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 attempt to solve the problem on your own or call Noble Norfolk Appliance Repair for refrigerator repair Norfolk, Virginia.

There are several reasons for a water dispenser in a kitchen refrigerator to stop working. Again, some of the reasons could sound a little strange. However, something as simple as a power switch has been the reason in the past. Be sure to inspect the obvious potential issues before proceeding with refrigerator repair. Let’s start to tackle this appliance repair issue and see what solutions we can cite for a broken water dispenser on a refrigerator.

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

Refrigerator Installation Issues

You just bought a new refrigerator for your kitchen with a water dispenser, but it’s broken. The water dispenser must be connected to the home’s water line. That could be 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 don’t have a functioning water line running to this area of the kitchen. Most of the time a water line is usually run from under a home either in a basement or crawl space. You can purchase this line at just about any hardware store and they’re pretty simple for even the average homeowner to install. Usually they have include a built-in water shut-off valve, which is important 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 turned on? The valve handle needs to be lined up with the hose. And, is water running through the pipe that you have installed to connect the water line? Obvious and questions, but things that have to be accounted for.

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

When the water is connected, most of the time there’s air in the line. So, engaging and disengaging the water dispenser control to get the air out is needed.
Filter Issues

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

One recommendation is to fill the water filter with water prior to installing it. Typically the water filters will need a long time to fill up, which might cause you to believe the water dispenser on the refrigerator isn’t working right. You will want to read the manual if nothing is working. To ensure it is not air trapped in the lines, depress the dispenser arm for around 5 minutes.

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

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES