Whirlpool Fridge Won’t Dispense Water Or Ice (EASY FIX!)

Your whirlpool fridge won’t dispense water or ice?! Although it may seem complicated, there are normally some very easy fixes for this….

An ice or water dispenser is one of the best features of a fridge and when it suddenly stops working, it can be a real nuisance. There can be a lot of reasons behind this and most of them can be fixed by yourself.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons for your fridge dispenser to not work and how you can fix them. 

Some of the most common reasons for your whirlpool fridge not dispensing ice or water include a jammed ice maker, the ice maker being turned off, frozen water line, defective inlet valve, the fridge door not being closed, clogged water filter and the dispenser switch being broken.

Although these may seem technical, they are very easy fixes you can do yourself…

How To Fix Your Whirlpool Fridge Water or Ice Dispenser

Some of the common reasons behind this issue are pretty straightforward and can be fixed by yourself. 

Ice Maker is Turned Off

If only your ice maker is not working but the water is dispensing normally, it could indicate that the ice maker itself is turned off. This seems like a trivial issue, but a lot of people seem to forget this. 

If you have a digital fridge, you can access the settings through the screen and check whether the ice maker is turned on or off. If you have a manual older fridge, most Whirlpool fridges have a mechanical arm which controls whether the ice maker is on or off. If the arm is in a raised position, the ice making function will be turned off. 

Simply lower the arm and the ice production should resume normally. 

Jammed Ice Maker 

Another instance when your water dispenser is working, but not the ice dispenser can be a jammed ice maker. This often happens because of small temperature changes which makes the already existing ice melt and clump together near the mouth of the water pipe. 

If this is the case, then it will not affect the water dispensing function but ice wont be produced anymore in the fridge. You can solve this issue by resetting the fridge and removing the jammed ice. 

Unplug the fridge before doing anything, this will protect you from any accidental electrical shocks. Locate the door with the ice dispenser and find the chute where the ice is supposed to drop down. 

You can either unplug your fridge for long enough to let the jammed ice melt, but this will cause a lot of problems due to the existing food in the fridge. On the other hand, you can use a long wooden spoon to break the jammed ice pieces to clear the blockage. 

Once the blockage is cleared, plug the fridge back in and check after a few hours whether the dispenser is working or not. 

Read: Whirlpool Fridge Won’t Stop Making Ice

Frozen Water Line 

A frozen water line is one of the most common reasons for both your water and ice dispenser not working. If your freezer temperature is too low (usually below 0-5F), the water line can keep freezing again and again. 

If this is the case, make sure the freezer temperature is above or between 0-5F. You will have to defrost the water line as well. 

First unplug the fridge and turn off the water supply valve. Remove the ice maker from the freezer wall by unscrewing the two screws which hold the ice maker to the freezer wall and lifting it from the brackets. Unplug the ice maker from the wire harness in the freezer. 

Once this is done, place the ice maker on a towel which will prevent creating a mess. There will be a fill tube protruding from the freezer wall, use a hairdryer on it to defrost it. 

Reconnect everything and plug the fridge back in. wait for a few hours to check if ice is being made or not. 

Defective Inlet Valve 

A water dispenser works when you press a button on the control panel. Pressing the button sends an electrical signal which releases the water or ice through the water inlet valve. Over time with use, the water inlet valve can get worn down or damaged. 

If this is the case, then water won’t be able to flow properly and you will have to call a professional to get it checked out and replaced. 

Clogged Water Filter

Water filter is responsible for clearing microscopic and smaller dust or unwanted particles from the water. Over time, the smaller particles can coagulate and block the filter which reduces the water flow. 

It is recommended to change the filter every 6 months and if this is the issue behind the problem, you will have to get it replaced altogether. 

Dispenser Switch Broken 

The dispenser switch is responsible for supplying power to the dispenser or the water inlet valve. A broken switch will not send the signal to the valve to release ice or water. You can check the switch using a multimeter and if it doesn’t work, you will have to get it professionally replaces. 

Fridge Door Not Closed Properly

When the fridge door is not properly closed, it prevents any ice from being made. Make sure that your fridge door is properly closed.

This is normally an easy fix but if there is some mechanical issue with the door, call a professional to get it checked out. 

Before you go, you may enjoy these articles as well:

• How Do You Know If Your Refrigerator Needs Freon?
• How Long Does It Take A Refrigerator To Get Cold Once Plugged In?
• Refrigerator Won’t Cool But Freezer Works

Conclusion 

Some of the most common issues behind your whirlpool fridge not dispensing water or ice include a frozen water line, the fridge door not being closed, a clogged water filter, defective inlet valve, jammed ice maker or simply the ice maker being turned off.

With most of these issues, you can repair them yourself but in case the inlet valve is defective, you will most probably have to get it replaced.