Spending hours after hours trying to figure out, “Why does my ice maker make a knocking noise?”
Well, you are in the right place for some answers. Not only is the noise a constant nuisance but a serious concern too. Some of the machine’s internal parts could be blocked, clogged, jammed, or damaged – the possibilities are endless.
If you want to get rid of this, you need to first identify the reasons for what’s creating the noise before you can fix the issue permanently. Without further ado, let’s get into the details.
Table Of Contents
Why does my Ice Maker make a Knocking Noise?
We have shortlisted the common reasons for when and why may your ice maker be making grinding noises :
Build-up of Ice
If warm air from outside frequently finds its way inside the ice maker. In that case, they will get exposed to the cold temperature. When the moisture reaches the freezing point, it’ll form thin icy layers on the inner sides of the machine.
These uneven layers of ice accumulate further, eventually forming clumps here and there. This is a problem because the blades or other moving parts inside the ice maker will get jammed with this ice build-up.
This is one possibility for why your ice maker is making grinding noises.
Auger Motor not working
So, what does the auger do anyway? It’s a vital part that stirs up the ice in the bucket. The auger is responsible for pushing the ice cubes towards the dispenser and into your glass.
Now, the motor that powers up and runs this auger is located at the back of the ice maker and can become worn out over time or be clogged up by pellets, dirt, etc. So how do you figure out if your ice maker machine’s motor is causing the grinding noise? Well, you can run a short test.
Firstly, press on the lever of your ice dispenser. If it’s making grinding noises with no ice being dispensed into your glass. In that case, that means it’s the auger motor that is faulty and not functioning smoothly.
Fan Bearings are Worn-out
If you’ve been using your ice maker for less than a year, this is probably not the actual reason your ice maker is making grinding noises. Because the fan bearings are likely to weaken in power and wear out when the machine is in regular use for years.
Fan bearings help to circulate cold air flow throughout. So, how do you know if the fan bearings are problematic? You’ll notice that the fan blades can’t rotate or spin smoothly at fast speeds because of the blocking frictions caused by the faulty bearings.
Another unfavorable point is when the fan blades try to push through the friction with force and spin as fast as possible. It will consume more electricity to get extra energy for the overwork.
Inspect the Water Supply lines
At the back of your fridge is a plastic pipe or copper pipe that supplies water to the ice maker machine. Water supply may be restricted if those pipes are clogged up by dirt, debris, mold, or whatever else.
Or at times, the water flow pressure may be too high, which can create a buzzing noise when the ice maker is filling up with water. Overall, this can also be one of the minor reasons why your ice maker is making knocking noises.
How to fix Ice Maker Knocking Noise?
You can feel free to call an authorized electronics technician to come over and have a look, then he can decide what can be done. Or, if you don’t mind spending more bucks, you can take your ice maker for servicing or repairing.
But if you want to fix the problems on your own merit, we are here to help you. These are the few suggestions you can follow to fix the knocking noise coming from your ice maker :
#1 Get rid of the Ice Build-up
Don’t take a hammer and start breaking the ice by force. You can unplug your refrigerator from a power source and keep it that way for 40-50 minutes. Wherever the ice had accumulated and jammed the parts, they’ll melt naturally and drip. Later on, take a clean napkin to absorb the molten water.
But let us warn you of a common technique people use for melting ice build-ups. People use a hair dryer or direct heat sources like a heat gun.
But this can be dangerous for you and harmful to your appliance. Because the panels inside the machine are made of plastics. If the heat source is intense, the plastics can distort shape by starting to melt.
#2 Replace with New Parts
If you realize that your fan bearings or blades are faulty and have worn out after long-term use, it’s better to replace them with new ones for better performance. You should also replace your auger motor if it has worn out.
Before replacing, disconnect the ice maker from any power source to reduce the chances of electrocution. Then, disassemble the ice maker and carefully remove the ice bucket to locate the motor.
#3 Fix the Water Lines
If the water pipes are clogged, make arrangements to clean them up. Not only the water lines, but you also need to ensure the water filter is cleaned and not blocked. Check the manufacturer’s manual guide to know the optimum water pressure in pounds per square inch that your ice maker can handle.
Lastly, check if the water supply valve is open or closed. Keep it turned on all the time.
Conclusion
If you’re still struggling to fix things and cannot figure out why your ice maker makes a knocking noise. In that case, you should seek professional help and contact a maintenance specialist. But we are hopeful that the suggestions provided will be enough to solve the noise issue.