LG Fridge Ice Maker How to & Troubleshooting Guide

Like other home appliances, your LG fridge ice maker can also experience issues every once in a while. The most common problems with these units are caused by temperature fluctuations on the ice maker compartment, a malfunctioned control board, faulty ice make fan in the freezer and a faulty water inlet valve among others reasons.

If you are having trouble with your unit, it is recommended you try troubleshooting the ice maker first before contacting LG support or repair services. Most issues can be resolved by troubleshooting the unit; which can save you money on expensive repairs and replacements. The following is a troubleshooting and how-to guide to help users resolve some common LG fridge ice maker problems.

LG Refrigerator Ice Maker Freezing Up

The following reasons may cause a refrigerator ice maker to freeze up and not to dispense ice cubes:

A faulty water inlet valve

The water valve lets water flow into the refrigerator. This water goes to the ice maker. If the water inlet valve is faulty, it can overfill the ice cube area and freeze up. This causes a frozen ice maker.

Use a multimeter to check the water inlet valve on the back of the refrigerator. Check to see if the solenoid is working properly. If found to be faulty or leaking, remove and replace the valve.

Frozen ice maker fill tube

The ice fill tube is separate from the water lines but brings water to the ice maker. You may find the ice fill tube behind the ice maker. You can slide out the ice maker to access it. Check whether the tube is frozen or not. If frozen, you can thaw it in place with hot water using a baster or remove it from the ice maker and run it under hot water.

Frozen water supply line

The water line carrying water from the valve to the ice maker can become frozen. This can happen because the freezer temperature is too low or due to several other reasons. If you find your water lines frozen, try defrosting the complete refrigerator or you can try the hairdryer method to defrost the frozen water line.

If the water lines continue to be frozen, turn the freezer temperature to a higher setting to try and keep the water lines from getting too cold.

Freezer temperature is too cold

If the temperature in the freezer is too cold, the water can turn to ice too quickly. Simply turn the temperature in the freezer to the proper temperature settings. As per FDA recommendation, your freezer temperature should be 0^oF (-18^oC).

Water filter needs replacing

If the refrigerator water filter is clogged, this can cause water pressure issues. Water pressure problems can cause the ice maker to freeze up. Replace the water filter.

High or low water pressure

Check the water pressure going into the refrigerator. If the water pressure is too high or too low, the refrigerator ice maker may have issues with freezing. Water pressure above 120 PSI can cause the ice maker to freeze up.

Water line position

If the water line is pushed too far into the valve, this can cause a “splash back” effect which lets water into certain areas and freezes. The water line can be pushed further into the ice room and cause splash back from sliding the refrigerator back into position and against the wall.

To fix this, check the water line for the proper positioning.

LG French Door Fridge Ice Maker Not Dumping Ice

If your refrigerator ice maker is not dispensing ice and there are no error codes on the display, try the following troubleshooting steps:

Verify the unit is leveled correctly. Most issues on refrigerators are caused by improper leveling.
Check whether ice cubes are stuck together. The more ice is used, the less it will clump. If it is not used frequently, the cubes may clump to one large mass of ice as the freezer runs through defrost. If ice cubes are stuck together, break them up by shaking the bin to loosen the cubes or use an ice pick. If there is no ice cubes clumping, go to the next step.
Check the delivery cute in the door to see if it is clogged with frost or ice fragments.
Check augur motor. Pull out the ice bin and check to see if the small motor that turns the augur in the ice bin has ice or frost accumulation. If yes, unfreeze the augur using a warm, wet rag. The augur may not rotate if there is any frost accumulation. Dry the part off and try to dispense ice again.
If there is no ice or frost accumulation in the augur motor, check the flap. In the door, there is a flap that the ice comes through during dispensing. Water can accumulate around this flap and cause it to freeze shut. If the flap is frozen closed, try to move the flap manually. If it does not open, melt the accumulation with warm, wet cloth Dry the flap and chute and try to dispense ice again.

If the ice maker is not producing ice or the ice cubes are freezing too slowly, it is likely the door was left open. To troubleshoot and resolve this:

Wait 24 hours after hook-up for ice production.
Check to see if something is holding the door open.

Where is the Reset Button in My LG Fridge Ice Maker?

To reset the LG ice maker, locate the ice maker’s on/off switch on the left side of the unit. The refrigerator’s display will have an ice on/ice off icon. On the underside of the front of the tray there is a test/fill button. Press and hold that button until the ice maker starts to turn and run through a cycle.

If the ice maker did not cycle, then you will need to remove the bin. LG recommends giving the ice maker a firm but gently shake a few times before replacing the bin and powering the unit off for 30 seconds. Turn the unit back on and let it sit for 6-8 hours before it starts to produce ice.

LG Ice Maker Not Filling with Water

If your LG refrigerator ice maker is not filling with water, check the following:

Water filter

When there is not filter or if the filter is not properly installed, water will not flow to the ice maker and water dispenser. To fix this, you only need to slide a filter into the housing, push and twist to lock it.

If you recently replaced the water filter and you noticed the maker started leaking, the problem can be with water pressure. Water flows more freely when it is a new filter, and when it reached the ice maker it may create a splash. Some water will leak in the ice maker compartment to the bottom and on the floor. If you have a ball-type water tap behind the fridge, try reducing the incoming water pressure to the fridge to a desirable level.

Inlet valve

A faulty inlet valve can also be the reason your ice maker is not filling with water. To check the inlet valve you need a Multimeter.

LG fridges have two inlet valves; the main valve on the back of the fridge and the secondary valve (for the ice maker) in the left door. You need to check both the valves. But, in many cases, the problem is with the secondary valve.

Kinked water hose

There is a water hose behind your LG fridge connected to the inlet valve. If the water hose is kinked, it will restrict water flow to the inlet valve.

Failed motor

If the ice maker failed to perform diagnostic test and you are not able to run it, then most likely the ice maker motor failed.

Faulty control board

If the control board on your LG refrigerator is not sending power to the ice maker, or one of the relays on the control board has failed, then the ice maker will not run.

If all the components mentioned above are ok and the ice maker works only when you press the RESET button, then there is a problem with the main control board or optical sensors on the ice maker.

How to LG Fridge Ice Maker Filter

It is recommended that you replace the filter approximately every 6 months, when the water filter indicator reaches 0 months, or when the ice and water dispenser noticeably decreases out-put. To replace with a new cartridge, follow these steps:

Press the push button to open the filter cover. Place a cup under the filter to catch any waste as a small amount of water will drain when replacing the filter.
Pull the cartridge downwards.
Pull out the filter cartridge. When opened at a full angle the cartridge should come out easily.
Take the new cartridge out if its packaging and remove the protective cover from the o-rings. With cartridge ears in the horizontal position, push the new filter cartridge into the manifold hole until it stops.
Firmly lock in the cartridge. The cover will click back into place.
After replacing the filter, flush 2.5 gallons through the filter before use (flush for about 5 minutes). Check the filter for leaks.
When the water filter indicator displays the message 0 filter month, hold 3 seconds. Reset the water filter status display and indicator light by pressing and holding the LIGHT/WATER FILTER button for at least 3 seconds.

How to Clean and Defrost an LG Fridge Ice Maker

To clean the ice maker:

Fill your sink with warm water and liquid dish-washing detergent. Dip a rag in the soapy water and wipe down the ice maker unit inside the freezer.
Use a dry rag to remove water and soap left on the machine. Wash your ice storage bin in the soapy water and rinse it as well.

Before you can sanitize the ice maker, you must first clean it:

Mix 1/2 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.
Dampen a rag in the mixture and wipe down the ice maker inside the freezer.
Wipe the unit with a dry rag to remove the moisture.
Wash the storage bin with the mixture as well, rinsing it thoroughly.
Place the ice storage bin in the dishwasher and run it on a sanitizing cycle, if the bin is dishwasher safe. Dry the bin completely with a rag.
Wipe the ice maker unit and storage bin once more with a dry rag to make sure there is no standing water. Any remaining water could freeze, preventing the unit from running properly or cracking the storage bin.
Replace the storage bin and turn the ice maker unit back on.

To defrost an LG fridge ice maker:

Unplug your refrigerator to turn off power to the ice maker.
Lay a towel beneath the ice maker.
Remove the ice bin and dump out any ice inside. Set the bin aside.
Locate the water refill tube that runs to the ice maker. Pull down on the metal retaining clip to remove it from the housing that holds the fill tube. Note that not all ice makers will have this clip.
Apply heat with a hair dryer to the ice maker fill tube, which is usually a white, rubber-like hose. Hold the hairdryer’s nozzle at the front of the ice maker so that the heat will blast into the fill line. Set the dryer to its lowest heat setting to avoid melting the plastic lines and ice maker parts.
Constantly move the hairdryer so that the heat does not concentrate in one area for any length of time. Avoid water dripping into the hairdryer as this can cause an electric shock.
Continue applying heat until you see moisture dripping onto the towel. Turn off the hairdryer and wait until the moisture no longer drips onto the towel.
Turn the thermostat up a fraction and plug in your refrigerator. Turn the maker on again. This should resolve the freezing problem.

