To clear an ice maker jam, turn the ice maker off, pull out and empty the bin, break up any frozen clumps, and gently melt ice wedged in the ejector or chute with a warm cloth. Reach for this when the ice maker stops dropping cubes, the dispenser grinds without delivering, or you find a solid block of ice in the bin.
Time: about 20 to 30 minutes · Difficulty: Easy · You'll need: a towel, a plastic or wooden utensil, warm water, a soft cloth, a hair dryer on low (optional, used with care)
Before you start
- •Turn the ice maker off with its switch, or raise the wire shutoff arm on older models. Some models stop by a setting on the control panel.
- •Keep fingers away from the ejector arms and the auger in the bin. They can move if the unit is still on, so unplug the fridge before you work near the ejector or chute.
- •Don't use a knife or screwdriver to chip ice. You can crack the ice tray, the bin or the freezer liner.
- •If you use a hair dryer, hold it well away from any water and never let water drip onto it.
Steps
Step 1 — Remove the bin
Lift and pull the bin out. Some bins have a release lever or need to be tilted up first; check your manual if it won't slide out.
Step 2 — Empty and break up the ice
Dump the ice into the sink. Run warm water over large clumps to separate them, then dry the bin completely so fresh cubes don't stick to it.
Step 3 — Look for stuck cubes
With a flashlight, check the ice maker's tray, the ejector fingers and the chute. A cube caught halfway out is a common jam.
Step 4 — Loosen the stuck ice
Hold a warm damp cloth on the stuck cube until it loosens, then lift it out with a plastic utensil. A hair dryer on low, held at a distance, also works.
Step 5 — Clear the dispenser chute
On door-dispenser models, ice can freeze inside the chute or the door flap. Wipe away ice and moisture with a warm cloth.
Step 6 — Reinstall and turn it back on
Put the dry bin back until it seats fully, plug the fridge back in, then turn the ice maker on. It usually takes several hours to make the first full batch.
Didn't fix it?
Repeat jams often come from ice sitting unused and fusing together, so use ice regularly or turn the ice maker off when you don't need it. Hollow or tiny cubes can mean low water flow from a clogged filter; see how to replace a refrigerator water filter. A freezer that runs warmer than it should also makes cubes that melt and refreeze into clumps. If the ice maker stays silent, leaks or overfills the tray, book ice maker repair.
How often to do this
There's no fixed schedule. Empty and wash the bin every few months, and clear it right before a vacation if you leave the ice maker running.
From Kevin: Many jams I see start with an ice maker left on in a fridge that barely gets used. The cubes partially thaw and refreeze into a brick, and the auger gives up.
Ice maker still stuck? Call ProFix NJ at (973) 718-9373.