Samsung refrigerator ice maker freezes up

Samsung ice makers are highly prone to freezing.

So it’s a commonly known issue among the brand’s users.

And if you’re experiencing this right now, I know it could be frustrating.

So stop pulling your hair out and…

Keep reading to discover:

• The ideal room and freezer temperature for refrigerators.
• 9 tips to quickly fix a Samsung ice maker that’s freezing up.
• The real reasons why this problem occurs on Samsung ice makers.
• 3 helpful tips on how to keep your Samsung ice maker working properly.
• And a lot more…

Contents

• Why does my Samsung ice maker keep freezing up?
• Samsung ice maker keeps freezing up: 9 ways to fix it
  • #1: Readjust your freezer to the right temperature
  • #2: Take out jammed ice in the mold
  • #3: Make sure that your ice chute flap is closed tightly
  • #4: Run a force defrost
  • #5: Seal any leaks on your ice compartment
  • #6: Wipe and replace your ice drawer seal
  • #7: Unfreeze your water line
  • #8: Set your water line in its correct position
  • #9: Reset your ice maker
• Bonus: 3 tips to maintain your Samsung ice maker
  • #1: Move your fridge away from any heat source
  • #2: Clean the ice drawer seal every 2 weeks
  • #3: Dispose of ice often

Why does my Samsung ice maker keep freezing up?

Your Samsung ice maker keeps freezing up due to a leak or jammed ice. Its drawer might not be closing properly because it’s dirty or worn out. There could also be a crack in its compartment that lets warm air in. Then cause a frost build-up. But one more reason is a frozen or misaligned water line.

Samsung ice maker keeps freezing up: 9 ways to fix it

#1: Readjust your freezer to the right temperature

Sometimes, the answer to the problem is simple.

What I mean is that you may only have an incorrect temperature in your freezer.

And this is why your ice maker keeps freezing up.

So before anything else, double check your unit’s temperature first.

Samsung fridges have a ‘Child Lock’ feature. This prevents kids or anyone from changing the settings.

And this is the common reason why Samsung ice makers can’t be turned on or off.

You may have deactivated this mode by accident or have forgotten about it. So now, your freezer is too cold.

What to do?

For freezers, Samsung recommends a temperature of -2° F‌ ‌(-19 °C‌).

So if you see that your unit has a lower temperature than this, raise it by a few degrees.

“But what if I have a higher freezer temperature?”

If this is the case, reduce it back to the ideal setting.

Your Samsung fridge might be working extra hard due to the high temperature. And this may also cause it to freeze more than usual.

Note: You won’t see the results right away after adjusting the temperature. Usually, it’ll take half a day for all the ice to melt. So check your fridge after this period.

#2: Take out jammed ice in the mold

Do you dispense ice regularly?

If not, there might be a large clump of ice inside your ice maker mold. And this is why it’s frozen and not working.

“What may have caused this?”

If all the ice cubes inside the mold aren’t cleared frequently, they can melt and freeze again.

This will now result in a big chunk of ice that’s hard to dispense.

How to fix it:

Open your fridge and take out your ice maker drawer.

Check if your mold has ice inside then take it out.

#3: Make sure that your ice chute flap is closed tightly

If there’s no jammed ice in your Samsung ice maker, check the chute flap next.

This should be flush on your fridge’s housing. 

So if it’s protruding, take a look inside.

There might be a chunk of ice that prevents it from closing tightly. And this can also be the reason why your ice maker froze up.

“How is it connected?”

If your fridge openings aren’t closed properly, warm air can easily get inside your unit.

This will result in moisture. Then if it comes in contact with your evaporating coils, it’ll freeze up.

So if your door or chute flap was left open for hours, it can lead to excessive frost build-up.

What to do?

If you see any block of ice, remove it immediately.

To be sure, also wipe your dispenser chute with a damp sponge soaked in warm water.

Do this to melt the frost buildup inside.

Afterward, close the flap and see if it closes properly or not.

“Help! There’s no ice inside my chute flap but it still isn’t closing.”

You may have a different problem. For this, it’s best to contact a service technician to fix the issue.

#4: Run a force defrost

Now if you have this problem, it’s highly likely that you won’t be able to remove your ice maker and its bin easily.

So to fix this and thaw the ice inside, defrost your refrigerator.

How?

Most modern fridges are now ‘no-frost’ or ‘frost-free.’

This means that the units automatically defrost by themselves to prevent ice build-up.

But if it seems like your fridge isn’t doing this on its own, you need to trigger it.

Samsung refrigerators have a “Forced Defrost Mode.”

And this can be done with a few easy steps.

