3 Common Reasons Ice Maker Drops Ice On Floor! 2023

Last updated on October 22nd, 2022 at 05:29 pm

Ice makers are designed specifically to ice water. They convert water to ice and dispense them in various sizes for home use.

However, they are prone to wear and tear after some time. One of the ways ice cube makers malfunction is the ice maker randomly dropping ice on the floor.

In this article, I will outline why an ice maker drops ice on the floor and how to correct it.

An ice maker would drop ice on the floor due to a blocked or clogged defrost drain, loose fittings and screws, an incorrect fill level, and loose hoses. Also, an ice maker could get defective without any issue with the parts mentioned and may troubleshoot by spilling out small or large particles of ice on the floor.

Common Reasons Why Ice Maker Drops Ice On Floor?

Ice water dropping on the flour can be problematic as the ice droplets melt and turn into water.

The water messes up the home and makes home appliances more likely to get damaged when water gets inside.

Ice makers do not just malfunction, except if an unignorable error gets overlooked. Some of these reasons include;

A blocked or clogged defrost drain

Loose fittings, screws, and hose

An incorrectly adjusted fill level

Let’s explore why ice makers drop ice on the floor without further ado.

#1. Blocked Or Clogged Defrost Drain

The defrost drain feature on the ice maker helps control and regulate the amount of water it generates while also ensuring that excess water does not become a mess but flows out neatly.

So much water gets formed when ice makers produce ice during a defrost cycle. The regular defrost cycle runs to work in a stipulated time to melt away ice build-ups or excess ice formed.

When the defrost drain fails, it is usually a result of clogging and freezing. However, there are two common culprits of a clogged or frozen defrost drain: food particles, debris and dirt, and frozen water.

Food Particles	Frozen Water
Refrigerators are storage for food, fruits, and other containers. Food particles and debris enter the defrost drain, which could lead to clogging. Water can also follow from the defrost drain sometimes, which may be why water runs on the floor, especially if the food particles have become a clump or a clog.	The water temperature in the defrost drain is often in a close range with a freezing temperature. Hence, it is likely to freeze, resulting in a clog or clump. In addition, the ice maker has no pre-installed heater for defrosting ice or even clogging. Therefore, water begins to leak and pour out on the floor.

When this happens, endeavor to remove the ice buildup and food particles stuck in the ice by pouring hot water over the ice.

Hair dryers and heat guns are not good tools for melting ice since they can melt the plastic on the ice maker.

#2. Overflowing Ice Maker

The ice maker has internal fittings for adjusting the rate at which water freezes. It receives water in a specific quantity and converts it to ice in the shortest time possible.

You can adjust the ice maker fill level by turning a couple of screws inside. However, the ice maker may fail, and an overfull ice maker is sometimes a culprit.

An overfull ice maker would leak water and tiny bits of ice onto the floor. If not controlled, the ice maker leaks water into other compartments and on the nearby floors.

The best way to curb this issue is by simply adjusting the ice maker fill level. A screwdriver is a must-have tool for lowering the ice fill level while maintaining smooth ice production.

If the ice maker forms hollow or brittle ice after reducing the ice fill level, it is a sign that the fill level has been too low.

#3. Loose And Leaking Fittings And Ice Maker Hose

The ice maker has quite some fittings on the couplings and hoses responsible for supplying water to the ice maker.

The fittings could either get installed inside or outside the ice maker. Some homeowners may go as far as connecting the hoses to the household water supply system.

There are also fittings and hoses on the ice makers that help them carry water through a water filter to the ice maker.

Nevertheless, the ice maker could have loose fittings due to changing the machine’s position continuously.

Also, there could be a crack in the ice maker due to this constant movement or by simply pushing the ice maker too hard to the wall, such that the hose breaks.

The hose friction could also lead to pinhole leaks, often happening without prior notice until water and ice overflow.

You can resolve the loose fittings and hose issue by replacing all worn-out parts on the refrigerator ice maker because you can not repair them.

How Do You Keep Ice Chips From Falling On the Floor?

You could form ice chips from an ice cube maker quite well, but the dispensation may happen unusually.

Moreover, it may leave you wondering the best way to keep your chips from falling on the floor.

Ice cubes break and shatter when the plastic trays inside the ice maker are coated with ice water buildup, causing water to stick to these deposits.

The best way to prevent this is by buying only high-end and good-quality plastic trays.

Furthermore, avoid cleaning them with abrasives in order not to remove the coated film on the trays. Instead, clean the tray from time to time with white vinegar to break down the ice cubes.

After that, wash with soap and rinse thoroughly. This way, the trays’ ice, dirt smells, and mineral deposits get eliminated, and the ice cube maker automatically stops spraying ice on the floor.

There are also other ways to stop ice from falling on the floor.

Always use wide containers to hold ice when dispensing ice.

Keep the container high enough and also directly under the ice dispenser such that it covers the entire ice dispenser area.

After getting the desired quantity, allow the container to stay under the dispensing area for some time because they could still be ice droplets on the dispenser. The ice dispenser usually takes some time before the mouth closes up totally.

Steps to Stop My Ice Maker From Overflowing?

The most efficient way to stop your ice maker from overflowing is to have a carefully thought maintenance plan.

Below is a four-step maintenance plan to curb your ice maker water overflow issue.

#1. Checking the Fillings

The filling levels on the ice makers must be checked frequently and adjusted appropriately.

The adjustments help create a precise setting for the ice cube maker to make ice cubes without an overflow.

#2. Clearing the Drains

The defrost drain pipes may get clogged; however, it takes a consistent buildup of ice for some time before the drain gets clogged.

Therefore you must clean the defrost drain as frequently as possible to remove debris and food particles.

You can defrost the ice in the ice maker by pouring hot water on the ice until they have cleared up completely.

#3. Inspecting the Hoses And Fittings

Ice makers could show pinhole leaks and dripping connections to signal that a hose is busted.

When this happens, look carefully at all the loose hoses and tighten them appropriately. As for the damaged or defective hoses, replace them.

#4. Purchasing Only High-quality Products

When replacing any part of the ice maker, ensure they are high quality. Do not try to save costs by buying a cheaper part or allowing defective parts to remain.

For example, replacing an ice water line may require buying a high-quality, efficient part such as a copper ice maker line.

Ice Maker Shoot Opens And Drops Ice Cubes On Floor (KitchenAid)

A KitchenAid refrigerator ice maker has a design that allows it to open on its own and shoot out ice cubes from time to time.

At precisely 45 minutes to 1 hour from when you dispense ice from the ice maker, the door may open on its own and dispense residual ice from the chute onto the floor.

This feature helps prevent ice chute jamming and leaking of water from the ice maker.

Conclusion

An ice maker troubleshoots by dropping ice on the floor. However, a clogged defrost drain, loose fittings, and incorrectly adjusted fill levels can also result in your ice maker dropping ice on the floor.

The best solution to this issue is to have a regular maintenance plan for your Ice maker.