A glass of ice-cold drink is something all of us need to quench our thirst, and this is especially true during the hot summer days. Sometimes, though, it’s not enough that the drink is cold; it has to have ice too! Thankfully, refrigerators these days now come with an ice-making feature and separate storage for frozen meat.
LG Electronics, Inc. is a Korean brand that manufactures different electronic products and appliances, including home entertainment systems, vehicle components, mobile communications, and home appliances. Among these is an LG refrigerator ice maker.
Are you wondering how to reset LG refrigerator ice makers? We’ve all that covered here and more, so keep on reading!
A Brief History of Ice Makers
An ice maker, or sometimes called an ice machine, can be a part of a refrigerator or can come as a stand-alone piece of appliance. An American inventor, in the name of Oliver Evans, designed the very first refrigerator in 1805; although history considers Jacob Perkins as the father of refrigerators.
Evans is a physicist and a mechanical engineer. He built the first refrigeration machine that uses ether for a vapor compression cycle in 1834. A decade after, in 1844, an American doctor, John Gorrie, created a refrigerator following Oliver Evans’ design because he needed ice for his patients with yellow fever.
Then again, the Boston Ice King Frederic Tudor, who exports ice from the United States to Cuba, opposed the doctor’s plans for marketing his invention. It was only in 1929 when Professor Jurgen Hans invented the first ice maker that can produce edible ice.
Types of Ice Makers
Similar to many other kinds of home appliance you buy, ice makers also come in a variety of types. Thanks to this, you can easily find the one that best suits your kitchen’s needs and preferences. Mainly, there are two types: consumer and industrial ice makers.
Consumer Ice Makers
These types of ice makers are the ones that you see in homes or small establishments—the most common of which are freezer ice makers. In 1953, Servel presented the first automatic ice maker for home use. Then, Samsung produced its version, but it was in 1965 when Frigidaire popularized ice makers that dispense ice from the front.
You can also find portable ice makers for home use. These are stand-alone devices where you manually put the water to create ice. It can produce ice within 10 minutes after you turn it on.
Industrial Ice Makers
Industrial or commercial ice makers produce more ice in a shorter time. More often than not, ice produced using this machine is used in packaging seafood.
Commercial ice machines can also make ice in different shapes and sizes. There are different varieties of commercial ice makers, including the flake ice machine, the cube ice maker, and the tube ice generator.
Common Ice Maker Problems and Their Basic Troubleshooting Tips
An ice maker, like any other appliance, may stop working for different reasons. It is essential to recognize some of the common problems that you may encounter with your ice maker so that you can learn how to conduct some basic troubleshooting.
Before you check your machine, make sure that the water supply is turned off, and the refrigerator is unplugged before proceeding.
1. Does not dispense ice
If your ice maker does not dispense any ice, try to check the position of your refrigerator. An incorrect position affects the performance of your ice maker.
Aside from that, you can also check if the delivery chute is clogged. Ensure that the augur motor does not have frost accumulation. The flap where the ice passes through should not be frozen.
2. No ice
It is usual for a newly-installed ice machine not to produce any ice. It usually takes 24 hours before it reaches its required temperature. Make sure that the temperature is at -4℉. Check the water supply connection to ensure that it’s connected properly.
3. Not enough ice
As mentioned, regular ice production happens 24 hours after installation. Therefore, an ice maker can produce around 100 pieces of ice cubes in a day.
The constant opening of the door will affect the temperature inside the machine. If you cannot control the nonstop opening of the refrigerator door, choose an LG refrigerator that has the Ice Plus or Express Freeze feature. This helps to increase the cold air inside the freezer, which will then increase ice production.
The water line should be straight, while the water filter should be changed every six months to avoid clogging, as this may also affect the water from going to the ice maker.
3. Continuous ice or water dispensing
If your machine dispenses ice or water nonstop, the dispenser lever will get or might have already been stuck due to accumulated residue. To solve this, activate the lock button on your LG refrigerator ice maker. If the dispensing continues, turn off the water supply and the ice maker, and request for a repair.
4. Bad-tasting ice
Odors from the food inside the refrigerator or freezer affect the taste and smell of the ice produced by the ice maker. Regularly clean the inside of your unit and seal food containers.
In addition, you can also put an opened box of baking soda inside to help absorb odors. Then, you might want to check the water source, too, so as to determine whether it has any foul smell or taste.
5. Dispenses crushed ice instead of cubes
There are several reasons why your ice maker is dispensing the wrong kind of ice. First is the frequency of ice usage. If you don’t regularly use the ice dispenser, then the ice in the bin will stick together. Break the ice and try dispensing.
For frequent users, the chute almost always gets clogged, which can break the ice as it passes through. Make sure to clean the chute regularly. Set the size of the ice if you have that option and reduce the water pressure level.
How to Reset LG Refrigerator Ice Makers?
If you have completed the necessary troubleshooting steps above, but your ice maker is still not producing ice, then perhaps it’s time for you to reset it. The process of doing so varies depending on the type of ice maker you have.
Twist or Flex Tray Ice Maker
Turn on the ice maker if it’s set to off, and then wait for 24 hours for it to produce ice. If it’s already turned on, you can continue and reset the ice maker.