LG Fridge Ice Maker Not Making Enough Ice

If there is not enough ice or there is slow ice production in your LG fridge ice maker, consider the following troubleshooting instructions to resolve the problem:

If your unit was installed recently, it may take up to 24 hours for each compartment to attain the desired temperature, and for the ice maker to start making ice. Please wait 24 hours for ice production.
-4^oF (-20^Oc) is the minimum recommended temperature setting of the freezer compartment for normal ice production. If the freezer temperature is set at a warmer temperature, then ice will be produced at a slower rate.
The ice maker will produce approximately 100 cubes of ice in a 24-bour period. Once the ice is empty, it may take up to 90 minutes before more ice is available, and approximately 24 hours to refill the bin.
Check the doors. If the doors are opened frequently, the unit’s cold air will escape, which will prevent the unit from maintaining the temperature required to produce ice. Lowering the temperature, as well as not opening the doors as often can help.
Try using the Express Freeze or Ice Plus features. When you select either of these features, the refrigerator compressor will run continuously for 3 hours. This will increases the amount of cold air in the freezer compartment and increases the amount of ice produced. Make sure that the freezer temperature is set to 0^oF or colder before activating these features.
If you have not changed your water filter recently, it will become clogged with particles over time. This can cause the water flow to the ice maker to become blocked. It is recommended t change the water filter every 6 months or more often as needed depending on the water quality, filter type, and frequency of use.
Inspect the water line. If the water line behind the fridge is kinked or bent, the water pressure will be reduced. Straighten any kinks in the water line and ensure that the unit or any other items are not resting on, or restricting the water line.
Check that the water valve is turned ON and connected properly. Usually, the water valve should be located behind the refrigerator, but the location can vary. If there is a reverse osmosis system in your home, it may cause the water pressure to the refrigerator to be too low. Your fridge may need a separate line that is not connected to the reverse osmosis system in order to achieve optimal water pressure.
Verify that the unit is leveled correctly.

LG Fridge Maker Not Turning ON At All

If your LG French ice maker does not seem to work at all, check the following:

Check that the ice maker is not off. If it is, turn on the ice maker to the on (I) position.
The water supply is down or is not plugged.
The freezer temperature is warm. Wait 24 hours for the freezer to reach its ideal temperature.
The ice cubes turn off the ice maker. Hand level the ice cubes.

LG Fridge Ice Maker Ice Tray is Overfilling with Water

Water overfilling in the ice tray is usually caused by high water pressure in the home. However, depending on the type of ice maker that your fridge has, you can troubleshoot to correct the issue.

If your CustomCube ice maker is overfilling with water, this is usually the result of the size selector being set too high. The size selector is to accommodate water pressure. Each size increment adds half a second to the amount of time the fill tube is open. If the water pressure is too high, it is necessary to choose a smaller size. Otherwise, the water will overfill the tray.

If your Twist-N-Serve ice maker is overfilling with water, this is usually the result of the water pressure being too high. Close the water valve going into the refrigerator partially to reduce water pressure, or try purchasing a water pressure regulator to decrease the water pressure. This should address the issue by lowering the water pressure so that too much water doesn’t overfill the tray.

Check this too: How to fix a mini fridge that won’t get cold

If your 12 cube twist ice maker is overfilling with water, the flow sensor that determines the amount of water flowing to the ice maker may be malfunctioning. If so, the ice maker reverts to a timed fill. If the water pressure is high, the tray may also overfill. To check:

Press and hold the ICE PLUS and FREEZER TEMP buttons simultaneously.
If ‘gF’ displays on the control panel, service is required. Partially close the water valve to reduce water pressure until service is completed.

How to Turn Off an LG Fridge Ice Maker

To turn an LG refrigerator ice maker off, set the power switch to the off (O) position. If your unit has an on/off slide switch, you turn it off by sliding the switch, so the paddle is under the ice maker.

For models without a switch; if there is no switch present, gently lift the metal feeler arm on the side of the ice maker to the up position to turn the unit off.

To turn off an LG French door refrigerator ice maker (indoor ice maker operation), follow these steps: