Question 1

it says it makes 26 lbs per day but mine seems way slower, takes forever to fill the basket.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The 26 lb/day rating is under ideal lab conditions (70°F room temp, 60°F water). In a real kitchen, it's always slower. But a big slowdown usually means it's too warm, too dirty, or you're interrupting the cycle. FIX Check the environment. Is it in direct sunlight or next to a stove/oven? Move it to a cooler spot (under 80°F is best). Ensure the air filter on the back is clean and the vents aren't blocked. Then, run a full cleaning cycle with vinegar to remove scale, which massively reduces efficiency. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK You might be checking too often. Each cycle takes 6-13 minutes depending on cube size. If you open the lid mid-cycle, it pauses for safety, adding significant time. Set it and leave it alone for at least an hour to judge output. HEADS UP The first cycle of the day is the slowest as the compressor cools down from room temperature. Subsequent batches, made back-to-back, will be faster. Don't judge the daily output by the first hour's production.

Question 2

water is leaking from the bottom of the machine onto my counter, not from the drain plug.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS Internal leak. The most common culprit is an overfilled reservoir, a cracked internal water line, or a mis-seated drain plug. Water is escaping from inside the chassis. FIX Unplug it immediately. Dry the outside. Check the rubber drain plug on the back—is it pushed in all the way and twisted to the locked position? Open the lid. Is the water level above the MAX line? If so, drain some out. The most likely fix is to ensure you're not overfilling and that the drain plug is secure. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The leak could be from the internal water pump connection. You'll need to inspect the base. This model has a removable bottom panel (a few screws). If you're comfortable, unplug it, open it up, and look for cracked tubing or loose connections. If you see damage, it's a warranty repair. HEADS UP Always place the ice maker on a level, waterproof surface. If it's tilted, water can slosh out of internal channels not designed to be full. A small drip tray or silicone mat underneath is a good insurance policy.

Question 3

the ice tastes weird or smells like plastic even after a few uses.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS This is normal for new units and sometimes recurs if you don't clean the water reservoir and air filter. New plastic needs to off-gas, and stagnant water picks up odors. FIX First, clean the entire unit as described above with vinegar. Then, remove the blue foam air filter from the back of the machine. Rinse it under cool water, squeeze it out gently (don't wring), and let it air dry completely before reinstalling. Always use fresh, cold tap water—don't let water sit in the reservoir for days. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK Try using filtered or bottled water for a few cycles. Tap water with high chlorine or sulfur content can impart taste. The plastic taste should fade within the first 5-10 batches. If it persists, contact Igloo. HEADS UP Never use scented cleaners, soap, or bleach in the water reservoir. The plastic will absorb the smell and it's nearly impossible to get out, tainting every batch of ice afterwards.

Question 4

how often do i really need to clean this thing and what's the right way? the manual is confusing.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS Mineral scale buildup is the #1 killer of performance. Igloo recommends cleaning every two weeks, but that's for heavy use. For most homes, once a month is the realistic bare minimum to prevent problems. FIX The proper clean uses only food-grade white vinegar, not chemical cleaners. Unplug it. Drain all water via the drain plug. Fill the reservoir to the MAX line with a 50/50 mix of vinegar and cool water. Plug it in, press 'Power', then press and hold the 'Clean' button for 3 seconds. It'll run a 30-minute cycle. Afterwards, drain it completely and run two cycles with just clean water to rinse. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK If you have very hard water and see white crusty deposits, you may need to descale. Use a dedicated ice maker descaler (like Keurig's or a citric acid powder mix per product specs) for a stronger clean, following the same process. HEADS UP Never use abrasive pads or brushes on the interior plastic or the evaporator plate (the cold metal grid where ice forms). Scratches there will make ice stick permanently. Just use a soft cloth and the vinegar solution.

Question 5

it's started making a loud grinding or rattling noise during the cycle, sounds awful.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS That's usually a foreign object—like a small piece of ice or mineral scale—caught in the evaporator plate or the auger (the spiral mechanism that moves the ice). It's not a motor failure yet, but you need to address it. FIX Turn the unit off and unplug it. Open the lid and look inside the ice basket area. Manually rotate the auger with your hand (it should turn freely). Feel for obstructions. Use plastic tongs or a chopstick (never metal) to carefully remove any visible ice chips or debris. Plug it back in and run a cleaning cycle with just vinegar to flush out any tiny particles. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The noise might be from the fan hitting something. The fan is behind the lower rear grille. Unplug the unit, check for and remove any dust bunnies or packaging debris lodged in the fan blades with a soft brush. HEADS UP If you let ice build up and overflow the basket, chunks can fall back into the works. Always empty the basket before it hits the 'max ice' line. Forcing the auger while the machine is powered can damage the gearbox.

Question 6

the display is flashing 'E1' and it won't do anything. what does e1 mean?

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS E1 is a water shortage error. The machine's sensor isn't detecting enough water in the reservoir to safely run the pump and heating element for the harvest cycle. FIX Unplug the unit. Open the lid and check the physical water level. Even if it looks okay, drain it completely using the drain plug on the back left side. Refill it with fresh, cool tap water using the measuring cup, ensuring it's between the MIN and MAX lines—don't overfill. Plug it back in and press Start/Cancel to clear the error. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The error can get 'stuck'. Perform a hard reset: unplug it, hold the Power button down for 10 seconds (while unplugged), then plug it back in and power it on normally. This often clears persistent error codes. HEADS UP Using very cold or iced water can sometimes confuse the sensor. Always use cool tap water for refills. Also, if you're on well water or have very hard water, scale buildup on the sensor can cause false E1 errors, signaling it's time for a descale.

Question 7

it's making ice but the cubes are tiny and thin, like slivers. how do i get normal sized cubes?

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS Yeah, this one's common. You're getting 'mini-cubes' because the ice maker is set to the wrong size, or the cycle is being interrupted. It doesn't default to the large setting. FIX Press the 'Ice Size' button on the control panel. You'll see an indicator light for S (small) or L (large). Make sure the L is lit. If it is, press 'Start/Cancel' to stop the current cycle, then press it again to restart. A full batch on the Large setting takes about 6-7 minutes. Let it complete without opening the lid. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The ambient room temperature can affect this. If the room is very warm (above 90°F), the machine struggles to form thick cubes. Try moving it to a cooler spot away from direct sunlight or ovens. HEADS UP The first batch or two after a cleaning or long storage will often be small as the system stabilizes. Discard those and the next batches should be normal size.

Question 8

my igloo ice maker just arrived and it won't turn on at all, no lights or anything, what's the deal?

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS This is almost always a setup or power issue, not a dead unit. The ICEB26HNWHN has a specific power-up sequence that can get stuck if you skip a step. FIX First, make sure the unit is completely empty of water. Then, fill the reservoir with the provided measuring cup—don't just pour from a jug. Plug it in. You should hear a single beep. Now press and hold the Power button for 3 seconds until the display lights up. It won't power on from the outlet alone; you need that long-press. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK Check the power cord connection at the back of the unit. It's a removable cord, and if it's not clicked in all the way, you'll get nothing. Unplug it, reseat it firmly until it clicks, then try the power-up sequence again. HEADS UP If you try to start a cycle without enough water in the reservoir, the unit might go into a standby mode that looks like it's off. Always ensure the water level is between the MIN and MAX lines before you begin.

Igloo ICEB26HNWHN Automatic Ice Maker

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