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Your Frigidaire water dispenser is not working because the fridge display is locked. Learn how to disable it and troubleshoot other problems like clogged filters or water lines.
The water dispenser on your Frigidaire refrigerator is designed to provide clean, drinkable water quickly. But when it stops working, that can be pretty frustrating. So, why does this happen?
The Frigidaire water dispenser may not be working because the fridge display is locked. Disabling it will fix the problem. If that doesn’t help, troubleshoot the appliance for an incorrectly installed
Why Isn’t Water Coming Out Of My Frigidaire Refrigerator?
When you push the lever, but nothing comes out of your water dispenser, here are the parts you’ll need to troubleshoot:
Locked Fridge Display
About this part: Like many household appliances, your Frigidaire refrigerator has a lock feature on its display. The lock will disable most of the display’s buttons and controls, so other people can’t adjust the fridge settings.
Many people recognize the lock feature by the term ‘child lock’, as it’s often used to keep children from messing about with the appliance.
What’s wrong with it: As you read above, locking the fridge display will disable most of its controls. Unfortunately, it also disables the water dispenser from working.
That way, you won’t have to worry about anyone using the water dispenser without your knowledge, especially children.
In this case, you or someone else in the household might have enabled the lock and forgotten to turn it off.
So, nothing comes out when you use the water dispenser on your Frigidaire fridge.
How to fix it: You can fix this problem within seconds. Firstly, look at the display and identify the buttons responsible for the lock feature.
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The buttons you’re looking for will have the word ‘lock’, an icon of a lock, or something similar to indicate its function.
Press and hold the button for a few seconds until the lock feature is disabled. When that happens, you can use the water dispenser normally again.
Read: Frigidaire Refrigerator – Ice Maker Not Making Enough Ice. How To Fix It?
Water Filter Installed Incorrectly
About this part: The water that flows into your Frigidaire refrigerator directly from the water line might not be perfectly safe to drink. That’s not a problem because the fridge has a built-in
The filter works just like any other
Then, the clean water flows to the reservoir, waiting to be dispensed when you use the water dispenser.
The
What’s wrong with it: The
When you install the filter incorrectly, water fails to flow through the filter towards the water dispenser.
As a result, the water will spill into the fridge instead of reaching the reservoir and dispenser.
How to fix it: You must fix this problem by reinstalling the
Next, refer to the instruction manual for the fridge or the one that came with the
Some filters require you to push them into the filter housing until you hear a click. Meanwhile, others need you to turn and screw them into place.
The manual will help you understand which method applies to your fridge and filter.
Read: Frigidaire Refrigerator – Ice Maker Not Working. How To Troubleshoot It?
Clogged Water Filter
About this part: As you read above, the
When the filter is in excellent condition, the water you get from the dispenser will be clean, odorless, and taste fine.
What’s wrong with it: The
If you leave your filter unchanged for too long, the water flow will stop completely. It will not flow to your water dispenser, so it stops working.
How to fix it: The solution to this problem is simple: replace the clogged
That way, you can rest assured that it will fit and perform well throughout its useful lifespan.
Read: Frigidaire Refrigerator Beeping 5 Times – Troubleshooting Guide
Faulty Water Inlet Valve
About this part: The water inlet valve is like the gateway that the water passes through to enter your fridge. This valve connects to your household water supply. It controls how much water can flow into the refrigerator towards the water dispenser.
When the water reservoir in the refrigerator is empty, the valve will open to let the water into the appliance.
Conversely, the valve will shut when there’s enough water to prevent overfilling.
What’s wrong with it: The water inlet valve is a mechanical component. That means it has moving parts that open and close to allow water to flow through.
Unfortunately, those moving parts can stop working. For example, the valve could be shut in the closed position, even when it should be opening.
As a result, the fridge has no incoming water, and your water dispenser won’t work when you use it.
How to fix it: Depending on the issue your water inlet valve is experiencing, it might not be repairable. For example, suppose it’s faulty because of a stuck foreign object or sediment buildup around the opening. In that case, you can fix it by cleaning the valve.
However, if the valve is defective or has suffered an electrical fault, you cannot repair it. Instead, you or a qualified technician will have to replace the valve with another one that works.
You can find replacement valves from third-party sellers online. However, it’s always best to buy genuine replacement parts directly from Frigidaire, even if it costs more. Those parts are designed to work with your fridge, so you’ll get a better product.
Read: Frigidaire Refrigerator – SY EF Error Code – How To Troubleshoot It?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Check out these additional questions to troubleshoot your Frigidaire refrigerator:
Why Is My Frigidaire Water Dispenser So Slow?
The water dispenser is slow because the water flow has become restricted. That could be because the fridge’s water line isn’t fully open or the
Can I Use My Frigidaire Water Dispenser Without A Filter?
