Reviews

No/low ice? Here’s how to fix the GE Opal Ice Maker for good with $30

by Stanley Goodner

You use it daily, but you also pamper it. It stays clean from routine maintenance. You know how to fill the water, push in the ice bin, reset the machine, and perform all other troubleshooting steps the internet has to offer. Everything about your GE Opal Ice Maker seems to be normal except that it struggles to make ice like it used to. I feel your frustration, so let’s cut to the chase. All you need is a pair of 120mm fans, a few neodymium magnets (optional, but recommended), and five minutes. Explanations follow these (non-affiliate) Amazon links to help your GE Opal Ice Maker produce more ice than ever before.

AC Infinity MULTIFAN S7-P, Quiet Dual 120mm AC-Powered Fan with Speed Control (Amazon search result for “120mm USB case fan”)

FINDMAG 30 Pcs Whiteboard Magnets, Office Magnets, 10x2mm (Amazon search result for “10mm neodymium magnet”)

  • The product box for the AC Infinity Multifan S7-P.
    The AC Infinity Multifan S7-P is a perfect solution to an overheating GE Opal Ice Maker.
  • The AC Infinity Multifan S7-P with disc magnets attached to the fan grille.
    Remove the silicone feet from the S7-P fans and attach disc magnets to the metal grilles.
  • The AC Infinity Multifan S7-P with disc magnets shown next to the exhaust vent of the GE Opal Ice Maker.
    Attach the S7-P with magnets directly over the intake and exhaust vents of the GE Opal Ice Maker.
  • The AC Infinity Multifan S7-P with disc magnets attached to the fan grille.
    Make sure that the S7-P fans are facing the correct way to improve airflow.
  • A mound of chewable ice from the GE Opal Ice Maker.
    With the attached S7-P fans, the GE Opal Ice Maker now fills the bucket all the way to the lip of the ice chute!

The common issue with the GE Opal Ice Maker not making ice is that the unit is overheating. Does the machine make some ice after turning on, only to stall before filling a single layer in the bin? Does the side feel hot (hotter than it normally should) to the touch? Even if you’ve used compressed air to remove dust from the heat sink and condenser coils (with or without removing the panels for better access), it’s still overheating. Why? The most likely reason is that the ice maker’s internal fans are cheap, basic, and wear out faster than the other components. A $30 dollar upgrade gives the GE Opal Ice Maker a much needed boost.

Of all the options Amazon has to offer, I chose the AC Infinity Multifan S7-P as the perfect solution. It comes with two fans: one each for the air intake and exhaust sides of the ice maker. The single USB connector that plugs into the included AC wall adapter powers both fans. The cables are more than long enough to reach. The multi-speed controller is a neat feature, even though I only set it to ‘off’ or ‘high.’ The grilles are metal, which makes installation super easy with most any neodymium disc magnets (strongly recommended) and guarantees maximum coverage of the air vents. These fans are very quiet while operating.

After unboxing the S7-P, use a screwdriver to remove the silicone feet so that the fan grilles can make contact with the sides of the ice maker. Make sure the fans are pointing in the correct direction for air flow. The GE Opal’s air intake vent is located on the left side of the ice maker (align the fan to blow air into this side). The air exhaust vent is located on the right (align the fan to blow air out of this side). Refer to the above photos as examples. Stick three or four disc magnets to each grille before attaching to the GE Opal Ice Maker. That’s it! You can expect the ice maker to perform better and quieter, since it doesn’t have to work so hard to cool itself anymore.

May the nugget ice pile up all the way to the top of your bins!