Insufficient Water Pressure to Refrigerator

Kinked Lines

• All refrigerators that contain water taps have a hookup in the back of the appliance where a small water tube is connected. These tubes can be made out of copper or braided plastic, but either material can become kinked and slow the flow of water to the refrigerator systems. Gently pull the refrigerator away from the wall to expose the hose in the back. Follow the hose all the way from the connection point on the appliance to the connection valve in the wall. Look for signs of kinks along the way, and gently straighten the pipe if you do find any. This should immediately correct the water pressure to the refrigerator.

Stuck Valve

• Water lines for refrigerators are located in the wall. These valves contain a small handle on the top or side that controls the flow of water to the appliance. It's important that these valves are all the way open in the "on" position, or else they will dramatically cut down on the volume of water that's released to the refrigerator each time it is called for. Turn the handle on the valve counterclockwise until it stops in the fully open position.

Low Household Water Pressure

• Sometimes, low water pressure at the refrigerator is a sign of low water pressure inside your entire home. Low water pressure can affect all of the devices in your home that use water, including the refrigerator. Low water pressure can be caused by new construction in the area, or too much use of water at the same time inside the home. Correcting low water pressure can be achieved by turning the adjustment screw on top of the water pressure regulator inside your home. These valves are usually located in a basement or crawl space, and regulate the flow of water pressure from the street to your house. Loosen the nut on the bottom of the regulator and slowly turn the screw on top to increase water pressure to the entire house.

Frozen Supply Line

• Because refrigerator water lines are only about 1/4-inch thick, they are highly susceptible to freezing. Water lines should not be installed outside, or in basements where the air temperature drops below freezing. Frozen water lines are likely to burst, which can lead to a flood inside your home near the refrigerator. It's critical to install water lines only in insulated areas of your home. If you suspect the lines have frozen, shut off the valve in the wall and allow the lines to thaw out naturally before using the refrigerator connection again.