Why is My Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working?

image of refrigerator water dispenser

Is the water dispenser on your refrigerator not dispensing water? If so, you can attempt to repair the issue on your own or call Prime Provo Appliance Repair for refrigerator repair Provo, Utah.

There are several reasons for a water dispenser in a refrigerator to stop working. Again, some of the reasons might sound a little strange. However, something as obvious as a power switch has been the reason before. Be sure to check the more obvious potential issues prior to proceeding with complicated refrigerator repair. Let’s begin to cover this appliance repair problem and see what causes we can reference for a broken water dispenser.

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

Refrigerator Installation Issues

You just installed a brand new refrigerator with a water dispenser, but it is not dispensing water. The water dispenser has to be connected to the water line. That could be the cause of the issue.

If your new refrigerator is replacing a previous refrigerator that didn’t have an ice maker or water dispenser, there is a possibility that you do not have a functioning water line running to this area. Most of the time a water line is commonly run from underneath the home either in a crawl space or basement. You can purchase this type of water line at nearly any home repair store and they are pretty simple for the average homeowner to install. Typically they have a a water shut-off valve, which is necessary so that if you ever need to relocate the refrigerator, you can shut off the water.

If there is an attached water line, is the valve turned on? The valve handle should be lined up with the hose. And, is there water running through the pipe you have used to connect the water line? Simple and basic questions, but items that need to be checked.

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

Once the water line is hooked up, usually there’s air in it. So, lifting and lowering the dispenser lever to get the air out of it is necessary.
Filter Problems

On some of the household models, there are various filters. These filters can “expire”, clog or freeze. All of the filters are dependent on your model and brand of refrigerator. If your filter is blocked it will cause slow filling or no flowing. It is recommended that your filter is replaced every 6 months. Changing filters in a refrigerator can be hard sometimes. If you run into hiccups, go online and find the proper method to replace a filter.

One recommendation is to fill up the water filter with water before installing it. A lot of time the water filters can need a long time to fill up, which might lead you to assume the water dispenser on the refrigerator is not working. You should read the manual if all else fails. To ensure it’s not air caught in the water lines, depress the dispenser lever for around 5 minutes.

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

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES