How To Unclog The Refrigerator's Water Dispenser Line

Most modern fridges come with the added bonus of a water dispenser. This makes getting fresh, cool, filtered water far easier and is a very useful modern convenience.

But as with any additional features of a fridge, a water dispenser hose is prone to problems over time. If you end up with a clogged refrigerator water line, though, it can usually be fixed fairly easily at home.

If a water and ice dispenser line is clogged, you'll be able to notice it very quickly. According to GE Appliances, you may either notice a slowing of the water flow or find it has stopped completely. Either of these symptoms could indicate a clogged refrigerator water line.

However, according to Samsung, a slowing or stopping of water flow from your refrigerator could also be because of some different factors. These include leaks in the freezer compartment, a bad water connection or a filter that needs to be replaced. It is important to rule out these factors first to determine if it is a blockage in your refrigerator water line that's causing your issues.

According to Repair Clinic, there are a few ways in which your refrigerator's water dispenser line can become blocked. The main two culprits are a blockage of either air or ice. Air blockage usually leads to low pressure and dribbling water flow, while an ice blockage will usually halt the flow of water completely.

If you check your water dispenser line and find no blockage, though, it's likely something else is going wrong in your water supply line. A faulty valve is one of the main culprits, as Part Select explains. Replacing this valve can be a trickier operation and require parts that are difficult to find. So, if you're struggling with your fridge's water dispensing, checking for clogs in the dispenser line is a great place to start.

For safety reasons, before ever interfering with your refrigerator, you first want to make sure it's unplugged and disconnected from the main electricity. Unclogging a fridge's water dispenser line tends to be a fairly quick job, so you probably don't need to worry about rehousing the food inside, and it won't have enough time to spoil.

Move your refrigerator gently away from the wall. Go slow so as not to damage any other connections. Place a towel on the floor to soak up any potential leaks.

Find the water dispenser line and unscrew the screws holding it in place. Then hold the water button at the front of your fridge down to see if any water comes through. If it does, it's likely there was an air clog in the line which should now be removed.

If no water comes through, it's more likely your line was blocked by ice. If that's the case, you'll want to leave your fridge unplugged for a little longer to allow this ice to melt — around two hours should suffice. Thawing should resolve the issue if your GE refrigerator water line is frozen, or any other refrigerator model.

Reconnect your water dispenser line with the screws and place your fridge back against the wall. Turn on and check the water dispenser, which should now be running perfectly once more.