If your Kenmore water dispenser isn’t working as usual, don’t worry. In this article, I’ll walk you through 9 common causes and how to quickly fix each one.
Whether it’s an easy fix or something more technical, I’ll guide you in the right direction.
Kenmore Water Dispenser Not Working – Quick Fixes!
- Make sure your refrigerator door is closed when dispensing
- Check that any Control, Child, or Dispensing Locks are off
- Perform a quick reset to see if it’s just a short-term glitch
First, Reset Your Kenmore Refrigerator (Might Solve the Problem)
The easiest way to reset your Kenmore refrigerator is through a hard reset. This is done by turning off the mains power for 30 minutes, then turning it back on.
Tip: Remember to keep your refrigerator doors closed for the duration to keep everything inside fresh!
If this hasn’t resolved your issue, don’t worry – just run through the troubleshooting below.
Kenmore Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working – 9 Reasons Why & How to Fix
- Your refrigerator temperature is set too low
- The control Lock is on
- The dispenser Lock is on
- There’s air in the water line
- The water filter cartridge needs to be replaced
- There’s inadequate or disrupted water flow
- The water valve is faulty
- The door switch is faulty
- The control panel is faulty
1. Your Refrigerator Temperature is Set Too Low
This is the most common problem, but luckily also has the most straightforward fix!
If your internal refrigerator temperature is set too low, this may cause moving elements within the water dispenser to freeze and not work correctly.
For most Kenmore models, the recommended temperature is around 3°C / 37°F, but this can vary by model. You should find this info in your owner’s manual.
If you have a combined fridge-freezer, you should also make sure that the freezer settings are not too low, as this can interfere with the water dispenser too.
For most Kenmore models, the recommended freezer temperature is -17°C / 0°F, but this can vary by model. Again, You should find this info in your owner’s manual.
How to Fix
For refrigerators with a digital control panel, just use the (+) or (-) temperature buttons until you reach 3°C / 37°F (or the recommended temperature in your owner’s manual). For the freezer, follow the same process until the screen shows -17°C / 0°F.
If your refrigerator has a manual dial instead – it will have options from 1 (warmest) to 5 (coldest), in which case the recommendation is 3. You should follow the same process for your freezer.
If you want to be extra sure it’s at the right temperature, you could invest in a manual thermometer for inside the fridge and/or freezer to check the actual readings and then adjust your dials accordingly.
It can take 24 hours for the new settings to take effect or longer if you have an older model. Once your refrigerator and freezer report the new temperatures, you can test your water dispenser to see if this has fixed the problem.
2. The Control Lock is on
The Kenmore Child Lock function acts as a full Control Lock and will disable both the Control Panel and the water dispenser.
This means you’ll be unable to change any of the temperature settings or anything else included on the Control Panel. If you have this functionality, there will be a ‘Child Lock’ button on your Control Panel, typically around the middle on the left-hand side.
How to Fix
To turn the Child Lock off, press and hold the ‘Child Lock’ button on your Control Panel for 3-5 seconds or until the screen reads ‘Child Lock Deactivated’.
3. The Dispenser Lock is on
The Dispenser Lock will prevent either water or ice from being dispensed, as well as changing from crushed to cubed ice. If there is a green light above the ‘Lock’ button, then your Dispenser Lock is on.
How to Fix
To disable the dispenser lock, press and hold the ‘Lock’ button for 3-5 seconds until the green indicator light goes dark.
For more information about the dispenser and child lock, read our article on how to unlock your Kenmore refrigerator.
4. There’s Air in the Water Line
A key indicator that there may be air in the water supply line is a dripping or bubbling water dispenser.
However, if there’s a significant amount of air in the line – this could stop your Kenmore water dispenser from working entirely.
How to Fix
The underlying cause of air in the line is a poorly connected water supply. This could mean there’s a tear in the line somewhere, or one of the connections is loose.
To stop any new air from getting into the line, you should follow the water supply from the dispenser to the mains, checking that everything is connected as it should be.
Start at the coupling above the door (particularly if you’ve recently removed and reinstalled the doors) and follow this to the main supply.
Along the way:
- Check for any bubbling, leaks, or damage that indicates the line may need to be replaced
- Make sure that all the connectors are tight
Once you’ve done this, hold down the water dispenser button for 2-3 minutes (with a bottle or bucket underneath) to get rid of any air currently in the line.
5. The Water Filter Cartridge Needs to Be Replaced
To identify whether the water filter is the main culprit for your problems, you can first remove it – and test whether water flows freely without the filter in place.
If the water does flow without the filter, your diagnosis is confirmed, and you’ll need to replace the filter.
If there is still no water coming from the dispenser with the filter removed, the fault must lie with the water supply line instead (see problem #6).
How to Fix
If the water filter is faulty, you’ll need to source a new one and look to have it replaced. You’ll have to repeat this task every 6 months to keep your refrigerator from developing error codes, so I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it quickly.
You’ll need to source the part, and it’s recommended that you use a genuine one – these can be purchased directly from Kenmore.
Many types of filters are available and designed for different models, so check what’s currently installed or in your owner’s manual to ensure you get the right one.
6. Inadequate or Disrupted Water Flow
If you’ve tested the water supply without the filter, and there is still no water coming from the dispenser with the filter removed, the fault must lie with the water supply line instead.
You should follow the route of the line from the dispenser to the mains, checking that everything is connected as it should be, starting at the coupling above the door and following this all the way to the main supply.
Along the way:
- Straighten out any kinks in the line
- Check for any obvious leaks or damage that indicate the line may need to be replaced
- Make sure that all the connectors are tight
- Confirm that the mains supply is fully open
How to Fix
If you’ve found any leaks or damage to the supply line, you’ll need to source a new one and look to have it replaced. This can be done as a DIY project, or you could call a professional plumber to fit this for you.
