Why is My Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working?

refrigerator water dispenser picture

Is the water dispenser on your refrigerator not dispensing water? If not, you can try to solve the problem by yourself or call One-Call Sugar Land Appliance Repair for refrigerator repair Sugar Land, Texas.

There are several reasons for the water dispenser in a refrigerator to not work anymore. Again, some of the suggestions could sound a bit crazy. However, something as simple as an off switch on the refrigerator has been the culprit in the past. Be sure to inspect the obvious potential issues prior to 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 on a refrigerator.

The reason for a water dispenser not dispensing is typically an installation issue, a filter problem or frozen water tubes:

Refrigerator Installation Problems

You just bought a brand new refrigerator with a water dispenser, but it’s broken. The water dispenser must be connected to the home’s water line. That might be the problem.

If the brand new refrigerator is replacing a prior refrigerator that did not feature a water dispenser or ice maker, there is a possibility that you don’t have a functioning water line running to this area. A water line is typically run from under the home either in a basement or crawl space. You can purchase this type of water line at almost any hardware store and they are very easy for even the average homeowner to install. Usually they have a a built-in water shut-off valve, which is necessary so that if you ever 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 needs to be lined up with the hose. And, is water going through the pipe that you have used to connect the water line? Simple and common questions, but things that have to be confirmed.

If you removed the refrigerator doors during installation it’s possible the water dispenser may not be plugged in. Check the owner’s manual to find the wire harness for that particular model of refrigerator. Be sure that it is plugged into the refrigerator.

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

On some household models, there are various filters. These filters could “expire”, become clogged or become frozen. All of the filters are dependent on your model and type of refrigerator. If your filter is clogged it will cause slow filling or no flowing period. It is suggested that your filter is changed every 6 months. Replacing filters in a refrigerator can be difficult. If you run into issues, go online and learn the right process to replace a filter.

One idea is to fill the filter with water prior to installing it. A lot of time the water filters take a long amount of time to fill up, which could cause you to believe that the water dispenser isn’t working. You will want to read the directions if all else fails. To be certain it is not air trapped in the water lines, depress the dispenser lever for around 5 minutes.

A frozen water tank might also be the reason for the problem as well in some models. If the tank is frozen it will leak onto the food bins. Small amounts of food in the fresh food bins can cause freezing.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES