An ice maker that makes small or hollow cubes is almost always getting too little water, or releasing the cubes before they've frozen through. The six causes below run from a two-minute fix to a part swap.
In this post:
- •The water filter is overdue
- •Supply pressure is low
- •A reverse osmosis system is feeding the fridge
- •The water line is kinked or the valve is partly closed
- •The inlet valve is scaled up
- •The freezer is too warm
1. The water filter is overdue
A loaded filter restricts flow, so the ice mold never fills completely.
How to tell: The dispenser is slow too, and the filter is past its replacement date. Many manufacturers suggest changing it about every six months.
What to do: Replace the filter and flush it as the manual describes. Expect a few batches before cubes return to full size.
2. Supply pressure is low
Fridge manuals list a minimum water pressure for the ice maker and dispenser.
How to tell: A glass fills slowly at the dispenser even with a new filter.
What to do: Make sure the supply valve is fully open and the line isn't sharing a tee with another fixture that's running at the same time. If house pressure itself is low, a plumber can test it.
3. A reverse osmosis system is feeding the fridge
Under-sink RO systems store water in a tank, and pressure drops as the tank empties.
How to tell: Cubes shrink after heavy use of the RO faucet, then recover later.
What to do: Check your fridge manual for guidance on RO connections, and have the tank pressure checked if the problem is constant.
4. The water line is kinked or the valve is partly closed
Pushing a fridge back into place can pinch the line, and older saddle valves often clog or half-close.
How to tell: Look behind the fridge for a flattened or tightly bent line, or a small piercing-style valve on a copper pipe.
What to do: Straighten the line and leave slack. Have a plumber replace a saddle valve with a proper shutoff.
5. The inlet valve is scaled up
Minerals collect in the valve's small screen and passages.
How to tell: Slow fill continues with good pressure, a new filter and a clear line.
What to do: The valve usually needs replacing. See the signs of hard water appliance damage for other places scale shows up.
6. The freezer is too warm
A warm freezer slows ice production, and cubes that sit in the bin partly melt and refreeze into smaller, misshapen pieces. Ice left for weeks in the bin also shrinks slowly as it evaporates.
How to tell: A freezer thermometer reads well above 0°F, ice cream is soft, or the oldest cubes at the bottom of the bin are the smallest.
What to do: Clean the condenser coils, keep the vents clear and check the door seal. Empty the bin every couple of weeks if you don't use much ice.
When a technician is the better call
If the inlet valve buzzes without filling, the ice maker leaks, or the freezer won't hold temperature, book our ice maker repair technicians. Anything involving the sealed refrigerant system always needs a pro.
Southern California note
Hard water across much of LA County speeds up scale in inlet valves. If you've had one replaced before, ask about adding a filter designed to reduce scale ahead of the fridge.
Marco's advice: Change the filter first and wait a day before judging. It's the most common fix, and fresh cubes take a few cycles to come back to size.
Ice still coming out thin? Call ProFix LA at (818) 334-4526.