How to run a force defrost cycle on your Samsung refrigerator:

1. Click and hold 2 certain buttons on your panel at the same time. (See the table below for the button combination for your model.)
2. Do this for around 8 seconds.
3. Wait until the screen goes blank before releasing the buttons.
4. You’ll hear a beeping sound after this. And this indicates that you’re now in the ‘Forced Mode System.’
5. Press the “Fridge” button at least 3 times or until you see ‘Fd’ on your panel. (The button can vary per unit so check the table below.)

Samsung refrigerator button combinations

If successful, your Samsung fridge will let out a long beep.

This means that the defrost cycle has now started. And the beeping will continue until it’s finished.

Note: You can wait for it to finish after 20 minutes. But you may also prompt it to stop after 5 minutes. To do this, press and hold the same 2 buttons that you pushed earlier. Then release them once you see the display go blank.

Don’t forget to check out:  7 Steps To Defrost Your Samsung Refrigerator (How-To)

#5: Seal any leaks on your ice compartment

Once you’ve successfully taken out your ice drawer…

You should inspect its compartment as well.

This could help if there’s nothing wrong with your ice mold or chute flap.

What to do?

Step 1: Use a flashlight to check for any cracks or gaps on its walls.

Step 2: If ever you notice a leak, you can fill it in with an epoxy or silicone sealant.

It should be made for areas with low temperatures. So it can cure inside your freezer. 

Plus, it must be food-safe as well since you’ll apply it in your fridge.

Step 3: Let the sealant dry for about a day. Make sure that you pressed the “Ice Maker” button once to turn your Samsung ice maker off.

Again, if there are cracks in your compartment, they’ll let warm air in. And this will cause too much frost on its walls.

So to prevent your ice maker from freezing, it has to be sealed tightly. 

Note: Check your ice drawer for leaks as well. You can also seal it as a temporary solution. But as much as possible, replace it with a new one.

#6: Wipe and replace your ice drawer seal

Did you find any cracks in your ice compartment?

If not, check your ice drawer gasket as well.

“What is it?”

It’s the rubber material along the sides of your ice drawer.

The purpose of this is to prevent humid air from coming inside the compartment.

But sadly, door gaskets or seals are prone to wear and tear. Also, dirt may accumulate in them if not cleaned regularly.

Now, both of these could prevent the ice drawer from closing completely. And as a result, the warm air will go inside the compartment. 

Then it’ll cause a thick frost build-up if not fixed asap.

So if this problem is recurring, the gasket might be at fault.

What to do?

First, check your ice drawer seal.

If it’s filthy, clean it by following these steps:

1. Get a microfiber cloth.
2. Create a DIY cleaning solution. Mix 1 to 2 tbsp (14.3 to 28.3 g) of baking soda per quart of warm water.
3. Put the cloth in the solution. Then wring any excess water before you start.
4. Wipe the seal to remove the dirt.
5. Dry it with another soft clean cloth.

Avoid using harsh chemicals to clean your fridge.

Reading tip: 15 Refrigerator Do’s And Don’ts (Avoid #7 At All Times)

This is an easy fix for those who have a dirty ice drawer seal.

But if you notice that there are cracks in your gasket, it needs to be replaced.

How to change your Samsung ice maker drawer gasket:

1. Get the right gasket replacement for your fridge.

Note: Search for this on the Samsung Appliance Accessories Support page. Enter the model number of your fridge and look for its parts.

1. Take out your ice drawer from the compartment.
2. Remove the gasket attached on one of its corners.
3. Safely pull the other areas to detach the whole drawer seal.
4. Get the new gasket.
5. Place it near your ice drawer. Position it based on how the old one was installed.
6. Start in any of the corners and push the seal to attach it firmly.
7. Nudge the other areas as well.

And that’s it.

Now, close the ice drawer. 

Place your hand along the openings. Check if you can feel any cold air that’s escaping from the inside or not.

If none, then your freezing problem might be solved.

But if the issue still persists, let’s dive into the other possible reasons for their fixes.

#7: Unfreeze your water line

If nothing’s wrong with the parts I said above, you might have a problem with the waterline.

Think about it.

If your line isn’t supplying your fridge with water, the ice maker will freeze at the end. As it’ll keep on cooling and working without producing any ice.

How to fix it:

Step 1: Put your fridge on “Forced Defrost Mode.” (See tip #4.)

Let the ice thaw and dry any excess moisture.

Step 2: Remove your ice maker

Do this to have access to your water line.

1. Take out the ice maker drawer.
2. Detach the wire housing cover. Remove the screw and pull the cover.
3. Disconnect the ice maker wiring plug. (The leftmost wire harness.)
4. Take out the screw on the ice duct tray.
5. Tug the tray to the right. Do this by inserting a flat blade screwdriver on the gap on its left.
6. Once it pops off, pull the tray down.
7. Slowly tug down the cooling coil. Use a flat blade screwdriver to do this.

