Will an Ice Maker Stop the Evaporator Fan?

Ice Makers

• Ice makers automatically make ice in your chilling appliance. An ice maker has to be connected to a permanent water source; they're usually tapped into the kitchen line beneath the sink. When the ice tray automatically empties fresh ice into the bin, the ice maker triggers the water valve to turn on the water until the tray is refilled with water. When the water has become frozen cubes, a heater located underneath the tray warms it enough for the ice to slide out and into the bin below. As the ice bin fills, a toggle arm raises and triggers an off switch when the bin is filled to the top. You can manually operate the metal arm to turn the ice maker on or off.

Evaporator Fans

• Evaporator fans blow air over the evaporator coils. When a refrigerator's compressor turns on, coolant courses through these coils, where heat is removed. This removal of heat makes the surface of the coils very cold. As air is blown over the coils, it becomes cold. This cold air then circulates through the rest of the appliance. A thermostat monitors the temperature of the air and triggers the fan (and compressor) to turn on and off. In addition, the self-defrosting unit's timer shuts down the fan while it is defrosting the evaporator coils -- which often accumulate ice and frost -- and turns it back on once the cycle is done.

Ice Maker Problems

• Ice makers can malfunction, although the malfunctions won't affect the operation of the evaporator fan. The water fill valve may not open or close properly, preventing water from filling the trays. Or, the heater that gently heats the trays and allows the ice to fall into the bin may not work properly. If the freezer has ice and water dispensers in the door, then the fridge's ice bin will feature an augur that sweeps ice down a chute and out the dispenser portal when someone triggers the dispenser mechanism. The chute can become blocked with ice, or the auger itself may become frozen.

Evaporator Fan Problems

• Although an ice maker won't stop an evaporator fan, there are other things that can cause a refrigerator evaporator fan to stop working. The first and foremost of these is the fan's motor. If this malfunctions, the fan will stop working and cold air will not circulate through the appliance, causing temperatures in both areas -- but especially in the refrigerator unit -- to rise. In addition, if the defrost timer or the thermostat malfunctions, the fan will not be triggered on and off.