Refrigerator Won’t Dispense Water: Top 6 Reasons and Fixes for Kenmore, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, GE, and Other Brands (With Video!)

Is your refrigerator letting you down by refusing to dispense water? No need to stress or call in costly repairs just yet! We’ve got you covered with a comprehensive guide featuring a handy how-to video that will walk you through the troubleshooting process, empowering you to tackle this household hassle with ease and confidence.

A refrigerator that no longer dispenses water may have a problem with one of six components. Before starting the troubleshooting process, it’s essential to unplug the refrigerator or ensure the circuit breaker is off first. The water supply under the kitchen sink should also be turned off before going forward. Once your fridge is safe to work with, follow this easy guide to determine which refrigerator part may be to blame and save money fixing it yourself.

Once you have identified the part needed for your fridge, search below using your specific refrigerator model number to identify the exact part needed:

1. Water Inlet Valve

The water inlet valve is the first component to check, which is responsible for controlling the water that goes into the refrigerator. Each water inlet valve has a solenoid that opens and closes to send water to the water dispenser and ice maker. The water inlet valve is typically found on the back of the refrigerator behind the access panel but may also be located in the fresh food section.

If the refrigerator isn’t dispensing water, the water inlet valve may no longer be functioning. This is often caused by a bad solenoid, clog in the valve, or a jammed plunger. The first thing to check is whether the house water pressure is good since the system requires a certain pressure to work the way that it should. The user manual will have information about what your refrigerator needs. If the pressure is too low, the water may not reach the refrigerator.

In cases where the water dispenser solenoid has failed, the water inlet valve may not open and send water to the dispenser. After locating the valve, determine which solenoid is for the dispenser. It is typically a larger 5/16 inch line. The next step is to test the solenoid for continuity using a multimeter. Once set to continuity, touch the probes together to ensure it’s working. Remove the wiring harness from the solenoid and then touch a probe to each terminal. If there is no reading, the solenoid has failed, and the water inlet valve will need to be replaced.

If the solenoid has a reading, next, the valve should be checked for a jam or clog. This is done by turning on the water and power and placing a bowl under the valve to catch water. Disconnect the water line and press the dispenser. If no water comes out of the valve, the inlet valve is damaged or clogged and needs to be replaced.

2. Water Filter Assembly

The water filter assembly is the next component to check when a refrigerator doesn’t dispense water. This part is tasked with filtering the water as it comes into the refrigerator. There are several types of water filter assemblies and they may be made of a water filter and a water filter head or a water filter and a water filter housing. In most cases, the water filter assembly will be found inside the fresh food section of the refrigerator or down near the kick panel.

An old water filter may become clogged up, which can reduce or stop the flow of water from the water dispenser. If the head is damaged, there is likely to be no water flow at all. Checking this component requires turning the water and power back on temporarily. Press on the water dispenser to see if there is a flow of water. If the flow is slow, replacing the water filter may help.

If this doesn’t fix the problem, the check valve inside the filter housing could be stuck. The check valve turns the water off if it fails or the water filter is removed. Most of the time, the valve will have one to two pins that need to be pressed as if the filter was in place. For those with pin style valves, place down a towel, take out the filter, use screwdrivers to press in the pins, and then press the dispenser. If no water comes out, the check valve is bad and the water filter head should be replaced. 

If pins aren’t visible, go around to the back of the refrigerator and disconnect the water filter return line. Place a bowl or towel down, press the dispenser on the door, and see if there is water flow. If there is no water, the filter head is broken and should be replaced. 

3. Dispenser Switch Bracket

The dispenser switch bracket is a part that holds the dispenser switch. It keeps it in the right position for the dispenser arm to hit the switch. It is found in the dispenser area, typically behind the control panel. If the bracket is damaged and the switch isn’t held in place, the dispenser arm won’t be able to hit the switch that turns the water on. 

A small screwdriver or a putty knife can be used to release and remove the frame of the control panel. After access to the bracket is found, check it for any damage and then replace it if that’s needed. 

4. Dispenser Arm

The dispenser arm is the part that you press on when dispensing water. Dispenser arms come in a variety of styles, but all of them do the same thing. When the dispenser arm is pressed, it hits a switch that opens the water valve so water can come out of the dispenser. This part is found in the dispensary of the door. 

If the dispenser arm is broken, it may not be able to hit the switch and allow water to flow out. To inspect the arm, a putty knife or a small screwdriver can be used to remove the control panel frame. After finding the dispenser arm, visually check it for damage before replacing it, if needed. 

5. Dispenser Switch

The next part to check when a refrigerator isn’t dispensing water is the dispenser switch. This part lets the water valve know that it should open when the dispenser arm is pressed. Most dispenser switches have two terminals on one end and a button on the other. When the dispenser arm is pressed, it hits the button on the dispenser switch, which creates the power to open the water inlet valve.

With refrigerators that have dispenser arms, the dispenser switch is typically found behind the control panel frame. If the refrigerator has an actuator pad, the button can be found right behind the pad. If the button fails, the refrigerator will no longer dispense water. For the dispenser arm style, remove the frame using a putty knife or a small screwdriver. The other style requires removing the pad to reach the dispenser switch.

After access is made to the switch, the wires need to be removed so they can be tested for continuity. Use a multimeter to touch a probe to each terminal before pressing the button. If there is no reading, the dispenser switch should be replaced.

6. Water Tank and Line

The last reason that a refrigerator may not dispenser water is due to the water tank and line. These parts hold the cold water in the refrigerator. The tank can be a reservoir or an extended length of tubed coiling. Typically, these parts can be found in the back of the fresh food area of the refrigerator behind the wall or an access door. 

Sometimes the water inside the tank or line will become frozen and cause the refrigerator to stop dispensing water. The tank can be defrosting by removing power to the refrigerator or a blow dryer can be used on the tank to speed things up. If the line is frozen in an area that cannot be accessed, unplugging the refrigerator may be the only option.

Freezing can happen if the refrigerator temperature is set too low. Adjusting the temperature settings may help in this situation. While it’s uncommon, the water line can be frozen at the dispenser. Make sure the ice cube door is properly sealing; otherwise, cold air can cause a frozen line.

Where To Find Us 

If you need any replacement parts for your appliances, you can enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com to locate and order them quickly. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have tons of great information in our repair help section and YouTube videos to help you troubleshoot.

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