A bin that never fills, cubes barely bigger than a thumbnail, water creeping out under the counter. Fix Cheetah handles ice maker repair in Vancouver and across BC, covering the ice maker in a fridge door as well as dedicated undercounter machines in kitchens, wet bars and outdoor kitchens. Calls are answered 24/7 and same-day visits are often possible, though we can't promise them.
An ice maker is really a small plumbing system strapped to a refrigeration circuit. It needs steady water pressure, an inlet valve that opens when told, a mould or evaporator cold enough to freeze, a dependable harvest cycle and, on many built-ins, a drain to carry away melt water. Whichever link fails, the symptom is the same empty bin. That's why our technicians test the full sequence instead of swapping the part that happens to be nearest.
Our ice work spans standalone undercounter machines from Scotsman, U-Line, Marvel and Sub-Zero, clear-ice and nugget makers, and fridge ice makers and dispensers from Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, GE, Frigidaire, Miele and the integrated column brands. Scotsman, GE, Frigidaire and Fhiaba are covered by our warranty authorization, while our factory training spans LG, Samsung, Whirlpool and Miele. Our Surrey base serves Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, and our Whistler team covers the Sea-to-Sky corridor.
Built-in and undercounter ice machines
A dedicated ice machine is a different appliance from the maker inside a fridge. It has its own compressor, condenser and evaporator, and it makes ice until the insulated storage bin is full. On many residential models that bin isn't refrigerated, so the stored ice slowly melts and the machine keeps topping it up. That keeps the ice fresh, but the melt water has to go somewhere, either down a gravity drain or through a built-in drain pump. A blocked drain line or a failed pump therefore shows up fast as a wet floor or a bin of slush.
These machines normally sit flush beneath a counter, often behind a custom panel, and draw air through a narrow front grille. Cover that grille with a mat, a toe-kick or a layer of lint and output drops while the compressor runs hot. We ease units out carefully, protect floors and panels, and reinstall each one level, with the drain confirmed working, before leaving.
- Inlet valve, supply line and water pressure testing
- Clearing or replacing the drain pump and gravity drain
- Condenser cleaning and fan motor tests
- Diagnosis of thermistors, bin sensors and control boards
- Hot-gas valve, compressor and sealed-system testing
- Descaling and sanitizing following the manufacturer's procedure
Clear ice and nugget ice makers
Clear-ice machines freeze water in thin layers on a chilled plate while a pump keeps water flowing across it, washing away the air bubbles and minerals that turn ordinary cubes cloudy. Some designs then drop the finished slab onto a heated cutter grid that divides it into cubes. A weak circulation pump, a partly blocked distributor or a broken cutter-grid wire turns up as cloudy cubes, thin slabs or ice that won't separate.
Nugget makers take another route. A refrigerated cylinder freezes a thin layer of ice, and an auger scrapes it off and presses it through an extrusion head into soft, chewable pellets. Scale building up on the auger and cylinder forces the gearmotor to work harder, and owners often hear grinding or squealing before output drops. Descaling and bearing service at that point usually heads off a much bigger gearmotor repair.
Refrigerator ice maker repair
Most of the ice complaints we get at homes start inside a refrigerator. Whether it sits in the freezer or in the fresh-food door of a French door model, the ice maker depends on an inlet valve, a fill tube that has to stay above freezing, a level arm or sensor, and an ejector motor or twist tray that releases the cubes. Through-the-door dispensers add an auger motor, a chute flap and often a crusher.
The ice compartment in a French door fridge's door has its own weak spot. When its seal or fan fails, moist air creeps in, frost builds up around the ice maker and output slows to a trickle. We service French door, side-by-side, bottom-freezer and integrated column fridges, including built-ins from Sub-Zero, Thermador, Miele, Liebherr and Fhiaba.
Water quality, scale and sanitation
Ice can only be as clean as the water feeding it. Dissolved minerals leave scale on evaporators, valves and augers, and mineral content differs from one community to the next, often running higher in homes on private wells. Biofilm is the other problem. Cool, wet surfaces such as the water trough, distributor and bin invite slime, which changes taste and smell and can clog narrow water passages.
Along with repairs, we descale and sanitize ice machines using the cleaners and steps the manufacturer specifies, check filter cartridges and supply pressure, and suggest a cleaning interval that suits your water and how much ice you go through.
- Swap filter cartridges on the schedule the manufacturer sets
- Wash the ice scoop and bin regularly, following the manufacturer's cleaning steps
- At a cottage or cabin, clean the machine before first use if it has sat idle for weeks
- Winterize outdoor machines as the manufacturer directs before the first hard freeze
- Keep bottles and food out of the ice bin, since they can foul sensors and spread bacteria
Repair or replace your ice maker?
Inlet valves, drain pumps, thermistors, fan motors, water pumps, cutter grids and fridge ice maker modules are all routine repairs. Premium undercounter machines are built for one specific opening and often wear a custom panel, so repair usually beats replacement, even for bigger jobs like a hot-gas valve or gearmotor.
If the compressor or sealed system has failed on an older machine, we'll lay out your options plainly. Each repair is quoted after inspection, and no chargeable work starts without your approval.
