Why is My Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working?

broken refrigerator water dispenser image

Is the water dispenser on your refrigerator broken? If not, you can attempt to repair the problem on your own or call Roy Appliance Repair for professional refrigerator repair California.

There are many reasons for the water dispenser in a kitchen refrigerator to not work anymore. Again, some of the suggestions could sound a little strange. However, something as simple as an off switch on the refrigerator has been the reason in the past. Be sure to inspect the obvious potential problems prior to moving forward with complicated refrigerator repair. Let’s start to tackle this appliance repair issue and see what solutions we can come up with for a broken water dispenser.

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

Refrigerator Installation Problems

You just purchased a brand new refrigerator with a water dispenser, but it is broken. The water dispenser has to be connected to the home’s water line. That might be the issue.

If the new refrigerator is replacing an old refrigerator that didn’t have an ice maker or water dispenser, there’s a chance that you don’t have a water line near this area. A water line is typically run from under the house either in a crawl space or basement. You can buy this type of water line at nearly any home repair store and they’re pretty easy for even the typical homeowner to install. Typically they have come with a built-in water shut-off valve, which is important so that if you need to move the refrigerator, you can shut off the water.

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

If you had to remove the refrigerator doors during installation it’s possible the water dispenser is not plugged in. Check the manual to find the wire harness for the particular refrigerator. Ensure that it is plugged into the refrigerator.

When the water is hooked up, usually there’s air in it. So, engaging and disengaging the water dispenser control on the refrigerator to get the air out is needed.
Filter Issues

On some of the refrigerators, there are different filters. These filters can “expire”, become clogged or become frozen. All of the filters are based on the style and brand of refrigerator. If the filter is clogged it might cause slow filling or no flowing period. It’s recommended that your filter is changed every 6 months. Replacing filters can be difficult. If you have problems, go online and find the proper process to change a filter.

One recommendation is to fill the filter with water prior to installing it. Typically the water filters can take a long time to fill, which could lead you to believe the water dispenser on the refrigerator isn’t working. You will want to read the owner’s manual if all else fails. To ensure it is not air caught in the lines, we recommend to depress the dispenser arm for around 5 minutes.

A frozen water tank might be the source of the issue as well in some refrigerators. If the tank freezes it will start to leak onto the food bins. Limited food inside of the fresh food bins might cause freezing to occur.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES