How to Defrost an Ice Maker

If you've owned your ice maker long enough it may ice over or have a frozen tube which will interrupt the supply of ice cubes. When this happens, you need to defrost your ice maker.

You can defrost your ice maker by allowing the ice to naturally thaw; it would require emptying your fridge. Another option is to use a hair dryer or melt off the ice with steam. Avoiding these problems all start with choosing the right ice maker. Find out how at kismile.com.

We outline several ways to defrost your ice maker in our detailed guide. Keep reading. 

 How to defrost ice maker naturally

This is the slowest method but equally efficient. We recommend doing this during the night. This way, your ice maker is up and running by morning. There are two ways to defrost your ice maker naturally. You can defrost manually or choose to ''force defrost'' your ice maker. The Force defrost procedure depends on your ice maker model.

Defrosting your ice maker manually.

Unplug your freezer. Doing this, makes the ice melt naturally. Keep the freezer door open to speed up the thawing process, and don't forget to place towels in the freezer to soak up all that water.

Force defrost

Press the power cool and saver buttons simultaneously. Press until the screen goes blank. 

Press the power cool button three times, and the ice maker goes into defrosting mode. 

How to defrost an ice maker using a hair or blow dryer

The hand dryer method gets you quicker results when compared to the other defrosting methods, like natural and steaming defrosting. The ice in and around the ice maker fill tube quickly melts when you blow hot/cool air from the dryer. 

Method

The first step is unplugging your refrigerator and water supply line so the ice in your ice maker thaws. 

Put towels in your fridge and under your ice maker to absorb water that drips as the ice melts, including excess water from the filter. 

Switch your hair dryer on low or medium-speed settings and blow directly on your ice maker to defrost. It will take only a few minutes till all the ice on your appliance melts away.

How to defrost an ice maker using a bowl of hot water

The steam defrosting method is slower than the others and requires more effort. We caution you to use this method as your last resort because condensation will affect the heating coils in your appliance. 

Method

Prepare a bowl of hot water and place them inside your fridge closer to your ice maker. 

The steam from the hot water thaws the ice. Once the water gets warm, replacing it with another bowl of hot water will keep the melting process going. 

Why should you clean your ice maker?

With time, your ice maker will get dirty and accumulate debris and bacteria. This impacts the taste and smell of your ice cubes. Even if you have never used your ice maker to do anything other than produce ice, minerals from hard water form a plaque. 

Once your ice-cubes start tasting and smelling unusual, it may be time to clean your ice maker. The perfect time to do this is after defrosting your ice maker. Cleaning your ice maker regularly ensures you always have clean and great-tasting ice cubes. 

How to clean an ice maker

We recommend cleaning once every two weeks to prevent any build-up on the coils. All you need is dish soap, a sponge or washing cloth, vinegar, a toothbrush and warm water. Also, avoid cleaning your ice maker with strong scented soaps because they can affect the taste and smell of the ice cubes.

Step 1:  Turn your fridge off. Then take out its contents so your food and condiments do not spoil or become contaminated.   

Step 2: Take the ice maker from the fridge. You can wait for it to melt naturally by leaving it out or use hot water to thaw the ice in the ice maker. 

Step 3: Carefully wash your ice maker with mild soap and rinse it well. Pat dry or leave it out. 

Care and maintenance tips for your ice maker

We recommend using baking soda to dissolve build-ups and remove stubborn stains. 

A toothbrush helps you clean hard-to-reach areas of your ice maker, including the corners of your freezer. The corners of your ice maker typically harbour bacteria plaque, and leaving them there will cause harm to your health. 

Run cycles after putting your ice maker back in the fridge to remove all the odour. Doing this helps freshen your appliance. If this isn't done, your ice cubes will maintain that funny smell and taste.  

Unclog your water filter or install a new one if it is damaged. You may have to call a technician/repairer if your ice maker does not work after trying the steps above. 

So, there you have it! You can defrost your ice maker by allowing the ice to thaw naturally, melting the ice with a hand dryer or using good ole steam to get the job done.