Whirlpool Ice Maker Repair: Part 1

Have you ever come home from work, thirsty for an ice-cold beverage, open the freezer door, and have an avalanche of ice cubes come falling and tumbling all over you and the kitchen floor? Probably not, but if the ice collection bin did not send a signal to the ice maker that it was full, the ice maker will be happy to continue making ice cubes. Is it time to call someone to repair the ice maker? In this article, we will give a brief description of how an ice maker works. In a follow-up article, we will discuss some of the ways an ice maker can malfunction.

How an ice maker works

Whirlpool is the most common built ice maker and installed in nearly all Whirlpool refrigeration units, such as Maytag, Kitchen Aid, and Kenmore. The ice maker performs as a separate appliance inside of the freezer and produces a batch of ice every 1-2 hours.

A water supply line provides water from a water source to the refrigerator. The water line connects to a water fill valve which delivers water to the ice maker assembly that includes an ice mold where the water freezes and forms ice cubes. After the ice cubes form, a signal is sent to a thermostat which turns on a heating element under the ice mold, assisting the frozen cubes to eject into the collection tub. After the cubes release, a signal is sent to the water fill valve to refill the ice mold. Wash, rinse, repeat. And the cycle continues until something goes wrong.

So how was it that your ice maker continued making so much ice that it spilled out of your freezer? After the ice collection tub fills, the ice raises a bail wire, shutting off the ice maker until the ice level in the bin drops. If for some reason this operation fails, the ice maker is going to keep making ice cubes until it receives a signal to stop.

In our next article, we will discuss some of the ways an ice maker malfunctions. In the meantime, if your ice maker is not making ice or is making too much ice, or you have any other appliance concerns contact ABA Appliance Repair. We look forward to your inquiry.

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