I've been handling Bosch HVAC and appliance service orders for about eight years. In that time, I've personally made (and documented) enough mistakes totaling somewhere around $12,000 in wasted budget—through rework, wrong parts, and just plain dumb assumptions. This article answers the questions I get asked most often. I wish someone had handed me this list in 2017.
1. Where is the Bosch ice maker reset button?
This is the question I get more than any other. On most recent Bosch refrigerator models (built after 2020), the reset button for the ice maker isn't a physical button you press. It's a sequence on the control panel.
Here's the sequence that works on the models I've dealt with: Press and hold the "Super Cool" and "Alarm" buttons simultaneously for about 10 seconds. You'll hear a chime, and the ice maker should cycle through a reset. If it doesn't, unplug the refrigerator for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and try again.
One thing I learned the hard way: if the ice maker was deliberately turned off via the control panel (the ice cube icon with a line through it), pressing the reset sequence won't do anything. You have to turn the ice maker back on first. That mistake cost me a second service call and a very patient customer's afternoon.
Note: This applies to most B36-series and B20-series fridges. If you have a model from 2017-2019, the reset button might be a physical recessed button behind the ice bucket. Check your manual, seriously.
(I'm not 100% sure this works on the newer built-in models with the touchscreen. I've only serviced a handful of those.)
2. My Bosch condenser fan isn't spinning. Is it the fan motor or the capacitor?
Short answer: Check the capacitor first. It's the cheaper and more common failure point.
Here's what I do that saves me a return trip: After turning off power to the unit, use an insulated screwdriver to short the capacitor terminals (carefully—they can hold a charge). Then, check the capacitance with a multimeter. If it's more than 5-6% below the rating printed on the side, replace it.
In my first year (2017), I swapped out a perfectly good fan motor on a 3-year-old Bosch condenser because the fan wasn't spinning. The motor cost $180. The capacitor was $12. The customer got the wrong part and I looked like I didn't know what I was doing.
To be fair, a dead capacitor can sometimes make the motor hum. If there's no hum at all, it could be a bad motor, a bad control board, or a broken wire. But start with the capacitor. You'll be right more often than not.
Take this with a grain of salt, but I'd estimate 70% of the "dead fan" calls I've taken over the years were just a bad capacitor.
3. Can I use a standard air compressor for my car tires, or do I need something special?
You can absolutely use a standard portable air compressor for car tires. I have a small 2-gallon pancake compressor I use for occasional top-ups. But there are some things I should mention.
Most standard portable compressors will fill a car tire from flat to 32 PSI in about 2-4 minutes per tire. The issue is duty cycle. A small pancake compressor might have a 50% duty cycle—meaning it can run for 5 minutes but then needs a 5-minute rest. You might find yourself waiting between tires.
Looking back, I should have just bought a dedicated tire inflator from the start. For $30-50, you get something that's lighter, simpler, and designed specifically for this task. I use my compressor for everything else (nails, cleaning) anyway, so for occasional use it's fine.
4. How do I use an air compressor for the first time?
Don't hold me to this being exhaustive, but here's the basic startup checklist I give my apprentices:
- Check the oil level (if it's an oil-lubricated model). Most small ones are oil-free, but check the manual.
- Close the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. If it's open, you'll just be blowing air out the bottom.
- Attach your hose and tool (or the tire chuck if you're inflating tires).
- Turn it on. The tank will fill until the pressure switch cuts off (usually around 130-150 PSI).
- Set your regulator to the appropriate pressure for your task. 90 PSI for most nail guns, 30-40 PSI for tires.
- Drain the tank after each use. Moisture accumulates and can rust the tank from the inside. I forgot this once, and the tank rusted through after 2 years. Ruined the compressor.
One crucial thing: on the first fill, check all connections for leaks with a soapy water spray. I blew air for 10 minutes wondering why the pressure gauge wasn't climbing, only to find the hose wasn't screwed on properly.
5. Why does my Bosch blower fan keep running after the AC shuts off?
This is usually normal. Bosch heat pumps and air conditioners, especially the Greensource and Greensource+ models, have a fan delay feature. The indoor blower continues to run for 30-90 seconds after the compressor stops to extract remaining coolness from the coil.
But if the fan runs for 10+ minutes or never shuts off, that's a problem. The most common cause I've seen is a stuck fan relay on the control board.
I once spent two hours diagnosing a fan that wouldn't shut off, convinced it was a thermostat issue. I replaced the thermostat (and a perfectly good one at that) before realizing the relay was welded shut. That was $350 in parts and labor I ate because I didn't check the simplest thing first.
6. My Bosch heat pump makes a clicking noise when it starts. Is that a problem?
Probably not. A single click at startup is usually the reversing valve switching to the correct mode (heating or cooling). It's a normal mechanical sound.
Worry if you hear:
- Rattling — could be loose screws or debris in the fan.
- Continuous clicking — might be the contactor chattering, which indicates low voltage or a failing contactor.
- Loud bang — stop the system immediately and call a pro. That's a refrigerant issue.
I've never fully understood why some systems click louder than others. My best guess is it's just manufacturing tolerances in the reversing valve. If it's a single click and the system works fine, I wouldn't worry.
7. What's one thing I should check before calling a technician for a Bosch refrigerator issue?
The condenser fan at the back of the unit. If it's not spinning, the refrigerator can't dissipate heat, and the compressor will run constantly (or shut down on thermal overload).
I had a customer call me in a panic because their three-month-old Bosch fridge stopped cooling. Food was at risk. I drove 45 minutes (his service fee was $129 for the visit). The condenser fan was unplugged—the connector had vibrated loose during shipping. I plugged it back in and the unit cooled down within an hour.
That's a $129 mistake for the customer that took me 10 seconds to fix. Before you call, unplug the fridge, pull it out, and check if the fan blade spins freely (careful of your fingers) and if the connector is secure.
