Why is My Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working?

Is the water dispenser on your refrigerator broken? If so, you can attempt to solve the issue on your own or call Guthrie Appliance Repair for professional refrigerator repair CITY, STATE.

There are many reasons for a water dispenser in a kitchen refrigerator to not work. Again, some of the suggestions might sound a little strange. However, something as obvious as an on/off switch has been the culprit in the past. Be sure to check the obvious potential issues prior to proceeding with complicated refrigerator repair. Let’s begin to tackle this appliance repair problem and see all of the causes we can cite for a broken water dispenser.

The reason for a broken water dispenser is usually an installation error, a filter problem or frozen water tubes:

Refrigerator Installation Problems

You just bought a brand new refrigerator for your kitchen with a water dispenser, but it is not working. The water dispenser has to be connected to the water line. That could be the cause of the issue.

If the brand new refrigerator is replacing an old refrigerator that did not feature a water dispenser or ice maker, there’s a chance that you do not 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 get this line at nearly any hardware store and they’re pretty simple for the average homeowner to install. Usually they have a a water shut-off valve, which is important so that if you ever need to move the refrigerator, you can shut off the water.

If there’s a water line, is the valve turned on? The valve handle needs to be in line with the hose. And, is there water running through the pipe that you have installed to connect the water line? Obvious and basic questions, but things that need to be confirmed.

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

If the water is hooked up, usually there’s air in the line. So, engaging and disengaging the water dispenser lever on the refrigerator to get the air out of it is necessary.
Filter Issues

On some refrigerators, there are various filters. These filters can “expire”, become clogged or become frozen. All filters are based on the style and brand of refrigerator. If the filter is blocked it might cause slow filling or no flowing at all. It is recommended that your filter is replaced every 6 months. Replacing filters can be difficult. If you have problems, go online and learn the right method to replace a filter.

One suggestion is to fill up the water filter with water before installing it. Typically the water filters can take a long amount of time to fill, which could cause you to believe that the water dispenser is not working. You should read the owner’s manual if all else fails. To ensure it is not air trapped in the water lines, we recommend to depress the dispenser arm for about 5 minutes.

A frozen water tank could be the reason for the problem as well in some models. If the tank is frozen it will start to leak onto the food bins. Minimal food in the fresh food bins might cause freezing to happen.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• Refrigerator Not Cooling
• Refrigerator Noisy
• Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working
• How Does a Refrigerator Work?