Power is back, but check the refrigerator first
- Check that the refrigerator has power and its cooling control is on before trying an ice maker reset.
- Once the freezer is cooling, check the ice maker's on control, water supply and any visible ejector jam.
- If the refrigerator still won't cool after those checks, arrange repair.
Power may be back at the outlet while the freezer is still too warm to make ice. We'd check the refrigerator first, because a cooling problem can leave the bin empty even when the ice maker is switched on.
Open the fresh-food door and look for a light. If it's off, check that the refrigerator is plugged in and the outlet has power. If the light works, check that the cooling controls are on, using your model's owner's manual for the right setting.
On a GE refrigerator, a quiet compressor can be a defrost pause, which can last 30 to 45 minutes depending on the model. After a short outage, the compressor restarts automatically when the system is ready. If your GE refrigerator still won't run or cool after the power and control checks, schedule repair and leave it plugged in so the technician can see the symptoms.
The freezer needs to reach its ice-making temperature
Check the freezer setting before expecting new ice. For full-size Whirlpool and Maytag refrigerators, the recommended freezer setting for ice production is 0 to 5°F.
On Samsung refrigerators, the freezer needs to reach 0°F or less to make ice, even when the ice maker is in the fridge compartment. If the displayed temperature is above the setting and the refrigerator was installed more than 28 hours ago, address cooling first. If it's set above 0°F, set it to 0°F or lower, turn on Power Freeze and check the temperature after three hours. If it still isn't cold enough, keep working on the cooling problem before the ice maker.
An empty bin calls for an on and water check
Check that the ice maker is on. The control varies by model, so use your owner's manual to find it and turn it on if needed. An ice maker that's been switched off is a common reason for an empty bin.
On a full-size refrigerator with a water-fed ice maker, confirm that the supply line is connected and its valve is fully open. Look for a visible kink or blockage, straighten a kinked line and keep the refrigerator from pinching the line against the wall or cabinet.
A newly fitted filter can interrupt water flow
If you just installed or replaced a refrigerator water filter, check that it's locked into its housing and making a proper seal. A poorly installed filter can reduce or stop water flow and can leak at the housing.
For Whirlpool and Maytag full-size refrigerators, remove that newly fitted filter and try dispensing water. If water flows, reinstall the filter correctly. A clogged filter can also restrict flow to the ice maker and dispenser, so follow your refrigerator's filter-replacement guidance if flow remains slow.
Clear a visible jam, then use the right reset
If your refrigerator ice maker has a visible ejector arm, look for ice jammed there. An ice bridge can catch the harvest fingers. Remove jammed ice using only a plastic utensil so you don't damage the ice maker.
If the bin stays empty after the cooling, control, water and visible-jam checks, a reset may clear a minor issue. On Whirlpool and Maytag refrigerator ice makers, use your model's manual to locate a reset button, if there is one, and hold it for a few seconds. If that refrigerator has no reset button, unplug it for one minute and plug it back in. For a GE refrigerator recovering from a short outage, cycling power isn't needed merely to restart cooling.
If a Samsung refrigerator displays an error code, check what the code means before trying more resets; it may call for service. If ice production still doesn't resume after these checks and your model's recovery period, schedule repair.
Check for fresh ice after the freezer recovers
Look for new ice after the freezer reaches the temperature your model needs and the ice maker has water and is on. For LG freezers, the internal temperature needs to stay below 19°F, and -4°F or lower is the recommended setting for ice production. A warmer setting slows production.
If you lowered an LG freezer setting to -4°F or below, allow 24 hours for ice production to begin, then check the bin for fresh ice.
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