KitchenAid is a household name in the refrigerator sector, especially in the United States. But even so, its fridges aren’t perfect, and that calls for the need of a Kitchenaid Refrigerator Troubleshooting guide.
The right troubleshooting guide gives you the tools to address issues like a failing KitchenAid ice maker, ice dispenser, or water dispenser. It also enables you to fix a KitchenAid refrigerator that won’t cool or defrost and one that constantly beeps.
Those are the KitchenAid refrigerator issues that I’ll address in this troubleshooting guide. Overall, it takes the right tips to fix its refrigerators, and that’s where this guide comes in.
I’ll explain why the ice maker won’t make any ice, why the water or ice dispenser won’t dispense, why the defrosting unit is failing, and why the refrigerator is not cooling, among other issues.
Not just that. I’ll also highlight the things to do to troubleshoot each problem.
Let’s jump into it!
In a rush? See below a quick guide on how to troubleshoot the commonest KitchenAid refrigerator problems:
Kitchenaid Refrigerator Troubleshooting Guide (6 KitchenAid Refrigerator Problems Fixed)
| Problem | Probable Cause | Fix | |
| 1. | Ice Maker Not Making Ice | The ice maker could be off, high freezer temperature, low water pressure, clogged filter, or a defective component (water inlet valve, door switch, ice maker switch, ice-level control board) or ice maker | Turn the ice maker on, lower the freezer temperature (under 100F), raise the water pressure (to at least 20 psi), unclog the water filter, and replace the faulty component or the ice maker itself |
| 2. | Ice Dispenser Not Working | Locked controls, or faulty components (auger motor, dispenser switch, door motor, actuator, dispenser solenoid, ice crusher, or ice bucket auger) | Unlock the ice maker and replace the faulty component |
| 3. | Water Dispenser Not Working | Locked controls, frozen water line, low water pressure, clogged water filter, or faulty water inlet valve, dispenser switch, door switch, or dispenser control board | Unlock the controls, unblock the water line, raise the water pressure (to at least 20 psi+) and replace the clogged filter or faulty inlet valve, dispenser switch, door switch, or dispenser control board |
| 4. | Refrigerator Not Cooling | Dirty condenser coils or a faulty component (fan motor, thermostat, start relay, thermistor, compressor, temperature control board, or main control | Clean the condenser coils and replace the defective components |
| 5. | Refrigerator Not Defrosting | Faulty timer, defrost sensor, heater assembly, thermostat, defrost control board, or main control board | Replace the faulty part |
| 6. | Refrigerator Beeping | Freezer open for long, broken door seal, excess ice, or unbalanced fridge | Close the fridge and stabilize it, replace the door seal and defrost the unit |
6 Most Common Kitchenaid Refrigerator Problems Solved.
Here’s how to troubleshoot some everyday KitchenAid Refrigerators problems:
1. Kitchenaid Refrigerator Not Making Ice
If your KitchenAid refrigerator ice maker doesn’t make ice, it’s because of any of these issues:
a) Ice Maker Could Be Off
Your KitchenAid ice maker will only start working when you turn it on. So, confirm that is the case.
b) High Freezer Temperature
The ice maker makes ice under low-temperature conditions. It won’t do it if the freezer temperature is above 100F. Thus adjust it if that is the case.
c) Low Water Pressure
Water won’t fill the ice maker if the pressure is below 20 psi, which means the ice maker won’t work. So, measure the water pressure with a water pressure gauge and adjust it if it’s lower than 20 psi.
It means regulating it from the main and unblocking the water supply line.
d) Clogged Filter
A clogged filter prevents the water from getting to your ice maker. And since the ice maker needs water to make ice, it won’t make any until you replace the filter.
Overall, learn to replace the KitchenAid water filter every six months.
e) Defective Water Inlet Valve
If the water inlet valve is defective, which you can tell by testing with a digital multimeter, water won’t reach your ice maker. So, consider replacing the valve if it’s faulty.
f) Faulty Door Switch or Ice Maker Switch
If the door switch is faulty, the fridge door won’t close, not allowing the ice dispenser to work. Also, if the ice maker switch is defective, the ice maker won’t work.
Thus, test the switches using a digital multimeter and replace the flawed one.
g) Ice-Level Control Board Failure
A faulty ice-level control board fails to signal to the ice maker when it’s time to make ice. So, the fix for that is replacing the control board.
h) Defective Ice Maker
Also, consider the possibility of your KitchenAid ice maker being defective. If it is, then replace it.
2. Unit Not Dispensing Ice
Sometimes, your KitchenAid refrigerator ice maker may make some ice, but the dispenser may not dispense it. If so, then it could be because of any of the following:
a) Locked Controls
If your KitchenAid ice maker’s ‘Control Lock’ is on, it locks the ice dispenser. So, you must turn it off to unlock the ice dispenser and allow it to dispense ice.
b) Faulty Component (auger motor, dispenser switch, door motor, actuator dispenser solenoid, ice crusher, or ice bucket auger)
Your ice dispenser may fail to dispense ice if the auger motor, dispenser switch, door motor, dispenser solenoid, ice bucket auger, or ice crusher is faulty. You’ll need to check all these components to find the faulty one and replace it.
Consider checking your refrigerator manual to see each component’s location. That will make troubleshooting easier.
3. Kitchenaid Refrigerator Not Dispensing Water
Let’s now talk about your KitchenAid refrigerator water dispenser. If it doesn’t dispense water, watch out for any of these issues:
a) Locked Controls
The ‘Control Lock’ function doesn’t just lock the ice maker but the water dispenser too. So, deactivate it if it’s on to unlock the water dispenser and allow it to dispense water.
b) Frozen Water Line
A frozen water line cuts off the water supply to your dispenser, making it impossible to dispense any water. So, check the water line for ice blocking and turn the unit off to allow it to self-defrost.
c) Low Water Pressure
A pressure level below 20 psi makes it hard for water to get to the dispenser. And if it doesn’t, the dispenser won’t have anything to dispense.
So, measure the pressure with a pressure gauge to ensure it’s at least 20 psi. If not, adjust it.
d) Clogged Water Filter
A clogged water filter also interferes with the water dispensing just as it does the ice dispensing. So, consider changing the water filter if you’ve used it for six months or more.
e) Faulty Water Inlet Valve, Dispenser Switch, Door Switch, Or Dispenser Control Board
Also, consider the possibility of a defective water inlet valve, door switch, dispenser switch, or dispenser control board.
You’ll need to test each of them with a multimeter. If any of them doesn’t show continuity, replace it – it’s defective.
4. Kitchenaid Refrigerator Not Cooling
You expect your KitchenAid fridge to cool things because that is its job. If it doesn’t, then the cause could be any of the following:
a) Dirty Condenser Coils
Unless the condenser coils are dirt-free, the refrigerator won’t cool. So, you need to inspect and clean them if they are dirty. You can use a condenser coil cleaning brush.
b) Faulty Component (fan motor, thermostat, start relay, thermistor, compressor, temperature control board, or main control board)
If the condenser coils are not dirty, but your KitchenAid refrigerator still won’t cool, one of the cooling components could be faulty.
The components to inspect for faults include the thermistor, thermostat, fan motor (evaporator and condenser fan motor), temperature control board, start relay, and main control board.
Consider replacing the main control board as the last option. That’s after you confirm that every other component is okay. But if any of them is faulty, replace them.
And More
5. Kitchenaid Refrigerator Not Defrosting
Sometimes, the KitchenAid refrigerator may fail to defrost. Once that happens, the cause could be any of these:
a) Faulty Timer
A faulty defrost timer prevents the refrigerator from moving to the defrost cycle. So, if you notice that being the case, replace the defrost timer.
b) Faulty Defrost Sensor
The defrost sensor will fail to monitor the evaporator temperature if faulty, causing the refrigerator not to defrost. So, you’ll need to replace it.
c) Heaters Assembly Failure
The heater assembly won’t melt away frost if it’s faulty. Consequently, if there is frost accumulation in the evaporator coil, the heater assembly is defective; hence replace it.
d) Defective Thermostat
Replace the thermostat if defective to re-power the defrost heater.
e) Defrost Control Board or Main Control Failure
Lastly, consider the possibility of your defrost control board or main control board malfunctioning. That’s if the timer, sensor, thermostat, and heater assembly are okay.
The Kitchenaid refrigerator control board troubleshooting, in this case, involves replacing the faulty control board.
6. Kitchenaid Refrigerator Beeping
If your KitchenAid unit is beeping, watch out for any of these causes:
a) The Door Has Been Open for A Long Time
You need to close the fridge door if it has been open for more than 5 minutes. That’ll stop the beeping.
b) Broken Door Seal
A broken door seal will cause air to escape, and the fridge will respond by beeping. Consider replacing the fridge door seal if it appears damaged.
c) Excess Ice
Excess ice shows a failed defrosting, which causes the refrigerator to produce a beeping sound. It is, however, fixable by turning the unit off to allow it to self-defrost.
d) Unbalanced fridge
Try to stabilize the fridge if it’s unstable. That should stop the beeping. You can change its location if possible or level its feet.
e) Recent Power Loss
If there was a power outage, your KitchenAid refrigerator will beep a few times and display the words’ power outage’ on the control panel. You can stop the beeping by touching any button on the control panel.
Kitchenaid Refrigerator Not Working Still? Try Resetting It
Here are two ways to reset a KitchenAid refrigerator:
a) Kitchenaid Refrigerator Water Filter Reset
By resetting the water filter, you can reset the entire unit. The process involves holding the water filter/filter reset button for 8-10 seconds and releasing it before restarting the fridge.
b) Manual Kitchenaid Refrigerator Reset
This refrigerator reset technique requires you to unplug the refrigerator for 10 minutes and then plug it back. Then, restart the fridge normally.
Remember, resetting the fridge is a smart way to clear Kitchenaid refrigerator troubleshooting codes.
Closing Thought
Now you have a quick Kitchenaid refrigerator troubleshooting guide to use when your refrigerator develops issues.
Though there are still other problems you can fix, the above six are the commonest. If you encounter any other issue not shared in this guide, refer to your KitchenAid manual or call a refrigerator technician.
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