How to Fix a Sears Refrigerator Water Dispenser

Troubleshoot your Kenmore refrigerator's water fountain.

Water fountains are useful additions to Sears' refrigerators, dispensing cold, fresh water directly into your glass. Troubleshooting Sears' refrigerators, which often carry the company's Kenmore branding, uses the process of elimination to rule out commonly reported technical problems. A fault with the water fountain indicates a problem with the water supply or refrigerator setup. Low water pressure or a kinked supply line will also affect the water dispenser.

Instructions

1. Hold the "Door Alarm" button for three seconds and try the dispenser again. The control panel and water fountain's child lock could have been stopping the flow of water. Hold "Door Alarm" for another three seconds if this isn't the case to turn the lock back off.

2. Push the doors closed; the water fountain stops working when the doors are left ajar. Containers, jars or bottles inside the door shelf could be striking one of the shelves, holding the door slightly open. The light goes off and the rubber seal touches the body of the refrigerator when the door is completely closed.

3. Tap the "Ice & Water" button until an icon showing a glass with "WATER" above it appears on the LCD display. The dispenser might have been set to dispense cubed or crushed ice instead of water. Tapping "Ice & Water" toggles between cubed, crushed ice and water from the dispenser.

4. Push your glass under the dispenser and wait at least a minute; air in the supply line or a temporary interruption in the water supply could have caused the dispenser to stop working. Water should arrive in your glass, perhaps spluttering at first, inside a minute. This situation often occurs after an installation.

5. Move the refrigerator away from the wall and check to see whether the cold water supply line is straight and free of kinks. The shutoff valve regulating water flow to the appliance should be turned to its open position. Ensure the refrigerator doesn't stand on the supply hose when you move it back into place.

6. Have a plumber check your home's water pressure; the system needs to supply water at at least 40 psi for the fountain to dispense correctly. Reverse osmosis systems can reduce water pressure and interfere with the function of the refrigerator.

References

• Manage My Life: Sears (Kenmore) Elite Side-by-Side Refrigerator Manual