If you’re reading this, chances are you need more ice from your ice maker and now you’re wondering, “how long does it take an ice maker to fill?” The answer is dependent on a few factors, such as the temperature of your freezer (ideally between 0-10 degrees Fahrenheit) and water being supplied (ideally under 70 degrees). Under those proper conditions, most ice maker cycles will produce about 8-10 full cubes (depending on the size of your tray) at a time. This cycle will repeat every 90 – 180 minutes until the ice tray is full, which can typically hold 4-11 lbs of ice.
If the refrigerator or ice maker was recently installed, you should allow 24 hours for the refrigerator to cool enough to begin making ice. Once the refrigerator is completely cooled, the ice maker should produce a batch of cubes about every three hours, and it may take up to three days to fill the ice bin.
What Does an Ice Maker’s Cycle Consist Of?
A cycle is the actual process of ice cubes being created by your ice maker (which takes about 2-3 minutes):
- Water is released from the supply by the water inlet valve into the back of the freezer through a small tube.
- Water is dumped into the ice cube tray and frozen over.
- A temperature gauge signals when the cubes are cold enough to be ejected from the tray. A heater at the bottom of the tray will produce just enough heat to facilitate this.
- A small motor powers the sweeper arm to push the cubes up and out of the tray and into the ice bin.
Your ice maker then begins preparing for the next cycle if the tray is not full.
How Long Does It Take an Ice Maker to Fill?
Considering the average refrigerator cycle is capable of producing 8-10 cubes every 90 minutes, that equates to about 130 cubes a day (approximately 4 lbs/day). However, not all refrigerators are made equal. If your refrigerator has “Quick Ice” feature or “Dual Ice Makers,” it can produce up to 40-50% more ice than those estimates.
Ice Maker Not Working? – Check these 6 Things first!
FAQ
How long does it take for a new installed ice maker to start working?
Why is my new ice maker not getting water?
How long before water goes into ice maker?
How long does it take for an ice maker to cycle?
How long does it take a icemaker to work?
This may take up to 24 hours to happen. If the icemaker was installed but the water line was not added until later, once the water line and icemaker have been turned on, the icemaker will cycle within a few minutes and fill and process its first batch of ice cubes in about 1 1/2 hours. The icemaker is dependent upon the temperature in the freezer.
How long does it take to fill an ice maker?
With no ice usage, it may take approximately 1 to 2 days to fill the ice container/bin. New plumbing connections may also cause the first production of ice cubes to be discolored or have an odd flavor. If this happens, just discard the ice made during the 1st 24 hours and then you should be good to go. Wondering how to turn ON your ice maker?
How long does it take a icemaker to make ice?
If just installed, the icemaker itself could take 24 hours to get cold enough to produce ice. The icemaker mold must reach 16 degrees F before a cycle will begin. The recommended fresh food temperature setting is 37 degrees F and the recommended freezer temperature setting is 0 degrees F. Make sure the icemaker is turned on.
What if my icemaker has no ice?
If the “no ice” condition has recently developed on an older installation or is slow in starting in a new model, try putting 4 ounces of water in the icemaker mold body and wait two hours and see if cubes have dropped from the ice mold. If so, there may be a problem with the water distribution to the icemaker.