Why is My Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working?

broken refrigerator water dispenser

Is the water dispenser on your refrigerator not dispensing water? If so, you can try to solve the problem by yourself or call True Baton Rouge Appliance Repair for refrigerator repair Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

There are several reasons for the water dispenser in a kitchen refrigerator to stop working. Again, some of the suggestions could sound a bit crazy. However, something as simple as an on/off switch on the refrigerator has been the culprit in the past. Be sure to check the obvious potential problems prior to proceeding with complicated refrigerator repair. Let’s start to tackle this appliance repair issue and see all of the solutions we can cite for a broken water dispenser on a refrigerator.

The cause of a water dispenser not dispensing is usually an installation error, a filter issue or frozen water lines:

Refrigerator Installation Issues

You just installed a brand new refrigerator with a water dispenser, but it’s not working. The water dispenser has to be connected to the home’s water line. That could be the problem.

If your brand new refrigerator is replacing an old refrigerator that didn’t feature an ice maker or water dispenser, there is a possibility that you do not have a water line running to this area. Most of the time a water line is commonly run from underneath the house either in a crawl space or basement. You can purchase this type of water line at nearly any home repair store and they’re pretty easy for the typical homeowner to install. Usually they have include a water shut-off valve, which is necessary so that if you need to move the refrigerator, you can turn off the water.

If there is an attached water line, is the valve turned on? The valve handle should be in line with the hose. And, is there water running through the pipe you have used to connect the water line? Obvious and questions, but items that have to be accounted for.

If you had to remove the doors during installation the water dispenser may not be plugged in. Review the owner’s manual to see the wire harness for that particular model of refrigerator. Be sure that it’s plugged into the refrigerator.

Once the water line is connected, most of the time there is air in the water line. So, lifting and lowering the water dispenser lever to get the air out of it is necessary.
Filter Problems

On some of the refrigerators, there are different filters. These filters might “expire”, become clogged or get frozen. All of the filters are dependent on the style and brand of refrigerator. If the filter is clogged it might cause slow filling or no flowing at all. It is suggested that your filter should be replaced every 6 months. Replacing filters can be challenging. If you run into issues, go online and find the right method to replace a filter.

One recommendation is to fill the filter with water before installation. Typically the water filters will take a long time to fill, which might lead you to assume that the water dispenser on the refrigerator isn’t working right. You will want to read the manual if all else fails. To ensure it’s not air trapped in the lines, depress the dispenser arm for around 5 minutes.

A frozen water tank might also be the reason for the issue as well on some refrigerators. If the water tank freezes it will start to leak onto the food bins. Low amounts of food inside of the fresh food bins can cause freezing to happen.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES