Why is My Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working?

refrigerator water dispenser image

Is the water dispenser on your refrigerator not dispensing water? If not, you can try to repair the problem on your own or call Horizon Appliance Repair for refrigerator repair professional refrigerator repair.

There are several reasons for the water dispenser in a refrigerator to stop working. Again, some of the reasons are going to sound a bit crazy. However, something as simple as an on/off switch has been the reason before. Be sure to inspect the obvious potential issues prior to proceeding with refrigerator repair. Let’s start to tackle this appliance repair problem 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 usually either an installation issue, a filter problem or frozen water lines:

Refrigerator Installation Issues

You just purchased a new refrigerator with a water dispenser, but it’s not working. The water dispenser must be hooked up to the home’s water line. That might be the issue.

If your brand new refrigerator is replacing an older refrigerator that didn’t include an ice maker or water dispenser, there’s a chance that you don’t have a water line near this area. Most of the time a water line is commonly run from underneath the house either in a basement or crawl space. You can purchase this type of water line at nearly any home repair store and they’re very simple for even the typical homeowner to install. Usually they have come with a water shut-off valve, which is necessary so that if you need to move the refrigerator, you can shut off the water.

If there is a connected water line, is the valve turned on? The valve handle must be in line with the hose. And, is water going through the pipe that you have used to connect the water line? Simple and basic questions, but things that need to be checked.

If you removed the refrigerator doors during installation the water dispenser isn’t plugged in. Read the manual to see the wire harness for the particular model of refrigerator. Be sure that it is plugged into the refrigerator.

Once the water is connected, most of the time there is air in it. So, engaging and disengaging the dispenser control on the refrigerator to get the air out of it is needed.
Filter Issues

On some models, there are various filters. These filters can “expire”, become clogged or freeze. All filters are dependent on your style and type of refrigerator. If your filter is clogged it might cause slow filling or no flowing. It is recommended that your filter be replaced every 6 months. Replacing filters can be difficult. If you have hiccups, go online or call us and find the proper method to replace a filter.

One idea is to fill the water filter with water before installation. Typically the water filters need a long time to fill, which might lead you to assume the water dispenser isn’t working right. You will want to read the directions if all else fails. To be certain it’s not air caught in the water lines, depress the dispenser arm for about 5 minutes.

A frozen water tank could be the reason for the problem as well in some refrigerators. If the tank freezes it will begin to leak onto the food bins. Minimal food inside of the fresh food bins might cause freezing to happen.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES