Why is My Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working?

broken refrigerator water dispenser

Is the water dispenser on your refrigerator not working? If not, you can try to repair the problem on your own or call Premiere Chicago Appliance Repair for refrigerator repair Chicago, Illinois.

There are several reasons for a water dispenser in a refrigerator to not work anymore. Again, some of the suggestions might sound a bit crazy. However, something as simple as an on/off switch has been the culprit in some instances. Be sure to check the more obvious potential problems before moving forward with refrigerator repair. Let’s begin to cover this appliance repair issue and see all of the causes we can reference for a broken water dispenser on a refrigerator.

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

Refrigerator Installation Issues

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

If the brand new refrigerator is replacing a prior refrigerator that did not have a water dispenser or ice maker, there is a possibility that you do not have a functioning water line running to this area of the kitchen. A water line is commonly run from underneath a house either in a basement or crawl space. You can acquire this type of water line at almost any hardware store and they are pretty simple 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 should need to relocate the refrigerator, you can turn off the water.

If there is a water line, is the valve turned on? The valve handle must be in line with the hose. And, is there water running through the pipe that you have used 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 the water dispenser isn’t plugged in. Check the owner’s manual to see the wire harness for the particular refrigerator. Check that it is plugged into the refrigerator.

If the water line is hooked up, usually there is air in the water line. So, lifting and lowering the dispenser control to get the air out of it is necessary.
Filter Issues

On some models, there are different filters. These filters could “expire”, clog or freeze. All filters are based on your model and brand of refrigerator. If the filter is clogged it might cause slow filling or no flowing period. It’s suggested that your filter is changed every 6 months. Replacing filters can be challenging. If you have issues, go online and learn the proper process to replace a filter.

One recommendation is to fill the water filter with water prior to installation. Typically the water filters need a long time to fill up, which might lead you to think that the water dispenser on the refrigerator isn’t working. You should read the manual if nothing is working. To ensure it’s not air trapped in the water lines, depress the dispenser lever for about 5 minutes.

A frozen water tank might be the reason for the problem as well on some refrigerators. If the water tank freezes it will leak onto the fresh food bins. Limited food in the fresh food bins will cause freezing to occur.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES