Why is My Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working?

broken refrigerator water dispenser

Is the water dispenser on your refrigerator broken? If not, you can try to repair the problem by yourself or call Chico Appliance Repair for refrigerator repair Chico, California.

There are many reasons for the water dispenser in a kitchen refrigerator to stop working. Again, some suggestions are going to sound a little strange. However, something as obvious as an off switch has been the cause in some instances. Be sure to check the more obvious potential issues prior to proceeding with refrigerator repair. Let’s start to cover this appliance repair issue and see all of the solutions we can come up with for a broken water dispenser on a refrigerator.

The cause of a broken water dispenser is usually an installation error, a filter issue or frozen water lines:

Refrigerator Installation Problems

You just bought a 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 problem.

If the new refrigerator is replacing an old refrigerator that did not feature an ice maker or water dispenser, there’s a possibility that you don’t have a functioning water line near this area. A water line is typically run from underneath the house either in a crawl space or basement. You can buy this type of water line at just about any hardware store and they are very simple for even the average homeowner to install. Usually they have come with a built-in water shut-off valve, which is necessary so that if you need to relocate the refrigerator, you can shut off the water.

If you have a 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 you have installed to connect the water line? Simple and common questions, but items that have to be checked.

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

If the water is connected, most of the time there is air in the line. So, engaging and disengaging the dispenser lever to get the air out of it is necessary.
Filter Problems

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

One recommendation is to fill up the water filter with water prior to installation. Typically the water filters will take a long time to fill, which could lead you to assume the water dispenser is not working right. You should read the directions if nothing is working. To ensure it is not air trapped in the water lines, depress the dispenser lever for about 5 minutes.

A frozen water tank might be the cause of the issue as well in some models. If the tank freezes it will leak onto the food bins. Limited food inside of the fresh food bins will cause freezing to occur.

ADDITIONAL REFRIGERATOR RESOURCES