5 Most Common Ice Maker Issues and How to Fix Them
The ice maker is not making ice
Begin with the easy checks: the shut-off arm or switch may be off, the supply valve behind the fridge may be closed, or the water filter may be clogged or seated crookedly. Past those, a frozen fill tube, a failed inlet valve or a faulty ice maker module will stop production. In an undercounter machine, a bin sensor or thermistor could be the culprit. When the water dispenser works but the ice maker never fills, the fill tube, valve and module need professional testing.
Ice maker making small ice cubes
Small, hollow or crescent-shaped cubes mean the mould isn't filling all the way. Low water pressure is the typical cause, often from a clogged filter cartridge, a half-closed supply valve or scale on the inlet valve screen. A fill tube beginning to freeze over produces the same result. Replace the filter, then confirm the supply valve is fully open and the line behind the fridge isn't kinked. If cubes stay small, the inlet valve needs testing at household pressure, and a standalone machine may need its evaporator descaled.
Ice maker leaking water
Leaks from a fridge ice maker usually trace back to a misaligned or cracked fill tube, an inlet valve that keeps dripping after it should have shut, or a fridge that isn't level, so water spills before it freezes. Undercounter machines tend to leak from the drain side instead: a blocked gravity line, a failed drain pump or a loose bin fitting. Shut off the water, dry the area and check that the unit is level. Fixing inlet valves, drain pumps and fill tubes takes a technician's diagnosis.
Ice maker not dropping ice
Cubes that freeze solid in the tray but never drop into the bin signal a harvest problem. In most fridge ice makers, a mould heater loosens the cubes and an ejector motor or twist tray pushes them out, and either can fail. A freezer that runs too warm leaves cubes half-frozen and stuck, while a frozen fill tube can glue the whole tray together. Check that the freezer sits near -18 °C and the ice level arm moves freely. Keep metal tools out of it, because a scratched mould or damaged heater means replacing the whole ice maker module, which a technician should fit.
The ice dispenser is not working
If the bin is full but nothing reaches your glass, the cubes have often fused into a block after a power cut or a door left ajar. Otherwise a failed auger motor, a stuck chute flap or a bad dispenser switch may be responsible. Lift the bucket out, empty it, let it thaw and break up any clumps, then seat it firmly again. Make sure the dispenser lock isn't engaged. If the auger won't turn or the flap stays shut, the motor, switch or control board needs a professional repair.
Ice still isn't coming? We trace the fault through the inlet valve, harvest parts, drain pump and sealed system, then fit the replacement on fridge makers and undercounter machines throughout the Lower Mainland and up the Sea-to-Sky corridor.
Book OnlineIce Maker brands we service
Warranty-authorized & factory-trainedTHE GO-TO TECHNICIANS
- Fhiaba· Warranty-Authorized
- Frigidaire· Warranty-Authorized
- GE· Warranty-Authorized
- Scotsman· Warranty-Authorized
- LG· Factory-Trained
- Miele· Factory-Trained
- Samsung· Factory-Trained
- Whirlpool· Factory-Trained
Also serviced
- Amana
- Danby
- Fisher & Paykel
- GE Monogram
- KitchenAid
- Liebherr
- Marvel
- RCA
- Sub-Zero
- Summit
- Thermador
- Thor Kitchen
- True Residential
- U-Line
- Viking
Ice Maker FAQ
Why is my ice maker not making ice, but the water works?
The ice maker and water dispenser have separate solenoids and lines, even when they share a valve body, so one can work without the other. A frozen fill tube, a failed ice-side solenoid, an arm left in the off position or a bad ice maker module will stop ice while water still pours. Check the arm or switch, then book a diagnosis.
How do I reset my ice maker?
Many fridge ice makers have a reset or test button on the module. Others reset when you turn the ice maker on and off or unplug the fridge for a few minutes, and the owner's manual spells out the method for your model. After a reset or a fresh install, allow about a day for the first full batch of ice.
Can you handle Scotsman ice machine repairs under warranty?
Yes, Fix Cheetah is warranty-authorized for Scotsman. The manufacturer decides coverage from the serial number, purchase details and the fault we find, and we manage the claim on eligible repairs. If something isn't covered, we explain why before any chargeable work goes ahead.
Why is my under-counter ice machine leaking?
The drain is the first place to look. Many undercounter machines continuously drain melt water from the bin, so a blocked drain line, a failed drain pump or a loose bin fitting is the usual cause. After that we check for a leaking inlet valve or supply connection.
Why are my ice cubes cloudy or smaller than usual?
Small cubes usually mean the machine isn't receiving enough water, whether from low pressure, a clogged filter or a weak inlet valve, or that scale is slowing the freeze. Cloudy ice from a clear-ice machine often points to the circulation pump or distributor. A cleaning cycle sometimes solves it; if not, we test those parts.
How often should an ice machine be cleaned?
That depends on your water and how much ice you make. Manufacturers call for regular descaling and sanitizing, and machines on mineral-rich water or under heavy use need it more often. We can suggest an interval after looking over the machine and its filtration.
My fridge makes ice, but the dispenser won't deliver it. What's wrong?
Fused cubes are the most common reason, often after a power cut or a door left ajar. Otherwise the auger motor, chute flap or dispenser switch may have failed. Empty the bucket and let it thaw; if the dispenser still refuses to deliver, book a diagnosis.
Ice Maker service locations
Local technicians based in Surrey and Whistler, serving Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Sea-to-Sky daily, with scheduled trips to the Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Interior.