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 on your own or call EZ Whittier Appliance Repair for refrigerator repair Whittier, California.

There are several reasons for a water dispenser in a kitchen refrigerator to not work. Again, some suggestions could sound a bit crazy. However, something as obvious as an off switch on the refrigerator has been the culprit in some instances. Be sure to inspect the obvious potential issues before proceeding with complicated refrigerator repair. Let’s begin to tackle this appliance repair problem and see all of the solutions we can come up with for a broken water dispenser.

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

New Refrigerator Installation Problems

You just purchased a brand new refrigerator with a water dispenser, but it is broken. The water dispenser has to be hooked up to the home’s water line. That might be the reason for the problem.

If your brand new refrigerator is replacing a prior refrigerator that didn’t feature a water dispenser or ice maker, there is a chance that you don’t have a water line running to this area. A water line is usually run from under a house either in a basement or crawl space. You can acquire this type of water line at nearly any home repair store and they are very simple for the average homeowner to install. Typically they have include a built-in water shut-off valve, which is important so that if you ever need to move the refrigerator, you can turn off the water.

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

If you removed the doors during installation it’s possible the water dispenser isn’t plugged in. Check the manual to find the wire harness for that particular refrigerator. Ensure that it’s plugged into the refrigerator.

If the water is hooked up, most of the time there’s air in the line. So, lifting and lowering the dispenser control on the refrigerator to get the air out of it is needed.
Filter Problems

On some models, there are various filters. These filters can “expire”, clog or get frozen. All filters are based on the style and brand of refrigerator. If the filter is blocked it will cause slow filling or no flowing. It is suggested that your filter be replaced every 6 months. Replacing filters can be challenging. If you run into problems, go online and find the proper process to change a filter.

One recommendation is to fill the water filter with water prior to installing it. Typically the water filters will need a long time to fill, which could lead you to think that the water dispenser isn’t working. You should read the owner’s manual if all else fails. To be sure it’s not air caught in the water lines, depress the dispenser lever for around 5 minutes.

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

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES