Samsung Ice Maker Not Working: What to Check

A Samsung ice maker that stops making ice usually has a simple cause: the freezer is not cold enough, ice production has been switched off, the ice bucket is not seated, or water is not reaching the tray with enough pressure. Samsung builds a test button into its ice makers that tells you whether the unit itself has failed. If that test fails, an error code keeps returning, or the ice maker is coated in ice, a technician should take it from there.

This site is an independent directory of repair companies and is not affiliated with Samsung. The checks below follow Samsung's own U.S. support pages, and you can find local technicians on our Samsung ice maker and freezer repair page. For problems that apply to every brand, see our general guide to an ice maker not working.

How Samsung ice makers are set up

On most Samsung refrigerators the ice maker and its bucket sit in the fresh-food compartment rather than the freezer, though some models place the ice maker inside the freezer. The location does not change the main requirement: Samsung says the freezer has to be at 0°F or colder before ice will form.

It also helps to know the normal pace. Samsung says a fridge-compartment ice maker drops a tray of ice roughly every 45 to 65 minutes, while a freezer ice maker takes about 85 minutes. The bucket holds only around 2 pounds, and once it senses a full bucket it stops making ice. Models with the Dual Auto Ice Maker have two separate ice makers, one for regular cubes and one for small Ice Bites, and each can be turned on or off on its own, so check that the one you expect to work is actually switched on.

Safe checks to try first

Unplug the refrigerator or switch off its breaker before you reach into the ice compartment or touch the ice maker. If you plan to look at the water line behind the unit, shut off the water supply valve first. Then work through this list:

1. Freezer temperature. Confirm the freezer is at 0°F or colder. If it is set warmer, Samsung suggests lowering it, turning on Power Freeze and checking again after about 3 hours. The FDA notes that an appliance thermometer at the front of the freezer is the most reliable way to know the real temperature.
2. Ice Off light. Make sure the Ice Off indicator is not lit on the control panel.
3. Bucket fit. Pull the bucket and push it back until it is fully seated. It should hold only ice. On dual ice maker models, a scoop holder parked in the wrong spot can block the bucket sensor and stop production.
4. Old ice. Samsung recommends dumping stored ice about every other week. Clumps can jam the chute or fool the ice maker into thinking the bucket is full.
5. Water supply. The fill valve needs at least 20 psi. Check that the supply valve is fully open and the line is not kinked. Small or shattered cubes are a classic sign of low pressure.
6. Water filter. Samsung says to replace the filter about every six months, or roughly 300 gallons, with a Samsung-brand filter. A clogged filter restricts flow to the ice maker.
7. Bucket gasket. On ice makers in the fridge compartment, the gasket between the ice compartment and the bucket has to sit flush. A gap lets warm air in, which leads to frost, slushy ice and drips.

If the dispenser is the problem rather than ice production, Samsung's dispenser checklist adds a few items: make sure the bucket holds loose ice rather than clumps, Child Lock is off, the chute is clear and the bucket clicks into place.

Run Samsung's ice maker test

Samsung's reset procedure doubles as a quick diagnosis. On most models you remove the ice bucket, then press and hold the Test button on the ice maker until it chimes, which can take up to about 10 seconds. One chime means the ice maker passed and should cycle. Several chimes mean it needs service. If there is no chime and nothing moves, cut power to the refrigerator for 2 minutes and try the test again.

On Wi-Fi models, SmartThings Home Care can also push an alert with the error code and suggested steps when the refrigerator detects a fault.

Samsung error codes linked to ice

Samsung publishes these codes for ice-related faults. A code usually points to a part that a technician needs to test, not something you can fix from the outside.

Ice maker frozen over? Do not chip at it

Samsung's ice makers have their own automatic defrost, and Samsung tells owners not to defrost the ice maker themselves. A sheet of ice covering the ice maker, or a bucket frozen so solidly it will not pull out, is a service call. Never chip ice with a knife, screwdriver or other sharp tool. You can crack plastic parts or puncture tubing, and any work on the sealed refrigeration system has to be done by a technician with EPA Section 608 certification.

Frost that keeps coming back often traces to warm air getting in. Samsung points to doors that do not close fully, overstuffed shelves, hot food going in before it cools, and vents blocked by food. Keep about two inches of space in front of the rear vents.

What a technician will test

Once the easy checks are done, a pro narrows down which part has failed. Expect them to look at:

• The ice maker assembly itself, including its motor and the sensors behind codes 8E and 14E.
• The water inlet valve and fill tube, including whether the fill tube has frozen shut.
• The ice room fan and ice pipe heater on models that report 40E or 33E.
• The bucket gasket and door seals, since leaks of warm air cause frost and slushy ice.
• Freezer performance and the freezer fan, because an ice maker cannot keep up if the freezer will not hold 0°F.

If the freezer is the real problem, our guide to a Samsung freezer not working covers those checks.

When to stop and call a pro

• The test gives several chimes, or nothing happens even after a 2-minute power cut.
• An ice-related error code returns after you restart the refrigerator.
• The ice maker is frozen over or the bucket is stuck in place.
• Water leaks you cannot trace to the bucket gasket or the supply line.
• The freezer will not reach 0°F even after the settings and airflow checks.

What Samsung ice maker repairs cost

Published cost guides give a sense of the range, though your quote depends on the part and your area. Fixr puts a typical ice maker repair at $150 to $250, and HomeGuide lists repairing a refrigerator ice maker at $100 to $225 for parts and labor.

Most visits start with a diagnostic charge. HomeAdvisor puts that fee at about $60 to $100 and notes it is often credited toward the repair. HomeGuide's rule of thumb is to repair an ice maker that is under five years old or has affordable parts, and to replace it when the repair would cost more than a new assembly. Our ice maker repair cost guide breaks this down further.

Find Samsung ice maker repair near you

Browse ice maker repair companies by location, or start from the state list. We also list technicians in large metro areas such as Houston, Atlanta and Chicago. When you call, have the model number ready along with any error code and the result of the ice maker test, so the technician can bring the right parts on the first trip.