NewAir Ice Maker Not Making Ice: Causes and Fixes

A NewAir countertop ice maker that stops making ice is most often out of water, sitting on a loose drain cap, or running in a room or with water that is too warm. NewAir's manuals say to run these machines below 90°F with cold water, and if the cycle runs but still makes no ice after a restart, they point to a cooling fault that needs NewAir support.

Below are the checks to do first, then the meaning of each indicator light on NewAir's nugget models (NIM026, NIM030 and NIM044) and on its bullet-ice models (AI-100SS and AI-215). Every cause and fix comes from NewAir's own manuals and support articles.

Check these first

Water level. Fill to the maximum line. Every NewAir manual we checked stops the machine and shows a water indicator when the tank runs low.
Drain cap. Make sure the cap at the bottom is pushed in fully. The NIM044BSN2 manual says the machine "will not work properly" without it.
Water tank position. On the NIM044BSN2, an Add Water light with water in the tank means the top tank is not pushed fully into place.
Room and water temperature. The NIM026 manual says to run the machine below 90°F and asks for water between 7 and 32°C (about 45 to 90°F).
Airflow. Keep 6 inches of clearance around the machine and keep the hot air outlet clear.
Level surface. NewAir's manuals say an uneven surface causes problems with operation and ice shape.
Restart wait. After you switch it off and on, the compressor can take 3 minutes to start again.

New units need time before the first start. NewAir's manuals give different rest times: one hour for the NIM026 and AI-100SS, two hours for the older NIM030SS00 and four hours for the NIM044BSN2. Use the time in your own manual.

Nugget models: what the lights mean

NewAir nugget ice maker symptoms, causes and fixes, from NewAir owner's manuals
Model and symptom	Cause in the manual	Fix in the manual
NIM026: ADD WATER light on	Not enough water	Turn it off, fill with water, press ICE/CLEAN to restart.
NIM026: ICE FULL light on	Basket full	Turn it off, empty the basket, press ICE/CLEAN to restart.
NIM026: no ice in the basket	Something blocking the inside	Check for obstructions or dry the interior.
NIM026: ICE/CLEAN light flashes red	Room or water too warm, refrigerant leak, broken cover motor or blocked cooling pipe	Run below 90°F with colder water. Press ICE/CLEAN twice to restart. If it happens again, contact NewAir.
NIM044BSN2: Add Water on	No water, or the water tank is not in place	Fill the tank or push it fully into position, then press ICE.
NIM044BSN2: Ice Full on, basket not full	Ice blocking the ice-full sensor, or a damaged sensor	Clear the sensor. If it is damaged, contact customer service.
NIM044BSN2: Making Ice flashes	Self-diagnose mode	Wait. It resumes by itself. If it happens often, run the cleaning routine.
NIM044BSN2: ICE lit and Making Ice flashing	Room or water too warm, refrigerant leak, broken cover motor or blocked cooling pipe	Run below 90°F with colder water. Press ICE twice to restart. If it repeats, contact a technician or NewAir.
NIM044BSN2: squeaking	Ice jammed inside the evaporator	Turn it off for 20 minutes, then restart.
NIM030SS00: No water light flashes	No water, blocked water screen, pump fault or something blocking the float	Refill and restart. Clean the water screen at the bottom of the tank. Clear the float. A pump fault needs repair.
NIM030SS00: defrost indicator on	The ice-making assembly is defrosting	No action needed. It returns to normal after about 30 to 45 minutes.
Nugget models: ice comes slowly or broken	Poor ventilation, warm room or warm water, or a cooling fault	Give it 6 inches of clearance, cool the room and water, then contact NewAir if it persists.

The NIM030SS00 rows come from the NIM030SS00 manual. Its successor, the NIM030SSNC, is the current 30 lb model. NewAir's manual library did not list a separate NIM030SSNC manual when we checked, so confirm its lights against the manual in your box.

NewAir's countertop manuals use named indicator lights. We found no numbered error codes in them. If you see a code, check your own manual or ask NewAir.

Bullet-ice models: what the lights mean

NewAir's bullet-ice makers use a rotating ice shovel and an ice-full sensor. Most of their faults show up as light combinations.

NewAir AI-100SS and AI-215 symptoms, causes and fixes, from NewAir owner's manuals
Symptom	Cause in the manual	Fix in the manual
ADD WATER light on	Not enough water	Press POWER to turn it off, fill the tank, press POWER again.
AI-100SS: ADD WATER and ICE both flash	Ice shovel out of position, or ice blocking the sensor	Reposition the shovel and remove any ice from the sensor.
AI-215: WARNING light on	Ice shovel cannot rotate	Check for ice blocking the shovel. If clear, have a technician check the motor and micro switch.
AI-215: WARNING flashes for 20 seconds	Ice-full sensor fault	Have a technician check or replace the sensor.
Cycle runs but no ice forms	Refrigerant leak, blocked cooling pipe, or room or water too warm	Run below 90°F with colder water. Otherwise consult a qualified technician.
One large block of ice	Room too cold	Unplug, let it thaw and defrost for a few hours, then restart.
Cubes too small	Room or water too warm, or a cold compressor on first use	Select large cubes. On first use, let it run a few cycles.

Sources: AI-100SS manual and AI-215 manual.

Clean it, then try again

Scale and a blocked water screen can stop water reaching the freezing parts. NewAir's cleaning article suggests a deep clean about once every 9 months, or more often with hard water. The NIM026 routine:

Mix 30 ounces of water with 3 ounces of distilled white vinegar.
Pour it into the tank up to the maximum line.
Hold ICE/CLEAN for 5 seconds to start the 15-minute cleaning cycle.
When the light turns off, remove the drain cap and drain into a sink.
Repeat with fresh water for two more cycles, or until the vinegar is gone.
Replace the drain cap, refill with fresh water and press ICE/CLEAN to make ice.

The NIM044BSN2 uses a 10:1 water and vinegar or citric acid solution, a 20-minute CLEAN cycle, and then a soak of more than 12 hours before draining. Follow the steps for your model. Our care section covers routine cleaning for any countertop machine.

Noise that comes with no ice

NewAir's noise article says screeching or high-pitched noise can come from the water pump, which is a replaceable part. NewAir publishes repair guides for some parts, such as the NIM044BS00 water pump replacement. Contact support before you open the case, because the warranty excludes dismantled appliances.

When to contact NewAir

Contact NewAir if the cycle runs but never makes ice, if a fault light comes back after a restart and a clean, or if a sensor, pump or motor is named as the cause. NewAir support is reachable at support@newair.com, by phone at 1-855-963-9247, Monday to Friday from 8 to 4 Pacific, or by live chat on newair.com.

NewAir's warranty page says units bought on or after November 12, 2025 carry a two-year limited warranty unless the product manual says otherwise. The NIM026 and NIM044BSN2 manuals we read state one year, so check the manual that came with your unit. Have your bill of purchase ready. The model and serial number are on the nameplate on the rear of the unit.

For how long nugget machines tend to last, see our reliability section. If you decide to replace yours, our guide to the best countertop nugget ice makers compares NewAir with the other current models.

Questions

Why is my NewAir ice maker running but not making ice?

NewAir's manuals list a warm room or warm water first. Run it below 90°F with cold water. If it still makes no ice, they point to a refrigerant leak or blocked cooling pipe, which needs NewAir support.

What does a flashing red ICE/CLEAN light mean on the NewAir NIM026?

The room or water is too warm, or there is a cooling fault. Cool things down and press ICE/CLEAN twice to restart. If it returns, contact NewAir.

Why does my NewAir say Add Water when the tank is full?

On the NIM044BSN2, the top water tank is probably not pushed fully into place. On the NIM030SS00, a blocked water screen, a stuck float or a pump fault can cause it.

Do NewAir countertop ice makers have error codes?

The NewAir countertop manuals we checked use named indicator lights, not numbered codes. Check your own manual if your display shows a code.

How long is the NewAir ice maker warranty?

NewAir's site says two years for purchases from November 12, 2025, unless the manual says otherwise. Some manuals state one year, so check yours.