Samsung refrigerator ice maker not dumping ice is a common issue experienced by many Samsung refrigerator owners. Usually, the Samsung refrigerators with French doors have this issue of the ice makers not dumping ice. The problem is so common that there was even a class-action lawsuit against Samsung regarding this issue. Due to problems with many models of Samsung refrigerators, the inbuilt ice makers need to be used daily. If you do not use your ice maker regularly, then there is a very high likelihood of your ice maker being frozen over, thus causing it not to make or dump any ice.
This issue may not cause you much trouble if your Samsung refrigerator is still within its warranty period, as you can contact Samsung and have them sent out a technician to your home to fix your ice maker free of charge. But this issue may give you a headache if you are past your warranty period as any costs related to repairs or replacements will be your responsibility. Hence it only makes sense to fix the issue of your Samsung refrigerator ice maker not dumping ice by the cheapest and easiest means possible.
Here we discuss nine fixes for your Samsung refrigerator ice maker if it is not dumping ice:
Fix 1: Purchase A New OEM Appliance Clip With Part Number DA82-02367A
Samsung makes this part because this is a widespread issue of ice makers in Samsung refrigerators not dumping ice. The issue was so widespread that Samsung opted to produce this part as a fix. Purchase the DA82-02367A refrigeration appliance clip on amazon here:
Usually, if your Samsung refrigerator ice maker is not dumping ice, it is due to the ice maker being clogged internally. The moisture leakage from the refrigerator condenses inside the ice maker, which forms hard ice on its components. This issue can clear up by following the defrost procedures explained below; however, this issue is poised to return as there will always be some sort of condensation happening inside the ice maker due to moisture leakage if it is not appropriately sealed from all sides. Since this is a very common issue, Samsung has come up with an OEM part (DA82-02367A), which is a refrigeration appliance clip. This clip, when installed, prevents the ice maker from clogging up. The clip directs the condensed water to drip below in the right direction behind the ice maker. Installing this refrigeration appliance clip should solve any recurring issues of the ice maker freezing over and not dumping ice.
Fix 2: Force defrost your Samsung Refrigerator
Defrosting your refrigerator only seems like common sense because doing so will free up the ice maker from clogged ice. Usually, you will need to force reset when you cannot pull the ice maker out with minimal effort and if you find yourself pulling on it very hard and if you are afraid that it might break. This is a sign of your ice maker being really clogged. To force reset your Samsung refrigerator:
Push and hold the freezer button and the lighting button at the same time.
Keep holding the buttons for about 10 seconds till you hear beeping, and the control panel display turns off.
Press the cubed/crushed ice button, which is located below the control panel display.
Keep pressing the button till you see FD on the display screen and then stop.
FD is short for force defrost. Once you see FD on the control panel display screen, your refrigerator will enter into the force defrost mode. It will stay in the FD mode with continuous beeping for about 20 minutes. Let the refrigerator continue its beeping till the FD process is over. After you have successfully defrosted your ice maker, you may now remove the ice maker itself from the refrigerator. Upon removal, clean the ice maker and the refrigerator of any residual water, frost, or ice. You may need to defrost your ice maker multiple times if there is a considerable amount of solid ice built up inside of it if the ice maker does not clear up with the first forced defrost that you attempt. Clearing the solid ice through this forced defrost process can take literally hours, overnight, or even days, depending on the amount of ice. If you do not prefer to wait for 20 minutes every time you defrost your ice maker, go to the Fix 3 below, which takes a more hands-on approach towards quicker defrosting.
Fix 3: Defrost Your Refrigerator Quickly
You may not always find yourself having enough time to keep defrosting your ice maker till all the ice is melted away; hence it becomes necessary to get creative and try some innovative approaches.
If you do not want to defrost because you do not have time, try to remove any ice blockage by hand carefully, making sure you do not damage any equipment or break any plastic in the ice maker. Remove the ice till you are able to remove the ice maker out of the fridge. For defrosting the fridge and removing the clogged ice, turn off the circuit breaker switch for your fridge. This is for turning the power off to your fridge. You can even unplug the fridge if you have access.
Cutting off the power supply will help you defrost the fridge faster than the above automatic process, and you will not have to hear the constant beeping from the control panel. Defrosting could become a lengthy process depending on the amount of clogged ice. Some people prefer to use a hairdryer on a cool setting. Using a hairdryer does pose some problems as there is a chance that you may damage some of the internal components of the ice maker. Hence, it is not recommended to use a hairdryer unless you are absolutely sure that you will not damage any internal components. If you are confident enough of disassembling the inner parts of the icemaker, feel free to do so. You will need to make sure which part goes where when it is time to reassemble the ice maker.