Yes, you can use the water dispenser without a filter if you have a bypass plug installed. However, remember that the water you drink is unfiltered and might not be as clean as it would be with a filter.
Read: 6 Reasons Why Frigidaire Refrigerator Is Not Cooling
How Long Should A Frigidaire Water Filter Last?
The
How Do I Know Which Frigidaire Filter I Need?
The best way to know which filter you need is to remove the one you already have. Then, you can see the filter model number and purchase an identical replacement. Alternatively, you can refer to the fridge user manual to know which filter is compatible with your unit.
How Does A Child Lock Work On A Fridge?
The child lock feature works by disabling most of the fridge controls. So, nothing will happen if a child presses those buttons or tries to change fridge settings.
Have frigidaire FFHD2250TS5, bottom freezer, it dispenses about a third cup of water, sputters, then stops and will dispense a tiny amount every time the switch is depressed unless I wait a while, then it will dispense about a 1/3 cup again. The ice maker works, and I’ve replaced the inlet valves. I am thinking of replacing the refrigerator dispenser module on the front, but that’s $130, so looking for tips first.
You may be getting air in the water line.
– Dispense water into a pitcher continuously for 3–5 minutes.
– If it sputters and quits again: wait a minute, and repeat the flush.
– Sometimes it takes multiple long flushes to purge the air completely.
You may have a partially frozen or blocked water line in the door.
– visually inspect the water line
Your incoming water pressure could be low.
– Check the supply hose to the fridge for kinks or blockage.
Hello,
How do I trace the water line from the filter to the door? Long story but I haven’t used fridge water or ice for over a year and there’s buildup on the stem as well as a foul taste from back then. I’m guessing there’s some scale blocking the hose but have no idea where to look. I just replaced the filter and a few drips came out over the course of two minutes but nothing else. I can hear the cycle at night and the “whirring” sound while pressing down on the door switch.
Beyond that, I’m stuck until I can check the tube from filter to door.
Thanks,
Brad
Hey Brad,
Frigidaire refrigerators commonly run their water line from the filter housing through a reservoir (if present), then down to the water inlet valve, and finally up through the freezer door hinge to the dispenser. Models differ, but try these steps:
1. Inspect/Bypass the Filter Housing
Remove the water filter.
Use a bypass plug if you have one.
Try dispensing water.
If it works now, the filter or housing may be clogged.
2. Check the Reservoir (if equipped)
Behind the crisper drawers, Frigidaire may have a coiled plastic water reservoir.
If unused for a long time, this can harbor mold or sediment.
Access it by removing the drawers and back panel.
Disconnect and blow air or water through it to see if it’s blocked.
3. Access the Bottom Hinge
Remove the toe-kick panel and follow the plastic line from under the fridge up through the freezer door hinge.
There’s often a quick-connect fitting here. Disconnect it and try to dispense water.
If water flows freely from the fridge side but nothing out of the door side, the blockage is inside the door.
Note: The door line can freeze or calcify, especially if you live in a hard water area.
4. Check for Frozen or Crimped Line in Door
Try using a hairdryer around the dispenser area or door hinge to thaw any frozen line.
Don’t overheat or leave it unattended.
My dispenser seems to be working well when depressing the lever, however, the volume of water is significantly reduced for some reason. It takes much longer to fill now than it did initially or that it should. I am suspecting that the water line is pinched somewhere to restrict flow – if so, where would I look for that?
thanks! Karl
Hi Karl,
The most likely cause of low water pressure/volume is a clogged filter. On some models, you can take the filter out and then test the flow.
Otherwise, it could be air trapped in the line. Purge it by continuously dispensing water for 2 or 3 minutes.
Check your supply line behind the fridge. It may have gotten kinked or crushed.
The internal line could be frozen. You can test by unplugging the fridge for a while to see if it thaws out. Of course, try to plan this when you have little temp-sensitive food in the fridge.
Your inlet valve could be on the fritz, not allowing full volume flow.
Water despenser doesn’t work on 2008 Frigidaire. On the 3 valves in the back, 2 coils read 420 ohms and the 3rd reads 250 ohms, the water supply is good and the filter is 5 months old and dispenser had a good stream and it suddenly stopped, I can hear the dispenser switch clicking when I depress the dispenser.
I apologize for the late reply. Somehow this comment got past my notice. But in case you still have the problem, here are some thoughts:
You may have a frozen water line. This is not uncommon in Frigidaire side-by-side models. Try using a hair dryer or warm towel on the dispenser chute and top door area. You could also try disconnecting the water line where it comes into the door and see if water comes shooting out upon activation. If water comes out, it may be a frozen line in the door.
Your solenoid valve may be weak or bad. If you’re confident in your ability, you can apply 120 volts directly to the coil and see if water comes out. Just be careful.
You could have a bad dispenser switch. The click you hear may be misleading. You can test for 120v across the dispenser terminals while pressing the dispenser lever to be sure the valve is getting power.