It isn’t easy to envision living without today’s refrigerators’ sophisticated comforts. Automatic ice makers and water dispensers are faster and typically taste better than ice cube trays and faucets. It’s aggravating and challenging to figure out why your GE refrigerator’s water dispenser freezes and other features stop working.
Frequently, the problem is a frozen refrigerator water line that prevents proper water flow in the plastic tube. This frequently occurs when the new fridge gets too cold, or the freezer door insulation fails to shield the water line.
The problem should be an easy fix and resolved in just a few minutes by adjusting the freezer temperature and making sure the water tube is clear. Side-by-side refrigerator models are the most likely to have frozen water lines. (Learn Can Refrigerator Doors Be Removed For Delivery)
Stack and French door models, however, suffer the same problem, and the water line freezes, especially if the doors are left open for longer than is necessary.
Preventing moisture from the outside is a good start, but you’ll also need to learn how to enhance water line flow.
In our guide, we’ll show you how to remedy the problem, and you can see how to remove a refrigerator door to access the plastic water tube.
By the end, you’ll see how easy it can be to remove refrigerator door and, using various methods, how you can defrost the water feed line and have the dispenser line free of ice and back up to full water pressure.
What Does A Refrigerator Water Line Do?
Years ago, such conveniences were never considered. However, with advances, we now have fridges with ice makers and a cold-water dispenser.
A water source is required for the ice maker and water dispenser to function. For example, the refrigerator is typically connected to the kitchen feed line, which connects mains water that feeds your sink, etc.
A long flexible hose made of PVC or braided wire serves as the refrigerator water line.
The internal line tubing connects the ice maker and water dispenser tube to the larger line’s water flow.
It’s typically made of copper or plastic and isn’t as thick as a refrigerator’s water line. Copper is sturdy and lasts longer, although it is susceptible to denting when struck, whereas plastic is more flexible but less robust.
What Causes Freezing Refrigerator Water Line?
The refrigerator line must maintain a consistently ideal temperature to allow for smooth water flow. The water line must be sufficiently warm to prevent the flow of water from freezing before it reaches its destination. The water inside the water line will freeze and cease flowing if the temperature drops too low.
While the less expensive PVC line is less expensive, it has the least effective insulation and is more prone to freezing.
The less probable it is to freeze over, the more protection the line will have. The braided water line costs more upfront yet lasts longer and performs better.
Even the best water line can be damaged by repeated exposure to extreme cold or dampness from the outside. So, monitor your appliance’s temperature to ensure it doesn’t fall too low.
How To Fix Frozen Refrigerator Water Line?
You’ll need to figure out what’s causing the line to freeze over: is it too cold or too wet? Placing a thermometer between packets inside makes it a simple task to verify temperatures.
Raising the thermostat can solve the problem if the temperature is below optimal.
While here, you need to check door insulation for gaps and defects and if too much moisture surrounds the water line. To get your refrigerator to work correctly, seal any air gaps, and you will need to thaw the frozen line.
Identifying water lines on the outside and inside of the refrigerator is one of the first steps. Next, you need to decide how much of the water line has frozen, as your steps depend on whether it’s all the main line or flows to the frozen ice maker or water dispenser. (Learn How To Lift A Washing Machine Onto A Pedestal)
1. Unplug Refrigerator and Catch Leaks
To avoid electrocution, unplug the appliance before performing any repair, no matter how minor.
You want to protect both yourself and your appliance since water and electricity are a dangerous mix. Use towels on the floor to absorb any leaks from the water line.
Before unplugging your water and ice dispensers, test them to ensure nothing is flowing out.
Even if the GE side-by-side refrigerator is unplugged, most water dispensers have a manual switch that can be pushed. This will help you figure out which line is leaking.
2. Check Where The Line Is Frozen
Remove the main line connectors first, press the dispenser lever; reattach the connectors if water flows.
Remove the kick plate at the bottom of the refrigerator and unhook the water line under the door if you confirm water flows from the above action.
Place a container beneath the water dispenser line and manually push the lever to see if anything comes out.
If there is water flow, the water line within the door has most likely frozen.
Before continuing to the interior of the door, reconnect the water line and replace the kick plate. After that, you’ll need to thaw out the frozen piece of the water line.
3. Thaw the Frozen Line
Using a heat gun or a hairdryer to thaw your water line is the quickest and most convenient option.
Wave the dryer across the water line, dispenser control panel, and door rear on high heat. After about 15 minutes of blasting warm air, check if the lines are clear.
Besides this, you can also find a tool called “the Water Line Buddy.” The kit comprises a small syringe that lets you squirt hot water directly from the outside into the dispenser line.
It just takes a few minutes for the hot water to defrost any internal blockage and restore your water flow.
4. Protect and Prevent freezing
After the water lines are clear, remove the conditions that caused them to freeze. Check gasket seals and water line insulation for gaps. You may need to take further steps to prevent the problem from reoccurring.
You can add a simple water line heater that connects to control panel wiring and maintains line water temperature. Check your dispenser door flap for warping or abnormalities; air and moisture could enter. Replace the water filter or valve if one is slowing or stopping water flow.
Your appliance’s manufacturer and model will determine the fixes, and you may need to know how to take off refrigerator doors.
You may find the basic fixes may not solve the problem entirely, and it worked perfectly before. If this happens, you’ll need to place a service call for the professionals to come out.
What Is The Frozen Water Line Tool?
The tool offers a quick way to unfreeze a refrigerator water dispenser and thaw your frozen water line in a few minutes.
There’s no need to hire an appliance repair technician and pay for a service call, and there’s no need to spend money on pricey refrigeration tools and difficult-to-find components and equipment.
This extra-long 36-inch flexible Frozen Water Line is compatible with all regular 1/4-inch water dispensers and lines. (Learn How To Cut Copper Pipe Close To Wall)
Alternative Methods To Defrost Frozen Refrigerator Water Line
The water dispenser line in GE and other side-by-side refrigerators can freeze, which is a pretty common problem. This is because the door’s insulation absorbs too much moisture, causing it to fail to insulate the line to prevent it from being frozen inside the door.
If this does not resolve frozen water dispenser issue, you may need to replace the water filter or water valve, as these can slow or stop the flow of water from the dispenser.
What You Need
- Screwdrivers or nut drivers
- Towels
Solution 1: Manually Thaw Refrigerator Water Line
Here are the steps you need when your water line is frozen.
- Remove the ice from the ice bucket and clean it.
- Get access to the water supply cord and line. Then turn off the water line to the refrigerator.
- The ice maker is held in place by two retaining bolts. Loosen these, and you’ll see two brackets holding the ice maker in position.
- Release the brackets by lifting the bolts.
- You’ll now see a wire harness connecting the ice maker to the rear of the freezer’s wall. Pull the wire to release your ice maker.
- Place a cloth or towel on the refrigerator’s countertop.
- Plug in your hair dryer yet be wary of water droplets in the hairdryer.
- Connect the cabling and hang the ice maker on the refrigerator’s wall. To ensure the ice maker is installed correctly, tighten the screws thoroughly.
- Return the ice maker bucket to its original location and turn on the water line valve.
Your refrigerator is now ready to use; however, the water line in your fridge could continue to freeze.
Solution 2 Fast Way to Thaw Refrigerator Water Line
- Nobody likes to take a few hours for their refrigerator’s water line to thaw. The quickest solution is to use a program called “IceSurrender (Works like Water Line Buddy). “
- In only a few minutes, you can complete the task on your frozen tubing with this gadget.
- Microwave a cup of water for 30 seconds in the microwave.
- You must carefully press the IceSurrender’s end into the microwaved hot water.
- Fill your IceSurrender frozen waterline tool with hot water.
- The purpose of hot water has been fulfilled. Now, take a rag and put it in the refrigerator to absorb any drips and stop them rolling down the front of your refrigerator.
- It’s now time to put the IceSurrender into the frozen water line. Again, push until you reach the desired level of resistance.
- Continue to apply pressure to the ice by pressing the IceSurrender button. You’ll notice how quickly the ice on the water line has melted away from the warm water pressure, and your refrigerator water dispenser works again.
When water is not dispensed through the refrigerator door, the water line may freeze. This is a fairly common problem with side-by-side refrigerators.
Here’s how to troubleshoot the problem and have your water flowing again.
Check to see if the water supply to the house or the refrigerator has been turned off before attempting any fixes.
Check the ice maker to determine if it is producing ice. If ice is being made, water is flowing into the refrigerator, indicating the problem with the water line to the dispenser.
What You Need for the repair:
- Towel and bucket
- Hair dryer or a heat gun
- Hot water
- A syringe with tubing attachment
Directions
- First, remove the kick plate from the refrigerator to get to the water line.
- To test the side that delivers water to the refrigerator, unscrew the line from the water connecting valve.
- Ensure you have a towel or bucket handy to capture water that may drip from the line.
- To activate the water inlet valve, have someone press the water dispenser lever in the refrigerator door.
- Examine the line to see if it is flowing water. If water is flowing from the water line, the water line on the other end – the side that supplies it via the refrigerator door – is most likely frozen.
- Unfreezing the water line can be accomplished in several ways:
- To unfreeze the line, use a heat gun or hair dryer to direct heat into the line. This method should be used cautiously because electricity near water might be dangerous.
- Make sure the hair dryer is held far enough away from the water line that it does not come into touch with the water.
- Unplug the refrigerator and leave the freezer door open to thaw the line. You’ll need to remove the food and temporarily store it somewhere else.
- Inject water into the dispenser line with a syringe filled with hot water. The hot water will reach inside the line thanks to a tube attached to the syringe.
However, one method offers a permanent repair; manufacturers should have done this years ago. (Learn How Many Led Lights Can I Put On One Circuit)
A water dispenser heater tube is available for purchase for GE, Hotpoint, Kenmore, and RCA refrigerators; once you install this, you can prevent the water line from freezing up.
The heater tube is simple to put together and comes with detailed instructions. You can have icy water, and your freezer will make ice without issues.