Fix 4: Fix The Leaks
There is a chance that you will see water dripping down from the side of the ice maker into the fridge when it is being defrosted. This is a sign of leakage. This can be a major issue that is causing your ice maker to fail constantly. Due to the gap between the ice maker and the fridge that is allowing the melted water to drip down, moist air from your fridge can travel up to the ice maker and freeze the components. When your fridge is brand new, you may not experience this issue, but it may happen after a year or so of owning the refrigerator. The seals that were efficient before may not have lasted anymore, and you will have to reseal the open gaps that allow moisture to leak into the ice maker. To seal the gaps and cracks, you may use a silicone sealant that is freezer-proof, so it does not fail afterward. The best and most effective way to seal the gaps is to seal the inside of the ice maker from front to back and repeat the same sealing process outside of the ice maker, making sure that there are no visible cracks or openings.
Fix 5: Replace The Ice Maker DA97-15217D
If you have tried all the above fixes and your ice maker is still not dumping ice, it may be time to replace the ice maker in your Samsung refrigerator. To check if your ice maker has gone bad, expose the ice maker and press the test button. The ice maker will test itself for 6 minutes. During this test, you will observe the ice maker arm making upward and downward motions. This is a simple test to check if the ice maker can detect any issues by doing a self-test.
Installing a new ice maker by yourself may be a better option if your refrigerator is out of its warranty status and the repair costs come out to be higher than the cost of this ice maker. DA97-15217D is a genuine OEM refrigerator ice maker assembly made by Samsung. Installing this new ice maker is easy and is done by sliding it into place, connecting the cable, and screwing one screw. You can have an easy fix without troubleshooting small components that may have gone faulty in the old ice maker. Purchasing and installing the replacement ice maker yourself can be very cost-effective instead of having a technician come to your home and do it for you.
Purchase the DA97-15217D ice maker from amazon here:
Fix 6: “Ice Off” Button Illuminated
If your ice maker is not dumping ice, the issue may be as simple as the ice maker being accidentally turned off. If your refrigerator is equipped with an “Ice Off” button, make sure that it is not illuminated. If it is, then your refrigerator will not produce any new ice. Only the ice that is already produced will be dumped. So, if your “Ice Off” button is on, you have found the issue, and you can turn off the “Ice Off” button.
Fix 7: Check For Defrost Errors
If you have tried defrosting your refrigerator several times, there might be an issue with the defrost system. Your Samsung refrigerator’s control panel display can help you figure out any issues that may be causing your ice maker not to defrost properly. Many Samsung refrigerator models are equipped with the capability to show error codes on the control panel display. To check for any defrost-related errors, press and hold the top left and top right buttons on the control panel for about 12 seconds. Doing so will display any errors for a few seconds before the display returns to normal mode. If there are defrost-related errors, you may see the error codes 8E or 26E, which are common defrost-related errors. 8E corresponds to the ice maker sensor having an issue or being faulty. The error code 26E basically means that either your ice maker or your water valve has gone bad. To fix this issue, you should replace the water valve first. If doing that does not fix your ice maker issue, then you will have to replace your ice maker. Knowing the errors can help you find the related fixes for your ice maker issues, which is undoubtedly the best way to troubleshoot your Samsung refrigerator ice maker.
Fix 8: Check For Water Blockage
If water is not fed to the ice maker with adequate pressure, it will not be able to make ice. To check if it is causing the issue:
Try to dispense water from your refrigerator’s water dispenser. If there is no water coming out of the dispenser, then you have found the issue.
Check the water supply to the refrigerator and look for any blockages.
If there is water coming out of the dispenser, check for the water pressure. If the water comes out with weak pressure, it may not be able to reach the ice maker.
Again, this can be due to blockages in the water supply. Blockages can occur if you have hard water in your area. Checking the water tubing which supplies water to the refrigerator can help you locate any blockages. The water valve connected to the tubing can also be faulty and causing a blockage. If you find a blockage in the tubing or valve, replace the affected part. This should fix the issue of your Samsung refrigerator ice maker not dumping ice. It only makes sense to check the water quality in your area to verify if you have hard water. If you find that this is the case, you can invest in special filters that can treat the hard water before it is fed to your refrigerator. Deposits caused by hard water can have many economic and technical consequences.1 Hence, it is recommended to treat hard water before feeding it to any devices or appliances.
Fix 9: Check Filter And Replace If Necessary
Your refrigerator’s water filter may need to be replaced if it is clogged. A refrigerator will not dispense any water if its water filter has been clogged. In such a scenario, the ice maker would also not work or dump any ice. To fix this issue, replace the water filter and check to see if that solves the problem. Buy water filter for your Samsung refrigerator here:
Conclusion:
Troubleshooting your Samsung refrigerator by yourself by following the above-mentioned fixes will save you a ton of time and money as compared to having a technician come over to your home to fix your ice maker. However, if your refrigerator is still under warranty, it may be best to get in touch with Samsung directly as they can fix your ice maker quickly and without any charge. Maintaining your Samsung refrigerator by regularly replacing filters and other worn-out parts will help you extend its life.
