Kenmore Refrigerator: not producing ice

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Is your Kenmore refrigerator not producing ice? This common issue can stem from a clogged water filter, a faulty water inlet valve, or a frozen fill tube. Identifying the root cause is essential for restoring ice production efficiently.

Urgency: Low

Important Tips for Kenmore Models

Kenmore/Sears troubleshooting sources consistently rank the water inlet valve, clogged filter, and frozen fill tube among the top repeat causes of â€˜no iceâ€™ complaints, and recommend thawing the fill tube while addressing low water flow or valve failure to prevent recurrence.

Possible Causes

Faulty or clogged water inlet valve (valve not opening fully or coil failure)

How to Identify: Ice maker is on but tray never fills; water dispenser may be weak or intermittent; valve may hum without delivering water; inlet valve may fail an electrical continuity test with a multimeter.

Part: Water inlet valve

Clogged or overdue water filter restricting water flow

How to Identify: Ice production slows over time; dispenser flow is reduced; replacing the filter restores normal flow; filter is past its service interval.

Part: Water filter (and filter head/housing)

Frozen or blocked ice maker fill tube (often due to low water flow or valve seep/leak)

How to Identify: Visible ice blockage at the fill tube entering the ice maker; no water enters the tray; thawing the tube temporarily restores filling; issue may recur if underlying low pressure or inlet valve problem remains.

Part: Ice maker fill tube / fill hose

Ice maker is turned off or shutoff arm/sensor indicates â€˜bin fullâ€™ (or feeler arm stuck)

How to Identify: Ice maker switch is off; shutoff arm is in the up position; optical sensor or bin-level sensor blocked; unit resumes after arm is lowered/cleared and ice bin is properly seated.

Part: Ice maker shutoff arm / bin level sensor / ice maker switch

Freezer temperature too warm to harvest/freeze ice properly

How to Identify: Freezer temperature above typical ice-making range; food may be soft; ice maker may fill but cubes donâ€™t fully freeze or harvest; improving cooling/airflow restores production.

Part: Freezer cooling system / thermostat / airflow

Failed ice maker assembly/module (motor, thermostat, heater, internal switch failure)

How to Identify: Water supply is confirmed good and fill tube is clear, but the ice maker never cycles/harvests; unit may not eject cubes even when manually filled; diagnostic test mode (if available fails.

Part: Ice maker assembly/module

Main control board not sending power to the ice maker or related circuits

How to Identify: Ice maker and valve test good, wiring intact, but voltage is not delivered during cycle; other erratic electronic symptoms may occur; board may show visible damage/burn marks.

Part: Main control board

DIY Solutions

Verify ice maker is ON and bin/shutoff arm or sensor is not blocking production

Easy 5-10 minutes

Confirm the ice maker power switch is in the ON position (location varies by model).
If your model uses a shutoff arm, ensure it is fully lowered and not jammed by ice or the bin.
Reseat the ice bin fully; some models will stop production if the bin is misaligned.
Clear any ice clumps indicating a false â€˜bin fullâ€™ condition.

⚠️ Safety First: Avoid using sharp tools to chip ice near plastic arms/sensors to prevent breakage.

Replace the water filter (or temporarily test with a new filter) to restore water flow

Easy 10-15 minutes

Locate the water filter (common locations: upper-right inside fresh food compartment, base grille, or rear).
Remove the old filter per the modelâ€™s twist/push-release method.
Install a new compatible filter and flush several cups of water through the dispenser to purge air.
Wait 12â€“24 hours for ice production to resume and monitor cube size and speed.

⚠️ Safety First: Use only the correct filter type to avoid leaks or damage to the filter head.

Thaw a frozen fill tube and address the underlying water-flow issue

Moderate 20-45 minutes

Tools Needed: Hair dryer (low setting) or warm towel, Turkey baster (optional), Flashlight

Unplug the refrigerator or switch off power at the breaker for safety.
Locate the fill tube entering the ice maker area and check for an ice plug.
Thaw the tube using a hair dryer on LOW or warm towels until water can pass freely.
Restore power and observe whether the ice maker refills normally.
If the tube refreezes within days, prioritize replacing the water filter and testing/replacing the water inlet valve, as low flow or valve seep can cause recurring freeze-ups.

⚠️ Safety First: Do not overheat plastic components with a hair dryer.

Check household water supply pressure and the refrigerator supply line for kinks

Easy 10-20 minutes

Tools Needed: Flashlight

Verify the shutoff valve feeding the refrigerator is fully open.
Inspect the supply line behind the refrigerator for kinks, crushing, or leaks.
If the dispenser flow is weak and a new filter didnâ€™t help, suspect low supply pressure or a failing inlet valve.

⚠️ Safety First: Turn off the water supply before repositioning lines to avoid flooding.

Professional Repairs

Replace water inlet valve (most common professional fix for no-fill/no-ice)

Estimated Cost: $180 - $450

Replace ice maker assembly/module

Estimated Cost: $220 - $520

Diagnose/replace main control board or wiring faults

Estimated Cost: $350 - $850

When to Call a Professional

You confirm the fill tube is clear and the filter is new, but the ice maker still never fills (likely inlet valve or control issue).

Fill tube repeatedly freezes within days after thawing (strong indicator of inlet valve seep/leak or chronic low flow).

You need multimeter voltage/continuity testing for the inlet valve, ice maker module, or control board.

There are signs of water leakage behind the refrigerator or at valve connections.

Freezer is not maintaining proper temperature and you suspect sealed-system or airflow/cooling failures affecting ice production.

Preventive Maintenance

Replace the water filter on schedule (or sooner if flow drops): Restricted flow that can stop ice production or cause small/slow ice and fill-tube freeze-ups
Frequency: Every 6 months (typical) or per your filter rating
Keep freezer temperature in the recommended range for ice production: Slow/no ice due to inadequate freezing or harvest issues
Frequency: Seasonally or whenever performance changes
Inspect the refrigerator water supply line for kinks after moving/cleaning: Low flow that leads to no ice or recurring frozen fill tube
Frequency: After any repositioning or cleaning behind the unit

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Kenmore Refrigerator not producing ice?

Common causes include a clogged water inlet valve, a blocked water filter, or a frozen fill tube.

How do I fix Kenmore Refrigerator not producing ice myself?

Check if the ice maker is ON, replace the water filter, or thaw a frozen fill tube.

How much does it cost to fix not producing ice?

Professional repairs can range from $180 to $850 depending on the issue.

When should I call a technician for not producing ice?

If DIY solutions fail or if you suspect electrical issues, it's time to call a professional.

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

67%

DIY Success Rate Difficulty: DIY

Common Issues Reported by Users

Ice maker malfunction (4 mentions)
Water supply issue (2 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

Replace the ice maker

Success rate: 20.0%
Troubleshoot water supply issues

Success rate: 10.0%

Analysis based on 6 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

Community Discussions

icemaker stopped working

A Whirlpool ice maker is compatible with the Kenmore fridge.

DIY View on Reddit →

Ice Maker feeder arm no longer works

AEQ36756901 may be a compatible replacement for the ice maker.

Pro needed View on Reddit →

broken ice maker

Replace the ice maker yourself or have a company fix it.