How To Fix Low Refrigerator Water Pressure

If you find yourself waiting an inordinate amount of time while the fridge water dispenser slowly fills your glass, you may have a low water pressure issue. Another heads-up that low water pressure is the culprit is when you see hollow ice cubes or ice cubes that are smaller than usual. You may even notice that the refrigerator's overall ice production is reduced. Some common troubleshooting steps may help you diagnose the problem and find a solution to increase water pressure to refrigerator supply lines, even if you're not a fridge expert.

Different models have brand specific troubleshooting steps to help you increase water pressure to refrigerator dispensers. For example, the steps may be slightly different if your Amana refrigerator water dispenser slowly dribbles water into your glass than if your Samsung fridge dispenses water slowly. So be sure to check your user manual and follow all recommendations. There are, however, some basic things to check that share common ground among most models.

Many refrigerator makers recommend changing the water filter at least every six months. Otherwise, the filter can become clogged with debris flowing through the water supply line or with mineral buildup from a municipal or well water source. When the filter becomes clogged, the water pressure and flow rate are reduced, which may affect both the refrigerator dispenser and ice maker.

Your fridge's user manual will list the steps to change the water filter of your particular model. It will likely also note that unless you use a brand-approved filter, your warranty may be voided. If you simply remove the water filter just to check the flow rate, you can compare the water flow without the filter to what it was before you removed it. If you notice a significant increase in the water flow, this generally points to a clogged water filter or an improperly installed filter.

If the water supply line, which connects the water source to the ice maker and dispenser, is kinked or pinched, the water cannot freely flow through it, as advised by KitchenAid. Low water pressure is the result, and you'll want to straighten out any kinks in the supply line to increase water pressure to the refrigerator. Supply lines may become pinched when a refrigerator is pushed too close to a wall or cabinet.

If you have a whole-house reverse-osmosis filtration system installed, this may decrease the water pressure to your refrigerator. The fix for this is to install a separate water line to your fridge that is not connected to the reverse-osmosis system or to remove the refrigerator's water filter.

Improper leveling may affect many functions of a refrigerator, including water pressure. Consult your fridge's user manual for the correct leveling procedure, because different brands and models vary in leveling requirements. Typically, you'll find adjustable wheels or legs underneath your fridge that require a few turns of the leveling screws mounted on them to raise or lower your fridge to the correct tilt. Generally speaking, a refrigerator should be slightly tilted so that the front is approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch higher than the back.