More and more models of refrigerators are equipped with an ice-making function, which is actually a very useful thing. But it also causes some problems from time to time, and can even stop working at all. Let’s see what can cause difficulties in the ice-maker operation.
What can cause the failure of the ice maker?
- The operating time of this unit is affected by both the quality of the water used and the condition of the refrigeration unit itself. The use of dirty and hard water makes the water filters unusable.
- Ice makers are also sensitive to any movements and rearrangements. So if you decided to change something in your apartment and moved the fridge, there is a risk that microscopic cracks will form in the solder points of the copper pipes of the ice maker.
- Failure of the refrigeration compressor may cause the refrigerant to leak.
- Failure of controllers and micro boards can cause voltage fluctuations as the sta-bility of electrical voltage is one of the key factors that affect the duration of the ice maker. Therefore, the best solution is to install voltage regulators on the mains.
Major Reasons for ice maker malfunction
If the ice maker does not work properly, this is reflected in the insufficiently low temperature it generates. It may just not be cold, a here is the list of possible expla-nations:
- Maybe it’s the pipeline that’s leaked or the pressure is low;
- The clogged pipe (by the condenser). The dehumidifier filter could be clogged in the same way;
- The control module started to malfunction;
- The condenser’s power isn’t high enough;
- The compressor’s not working.
Ice machine conditions of use
Remember that there are techniques that can be easily repaired, and there are those that cannot be repaired at all. And the one that’s cheaper to replace than to repair.
Why would an ice maker even break down? These are the main reasons, according to statistics:
- Compressor malfunctions;
- Condenser malfunction;
- A clogged filter;
- Too much refrigerant, or on the contrary, too little;
- The condenser fan or the air cooler is broken, so the electric motor has failed.
Compressor breakdowns
In case the problems are considered in detail, we should start with the compressor, as this problem is the most serious of all. The fact that, in general, the life of the compressor is from three to ten years, there is slightly more or slightly less – it all depends on the quality of the compressor, its production … …and the operation, as far as it’s done properly. In the worst case, the compressor will have to be com-pletely replaced, and it will cost the maximum.
The reasons could be this:
- There may have been inadequate repairs, where parts that are simply not com-patible with the equipment have been improperly selected.
- If certain parts of an ice maker are faulty, such as components, the compressor may also be out of service.
- If the compressor overloads the power supply, it can be very damaging.
- If an ice maker is located in a room where the temperature is very high, it will overheat.
- It may be that the condenser or evaporator has been hit by dirt or snow.
- Or it could be that the compressor is not being operated properly.
Condenser
You can see that the capacitor is contaminated without a specialist. Over time, other components of the compressor will start to wear out at the highest speed. Besides, the ice maker will overheat all the time, and how long will it live after that? In short, keep the condenser clean and clean in time!
A clogged filter
It is the refrigeration filter that cleans the refrigeration equipment, including ice gen-erators, from dirty impurities and moisture. Such a filter is located between the condenser and thermoregulation valve, and it can be found just by eye. If some garbage is stuck in the filter, the ice maker will run slower than usual and the freezing will be worse. Usually, poor assembly of an ice maker is a situation typical for inexpensive models, and its owners often “smear” with filters.
Freon
It happens that the refrigerant is either too much or too little. And the ice generator without refrigerant is not able to work – still, it is the refrigerant in the case of refrig-eration equipment is something like gasoline. Of course, when “gasoline” is too much or not enough, the ice maker will not work as well as it used to if it does not stop working. Similar problems occur when the refrigerant is not filled properly, or when the refrigeration circuit is not tight enough when the refrigerant simply flows out.
The condenser fan or the air cooler
If the electric motor of any of these mechanisms breaks down, the ice maker will not be able to work properly: the heat removal from the condenser stops, and the compressor will eventually break down too. And we have already said that a broken compressor is a compressor to be replaced expensively.