If your ice machine’s compressor isn’t working, it can hinder ice production. Key issues include a restricted system, leaks, or frozen evaporator coils. A restricted system prevents effective cooling of the evaporator coil, leading to insufficient ice. Refrigerant leaks can occur from small cracks. Frozen evaporator coils can also stop production if the solenoid valve doesn’t activate, preventing ice release. Our technicians carry parts from major brands for on-site repairs, often the same day. For optimal performance, we recommend regular maintenance every six months. Learn more about our ice machine repair services:
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Main Issues When Ice Machine Compressor Is Not Working
Description and Troubleshooting of Problems
Restriction System
The compressor in an ice machine is responsible for cooling and heating the coil to make and release ice. Cooling happens as refrigerant circulates, and when everything is working right, the coil cools instantly, allowing your ice machine to produce proper ice. This setup works much like a refrigerator. But sometimes, issues arise where the compressor can’t cool the coil enough or quickly enough, causing the ice to either be too small or not form at all. After inspecting the compressor, we often find the issue to be with a restricted system. This means the system is clogged or partially blocked, so the compressor is working, but the refrigerant isn’t flowing through the entire system. For example, it might only cool 20% of the coil while the other 80% stays too warm to freeze the water fully.
System Leak
A second issue that can stop ice production is a system leak, which occurs when refrigerant escapes from a tiny hole or crack in the vacuum-sealed system. Often, these leaks are so small that refrigerant can slowly leak over a week or even a month. To identify leaks, the entire system needs a thorough inspection using a leak detector or by adding a special gas to the system. This gas highlights the leak location, helping to identify the crack or hole. Sometimes, however, the leak is so tiny or located in such an inaccessible spot that it can be challenging or even impossible to reach for repairs.
The Compressor Is Not Building Pressure
There are also cases where, after checking, the technician finds that the compressor isn’t generating enough pressure to circulate the refrigerant. As a result, it can’t cool the coil or produce ice.
Frozen Evaporator Coil
The ice machine cools down and causes the evaporator coil to freeze, leading to excessive ice buildup that it fails to release. As a result, you’ll notice that the machine stops producing ice because its safety system detects this malfunction and halts production until you manually restart it. This typically occurs when the solenoid valve does not activate. The solenoid valve is an electromagnetic valve that opens to allow hot refrigerant to circulate instead of cold refrigerant. Here’s how it works: when you start the ice machine, the compressor activates and begins cooling the evaporator coil, creating ice. Once the ice collection cycle finishes, the solenoid valve opens to send hot refrigerant to the evaporator coil, allowing the ice to release and facilitating the discharge of the finished ice.
Start Relay Problem
Another common issue with a non-working compressor is a problem with the start relay. This relay is responsible for starting the compressor and protecting it from overloads. You may notice that the compressor won’t start, and the ice machine isn’t cooling. In this case, the compressor is functional; it simply can’t start.
Repair Cost
| Restriction system repairing | $450 – $550 |
| Stop leak repairing | $450 – $550 |
| Compressor replacing | $780-$1150 |
| Solenoid valve replacing | $450 – $650 |
| Start relay replacing | $280 – $420 |
The price for repairing an ice machine varies based on factors like the brand, model, and complexity of the problem.
Contact Us For Any Ice Machine Repair Service
We’re here to assist with any ice machine issues, whether it’s a cycle error or a complete failure. If a call isn’t ideal, simply fill out the brief form below. Schedule your ice machine repair with one of our technicians today!
Call us today: (863) 594-1784
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Teodor Appliance Repair delivers exceptional appliance repair services across Florida. Renowned for our dependability and dedication to excellence, we handle a broad spectrum of appliance maintenance. Our technicians are adept at diagnosing and fixing problems with refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, ovens, and more. For convenient location access, check us out on Google Maps using these links:
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2 Comments
Hi! I read your article and I’m not sure what the issue is, but the ice is either coming out as very small cubes or not being produced at all. Could you perform a diagnostic to determine what’s wrong with my ice machine and fix it on the same day?
Hello! Thank you for reaching out. Based on your description, it sounds like there could be a few potential issues with your ice machine, such as a clogged water valve, malfunctioning fan motor, or other internal components affecting ice production. We can definitely perform a diagnostic check to identify the issue and, if possible, fix it on the same day. Our technicians are experienced in quickly diagnosing and resolving common ice machine problems. To schedule a visit, please let us know a convenient time, and we’ll arrange for a technician to come to your location!