Why is My Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working?

image of refrigerator water dispenser

Is the water dispenser on your refrigerator broken? If so, you can try to repair the problem by yourself or call Fort Lee Appliance Repair for refrigerator repair Fort Lee, New Jersey.

There are many reasons for a water dispenser in a kitchen refrigerator to not work anymore. Again, some reasons are going to sound a little strange. However, something as simple as a power switch on the refrigerator has been the cause in some instances. Be sure to check the obvious potential problems before moving forward with 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.

The reason for a water dispenser not working is typically either an installation issue, a filter failure or frozen water lines:

Refrigerator Installation Problems

You just bought a new refrigerator with a water dispenser, but it is not dispensing water. The water dispenser has to be connected to the home’s water line. That could be the reason for the problem.

If the brand new refrigerator is replacing an old refrigerator that did not feature an ice maker or water dispenser, there is a possibility that you don’t have a water line running to this area of the kitchen. Most of the time a water line is typically run from under the home either in a basement or crawl space. You can buy this line at just about any home repair store and they are very simple for even the average homeowner to install. Typically they have come with a water shut-off valve, which is necessary so that if you ever need to relocate the refrigerator, you can shut off the water.

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

If you removed the doors during installation it’s possible the water dispenser might not be plugged in. Review the owner’s manual to find the wire harness for that particular model of refrigerator. Ensure that it’s plugged into the refrigerator.

If the water is connected, usually there’s air in it. So, lifting and lowering the water dispenser control on the refrigerator to get the air out of it is necessary.
Filter Issues

On some refrigerators, there are different filters. These filters can “expire”, clog or freeze. All filters are based on your model and type of refrigerator. If the filter is clogged it might cause slow filling or no flowing at all. It is recommended that your filter should be replaced every 6 months. Replacing filters in a refrigerator can be challenging. If you have hiccups, go online and find the proper method to change a filter.

One recommendation is to fill up the filter with water prior to installation. Typically the water filters take a long amount of time to fill up, which could lead you to think that the water dispenser on the refrigerator is not working. You will want to read the directions if nothing is working. To be certain it’s not air caught in the lines, we recommend to depress the dispenser lever for about 5 minutes.

A frozen water tank might also be the source of the problem as well in some refrigerators. If the tank is frozen it will leak onto the fresh food bins. Minimal food in the fresh food bins might cause freezing to occur.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES