Why isn’t the ice maker in my JennAir fridge filling with water?

With the warmer months well on their way, ice will become a precious resource you’re going to be wanting more and more of. Thankfully, many modern fridges have the luxury of built-in ice makers so you don’t have to go through the trouble of filling up ice trays. 

However, from time to time your ice maker may stop working as it should. A common problem you will face if you have a JennAir fridge with a built-in ice maker is that it will not fill with water. Without water, your machine will be incapable of making ice, making it entirely useless until you have fixed the problem. 

There are a number of reasons the ice maker in your JennAir fridge is filled with water. We will break them down here so you can get back to enjoying cold refreshments.

Freezer Temperature too High

When your freezer temperature is too high, the ice maker will be unable to produce ice cubes. This usually occurs when the freezer temperature is -12 degrees celsius or higher. Instead, your freezer should sit between -18 to -15 degrees celsius in order to properly make ice. 

Defective Icemaker Switch

If your ice maker isn’t making ice, it could be as simple as the icemaker switch being in the off position. Check to see if it is on and if it is but ice still isn’t being made, use a multimeter to test the switch for continuity. If the icemaker switch does not have continuity, it needs to be replaced.

Water Filter

If the water filter in the ice maker is clogged, it can restrict the flow of water to the dispenser which will stop the ice maker from working as it should. Replace the water filter and if the problem persists then the issue most likely lies elsewhere.

Defective Water Inlet Valve

A water inlet valve is a valve that feeds the icemaker water. The valve needs at least 20 psi of pressure in order to function properly. If the valve isn’t outputting enough pressure, your ice maker will not be able to make ice. If your water inlet valve has sufficient pressure but still isn’t making ice, you need to have it replaced.

Icemaker Module

The icemaker model is a motorized ice ejector that releases ice out of the machine. If the icemaker module isn’t working as it should it may not be able to dispense ice but could also prevent ice from being made as it is the part of the ice maker that sends a signal to the water inlet valve to refill the ice tray. If you believe that your water module is what’s preventing your ice maker from filling with water there are usually test points in the module that can be used by a technician so they can diagnose the problem.

Defective Door Switch

When you open the fridge door, a switch goes off so the fridge knows when you have the door open. Having the door open will stop the ice maker from working, so if your door switch is defective your fridge will constantly have your ice maker turned off. To check if the problem is the door switch, use a multimeter to test the switch for continuity. If the door switch does not have continuity, it needs to be replaced.

Control Board Failure

In the ice bucket of the ice maker, there is an infrared beam used to determine if the ice bucket is full or not – if the ice goes above the infrared beam the control board shuts off the ice maker. If your control board stops working, the ice maker will stop making ice entirely. First, check if your control board is getting power, if it is still getting power but ice still isn’t being made, you will need to replace the ice level control board.

Defective Icemaker Mold Thermostat

The icemaker mold thermostat monitors the temperatures of ice in the machine, and once it has reached optimal temperature, the ice is released and the ice mold is refilled with water. If the icemaker mold thermostat is defective, the icemaker will no longer make ice. To check if the problem is the ice maker mold thermostat, use a multimeter to test the switch for continuity. If the icemaker mold thermostat does not have continuity, it needs to be replaced.

 

If you have encountered any of these problems, you will need to have the problem part replaced, If you have a multimeter you can diagnose the problem yourself but the locating and replacement of the part will need to be done by an appliance repair technician. 

Luckily, the experts at Care & Repair Appliances specialize in JennAir fridges. We have all of the required parts necessary as well as the skill to replace them, so give us a call for any JennAir appliance repairs. We are fridge repair experts you can trust so give us a call today at (647) 812-2863 and we will have your ice maker up and running in no time!