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 attempt to solve the issue on your own or call Boyle Appliance Repair for professional refrigerator repair.

There are a lot of reasons for the water dispenser in a kitchen refrigerator to not work. Again, some of the reasons might sound a bit crazy. However, something as simple as a power switch on the refrigerator has been the reason in the past. Be sure to review the more obvious potential issues before moving forward with refrigerator repair. Let’s begin to tackle this appliance repair problem and see what causes we can reference for a broken water dispenser on a refrigerator.

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

New Refrigerator Installation Problems

You just purchased a brand new refrigerator with a water dispenser, but it’s not dispensing water. The water dispenser has to be hooked up to the water line. That might be the reason for the problem.

If the new refrigerator is replacing a prior refrigerator that did not include a water dispenser or ice maker, there’s a possibility that you do not have a water line near this area. A water line is typically run from underneath a home either in a crawl space or basement. You can purchase this line at almost any hardware store and they are very easy for the average homeowner to install. Typically they have include a built-in water shut-off valve, which is necessary so that if you should need to relocate the refrigerator, you can turn off the water.

If there’s an attached water line, is the valve on? The valve handle must be lined up with the hose. And, is water running through the pipe you have installed to connect the water line? Simple and questions, but things that have to be checked.

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

When the water is connected, usually there is air in it. So, engaging and disengaging the dispenser lever to get the air out of it is necessary.
Filter Issues

On some of the popular refrigerators, there are various filters. These filters can “expire”, clog or freeze. All filters are based on your model and brand of refrigerator. If your filter is clogged it can cause slow filling or no flowing. It’s recommended that your filter is changed every 6 months. Replacing filters in a refrigerator can be challenging. If you have issues, go online and find the right method to change a filter.

One idea is to fill the water filter with water before installation. A lot of time the water filters will take a long time to fill up, which might cause you to think the water dispenser isn’t working. You will want to read the owner’s manual if all else fails. To ensure it’s not air trapped in the lines, we recommend to depress the dispenser lever for about 5 minutes.

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

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

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