How To Replace An Ice Maker (With Video!)

Are you tired of dealing with an ice maker that just won’t cooperate? Say goodbye to costly repair bills and hello to the satisfaction of DIY success with our easy-to-follow guide on replacing your ice maker assembly. Plus, if you’re more of a visual learner, don’t miss the step-by-step video tutorial we’ve included just below to walk you through every detail.

Need a replacement ice maker? Search below using your specific refrigerator model number to identify the exact part needed:

Ice maker troubles? Don’t let the prospect of a pricey professional repair stop you from enjoying fresh cut cubes in your club soda. Replacing the ice maker assembly in your freezer yourself is a lot easier than you might think. With our guide and just a few minutes of your time, you’ll have your ice maker back in working order. If visual guides are more your cup of iced tea, don’t forget to check out our companion video tutorial below! It’ll give you a detailed look at just how everything is done.

How To Tell If Your Ice Maker Is Broken

If your ice maker is leaking water, making an unusual amount of noise, or not making ice at all, then it is definitely time for a replacement. All ice makers do make a bit of noise, especially when they’re cutting and dumping new cubes into the bin, but if there’s constant noise, or if the noise is excessively loud, there could be a problem. You can double check that it is the ice maker causing issues by pouring a cup or so of water directly into the ice maker’s tray. If, after a few hours, no ice has been produced, then the ice maker itself is bad. Next, we’ll go over how to fix the issue yourself!

How Do I Find The Right Replacement Ice Maker?

Start by looking up your refrigerator’s model number. If you don’t have your manual, you can find it on the fridge itself. Check the following places:

• On the exterior door or sides of the appliance
• Inside the door or on the door frame
• On the interior ceiling of the freezer or refrigerator compartment
• On the inside wall of either compartment
• On the fridge floor, beneath the crisper drawers
• Behind the kickplate at the bottom of the appliance

Once you have the model number for your fridge, search in the box below for the exact part needed on AppliancePartsPros.com:

The Tools Needed to Replace an Ice Maker

Replacing the ice maker is one of the easiest repair jobs you can do on your fridge. At minimum, you’ll need that replacement ice maker, a ¼ inch nut driver, and a few spare minutes. Depending on the state your refrigerator is in, it may help to have a towel handy to catch or clean up any leaking water, as well.

How To Replace A Refrigerator Ice Maker

For this guide and the companion video, we worked on a Frigidaire side-by-side refrigerator, but don’t leave just yet if that’s not what you have. Whether your fridge is a traditional top freezer model or you’ve got a French door refrigerator in your kitchen, you’ll find the steps are roughly the same.

The ice maker itself may look different, or you may find the component tucked into a different part of your fridge, but they’re generally installed the same way. If you’re having trouble tracking down a component in your fridge or figuring out how something fits into place, consult your manual for specific instructions. You can find a copy on the manufacturer’s website if you’ve lost the booklet the appliance came with.

Now, let’s get started:

1. Disconnect the fridge from power either at the wall outlet or circuit breaker. Don’t ever do maintenance on an appliance that is receiving power. This is a pretty quick job, so you shouldn’t need to relocate any food, but you can move ice cream and refrigerated medications to an appropriately cool location if you think you need to.
2. Shut off the water supply to the fridge. There’s a small chance you’ll get a bit of water leaking out regardless as you replace this part, but shutting off the water temporarily now will save you from a larger mess later.
3. Open up the freezer door to access the ice maker assembly and remove the ice bin. Taking the ice bin out and setting it aside will give you easier access to the assembly, making your life a whole lot easier.
   
   You may need to lift up slightly on the bin as you pull it forward so that it clears any brackets holding it in place. If the bin is stuck because of icy build up, the best thing to do is allow your freezer to defrost. You can chip the ice away with your hand or a mallet, but might risk damaging the bin.
4. Loosen the mounting screws holding the ice maker in place. There should be a couple of screws holding the side of the ice maker to the interior wall of the refrigerator. Use a quarter inch nut driver to loosen, not remove, the screws.
   
   If you’re having trouble seeing the screws because of the angle, you may be able to get a better view of them using a mirror or your phone’s camera.
5. Once the mounting screws are loosened, lift the ice maker up and remove it. The brackets should come free of the screws if you’ve loosened them enough. You won’t be able to completely remove the ice maker just yet, though. It’s still plugged in.
6. Disconnect the wire harness. This plastic piece is probably locked in place either by tabs on either side of it or a single tab on the top. Press the tab to release and you will be able to pull the wire harness apart. Once the wire harness is disconnected, you should be able to remove the old ice maker.
7. Clean up the area. If you’ve got any icy buildup around where the ice maker goes, now would be a good time to clean that up.
8. Install the new ice maker. It’s easiest if you start by reconnecting the wiring harness and then seat it on the mounting screws. You will also need to make sure that the water fill tube is inserted properly into the appropriate opening.
9. Before tightening the screws, make sure the ice maker sits level. If it’s uneven, the ice maker will not work properly. Once you’ve got it level, you can tighten the mounting screws.
10. Reinstall the ice bin. If the bin was grimy, you can clean it with warm, soapy water and dry it before pushing it back into place.

That’s it! A quick and easy replacement job done in a matter of minutes. Don’t forget to restore power to your refrigerator, turn the water back on, and check for any leaks. It’ll still be a little while before your ice maker is totally back in business. It’ll need to cool off, first, so expect to wait a few hours before you get any ice.

Where To Find Us 

If you need any replacement parts for your appliances, you can enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com to locate and order them quickly. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have tons of great information in our repair help section and YouTube videos to help you troubleshoot.

Stay connected with the latest DIY tips, tutorial videos, and repair guides by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We love hearing about your repair stories and successes. If you need more help or want personalized guidance, feel free to contact or call us at 877-477-7278. We’re ready to help you take on your next project with confidence!

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