You’ll first need to purchase a water line kit, which will connect your pre-existing water supply pipes in your house to the refrigerator. Each different model will have specific instructions with it that you should follow.
7. The Water Valve is Faulty
The water pressure through the valve should be at least 20 PSI and consistent. If the pressure is any lower than this, or if the pressure fluctuates, it indicates that the valve is defective.
How to Fix
This could be a DIY project if you’re confident, but if you prefer, or if your refrigerator is still under warranty, I’d recommend getting a professional in to do it.
Tip: If under warranty, I’d strongly advise getting a professional to complete this, as any DIY work could void the rest of your warranty.
If you decide to take this on, you’ll first need to test the pressure using a multimeter. If the pressure is below 20 PSI or fluctuates, you should source and install a replacement part.
- Disconnect and turn off the water supply
- Locate the water valve by disassembling the back of the refrigerator housing
- Remove the old water valve
- Install the new water valve
- Reconnect and turn on the water supply
8. The Door Switch is Faulty
As mentioned earlier, the refrigerator doors must be closed for the dispenser to work.
The refrigerator ensures this by sending a signal from the door switch to the control panel when the door is opened or closed. If this signal is not sent or received, your Kenmore water dispenser may not work.
How to Fix
First, you’ll need to test the door switch using a multimeter. If the readings fluctuate, this indicates the door switch is faulty, and you’ll need to source and then install a replacement.
9. The Control Panel is Faulty
The control panel behind the dispenser is responsible for much of the ‘thinking’ involved – what component to action when a button is pressed etc.
As such, a faulty control panel can cause all water dispensing components to lose power.
How to Fix
You’ll first need to test each component of the dispenser (including the dispenser switch itself) using a multimeter and then the full control panel.
If you can identify the faulty component, you’ll be able to replace just this rather than the control panel, which will be much more cost-effective.
Kenmore Refrigerator Water Dispenser – Other Common Problems
If your Kenmore refrigerator water dispenser is working but not as you’re used to or you’d expect, have a flick through these common problems to diagnose the underlying cause of the issue.
Kenmore Water Dispenser Dispensing Water Slowly
This symptom is typically caused by low water pressure. This is due to either low pressure from the main supply (most likely if it’s a new refrigerator), a fault with the supply line, or a faulty water valve.
How to Fix
You should follow the route of the water supply line from the dispenser to the mains, checking that everything is connected as it should be, starting at the coupling above the door (this may be loose if you’ve recently removed and reinstalled the doors) and following through to the mains supply.
- Straighten out any kinks in the line
- Check for any obvious leaks or damage that indicate the line may need to be replaced
- Make sure that all the connectors are tight
- Confirm that the mains supply is fully open
Water Being Dispensed is Warm/Room Temperature
If the water coming out of your Kenmore water dispenser is warm/room temperature rather than cool, it indicates that the water reservoir hasn’t had time to refill or the refrigerator temperature is set too high.
How to Fix
If your refrigerator temperature is set higher than 3°C / 37°F, you should change the settings.
For Kenmore refrigerators with a digital control panel, just use the (+) or (-) temperature buttons until you reach 3°C / 37°F (or the recommended temperature in your owner’s manual).
If your refrigerator has a manual dial instead – it will have options from 1 (warmest) to 5 (coldest), in which case the recommendation is 3.
To be extra sure it’s at the right temperature, you can invest in a manual thermometer for inside the fridge to check this is around 3°C / 37°F.
It can take 24 hours for the new settings to take effect, sometimes longer for older models.
Once your refrigerator and freezer report the new temperatures, you can test your water dispenser to see if this has fixed the problem.
In the case of overuse – it’s possible that your inbuilt supply tank/reservoir is simply running out before it’s had time to cool properly.
If it’s a one-off because of a large gathering, it should be fixed when your household returns to normal.
On the other hand, if you have a large family and this is a common occurrence, maybe try filling some water bottles up and storing them separately inside the refrigerator so that you’ve always got a supply of cool water.
Water Being Dispensed Tastes Funny
If the water coming from the dispenser has a bad or funny taste, it’s a sign that the water filter needs to be replaced, the water supply line is too long, or the dispenser isn’t being used frequently enough to replenish with fresh water.
How to Fix
To fix this problem, we must first diagnose the cause. If this is a new problem, it’s most likely the filter or infrequent use.
- First, try removing 5L from the dispenser (assuming your reservoir is 4 liters, you can check this in your owner’s manual), leave 30 minutes for the reservoir to refill, and then taste the water again.
- If the water still tastes bad, try dispensing some water with the filter removed. If the water now tastes closer to normal, you’ll need to replace the filter.
If this has been a problem since first install, it’s more likely that the water supply line is too long.
You can look to shorten this yourself if there’s an obvious excess – but you may need to get in touch with a plumber to have a new mains supply installed closer to your refrigerator.
Kenmore Water Dispenser Troubleshooting – FAQs
What causes a Kenmore water dispenser to stop working?
Your Kenmore refrigerator Water dispenser stops working when there’s a blockage, leak, lack of pressure, or failed component somewhere between the dispenser button and the main supply.
In fixing – you first need to diagnose where and what the exact problem is.
How do you reset a Kenmore water dispenser?
Most Kenmore appliances don’t have a specific reset button – so just turn off the refrigerator at the mains power for around 30 minutes and then turn it back on.
Can I unclog my Kenmore water filter?
If your water filter is clogged, it’s better and easier to just replace it – since it’ll likely be due anyway.