Note: It’s the curved tube you’ll see inside that’s connected to the ice maker. Push it down gently to avoid damaging it. Then stop once the space is enough for you to take out the ice maker.

1. Remove the ice maker. Press the locking clip at the top of it. Pull the ice maker towards you. Pull it down to take it out.

For more detailed steps…

Check out this article: Samsung Ice Maker Won’t Come Out: 11 Steps To Fix It

Step 3: Check if your ice maker water line is frozen.

It’s the opening you’ll see on the compartment’s ceiling.

To check this, place a mirror inside. Then use a flashlight to see if the opening is frozen or not.

If there’s frost inside, you can’t easily reach it. So you need to do step #2.

Step 4: Buy a frozen water line tool.

It’s like an enema as it melts and flushes the ice inside your water line.

You can get this at your local hardware store or on Amazon. 

Step 5: Place a towel inside to absorb water.

Step 6: Fill the water line tool with hot water.

1. Boil at least a cup of hot water for about 1 or more minutes.
2. Pour it in a mug. 
3. Put the other end of the water line tool in it.
4. Pull the syringe’s plunger to fill the tool with hot water.
5. Stop once it’s full.

Step 7: Insert the end of the water line tool inside your water tube.

Push it as far as it can go. 

Then once it stopped moving…

Step 8:  Start injecting hot water into the water tube.

Repeat this step until your water line is clear from ice.

Step 9: Return all the removed parts in their places.

Do step #2 in reverse mode.

Afterward, give your unit a few minutes to cool again. Then check your ice maker if it’s now producing ice or not.

#8: Set your water line in its correct position

If your water line isn’t frozen, it might also be in the wrong position.

For example, if it’s placed way down inside the valve, water can splash out of it.

This will cause excessive moisture in your freezer.

Then after several hours, this can lead to jamming. As well as the freezing of your ice maker.

What to do?

To inspect the waterline, repeat steps #1 and #2 in tip #7.

Then, see if the opening is placed correctly or not.

If it’s too far below, adjust the water line from its back.

1. Move your fridge away from the wall. Just enough for you to have access on its rear side.
2. Detach the screw that holds the waterline.
3. Push the locking collar of the gray tube with a flat blade screwdriver. 
4. Pull or push the water line to adjust it to the right position. 

Again, reattach all the removed components in the compartment. 

Check if your ice maker is working. Then observe it for a few days.

#9: Reset your ice maker

Lastly, if your ice maker still doesn’t work and is frozen, try this fix.

First, take out the ice maker drawer.

Next, search for the ice maker ‘test button.’

It’s a blue-colored rubber on the side or front of the machine. And to reset your ice maker, you need to press and hold this down for 3 to 5 seconds.

After this, you’ll hear a beep.

This means that your ice maker will now start a test.

It’ll dispense ice cubes. Then, you have to look at this guide made by Samsung to know its current condition.

Wait for the test and reset process to end. This usually takes up to 6 minutes.

But you’ll know it’s done once you hear another chime again.

Note: Your ice maker’s condition won’t be solved instantly. So wait for around 24 hours to check if you still have freezing issues.

You might also want to know: 7 Steps To Reset Your Samsung Refrigerator In 29 Sec

Bonus: 3 tips to maintain your Samsung ice maker

#1: Move your fridge away from any heat source

As of the moment, where is your Samsung fridge located?

If it’s placed in a spot under direct sunlight or any heat source (e.g., oven, range), you have to move it.

“But why?”

If the temperature outside your fridge is high, it has to work harder to keep its inside cool.

This can now lead to a stuck ice maker. As well as thick ice build-up in your freezer.

So, place it away from any sources of heat. And make sure that the room temperature it’s in is between 55° F to 110° F ( 13°C – 43°C).

#2: Clean the ice drawer seal every 2 weeks

To prevent dirt from accumulating, wipe your ice drawer seal regularly.

Do this at least once every 2 weeks. 

Again, use a soft cloth to clean the gasket. Make a solution using the same steps in tip #6.

Then while you’re at it, also check the seal for any damage.

This is to prevent your ice maker from freezing again.

And last but not least…

#3: Dispose of ice often

The more often you clear your ice drawer and mold…

The fewer chances of you getting this problem.

Samsung fridges are said to be creating 120 ice cubes a day. So if these aren’t thrown out after a few days, they can melt and clump into a big chunk.

So take out your ice drawer weekly. Check if there’s any blockage and remove it immediately.

Note: If you’re going to be away for several days, turn your ice maker off as well. This is to avoid it from producing too much ice. Which will then result in clumping and over freezing.

To do this, press the “Ice Maker” button on your panel. This is usually inside the fridge.

Then see if the “Ice Maker Off” text is lit.

Learn more: 15 Best Ways To Maintain Your Refrigerator (Checklist)