Samsung fridge water not working but ice is [Fixed!]

Your Samsung fridge water not working but ice is? Here is how to fix it

Previously, we have looked at how to troubleshoot and fix a Samsung refrigerator whose ice maker is not working but the water dispenser is.

Today, we shall be looking at the reverse: water is not working but ice is.

Let’s get started.

Samsung fridge water not working but ice is – How to fix the fridge

Since there is no one specific cause, we shall look at all the possible suspects-We shall rank these suspects according to how likely it is for them to occur.

Now, let us fix your Samsung refrigerator water dispenser problems…

1.   Check the water pressure

First, you will need to inspect the water pressure at the water inlet. It could be that the pressure is too low for water to be dispensed.

Normally, Samsung recommends a pressure of at least 20 psi for the ice maker to work. 

On the other hand, the pressure required for water to be dispensed is significantly higher.

If your fridge has a water filter, it will require a water pressure of around 43 to 125 psi for normal water dispensation.

As regards fridges that do not have a water filter, they require water pressure of anywhere between 21 and 125 psi.

Bearing that in mind, using a water pressure gauge to test the pressure going into the water line could be worthwhile.

Now, if it is at 20 psi, know that that’s just enough for the ice maker to work but it’s not quite enough for the water dispenser to work.

Consequently, you may need to increase the pressure.

For the best results, if your model has a water filter, we recommend that you increase the pressure to at least 50 psi.

But if your model lacks a water filter, we recommend increasing the pressure to at least 30 psi.

Quick Tip: Consult your owner’s manual – you should find your model’s minimum required water pressure in there.

Q: My dispenser has been working well for years until recently; how does water pressure affect it?

A: If you are using hard water, a buildup of minerals could occur inside your pipes over the years. This build-up would result in clogs that would ultimately reduce the water pressure.

 

2.   Check to see if the water tank reservoir is frozen

So: What temperature have you set your refrigerator to?

Well, the optimal temp for a fridge is between 35⁰F and 38⁰F and 0⁰F for the freezer.

Now, if your unit is set to temperatures that are lower than this, it might result in problems with water dispensing.

This is because the water tank-which is typically located towards the end of the fridge compartment- might get too cold and freeze the water inside.

Besides, the water supply line inside the door could be frozen.

This is quite a common problem in side-by-side refrigerators.

With that in mind, you will need to unclog the water tank plus the water passage.

To achieve this, you will need to thaw/defrost your unit.

The easiest way is unplugging the refrigerator and letting it sit for around two to three hours.

However, if you do not have the time to let it sit, you can perform a manual defrost cycle.

Once the unit has fully defrosted, be sure to set your fridge temperatures to between 35⁰F and 38⁰F-for the freezer, be sure to maintain the temperature at 0⁰F.

The above are the recommended temps as they are not too cold to freeze the water reservoir yet they are cold enough to preserve your foodstuff.

Quick Tip: if you are not in the mood to defrost the whole unit, you can as well unclog the water supply line on its own. All you need is this tool from Amazon. Simply draw in warm water and pump it into the water supply line- that tends to thaw out the frozen water in the water tank within seconds!

 

3.   Replace the dispenser switch – it could be faulty

The water dispenser is, for the most part, activated by the water dispenser switch.

Here is what you need to know:

Pressing the glass to the dispenser lever results in a click and a hum before water is dispensed.

Now, this traditionally means that the switch under the lever is working.

So if you do that and you cannot not hear the click, it could be that your dispenser switch is faulty.

But don’t be too fast- test it for continuity, to be certain.

Keep in mind that if it lacks continuity, it is likely faulty so you might have to swap it out- We recommend the OEM Samsung refrigerator dispenser switch from Samsung.

 

4.   Purge air from the water line

Occasionally, it could be due to air getting stuck in the water passage line.

Yeah, you heard me right- and this is very likely if you have recently had a new pipe installation(changed some existing ones) or there was an interruption of water supply for some time.

The thing is this can lead to tiny air locks traveling to the water reservoir.

They may, in turn, cause an airlock in the reservoir..

If this is the situation, there’s no shortcut-you have to clear it.

Now, to purge air from the water line, simply press and hold the water dispenser lever for five minutes.

This should flush out any stuck air in the tank.

Important: If water begins to dispense, you should continue pressing the lever until the sputtering stops and there is a steady flow of water.

Note: This is worth a shot only if you have recently connected the water line or replaced the water filter.

 

Samsung fridge water not working but ice is – final words

And that’s how you go about fixing a Samsung refrigerator that is not dispensing water but dispenses ice.

 

ALSO READ:

Samsung ice maker not working but water does

How to reset the filter light on a Samsung refrigerator (steps)

Samsung refrigerator troubleshooting ice maker (detailed guide)

Samsung refrigerator defrost problem (solved)