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.
NEED FRIDGE DISPENSER PARTS? Here is a Replacement Dual Water Valve Kit = Quality Replacement Dual Water Valve Kit for Refrigerators with Water Dispenser and Ice Maker. Fits Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag, KitchenAid, Amana, Admiral, Magic Chef, Norge, Roper. (Installation Instructions Included in Kit).
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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Having the same problem…any resolution?
We have a french door Maytag with freezer on the bottom and an indoor water and ice dispenser. The water dispenser is still working fine, but after running out of ice last night, the ice maker is no longer making ice. Clearly there is still water coming into the fridge, as we are getting chilled water out of the dispenser. Any thoughts? Yes, the ice maker is turned on.
I have a GE Profile Arctica. Today I changed the water filter as I have done many times before, running 3 minutes’ worth of water through the new filter to clear out the carbon filings, etc. Flow was fine. No problem.
Then a few hours later I go down to get a glass of water from the dispenser, and when I press the cradle no water comes out. I can HEAR water flowing, but it doesn’t come out of the dispenser. Then I look down and notice that water is flowing on the floor from under the refrigerator!
The ice maker seems to be receiving water just fine, the lights on the dispenser work as usual. I pulled out the fridge and inspected the back and everything seems fine back there. The water lines are obviously not kinked if water is flowing. I looked inside the fridge for a frozen or cracked reservoir, but it’s dry in there. I have no idea why the dispenser decided that the floor was the place to put the water, but there it is.
I replaced dispense solenoid and repaired mother board that went out partially. The dispenser solenoid was shortening motherboard. You can check it with multimeter for resistance. Good part should read 40 oms or so, bad one no resistance, zero.. I hope this helps.
I have this EXACT same problem, however mine is a Kenmore fridge. And the bulb is not a socket-type bulb it is on a small square. But the water and ice won’t dispense and the light won’t come on. Puzzled! Please help.
I have a LSC26905TT LG side-by-side fridge. The water & Ice will not dispense. The ice maker is filling the trays and dumping into the holding bin. Also the bulb next to the dispenser on the outside of the fridge will not illuminate despite replacing the bulb with a new one. Each of the settings options available on the door indicates that it changes. i.e. increase/decrease temp in freezer/fridge side, turn light on or off. Inlet vale is fine (replaced it anyway). Dispenser switch seems to be fine too. Does it mean main electronic board needs to be replaced? Can main electronic board malfunction like that and still operate the fridge?
The EXACT same thing is happening to us. Did you ever get it resolved? If so how and how much $?