Refrigerator water dispenser not working

How the water gets to the dispenser

Water reaches the dispenser through a small supply line behind the fridge, an electric inlet valve at the back, the water filter, and usually a small storage tank inside the fridge, then a thin tube through the door. Pressing the paddle or button triggers a switch that opens the valve. On many side-by-side and French door models, part of that tube passes near the freezer, so a freezer set too cold can freeze it.

Filters slow down as they fill with sediment, and a new one can trap air until it's flushed. Many fridges also have a control lock that disables the dispenser, and a door switch that turns it off whenever a door is open. If the ice maker has stopped too, the problem is more likely the water supply than the dispenser itself.

Why fridge dispensers stop working

Let's fix it

1. Check the lock and the doorsLook for a lit lock symbol on the dispenser panel; on most models you hold the lock button for about 3 seconds to turn it off. Make sure both doors are fully closed, since many dispensers shut off when a door switch says a door is open. Press the paddle firmly and listen for a click or hum from the valve.
   Done

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2. Replace or reseat the filterAn old filter is a common cause of a weak stream. Check when it was last changed; many makers suggest about every six months. Remove it and push it back in until it locks, or install a new one for your model. After installing a filter, run water through the dispenser into a pitcher for a few minutes, or the amount the manual calls for, to push out trapped air.
   Done

   Something went wrong?

   • It sputters after the new filter That's trapped air. Keep running water until it flows steadily.

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3. Thaw a frozen lineIf the dispenser gives nothing, or a trickle that stops, and the ice maker still works, the line in the door may be frozen. Check that the freezer isn't set colder than about 0°F. To thaw it, turn the fridge off or unplug it with the doors closed for a few hours, moving perishables to a cooler if it will be off for more than about 4 hours, or aim a hair dryer on low at the dispenser area for a few minutes at a time, keeping it away from any water. Then try again.
   Done

   Something went wrong?

   • It freezes again within days Raise the freezer setting a little; it may be set colder than needed.

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4. Check the water supplyPull the fridge out carefully, unplugging it first. Make sure the shutoff valve feeding its supply line is fully open and the line isn't kinked or crushed behind the fridge. If the ice maker has also stopped, the supply is the likely problem; there's a separate guide for an ice maker not making ice. Push the fridge back without pinching the line.
   Done

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5. Check the inlet valve and dispenser switchWith the fridge unplugged, the inlet valve is at the back, usually behind a lower cover panel where the supply line connects. A small screen in its inlet can clog with grit. If water reaches the valve but the dispenser stays dry, the valve or the dispenser switch may have failed. These parts are specific to the model, so look up the parts diagram by model number, or have a repair tech test them.
   Done

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Watch it done

Refrigerator Won’t Dispense Water - Top 6 Reasons & Fixes - Kenmore, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, GE &moreBy AppliancePartsPros on YouTube. Their method may vary a little from ours.

Watch on YouTube

If it's more than the dispenser

If the ice maker isn't making ice either, we have a guide for an ice maker not making ice.

If water is leaking under the fridge, see the guide for a refrigerator leaking water.

Fridge water dispenser questions