--- title: "Countertop Ice Maker Repair | IceMakerRepair.center" description: "A portable nugget or bullet ice maker that sits on the counter and plugs into an ordinary outlet, fed by a reservoir you fill by hand rather than a water line…" url: "https://icemakerrepair.center/types/countertop-ice-maker-repair/" --- # Countertop Ice Maker Repair A portable nugget or bullet ice maker that sits on the counter and plugs into an ordinary outlet, fed by a reservoir you fill by hand rather than a water line, with an auger or tray, a small cooling system and a drain plug. ## Is yours a countertop? A countertop ice maker has no water line and no drain line: you pour water into a reservoir, it freezes that water on a small cold surface, and the ice falls into a bin you open from the top or the front. Nugget models, of which the GE Profile Opal is the best known, freeze water inside a chilled cylinder and turn an auger to push soft pellets up and out; bullet models dip metal fingers into a tray and drop hollow cylinders into a basket. Either way, the machine recirculates the same water many times, so whatever is in it, minerals, dust or a film from standing water, ends up on the freezing parts. Keeping a countertop ice maker going is mostly about water: the right kind in the reservoir, a regular cleaning cycle, a drain plug that seals, and room around it to breathe. What fails on a countertop ice maker How to tell 01 It is small enough to lift, sits on the counter with a cord to a wall outlet, and has no hose running into a wall or cabinet. 02 The reservoir is a removable tank on the side, or a water well under the ice basket that you fill up to a line. 03 A light or icon on the top panel shows when it needs water, when the bin is full and when a clean cycle is running. 04 On the back or the underside there are vents for the small cooling system and a drain plug or cap for emptying the water. Not yours? [Door ice maker](https://icemakerrepair.center/types/door-ice-maker-repair/) [Freezer ice maker](https://icemakerrepair.center/types/freezer-ice-maker-repair/) [Undercounter ice maker](https://icemakerrepair.center/types/undercounter-ice-maker-repair/) ## What fails on this design. On a countertop ice maker: scale on the freezing parts, a pump or sensor that reads no water, a drain plug that seeps, too little air around it. The problems it shows ### Scale on the freezing parts Tap water with minerals leaves a crust in the cylinder or on the fingers, and a nugget model will squeal, slow down and finally stop making ice. A descaling cycle with the cleaner the maker names clears most of it. ### A pump or sensor that reads no water The small pump that lifts water from the reservoir clogs with sediment, and the water level sensor can be fooled by film or scale. The light for adding water stays on even with a full tank. ### A drain plug that seeps The plug at the bottom takes wear every time it is pulled to drain the machine. A cracked plug or a missing seal lets water creep out under the base and onto the counter. ### Too little air around it The fan and condenser need space on the sides or back. Pushed against a wall, under a cabinet or next to a coffee setup that gives off heat, the ice maker runs constantly and makes little. ## Getting at it, and whether to. A countertop unit is worked on where it sits, with the reservoir drained and the machine unplugged, then moved to a clear stretch of counter or a table on a towel. [What repairs cost](https://icemakerrepair.center/cost/) On the visit 1. Descaling and a pump or sensor check are done with the covers on or off depending on the model, and take less time than a full ice cycle. 2. Many repairs on these units come down to cleaning, a plug or a small pump; the sealed cooling system inside is rarely worth opening on a machine this size. 3. Have the reservoir empty and the drain plug out before the visit, and keep the unit near an outlet that is not shared with a kettle or a heater. Repair or replace Countertop ice makers are simpler and cheaper than any other kind on this site, so the math is honest and quick. Cleaning, descaling, a drain plug, a pump or a sensor are worth doing, and a nugget unit that is simply scaled up usually comes back to life after a proper cleaning. When the cooling system has lost its charge or the motor that turns the auger has failed, a new unit is often the better buy, and the technician will tell you so on the spot. Book a visit for a countertop ice maker ## The problems it shows. On a countertop ice maker, most often nugget ice maker not making nugget ice. [All problems](https://icemakerrepair.center/problems/) ### Nugget Ice Maker Not Making Nugget Ice 6 causes, cheapest first ### Ice Maker Making Noise 6 causes, cheapest first ### Ice Maker Light Flashing 6 causes, cheapest first ### Ice Tastes or Smells Bad 5 causes, cheapest first Water on the floor or near power ### Ice Maker Leaking on the Floor 6 causes, cheapest first ### Cloudy or Discolored Ice 6 causes, cheapest first ## Who builds a countertop. 3 of the makes on this site build a countertop ice maker. Each mark opens that make's own page. [All 27 brands](https://icemakerrepair.center/brands/) ## Countertop ice maker repair, where we come out. 9 metros, each with its own page. [All service areas](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/) [Tampa Bay](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/) FL · 31 areas - [Hyde Park](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/hyde-park/) - [Davis Islands](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/davis-islands/) - [Palma Ceia](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/palma-ceia/) - [Westchase](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/westchase/) - [Carrollwood](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/carrollwood/) - [Belleair](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/belleair/) - [St. Pete Beach](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/st-pete-beach/) - [Palm Harbor](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/palm-harbor/) [Orlando](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/orlando/) FL · 30 areas - [Winter Park](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/orlando/winter-park/) - [Windermere](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/orlando/windermere/) - [Dr. Phillips](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/orlando/dr-phillips/) - [Bay Hill](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/orlando/bay-hill/) - [Lake Nona](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/orlando/lake-nona/) - [Heathrow](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/orlando/heathrow/) - [Celebration](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/orlando/celebration/) [Miami / South Florida](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/) FL · 47 areas - [Brickell](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/brickell/) - [Coconut Grove](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/coconut-grove/) - [Coral Gables](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/coral-gables/) - [Pinecrest](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/pinecrest/) - [Key Biscayne](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/key-biscayne/) - [Aventura](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/aventura/) - [Sunny Isles Beach](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/sunny-isles-beach/) - [Bal Harbour](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/bal-harbour/) - [Miami Beach](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/miami-beach/) - [Golden Beach](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/golden-beach/) - [Weston](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/weston/) - [Boca Raton](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/boca-raton/) - [Palm Beach](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/south-florida/palm-beach/) [New York Metro](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/) NY · 75 areas - [Upper East Side](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/upper-east-side/) - [Upper