In recent times, ice used to be an indulgence in some countries. Ice maker is dispensable at certain times of the year in the colder hemisphere, especially in winter seasons. However, it is very important in summer seasons in situations like making cold beverages, preserving medicine and food. Regardless you do it manually, or depend on the comfort of a mechanical ice maker in your refrigerator, the procedure is just about the same.
In order to identify how an ice machine functions, we have to know what takes place in the refrigeration process. How we have been chilling water hasn’t evolved for many years aside from the fact that commercial machines have more dynamic compressors and a more efficient refrigeration process.
Majority of refrigeration units make use of “refrigerant” or fuel that has very productive heat transfer when altering its state. When the refrigerant gets in the compressor it increases the pressure and the temperature. The concentrated gas deeply penetrates through a condenser that is made of narrow tubes, changing the gas into a liquid. That liquid then passes through the expansion part or an evaporator. The liquid dissolves, going back into a gas. Heat is taken in during evaporation, this process leads to the cooling effect.
When working as it should, automatic ice makers are practical and time efficient. However, similar to all other machines, at times they don’t work as they should. Before you can determine what’s the problem with your ice maker, you have to know how an ice maker works.
How Does an Ice Maker Work?
A portable ice maker works slightly different compared to the commercial units. So how does ice make work? Instead of piling up an ice mold with water and then placing the ice mold into a freezer, a portable ice maker chills the water right away so it uses up less time to finish a pack of ice. Here is a detailed description of how the machine works.
At times, you might think how the ice maker inside your fridge works. If that is you, then we will get to know more about how the ice machine functions to form the ice that you use to make your summer beverage or winter drinks cool. This procedure is typically automatic. Water gets in the freezer through a water line installed at the back of the freezing unit. Water getting in the refrigerator is generally filtered.
The process of water filtration, the initial step of the procedure, takes away all the contaminants from the water such as chlorine, mildew, corossions from the water as it passes through the ice cube tray. The automatic ice maker tray typically has a hollow shape in it, water usually resembles the form of the tray. Water gets in this tray from a valve that manages the flow of water. The valve enables just the appropriate amount of water to complete the tray therefore packing the ice molds.
As the tray is within the freezer it becomes really cold. The temperature inside the freezer is just enough to take the water to the tray to approximately negative 12 degrees Celsius or 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The water is extremely solid and set to be unloaded at this temperature .
An extremely cold ice is more likely to tack around surfaces. In the freezer, the event that causes the ice to attach tightly to the ice cube tray. In order to remove the ice from the ice tray the ice maker should come with a heating functionality that immediately melts the layers of the ice that will cause the separation of the ice from its tray. The ice is then sticked to the ice holding bucket with the use of an electrically powered arm. The process progresses until the ice bucket is completely packed.
The ice bucket is typically installed with a sensor that detects when the ice cubes get to a specific level in the ice holding container. At a particular level of the sensor, the ice maker stops making ice. The ice maker will keep the ice solid in the ice holding container. Ice in the ice bucket will bunch up together if these other steps are not carried out.
Many ice makers will have a stirrer to beat the ice from time to time making sure that the ice in the bucket does not reach any point of clumping together. If you notice a swirling sound in your fridge, do not wonder, it is the ice maker heaving to keep the ice in the ice bucket from squeezing together.
Why Is My Ice Maker Not Working?
Perhaps, the ice maker is the single coolest spot of most modern fridge. Even refrigerators with tablets installed into the doors can be comparable to its counterparts when it comes to the convenience and grandeur of the well polished, exquisitely shaped ice on-demand. Some cold beverages are simpler, smoothies are easier, dealing with injuries is smoother. Even pranking your loved ones is just a push a button away. So when something’s wrong with your ice maker, the repair isn’t a question. It’s a necessity.
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There are common reasons why an ice maker is not functioning well, with some repairs easier than others. It’s possible that the ice maker’s shut off arm is broken or has been switched off. A damaged ice maker thermostat may also result in ice formation to stop, as the water valve does not release unless the temperature is in its appropriate range. A worse issue could involve the ice maker motor that controls the flow of the cycle.
Here are some common reasons why your ice maker may stop working:
- overall freezing temperature running too high to produce ice
- water filter already requires replacement
- insufficient water pressure from your plumbing system
- clogged or frozen fill tubes enabling the water to flow to the trays
- broken ice maker thermostat
- damaged or clogged water valve
If you are getting some issues with your ice maker, contact 5 Star Appliance Repair our for customer service center for assistance. We are staffed with a team of experts that can help you get your ice maker and even refrigerator back in shape and enjoy plenty of fresh ice whenever you want it.
