How much does ice maker repair cost in Virginia?

What drives the bill

Ice maker repair is priced in four parts: a diagnostic or service-call fee, the part, the labor to fit it, and sometimes a second visit when the part has to be ordered. This page gives no per-job prices because the sources worth quoting do not date them. What it gives you is the list of things that move the number and how to pin it down in writing.

The biggest swing is what failed. Water supply and filter problems sit at the cheap end. A failed ice maker assembly, a bad water inlet valve or a control fault sits further up, and the part is usually specific to your brand and model. A refrigerator whose freezer is not holding temperature is a different, larger repair than an ice maker fault, because the ice maker cannot work in a warm freezer.

Rule out the cheap causes first

Before you pay for a visit, check what costs nothing. Whirlpool calls the water supply one of the most frequent causes of ice maker problems, and says to check for any kinks or blockages in the water line.^[2] A clogged or improperly installed water filter can reduce water flow to the ice maker and dispenser, and Whirlpool recommends replacing its water filter every 6 months, when the indicator light comes on, or as needed.^[2]

Next, the freezer has to be cold enough. LG gives -4°F as the minimum recommended freezer temperature for ice production.^[3] Then try the reset in how to reset an ice maker. If a test cycle does not move the ice maker or leaves the tray empty, LG says: "If the answer is “no” to either of these questions, the refrigerator most likely needs service."^[3]

Cooling-system work is a specialist job

If the diagnosis is a warm freezer rather than the ice maker, expect a higher quote and a different kind of technician. EPA's rule is that technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release ozone depleting refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified.^[4] Ask any business quoting cooling-system work whether its technician holds Section 608 certification.

Get a quote you can compare

The Virginia Board for Contractors advises getting at least three written bids or estimates so you can compare prices and contractors.^[1] For a repair call, ask each business the same questions:

• What is the diagnostic or service-call fee, and is it credited if you go ahead with the repair?
• What is the part cost, the labor and any trip charge, listed separately?
• Is the part new or refurbished, and what warranty covers the part and the labor?
• If the part has to be ordered, how long will it take, and is a second visit charged?

Give each business your model and serial number and a plain description of the symptom. A quote built on that is more reliable than a phone guess. The Board's guidance on deposits is that a reputable contractor should be able to front the costs of supplies without a large sum of up-front money from you.^[1]

Weigh it against the refrigerator

A quote that is small next to the price of a new refrigerator is usually worth accepting on a newer unit; on an old one, it may not be. Whether an ice maker is worth fixing covers the comparison.

Stop and call a pro if

• Water is leaking at the ice maker, the filter or the line. Shut off the supply and get a repair visit.
• The refrigerator section is warm as well as the freezer. That points to a cooling or control fault.
• You smell burning or see scorch marks near the plug or the compressor. Unplug it and call a technician.
• A business wants a large cash deposit before it has diagnosed the fault. That is the pattern the Board's guidance warns about.^[1]

Getting help in Virginia

See more appliance repair answers, the appliance repair directory and the guide to resetting an ice maker.

When you are ready, describe the ice maker problem once and local appliance repair businesses quote it, so you can compare written quotes side by side.