If your refrigerator water dispenser is dispensing either no or slow water, here is what to check to fix it. (No or Slow Water from Dispenser) If your refrigerator is newly installed, make sure you push the water dispenser lever down for 3 minutes to get the water reservoir to fill up completely. Usually the water reservoir is located inside the fresh food section. Top mount refrigerator models do not apply because there is no water reservoir.
On most refrigerator dispensers whether it be a Whirlpool refrigerator, Frigidaire refrigerator, Samsung refrigerator, KitchenAid refrigerator, Haier refrigerator, Jennair refrigerator, GE refrigerator, LG refrigerator, Kenmore Elite refrigerator, or Maytag refrigerator, it should take on average 8 seconds to fill an 8 ounce glass of water.
If your refrigerator has no lights on the control panel and no water or ice, check power to the refrigerator.
If all of a sudden your fridge is not dispensing water:
Be sure the water line valve in the wall to the refrigerator is turned on or open. Usually a saddle valve or similar will be used to connect the fridge water supply line to your home water supply. This valve needs to be completely open so the refrigerator receives water. You should also check the water inlet valve on the back of your fridge. This is electrically operated and can be tested with a volt meter to see if it is working properly. Also be sure that the water line behind the refrigerator is not kinked or bent. If you recently pulled the fridge out, you may have bent the water supply line when you pushed the fridge back in place. It is also possible that a water line has become frozen inside the fridge and that is why the water flow is restricted. Check all water lines for ice and or restricted sections.
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Troubleshooting Why the Refrigerator Water Dispenser Is Not Working
You may also have a clogged water filter. This filter is either built into your refrigerator or it is “inline” of the water line behind your refrigerator. A clogged water filter will cause no water at all or very slow water dripping from the dispenser. Change the water filter and this will most likely solve your issue. Refrigerator water filters need to be changed every 6 months. Once you have replaced the water filter, test the dispenser. If the water flows as it should, then you have fixed the problem.
If the water dispenser is not working, but you know it is being supplied with water and has power, then a defective switch in the dispenser is most likely to blame. You may need to take the dispenser apart and troubleshoot the valve and or switches in the dispenser. You may hear a clicking noise or a humming noise if a switch or valve is defective.
If the water dispenser drips water constantly then you have a water valve problem. You can look up your refrigerator model online and find the switch or valve that you need to replace and DIY.
If there is a slight dribble of a few drops of water after using the dispenser, this is normal and due to a delay in the system.
If the water dripping from the dispenser is a big problem, you can purge the complete water tank and water line system. Use a large cup and press down on the dispenser for 3 minutes. This will remove trapped air that can cause the water dispenser dribble. You should also empty the recess grill (water catch) and clean out underneath it to prevent water dripping out and making a puddle on the floor.
Common refrigerator water & ice dispenser parts breakdown
NOTE: The water and ice dispenser in the door will not work if the refrigerator door is open.
Remember, when troubleshooting a water no flow issue with your refrigerator, disconnect power and turn off the water supply for safety reasons.
If you know of other reasons a refrigerator stops dispensing water or ice, please leave a comment below to assist our other readers.
Written by Keith Schneerer
Certified Appliance Tech · Founder, RemoveAndReplace.com
Keith has spent 30+ years repairing machines, starting as a military mechanic and later maintaining food processing equipment before moving into appliance repair. He founded RemoveAndReplace.com to share field-tested repair advice.
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Kathy,
Yes it should be just fine to keep using the current filter.
Although… If there was any bad smell in the fridge for a long period, the filter may have absorbed it.
It just depends how long the fridge was without power and had food in it.
Replace it if you have a new one on hand, if not, replace as normally scheduled.
-RR
We’ve recently been without power for a few days due to a bad storm… we discarded all food and did a thorough clean of the fridge. I just wanted to make sure it’s ok to continue using the current filter. We just changed it less than a month ago.
I have a Maytag which is in a house I just purchased. The water dispenses fine but there is a replace filter light on. When I replaced the filter the light stayed on. I looked up how to reset the light and it worked. However, as soon as the replace filter light went out, the water wouldn’t dispense, and neither would the ice. The trick to resetting the replace filter light was to hold down the light and the lock button for the count of three. But that seems to make everything stop working. As soon as I made the replace filter light come back on, the water and ice started dispensing again. How do I get it to dispense and not show that replace filter light at the same time? The filter it uses is a UKF8001 and the fridge is a 22 cu ft bottom freezer.
Kenmore Elite refrigerator won’t dispense water unless both doors are open (water dispenser is inside the refrigerator). I did notice one of the two bulbs inside the refrigerator is out. I switched the bulb places in hope that supplying the working bulb to the side where the water supply is would allow it to be dispensed. But it still doesn’t work. I’ll be replacing the bulb with a new one since it needs to be done, hopefully that’ll fix it.
Neal Long,
If the water pressure to your refrigerator is too low, the refrigerator water dispenser will sometimes not work properly.
If you believe your complete water system in your home or just the water supply to the fridge is too low… you should put a water pressure gauge on the water line and see if that is the cause of the issue before attempting to take the refrigerator apart.
If water pressure is okay, and you suspect there is a clog of some sort in your refrigerator water line… visually inspect the water tubes.
Check for pinches or cracks. A blockage could be a piece of clear ice. A clog other than ice should be removed by a professional refrigerator technician as you may have to remove and or pressurize the water lines to fix the problem.
-RR
I have a Frigidaire side by side. The unit continues to stop making ice and water. I can replace the filter and it will work for several months but there still is not much water pressure on the water dispenser. When we built our home the plumber never put a water filter on our home and I believe a line may be clogged on the unit. Any ideas on how to DIY?
RHope,
Is the water filer housing gasket missing?
If so it will leak as it is not water tight.
Also, this happens on many different refrigerators if you are buying the cheaper NON-OEM water filters.
Be sure you buy the Whirlpool brand water filters as many of the cheaper water filters can cause issues.
Try using a different filter and be sure the water filter housing is clean and free of debris so the filter does not leak or cause problems.
-RR