An empty bin or ice that won't come out
- Look in the bin. An empty bin means no ice is being made, while ice that won't come out is a dispensing problem.
- Empty bin? Check that the ice maker is switched on, the fridge has a cold-water supply with no kinked tubing, the filter isn't overdue for a change and the freezer is cold enough.
- Ice in the bin? Close both doors, check Dispenser Lock and press a sturdy glass firmly against the paddle.
- Still nothing? Contact Whirlpool service, and leave the doors, grille, covers and plumbing alone.
No ice in your glass can mean two different things, and each needs its own checks. We'd look in the ice bin before changing any settings. Do it even if the water dispenser still works, since that only tells you water is reaching the dispenser.
If the bin is empty, Whirlpool's ice maker troubleshooting (opens in a new tab) for its full-size refrigerators lists four possible causes: a restricted water supply, the freezer temperature, an ice maker that isn't turned on, and water filter problems. We'd check the on/off control first, since Whirlpool calls an accidentally switched-off ice maker a common reason for no ice. The model-specific steps below are for the Whirlpool WRS325SDHZ side-by-side.
Make sure the ice maker is switched on
Ice maker controls vary across Whirlpool models. Most have a lever or switch you can move to Off, and on a fridge with a digital display the ice maker setting is in the settings menu. Whirlpool's on/off guide (opens in a new tab) shows the common styles and how to look up your model's manual.
On the WRS325SDHZ, stick to a control you can see without removing the bin or a covering panel. If yours has a wire shut-off arm, gently lower it to turn ice production on. Lifting it until it clicks turns production off. Don't force the arm either way. If it's up because the bin is full of ice, that's the normal automatic shut-off doing its job.
If it has a rocker switch, go by the I/O markings rather than the direction the switch points. The I-marked side is On and the O-marked side is Off.
On another style, the on/off switch sits on the left wall of the freezer door and can only be reached with the ice bin removed. If that's your setup, or the control is hidden or doesn't match these descriptions, contact Whirlpool with your full model number and ask for the right steps before you operate it.
If the fridge isn't connected to a water supply, leave the ice maker off. Running it without water can make it buzz, make the fridge too cold and freeze food in the crisper drawers.
Check the water supply, filter and freezer
The ice maker needs a cold-water supply. If your fridge was never hooked up, have it properly installed before you turn the ice maker on.
Look along any water tubing you can see for a kink, because a kink reduces the water flow. If you spot one, or the trouble started after the fridge was installed or moved, tell the installer. Leave the fridge where it is and the plumbing fittings alone.
Water that dispenses slowly, or cubes that come out small or hollow, can mean low water pressure. A clogged or badly installed filter can also slow the flow and cut ice production, so the pressure, the filter's condition and how it's installed all need a look. A reverse-osmosis system on the supply can lower the pressure further. For pressure or supply problems, call a licensed plumber.
Check when the filter was last changed. It should be replaced at least every 6 months, and sooner if the indicator says so or the flow drops noticeably. After any filter change, flush the water system with the steps below. If the trouble started right after a filter change and you're not sure it went in properly, contact Whirlpool service to have the fit checked.
The freezer has to be cold enough, too. Whirlpool recommends 0 to 5°F (-17 to -15°C) for ice production. If the fridge is running warm, set the controls colder and wait at least 24 hours before adjusting them again. If it's still warm when you recheck, treat that as a cooling problem of its own and contact Whirlpool service.
Give a new fridge time to start making ice
A newly installed fridge needs 24 hours to cool down and make its first batch of ice. Throw away the first three batches, and allow 72 hours for full ice production. On a new fridge, we'd wait out those 72 hours before booking service.
Those startup waits only apply to a new installation. An empty bin on a fridge that's been running for a while, or after a filter change, goes straight to the checks above.
Flush the water system after the fridge is first connected to water and after you replace the filter. Flushing pushes air out of the water line and filter, and air left in the system can make the dispenser drip. Close both doors and use a sturdy container.
- Press and hold the water dispenser pad for 5 seconds, then release it for 5 seconds.
- Repeat that until water starts to flow.
- Keep going, 5 seconds on and 5 seconds off, until you've dispensed 3 gallons (12 liters) in total.
Water can spurt out at first while the air clears, and some homes need more flushing than that.
If the doors rub against cabinets or anything nearby after installation, ask the installer to check how they fit. Leave the water and wiring connections at the hinge to the installer too.
There's ice in the bin but none comes out
- Close both doors. Some Whirlpool models need the doors closed before the dispenser will work, and the WRS325SDHZ's won't run while either door is open.
- Check whether Control Lock or Dispenser Lock is on, and unlock it using the steps for your control panel. The lock only disables the controls and the pad, and it doesn't turn off the ice maker.
- Select ice if your display has that choice. On a display that goes to sleep after 2 minutes without use, the first button press only wakes it up, so check your selection after that.
- Press a sturdy glass firmly against the dispenser paddle. Pull the glass away to stop.
If ice reaches the glass, delivery is working again. If it doesn't, look for ice that has clumped together or a bin that isn't fully seated. A blocked chute or a badly fitted bin needs the cleaning or seating steps in your model's owner's manual, like the ice bin steps in the WRS325SDHZ manual (opens in a new tab).
Don't poke into the chute or break up ice with anything sharp, which can damage the bin and the dispenser mechanism. If you can't tell how your bin comes out or seats, contact Whirlpool service instead of forcing it.
When to contact Whirlpool service
Contact Whirlpool service if the bin stays empty after these checks (and, on a new fridge, after the 72-hour startup period), or if there's ice in the bin that still won't dispense. You can schedule service or contact Whirlpool from its side-by-side ice help page (opens in a new tab), or call Whirlpool customer service in the US at 1-866-698-2538.
Have the full model number ready. Tell them whether the bin is empty or has ice in it, how the water dispenses, any recent installation or filter change, and what you've already checked. Mention anything you couldn't reach or weren't sure about, like a hidden control, kinked tubing, clumped ice or a bin that might not be seated, so they know where to start.
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