Maytag ice cubes clumping together usually means the ice has partly melted and refrozen in the bin, or that extra water is reaching the ice. The common causes are a freezer that is not cold enough, ice that sits unused for a long time, an inlet valve that does not shut off completely or an ice jam that sends water outside the mold. Start by emptying the bin, checking the freezer temperature and the water filter, and watching whether the clumping comes back.
Why are my Maytag ice cubes sticking together?
Ice cubes are made one batch at a time and dropped into the bin, where they sit until you use them. If the bin gets slightly too warm, the surface of the cubes melts a little, and when the temperature drops again the water refreezes and glues the cubes into a lump. The same thing happens when ice sits unused for a long time, or when the freezer door is opened often and the temperature swings. That is the most common reason for a bin of ice that comes out as one block.
The other cause is extra water. If water drips or runs onto the ice, it freezes the cubes together as soon as the temperature allows. Where the water comes from is the thing to work out, and the checks below take you through it in order.
Is the freezer cold enough?
Our troubleshooting guide on Maytag ice maker problems says the freezer must be at 0 degrees F or below for ice production, and that an ice maker will not cycle properly if the freezer is above 10 degrees F. A freezer that runs too warm is also the easiest cause of clumping. Check the temperature setting, use a thermometer if you have one, and make sure nothing blocks the vents or holds the door ajar. Our Maytag refrigerator temperature settings guide explains the settings.
Check the door seal while you are there. A gasket that does not close leaks warm air in and makes the freezer work harder. If the whole refrigerator is warm, see Maytag refrigerator not cooling.
Could water be reaching the ice?
Yes. The same guide lists leaking around the ice maker among the common problems and gives its causes: an overfilling inlet valve that does not shut off completely, a cracked water line and ice buildup, where an ice jam can redirect water outside the mold. If water is dripping into the bin, the cubes will freeze together as it lands. You may see a wet bin, a thin sheet of ice on the bin floor or cubes that are cloudy and stuck.
The guide’s advice for ice buildup is to defrost the ice maker area by turning it off for a few hours. Our Maytag ice maker problems page covers the other leak causes. A cracked supply line, a stuck inlet valve or a damaged mold area needs a technician, so do not try to repair a line or valve yourself.
What should you do with the clumped ice?
Empty the bin and throw the lump away. Do not chip at it with a knife or an ice pick, because a slip can damage the bin, the mold area or your hand. If the lump is stuck to the bin, let it melt at room temperature or run the bin under warm water, and dry it fully before it goes back. Wipe the bin and check the area under the ice maker for ice or water, and turn the ice maker off for a few hours if you see buildup. Then turn it on and watch the next batch.
If the ice stays loose for a few batches and the clumping returns only after the ice sits for a while, the cause is probably the temperature swings, and you can use a little ice more often or keep the freezer door closed more of the time.
Does the water filter matter?
It can. The troubleshooting guide notes that a severely clogged water filter restricts the flow to the ice maker and that old filters can give ice an off taste. If you have not replaced the filter in a long time, our guide to replacing the Maytag refrigerator water filter shows how, and the troubleshooting guide says to discard the first batches of ice after a change. A weak water flow does not usually cause clumping by itself, but it can lead to small or hollow cubes.
How long does a Maytag ice maker take to make a batch?
We do not have a cycle time for Maytag ice makers on this site, and it varies with the model and the freezer temperature, so check your owner’s manual. What we can say is that if the ice maker seems to cycle far more or far less often than it used to, that is worth mentioning to a technician along with the clumping.
When should you call a technician?
Call if water keeps dripping into the bin after you have emptied it and cleared any ice buildup, if the clumping returns every batch, or if the ice maker stops making ice. Water inside the freezer points to the inlet valve, the water line or the mold area, and those are a technician’s work. If you see water near an outlet, switch off the breaker at the panel while standing on a dry floor and never pull a plug from a wet outlet. Our Maytag ice maker not making ice guide covers that follow-on symptom, and Maytag refrigerator repair explains how a visit works.
