Why Have Your Ice Maker’s Cubes Changed Shape?

If you have a standalone ice maker or an ice-making compartment in your freezer, then you are probably used to getting cubes of a regular shape and size. However, sometimes your ice cubes change their size, structure, or shape. These changes can be caused by incorrect settings or a fault in your machine. How can you tell where the problem lies?

Your Ice Cubes Are Smaller or Larger

Your ice maker should produce regular ice cubes that look the same; however, sometimes the size of your cubes changes. They might all be smaller or bigger than usual. This problem is often caused by the controller switch in your ice maker malfunctioning. The machine uses this switch to control the size of your cubes. Sometimes, the switch moves accidentally to a different setting. In this case, you can go back to your regular cube size by putting the switch back in the right place.

However, if changing the switch doesn't alter the size of the ice cubes after a day or so, then the switch itself might be faulty. It might have a loose or broken connection or might have gotten damaged.

Your Ice Cubes Are Hollow

Ice cubes should be clear and solid. If your cubes have holes inside or hollowed-out sides, then the maker's water supply might have a problem. Typically, it isn't getting enough water through its pipes to make complete ice cubes. The cubes freeze before they have enough water in their molds.

If this is the case, you might have a clog or break in the water line that supplies your ice maker. Or the system might have a faulty valve that prevents enough water from coming into the line. If you can't get enough water into the molds, then your cubes won't be solid.

Your Ice Cubes Are Different Shapes

When your ice maker works well, then your ice cubes should be more or less the same shape. If your cubes come out in different shapes or if they clump together in small groups, then you might have a temperature problem. Your ice maker might not be cold enough, or its temperature might not be consistent — it might get cold, then warm up rapidly, then go cold again.

You might have a problem with a vent in this case. If a vent is dirty or blocked, then it might allow your freezer to get too warm. This heat can affect your freezing temperature. Another issue could be that a fan is broken or damaged. If you don't get the right air circulation in your ice-making system, then your cubes won't freeze in uniform shapes.

If you notice a problem with your ice cubes, call out a sub-zero freezer repair company.