If you have an ice machine that’s backed up or simply isn’t making ice, you’re going to want to make repairs as soon as possible so you don’t have to deal with extended equipment downtime. Before you call in a professional, there are some steps you can take to perform your own ice machine repair in Eugene, OR.

Here’s a quick overview of some of the steps you can take to get your ice maker working again if it’s not producing any ice for you:

• Check the water supply: If you’ve got an issue with the ice machine not making ice, but you can hear a buzz in the equipment and see the arm swinging into motion, then this is likely a sign that the water valve isn’t receiving any water. The valve and the solenoid are probably doing okay, but the water supply isn’t working properly. First, check and make sure the water supply line doesn’t have any kinks in it—it will be running underneath or behind the refrigerator. If it appears to be kink-free, you can check and find the water shutoff valve behind the refrigerator or underneath the sink. You can then turn it off, unscrew the supply line from the back of the refrigerator, put the line in a bucket, turn on the valve and see if you have any water coming out.
• Check the bail wire: The bail wire is located right above the ice tray, and it should be set in the down position. If it gets caught in the upper position, it will keep the ice maker locked and prevent it from making new ice.
• Check the solenoid: The water line that runs to your ice maker attaches to a solenoid at the bottom or back of the refrigerator, and then goes from there to the ice maker. There’s a possibility that the solenoid isn’t getting any power, or that it’s completely defective. Try taking off the sediment screen inside the solenoid and cleaning it off, checking the seals to make sure they’re still working. That might be all you need to do. Otherwise, there are replacement solenoids available online for relatively low cost that are pretty easy to install.
• Check the tap valve: The tap valve is the part that connects the water supply tube to the water pipe. If you’ve got a bad tap valve, then it could lead to issues with that connection. You may need to replace the inlet valve and tap valve if this is where your problem is located. When replacing a tap valve, use the kind that requires you to drill a quarter-inch hole, rather than the self-piercing type of tap valve. You’ll generally get better results, even though it’s a bit more work.

These are just a few of the checks you can make and steps you can take to get your ice machine working again. If none of these works, contact American Refrigeration Inc. today to discuss your options for professional ice machine repair in Eugene, OR.