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Is your Bosch Refrigerator Ice Maker not working? Let’s explore 8 common causes associated with any brand, and how to fix them on a Bosch brand model.
Having an ice maker adds an extra level of convenience to having a fridge since you’ll always have a good supply of ice on hand without having to manually fill your ice cube trays every time. Of course, if your ice maker stops working, then it becomes a lot less convenient to have one.
There are several reasons why your Bosch fridge’s ice maker might stop working. The most common reasons are that the freezer temperature is too high or there is a problem with the fridge’s water inlet valve, but there are several other components whose failures can potentially affect your ice maker.
Today, we’ll be going over the various issues that can affect your Bosch ice maker, and explain why they happen and how you can fix them.
Freezer Temperature Not Cold Enough
As you can probably guess, it needs to be cold enough in your freezer for ice to form. Water freezes at any point below 32 degrees Fahrenheit as you know, but if you want your ice maker to produce ice more efficiently, your freezer should be kept colder than this.
Ideally, you should set your freezer’s temperature between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit for the best results. If you have your freezer set to this temperature but it’s still too warm inside, try checking your fridge’s condenser coils and see if they need cleaning.
Read: Top Reasons Why Fridge Is Making Ice But Not Dispensing Water
Water Inlet Valve Failed
Your fridge’s water inlet valve is connected to your home’s water supply and provides water to your ice maker and water dispenser. If the valve fails to work, then the ice maker won’t have any water available to make ice.
The issue here might also be with the water supply; if the water doesn’t have enough pressure, the water inlet valve won’t work. In order for it to work properly, the water entering the valve needs to have a pressure of at least 20 psi.
If the water pressure is high enough, you should use a
Read: Does Fridge Need To Be Level And Why?
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Ice Maker Thermostat Is Broken
The ice maker thermostat measures the temperature of the ice tray. When it detects that the ice in the tray is cold enough, it ejects the ice cubes in it and refills itself with water. However, if the thermostat stops working, then the ice maker will also fail.
The thermostat works by using contracts that open or close depending on the temperature. When it gets cold enough, the contacts close, and when it gets warm again they open. You can test your thermostat with a multimeter to see if it has any continuity and replace it if it doesn’t.
Read: Why Is Fridge Compressor Running But Not Cooling?
Ice Maker Assembly Failed
The problem could also be with some part of the ice maker assembly itself. While the ice maker assembly is composed of multiple parts, unfortunately in most cases it’s hard to find the individual parts for sale. If there’s a problem with your ice maker assembly, the whole thing will have to be replaced.
That being said, it’s not all that common for the ice maker assembly to fail, so you should check some of the other components like the water inlet valve and the water hose before considering the ice maker assembly as the source of the problem.
Door Switch Failed
The purpose of the door switch is to shut off the ice maker when the freezer door is open. Since the ice maker can’t do its job if the temperature is too high (which it obviously will be if the door is open), the switch automatically activates whenever the door is opened. If the switch breaks, however, the ice maker might never turn on.
As with all of your fridge’s electronic components, you can test your door switch with a
Read: Your Fridge Is Not Cooling, Light Is ON? | How To Fix It
Ice Maker Switch: Bosch refrigerator
The ice maker switch is, of course, what allows you to turn your ice maker on and off. If the switch is on but the ice maker isn’t running, check the switch’s continuity with your multimeter, and replace it if necessary.
Before you do that though, make sure the switch is definitely in the “on” position! It seems obvious, but it’s a pretty easy mistake to make.
Read: Top 4 Reasons Why Your Fridge Leaking Water Inside
Water Filter Is Clogged
If your fridge is connected to your water supply, then it no doubt has a
If the ice maker isn’t getting enough water to begin with, then it won’t be able to make ice. If it’s been a while since you last replaced your
Ice Dispenser is Broken
On the other hand, it could be that your ice maker works fine, but your ice dispenser is where the problem is. In this case, your fridge will still be able to make ice, but you won’t be able to actually use any of it.
The ice dispenser contains numerous parts, including switches, control boards, and motors. If any one of these parts fails, the ice dispenser may fail to deliver your ice even if the ice maker is producing it.
If you know the issue lies with your ice dispenser and you’re able to determine which one of its parts has broken, you should be able to solve the issue by replacing that part.
Read: Why Is Fridge Making Rattling, Humming Or Buzzing Noise?
FAQs
Let’s take a second to answer some of the questions you might have about using your fridge’s ice maker.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace an Ice Maker?
This depends on the age of the ice maker you’re replacing, but in general, a new ice maker will probably run you somewhere between $100-800. You can buy replacement ice maker parts directly from the manufacturer, or at an online retailer such as Amazon. Amazon also carrier generic ice maker brands that can be substituted. Check your model number for compatibility before ordering.
If your refrigerator is already old and experiencing other issues, it might be best to replace the refrigerator altogether. Fridges without working ice makers are perfect for extra food storage in the garage. Or, it can be sold easily to people who need the extra food space without the need for an ice maker.
Before purchasing a new refrigerator, read this article on the features of new, Smart Refrigerators.
Note: we may receive a small commission off your purchase, at no additional cost to you.
How Long Does an Ice Maker Last?
The length of time your ice maker will last also depends on a few things. The quality of the ice maker itself is certainly a factor, but other things that make a difference include the quality of the water and how frequently you run your ice maker.
If the mineral content of the water is especially high, mineral deposits will build up inside the ice maker over time and eventually clog it up. As you can imagine, this problem can get even worse if you’re running your ice maker all the time.
Depending on all of these things, an ice maker can last for as little as three years or as long as 10.
How long should a refrigerator last?
How Often Does an Ice Maker Produce Ice?
Modern ice makers work pretty quickly, so you never have to wait very long for a new batch of ice. On average, an ice maker takes about 90 minutes to produce 10 cubes of ice.
Can I Make My Ice Maker Work Faster?
If you find that your ice maker takes a long time to produce ice, there are a few tricks you can try to help speed up the process.
The first is to adjust the temperature of your freezer. You don’t want to keep your freezer below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, but if yours is warmer than this, try lowering the freezer temperature by a few degrees and see if that helps.
The second thing you can try is to check the door seal around your freezer. If the seal isn’t doing its job, it might be letting all of the cold air out of the freezer, which will obviously affect the ice maker. If the seal looks worn or cracked, replace it.
The third thing is to replace the
