Ice Machine Is Not Draining Properly

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Ice Machine Is Not Draining Properly

Description and Troubleshooting of Problems

Drain Line Is Clogged

Every ice machine connects to a drainage system to dispose of water. These machines use a lot of water; each ice-making cycle starts by draining old water and replacing it with fresh water, ensuring your ice stays clean and odor-free. Now imagine your ice bin fills up, the machine stops, and you don’t use the ice for a week. When it restarts, it might fail to drain properly, leading to ice made from stale water. This could result from a clogged drain system or improper drain line leveling.

Solution

The solution to this issue may be cleaning the drain line and other components that come into contact with water. Sometimes the drain line is so clogged that cleaning isn’t effective, and it’s better to replace it to avoid facing the same problem again in a few months.

Drain line is clogged
Drain line is clogged

Drain Pump Does Not Work

When an ice machine isn’t professionally cleaned every six months, mineral deposits, sludge, and residue build up, sometimes hardening into a substance resembling cement. This mixture can clog the drain pump, disrupting its function. Even one malfunctioning component can cause the entire system to work improperly, resulting in smaller ice cubes, coil freezing, foul odors, or complete shutdown. Regular maintenance is essential to keep your ice machine running efficiently.

Solution

To prevent this issue and avoid it in the future, we recommend replacing the drain pump and scheduling regular maintenance and cleaning of your ice machine every 6 months. This will extend the lifespan of your machine, and most importantly, ensure that you’ll have ice whenever you need it.

Drain pump does not work
Drain pump does not work

Control board Does Not Work Correctly

The control board manages the operation and timing of the entire ice machine system, including activating the drain pump. Power surges, often occurring during storms, hurricanes, heavy rains, or sudden power interruptions, are a common cause of control board damage. These surges can overwhelm the electronics, partially disabling them. For instance, if a surge happens while the drain pump is running, the pump may survive, but its relay on the control board often fails, requiring the board to be replaced entirely. We strongly recommend turning off the power to all appliances, including the ice machine, during unstable conditions. If a surge has already occurred while the ice machine is running, turn it off for 2–3 hours and then restart it. This can help stabilize and reset the system.

Solution

If the technician determines that the control board is not supplying power to the drain pump, it definitely needs to be replaced, as it could impact the functionality of other components. Sometimes, the issue could be a blown fuse, which is replaceable. Replacing the control board ensures that the ice machine works properly, avoiding further complications.

Control board does not work correctly-1
Burnt circuit board
Control board does not work correctly

Repair Cost

Drain line cleaning or replacing$280 — $380
Drain pump replacing$340 — $450
Control board repairing or replacing$380-$680

The cost of repairing an ice machine depends on various factors, including the machine’s brand, model, and the complexity of the issue.

Contact Us For Any Ice Machine Repair Service

We’re ready to help resolve your ice machine problems, whether it’s a minor cycle issue or a complete breakdown. If calling isn’t convenient, feel free to fill out the short form below. Book your ice machine repair with our experienced technician today!

Call us today: (863) 594-1784
or fill out the form and we will contact you ourselves.

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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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