West Side](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/upper-west-side/) - [Tribeca](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/tribeca/) - [SoHo](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/soho/) - [Greenwich Village](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/greenwich-village/) - [Battery Park City](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/battery-park-city/) - [Brooklyn Heights](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/brooklyn-heights/) - [Park Slope](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/park-slope/) - [DUMBO](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/dumbo/) - [Forest Hills](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/forest-hills/) - [Great Neck](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/great-neck/) - [Southampton](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/southampton/) - [Scarsdale](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/new-york/scarsdale/) [Houston](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/) TX · 36 areas - [River Oaks](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/river-oaks/) - [Memorial](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/memorial/) - [Tanglewood](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/tanglewood/) - [Greater Heights](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/greater-heights/) - [Kingwood](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/kingwood/) - [Bellaire](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/bellaire/) - [Bunker Hill Village](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/bunker-hill-village/) - [Piney Point Village](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/piney-point-village/) - [Hunters Creek Village](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/hunters-creek-village/) - [Sugar Land](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/sugar-land/) - [Cinco Ranch](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/cinco-ranch/) - [The Woodlands](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/the-woodlands/) - [West University](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/houston/west-university/) [Chicago](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/) IL · 50 areas - [Lincoln Park](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/lincoln-park/) - [Near North Side](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/near-north-side/) - [West Loop / Near West Side](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/west-loop-near-west-side/) - [Wilmette](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/wilmette/) - [Winnetka](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/winnetka/) - [Glencoe](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/glencoe/) - [River Forest](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/river-forest/) - [Oak Park](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/oak-park/) - [Hinsdale](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/hinsdale/) - [Lake Forest](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/lake-forest/) - [Highland Park](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/highland-park/) - [Gold Coast](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/gold-coast/) - [Lakeview](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/lakeview/) [Los Angeles](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/) CA · 95 areas - [Beverly Hills](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/beverly-hills/) - [Bel Air](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/bel-air/) - [Holmby Hills](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/holmby-hills/) - [Brentwood](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/brentwood/) - [Pacific Palisades](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/pacific-palisades/) - [Santa Monica](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/santa-monica/) - [Hancock Park](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/hancock-park/) - [Studio City](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/studio-city/) - [Calabasas](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/calabasas/) - [Manhattan Beach](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/manhattan-beach/) - [Palos Verdes Estates](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/palos-verdes-estates/) - [Pasadena](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/pasadena/) - [San Marino](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/san-marino/) - [Malibu](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/malibu/) [San Diego](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/san-diego/) CA · 31 areas - [La Jolla](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/san-diego/la-jolla/) - [Carmel Valley](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/san-diego/carmel-valley/) - [Point Loma](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/san-diego/point-loma/) - [Del Mar](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/san-diego/del-mar/) - [Rancho Santa Fe](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/san-diego/rancho-santa-fe/) - [Coronado](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/san-diego/coronado/) - [Encinitas](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/san-diego/encinitas/) - [Solana Beach](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/san-diego/solana-beach/) [San Francisco Bay Area](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/) CA · 74 areas - [Pacific Heights](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/pacific-heights/) - [Presidio Heights](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/presidio-heights/) - [Russian Hill](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/russian-hill/) - [Noe Valley](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/noe-valley/) - [Sea Cliff](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/sea-cliff/) - [Hillsborough](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/hillsborough/) - [Atherton](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/atherton/) - [Woodside](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/woodside/) - [Palo Alto](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/palo-alto/) - [Los Altos Hills](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/los-altos-hills/) - [Tiburon](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/tiburon/) - [Piedmont](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/piedmont/) - [Marina](https://icemakerrepair.center/locations/bay-area/marina/) For the heart of your home. ## Questions about countertop ice makers. ### What kind of water should go into a nugget ice maker on the counter? Filtered or bottled drinking water keeps the freezing parts clean far longer than hard tap water. Distilled water is not ideal for some models whose sensor needs minerals in the water to read the level, so check what your maker's guide recommends. ### Why does my nugget ice maker squeak or squeal while it runs? The auger is turning against scale inside the freezing cylinder. Run the descaling cycle with the maker's cleaner, then flush it with clean water a few times. If the sound returns within days, the motor or the auger bearing needs a look. ### How often should the reservoir be drained and cleaned? Drain it every few days if you do not use much ice, and wipe it out with warm soapy water weekly. Run a full cleaning cycle once a month, or whenever the ice starts to taste flat or the water looks cloudy. ### Is it safe to leave a countertop ice maker running when nobody is home? Most are designed to stop when the bin is full or the reservoir is empty. Still, a unit that has leaked before, sits near an outlet, or runs on a shared power strip is best switched off when the house is empty. --- **[Read on the site: Countertop Ice Maker Repair | IceMakerRepair.center](https://icemakerrepair.center/types/countertop-ice-maker-repair/)** **[Book a visit with IceMakerRepair.center](https://icemakerrepair.center/schedule/)**