Make sure that the water supply is turned on and the water lines are straight. Press the test or fill button and wait for the tray to turn. After the bin has shifted, it should be filled with water again. If that does not happen, then it needs to be checked by a technician.
Heater or Custom Cube
This type of ice maker does not have a test button but a small recessed one that needs to be pressed using a thin metal like a paper clip. If the ice maker turned on after resetting, then ice production will resume after 24 hours. If not, your unit needs to be serviced by a technician.
Early Twist or Flex Tray
This type of ice maker is almost identical to the first one. If the ice maker did not turn properly, it is best to call a technician and have it checked.
How to Maintain Ice Makers
Ice makers are one of the most used pieces of equipment in any setting. Unfortunately, we tend to forget that it needs regular cleaning as well for the health and safety of those who continuously use it.
The ice maker cleaning procedure varies according to its brand. Below, we talk about the general steps on how to clean ice makers.
Step 1: Remove all the ice from the dispenser.
Turn off the ice maker and let all the ice melt. Once melted, you can throw away the water and prepare for the cleaning and sanitizing procedures. Make sure to follow the cleaning instructions provided by the manufacturer, if there’s any.
Step 2: Press the wash or clean button.
Most ice makers have the wash button, which, once pressed, lets the water flow and starts the cleaning process. Some ice makers will ask you to add a cleaning chemical. This process usually takes one minute to complete.
Step 3: Add cleaning chemicals and complete the clean cycle.
Add the required amount of cleaning chemicals and allow the cleaning cycle to finish, which will typically run for 20 minutes. Unplug your ice maker once the cleaning cycle ends.
Step 4: Remove internal parts for cleaning.
Carefully remove the ice maker parts that need a thorough cleaning and start the cleaning process as suggested by the manufacturer.
Step 5: Combine lukewarm water and the cleaning chemical.
Divide the cleaning solution into two parts. Soak the internal parts into one section. Wait until the foaming subsides before you start cleaning it. You can use a soft-bristled brush, a cloth, or a sponge to clean the internal components. Then, rinse with clean, tap water.
Step 6: Clean the food zone surfaces of the ice maker.
Use the other half of the cleaning solution to clean all the food zone areas of the ice maker such as the base, sidewalls, plastic parts, and the bin. Then, rinse it with clean tap water.
How to Sanitize Ice Makers
It is important to sanitize your ice maker after cleaning to ensure that it’s safe for use and that the produced ice is safe for consumption.
Step 1: Make a sanitizing solution.
First, mix lukewarm water with an ice maker sanitizer. The ratio may vary, but the general rule is two ounces of sanitizer per three gallons of water.
Step 2: Divide the sanitizing solution.
Use half of the sanitizing solution for all the internal parts of the ice maker. You can either soak the components in the solution or put the mixture in a spray bottle and generously spray all the pieces with the cleaning solution. Do not rinse the parts yet, but let it air dry.
Step 3: Sanitize food zone areas.
Use the other half of the sanitizing solution for cleaning the food zone areas of your ice maker, including the bin and dispenser. Do not rinse with water yet but allow it to dry.
Step 4: Wait for 20 seconds.
Leave all the ice maker parts and components to air dry and let the disinfecting properties of the sanitizer take effect before putting all parts back together.
Step 5: Reconnect the ice maker to power.
Replug the refrigerator to the power outlet and press the clean/wash button. Once the water trough is filled, add enough sanitizer, and let it complete the sanitation cycle.
Step 6: Observe and monitor.
Manufacturers recommend that you let your ice maker undergo two cycles before consuming any of the ice produced to make sure that the ice is safe for use.
Indicators That Your Ice Maker Needs Your Attention
- Your ice maker does not produce ice
- The machine does not cycle completely
- The quality of the ice is either unclear or soft
- Foul-smelling and bad-tasting ice
- The ice maker dispenses incomplete cubes
- Low ice volume
Ice Maker Cleaning Tips
When it comes to cleaning your ice maker, the best advice we could give is for you to follow the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning and sanitizing guidelines. This is to avoid damage to the machine. Here are some more cleaning tips to keep in mind:
- Do not mix the cleaner and sanitizer solutions. Use it as directed.
- Wear proper safety outfit when handling chemicals, including safety glasses and rubber gloves, to protect yourself from any harmful substance.
- Check the quality of your water source to ensure that it’s potable since it will go directly to your ice maker and produce ice for your consumption.
- When your water tank is empty, make sure that the control switch is turned off to protect the water pump from overheating.
- Familiarize yourself with the kind of ice maker you have. If you know all the components of your machine, it will be easier for you to disassemble and reassemble it.
- Clean the machine every six months to avoid water residue buildup and major expensive repairs due to neglect.
Conclusion
Knowing how to reset LG refrigerator ice makers, combined with basic troubleshooting knowledge and regular cleaning, will save you ample time and money in maintaining your machine. You can prevent additional expenses for the technician’s fee, plus you’ll get the assurance that what you are consuming is safe for your health.
In case resetting your ice maker, along with your troubleshooting know-how, does not make any difference, make sure that you only contact a registered technician highly recommended by your manufacturer. Also, make use of the warranty offered by the manufacturer when you purchased the item.