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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I have a GE GSH22JSXA SS Side by Side, I have no water or ice. I have changed out the dual inlet valve and still no water. I pushed water dispenser for 3 minutes and nothing happened. Any suggestions?
I have a whirlpool gold french door fridge with the big freezer drawer on bottom. One day the water no longer dispenses out of the door. It makes a slight click when you try to get water. However, if I turn on the kitchen faucet, leave it running and attempt to get water from the dispenser again, it comes right out.. Must be water pressure related or something? I have no idea. It is an intermittent problem and usually occurs when no water has been used in the house for a couple of hours. I’m thinking of replacing the valve, but everything I read talked about issues with low water pressure, not high pressure, so I don’t know. Thoughts?
I replaced the filter in a double door top with a freezer drawer bottom (Kenmore) but the warning on the door keeps telling me to replace the filter. Help, please!
I have a GE Cafe model CYE23TSDCSS, french door bottom freezer. Water flow out of the dispenser has slowed to about 1/3 of the usual rate. I checked the cold water holding tank and water line coming into the fridge and everything looks good. Could this be a problem with the flow meter?
I am replacing the water dispenser lever due to old one so scratched on my lg French door refrigerator. I have the replacement lever. Are there any instructions on how to remove old water lever. Do I have to pull out the whole dispenser panel or does it just pop off. Thanks
Model lfx31925st
I have a Kenmore side by side with a bottom freezer refrigerator, model #253.70313213. The water dispenser and ice tray recently stopped functioning. No water would be supplied to either feature. I replaced the valued in the back and still did not feed water to either feature. There are 5 lines in the back of the fridge and literature is vague at best with no info about the lines or valves. I found 2 lines going to the filter in the fridge. If I hit the water dispense I get water flow into and out of the filter, but that’s where it ends. This third line is giving me trouble. I get air out of the water line and ice line so I don’t believe either is blocked by calcium or ice. I don’t believe I have any other electrically or switch failure since I can see the water flow when I disconnect the lines. But there is three lines going into the back of the fridge, water, ice and an unknown that I don’t know what or where it’s connected to. I would rather not take apart the inside of the fridge if at all possible. Anyone out there that can help?
Hello,
I have a Frigidaire Gallery with the freezer door on the bottom. Model # LGUB2642LF9. It has a water and ice dispenser on the door and a second ice maker in the freezer section. There is no water being dispensed through the door or into either ice maker. My husband has checked the motor and water lines at the back of the refrigerator. There is no problem there. When he removed the filter and hit the water dispenser button water shot out of the filter holder. We tried a brand new filter but still no water. What would you suggest?
Thanks