faulty water inlet wouldn’t be the same as the one you’d use to fix a frozen auger motor.
But regardless of the problem, there are a few general fixes you can try out before calling in the pros.
1. Replace The Faulty Parts
Defective parts are one of the most common reasons your ice maker might not work. So, if you’ve troubleshooted and confirmed that certain parts are no longer functioning as they should, then the best way to fix the problem is by replacing those parts.
Of course, you’ll first need to identify the faulty parts. Once you do, you can either buy them separately or as part of an assembly unit. Some parts don’t come alone. You have to buy the larger assembly unit they’re a part of.
2. Defrost Any Frozen Parts
Frozen parts are another common problem when the ice maker is not working. If that’s the case, then the only way to restore the functionality of your ice producer unit is to defrost these parts.
You can do that in several ways;
- Unplug the unit and leave the door open: It’s the most obvious way to go about it. Just unplug your ice maker from the power outlet and leave the door open. This will give the ice time to melt on its own. Of course, remember to remove any ice cubes that might have already formed before unplugging the unit.
- Use a blow dryer: If you’re in a hurry, you can use a blow dryer to speed up the process. Just be careful not to overdo it. Also, make sure you keep the blow drier at a safe distance from the unit.
- Make use of a fan: Once you unplug and leave the doors open, using a fan can also help defrost some parts of your ice maker. However, this will only apply if your home has a warmer temperature. If it doesn’t, the fan will only help circulate the cold air around.
3. Tighten Up Any Loose Parts
Perhaps you noticed that some parts of your ice maker unit have become loose. If that’s the case, you need to tighten them up as soon as possible. As simple as it looks, tightening that loose water inlet valve could be the only thing standing between a functional and a non-functional ice maker.
How Do I Reset My Hisense Ice Maker?
If you need to rest your Hisense ice maker, just unplug the unit from the main switch, wait for 5 minutes, plug it in, and switch it on. Resetting could be the only remedy you need for a wide range of ice maker issues.
However, note that the effects of resetting may not be felt immediately. Sometimes, it might take up to 5 hours for the ice maker to start working again. So, once you tap that reset button, all you can do is wait patiently and hope for the best.
Final Verdict
If your Hisense ice maker suddenly stops working, there’s no need to panic. The problem can be fixed in most cases without calling in the pros. Follow the troubleshooting tips and solutions outlined in this article, and you should have your ice maker up and running in no time. Of course, if you aren’t sure of any step, you’d rather leave the work to professionals.