Why is My Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working?

defective refrigerator water dispenser

Is the water dispenser on your refrigerator broken? If so, you can attempt to solve the issue by yourself or call Action Appliance Repair for refrigerator repair Akron, Ohio.

There are many reasons for the water dispenser in a refrigerator to not work anymore. Again, some reasons might sound a little strange. However, something as simple as a power switch has been the reason before. Be sure to check the obvious potential issues prior to moving forward with refrigerator repair. Let’s begin 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 commonly either an installation error, a filter issue or frozen water lines:

Refrigerator Installation Problems

You just purchased a new refrigerator for your kitchen with a water dispenser, but it is not working. The water dispenser has to be connected to the home’s water line. That might be the cause of the problem.

If the brand new refrigerator is replacing a prior refrigerator that did not include an ice maker or water dispenser, there’s a possibility that you don’t have a functioning water line near this area of the kitchen. A water line is usually run from underneath a house either in a basement or crawl space. You can acquire this line at nearly any hardware store and they’re pretty easy for even the typical homeowner to install. Typically they have a a water shut-off valve, which is necessary so that if you should need to move the refrigerator, you can turn off the water.

If there is an attached water line, is the valve on? The valve handle should be in line with the hose. And, is there water going through the pipe that you have installed to connect the water line? Simple and common questions, but items that have to be checked.

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

Once the water is hooked up, most of the time there is air in the water line. So, lifting and lowering the water dispenser lever to get the air out is needed.
Filter Issues

On some popular refrigerators, there are various filters. These filters could “expire”, become clogged or freeze. All filters are dependent on the style and brand of refrigerator. If the filter is blocked it will cause slow filling or no flowing at all. It’s recommended that your filter be changed every 6 months. Changing filters can be difficult. If you run into issues, go online and learn the proper process to change a filter.

One suggestion is to fill up the filter with water prior to installation. Typically the water filters can need a long amount of time to fill up, which could cause you to assume that the water dispenser on the refrigerator isn’t working right. You should read the manual if nothing is working. To ensure it’s not air caught in the lines, depress the dispenser arm for about 5 minutes.

A frozen water tank might also be the reason for the issue as well on some models. If the tank is frozen it will begin to leak onto the food bins. Limited food in the fresh food bins might cause freezing.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES