Why is My Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working?

Is the water dispenser on your refrigerator not working? If so, you can try to repair the issue by yourself or call Anytime Ann Arbor Appliance Repair for refrigerator repair Ann Arbor, Michigan.

There are many reasons for a water dispenser in a kitchen refrigerator to stop working. Again, some of the suggestions are going to sound a bit crazy. However, something as simple as an off switch has been the culprit in the past. Be sure to check the more obvious potential issues before moving forward with refrigerator repair. Let’s start to tackle this appliance repair issue and see all of the solutions we can cite for a broken water dispenser.

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

Refrigerator Installation Problems

You just purchased a brand new refrigerator for your kitchen with a water dispenser, but it’s broken. The water dispenser has to be connected to the water line. That might be the problem.

If your brand new refrigerator is replacing an older refrigerator that didn’t have a water dispenser or ice maker, there is a possibility that you do not have a functioning water line near this area. Most of the time a water line is typically run from under the house either in a basement or crawl space. You can purchase this type of water line at just about any hardware store and they are pretty simple for even the average homeowner to install. Usually they have come with a water shut-off valve, which is necessary so that if you ever need to move the refrigerator, you can shut 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 going through the pipe that you have used to connect the water line? Simple and questions, but items that need to be accounted for.

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

When the water is hooked up, most of the time there’s air in it. So, engaging and disengaging the water dispenser lever to get the air out is necessary.
Filter Issues

On some of the refrigerators, there are different filters. These filters might “expire”, clog or get frozen. All of the filters are dependent on the style and brand of refrigerator. If the filter is clogged it might cause slow filling or no flowing. It’s suggested that your filter is replaced every 6 months. Replacing filters in a refrigerator can be difficult. If you run into issues, go online or call us and find the proper method to replace a filter.

One suggestion is to fill up the filter with water prior to installation. Typically the water filters can need a long time to fill, which could cause you to think the water dispenser is not working. You will want to read the directions if nothing is working. To be sure it’s not air caught in the lines, depress the dispenser arm for about 5 minutes.

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

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES

• Refrigerator Not Cooling
• Refrigerator Noisy
• Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working
• How Does a Refrigerator Work?