GE Ice Maker Not Working: What to Check

When a GE ice maker stops making ice, the cause is usually simple: the ice maker is switched off, the freezer is not cold enough for a cycle to start, the water supply is restricted, or clumped ice is holding the feeler arm or jamming the ejector. Start with those. If the freezer sits near 0°F, water reaches the ice maker and it still produces nothing, a part such as the water valve or the ice maker itself has likely failed.

This site is an independent directory of repair companies and is not affiliated with GE Appliances, which is owned by Haier.

Safety before you start

• Unplug the refrigerator, or turn off its breaker, before reaching into the ice maker or removing panels. GE's leak guidance also starts with unplugging.
• Shut off the household water valve before touching the supply line or filter.
• Never chip ice with a knife or other sharp tool. GE warns the ice maker mold can be hot during a cycle, so give it time before clearing a jam.
• Leave the sealed system alone. Refrigerant and compressor work requires a technician certified under EPA Section 608.

1. Make sure the ice maker is on

GE ice makers have been built with several styles of on/off control, and GE says to check your owner's manual to see which one you have:

• Control panel setting: Some models turn the ice maker on and off from the display, next to the temperature controls.
• Toggle switch: Up, marked I, is on and the green light comes on. Down, marked O, is off.
• Slide switch: Slide left for on and right for off. When it is on, a paddle extends over the ice. On these models the green light can stay lit even when the ice maker is off, so do not rely on the light alone.
• Wire feeler arm: Older models use a metal arm. Down is on and up is stop.

GE also notes that a new ice maker often ships switched off. Once it is on, allow up to 24 hours for the freezer to get cold enough, and expect a few cycles to purge air from the line before the first full batch.

2. Check the freezer temperature

This matters more on a GE than most owners realize. GE says the ice maker mold has to reach about 16°F before a cycle starts, so a freezer that is only a little warm can slow or stop ice completely. GE recommends 0°F in the freezer and 37°F in the fresh food section. If output is low, lower the freezer setting one degree, wait 24 hours and check again.

Keeping the freezer about three-quarters full also helps it hold temperature. If the freezer will not get cold at all, the ice maker is not the real problem; see our guide to a freezer not freezing.

Look for a FF code on the display, too. GE says it means the freezer has warmed too much, so check your food. The FDA says frozen food should be held at 0°F, and USDA guidance is to discard perishables that sat above 40°F for more than two hours.

3. Clear clumped ice

Ice that melts and refreezes can bond into a mass that holds the feeler arm or paddle up. The ice maker reads that as a full bin and stops. Empty the bin, break up the clumps by hand or let them thaw, and seat the bin fully. If cubes are stuck in the ejector rake, the cycle cannot finish; clear them carefully once the mold has cooled.

4. Check the water supply and filter

With the water off and the refrigerator unplugged, pull the unit out and check the supply line for kinks, crushing or a partly closed saddle valve. Then look at the filter:

• GE suggests replacing the water filter every six months, and sooner after new construction.
• After a new filter goes in, run about two gallons through the dispenser to push the air out.
• If you hear a buzz from the ice maker about every 15 minutes, GE says to check the water supply; the valve is trying to fill with no water coming through.

Small, hollow or mushy cubes point the same way. GE explains that the ice maker fills from the rear while its thermostat reads the front cube, so a slow fill can let rear cubes eject before they freeze solid. A freezer colder than about -10°F can cause the same thing.

How much ice to expect

Depending on the model, a GE ice maker can sit in the freezer, in the fresh food section or in the fresh food door, and daily output runs about 3 to 4.5 pounds by style. Some models have a Quick Ice setting that moves air over the ice maker to shorten each cycle. If you are getting ice, just less than expected, the temperature and filter steps above are the place to start. Our general ice maker troubleshooting guide covers the same checks across brands.

GE codes worth knowing

GE Profile Opal nugget ice makers

The countertop Opal works differently from a refrigerator ice maker. Two small sensors at the ice chute entrance tell it when the bin is full and when to defrost. When hard water coats them, or the chute is blocked, the Opal can think the bin is full and stop. GE suggests cleaning the sensors with a cotton swab dampened with white vinegar, running the cleaning cycle in the manual, and making sure the bin is pushed fully in. Repair companies that handle countertop and undercounter units are listed under ice machine repair.

What fails and what a technician tests

• Water valve: A tech checks for power to the valve and for flow when it opens. A leaking valve is also on GE's list of ice maker leak sources.
• Fill tube: A frozen or leaking fill tube extension stops fills or drips water.
• Ice maker assembly: The motor, rake or built-in thermostat can fail. On many models the whole unit is swapped.
• Defrost system: A clogged defrost drain or a dE code points to defrost trouble that can starve the ice maker of cold air.
• Sealed system: A freezer that will not cool despite clean coils and running fans may have a refrigerant or compressor problem, which only an EPA-certified technician should handle.

When to call a pro

Call for service if the freezer holds 0°F, the ice maker is on and the line is clear but no water reaches the mold after a day; if a CI or dE code keeps coming back; or if water leaks from the valve or fittings after you have checked the connections and leveled the refrigerator. Find ice maker repair companies near you, or start from the GE ice maker and freezer repair page.

Rough repair costs

HomeAdvisor says the diagnostic fee is often credited toward the repair. See ice maker repair cost for more detail, and repair or replace if the refrigerator is aging. Local listings are available too, such as ice maker repair in Chicago and ice maker repair in Phoenix.