Whirlpool refrigerator not getting water to ice maker

Whirlpool makes some of the best refrigerators on the market. One of their best features is their ice makers, which are known to produce large quantities of ice automatically without you having to fill the ice trays up with water. But sometimes the ice maker can stop working and will need to be reset or repaired.

If your Whirlpool ice maker has stopped working, there’s no need to panic, as it’s an easy thing to fix. You usually just have to reset it.

There are four main ways to reset your Whirlpool ice maker: press the reset button, adjust the feller arm, turn your fridge off and on, or unplug the appliance. In this article, we will tell you how to do each one.

Let’s get your ice maker working again.

This guide covers most Whirlpool refrigerator models, including:

1ET25DKXGW00

2-A Y

3EAD19XMWR1

3ECKMF10

3ECKMF8

3ECKMF86

ED5FVGXWS07

WRB322DMBM00

WRF535SMBM00

WRF560SEHZ00

WRF560SEYM05

WRF736SDAM11

WRF736SDAM12

WRF736SDAM13

WRF736SDAM14

WRS322FDAM04

WRS325FDAM02

WRS325FDAM04

WRS571CIDM01

WRS571CIHZ01

WRX735SDBM00

1. Press the reset button

The easiest way to reset your Whirlpool ice maker is to press the reset button. Depending on your specific refrigerator model, there should be a reset button on the ice maker. All you need to do is find the button and press it. Once you press the button, the ice maker unit will fully reset and will hopefully start to work again.

To reset your ice maker, you simply need to:

1. Locate the reset button. The reset button is usually located at the bottom of the ice maker unit or in some cases at the top or on the bottom of the ice tray.
2. Once located, press the button down for a few seconds until you hear a beep sound. Once you hear the beep sound, let go of the button.
3. Once reset, check if the problem has been solved.

Adjust the feeler arm

Another way to reset your Whirlpool ice maker is to adjust the feeler arm. The feeler arm is a sensor that is inside your ice maker, and its purpose is to monitor how much ice the ice maker is making. When it deems the ice tray is full, it tells the control board to stop making ice. Sometimes the feeler arm can become stuck, and this stops it from working properly, so you’ll need to loosen it before it can start working again.

Here’s how to adjust the feeler arm:

1. Locate the feeler arm in your ice maker (consult your user manual if required).
2. Once located, push the feeler arm down. This should loosen it and stop it from being stuck or frozen in place.
3. Once you’ve loosened the feeler arm, the ice maker should start to fill up with water again. 

3. Press the on/off switch

If pressing the reset button and/or adjusting the feeler arm didn’t get your Whirlpool ice maker to work, the next option is to turn your ice maker off by pressing the on/off switch. 

Here’s how to reset your ice maker by turning it off and on:

1. Locate the on/off switch. You should be able to find it under the ice tray.
2. Once located, remove the ice tray, and if it has a cover plate, remove that as well.
3. Turn the switch off. Wait a few minutes before turning it back on again.
4. Once you’ve switched it back on, you can put the ice tray and cover back into your ice maker.
5. Check to see if the problem has been solved; if not, you’ll need to try to turn the whole appliance off and on (see below).

4. Unplug your refrigerator

If the first 3 options didn’t reset your ice maker and get it to start working again, your final option is to unplug your refrigerator and reset the whole unit.

To reset your refrigerator, you need to:

1. Unplug your fridge. You might need to pull it out from the wall to access the plug.
2. Wait about 10 minutes and then plug it back into the power socket again.
3. Once it is turned back on, locate the feeler arm and press it down a couple of times. Once you do this, the ice tray should fill up with water, and ice should start to be produced again.

What if my ice maker still hasn’t reset?

If you’ve gone through the 4 options above and your ice maker still doesn’t work, this might indicate your fridge has a bigger issue, such as a mechanical problem, an electrical issue, or a faulty water valve. To fix these problems, you will need to call a qualified technician to come and inspect your Whirlpool refrigerator, as they are difficult to repair without the right tools and knowledge.

We certainly get used to life’s little conveniences and the ice and water dispensers on our refrigerator are no exception. That’s why when your Whirlpool refrigerator won’t dispense ice or water, it can seem like a big problem. We’ll describe the reasons why you may have a Whirlpool refrigerator not dispensing ice or water from a jammed ice maker to a clogged water filter.

What to Do When Your Whirlpool Refrigerator Won’t Dispense Ice or Water

Fortunately, there are often straightforward causes and solutions when your Whirlpool refrigerator won’t dispense ice or water. We’ll troubleshoot common causes and provide solutions so you can return to enjoying ice and water at the touch of a button.

Whirlpool Ice Maker Is Turned Off

If you have a Whirlpool ice maker not working but water dispenser is working, it may be because the ice maker is turned off. Many Whirlpool refrigerators use a wire shut-off arm to turn the ice dispenser on and off. The arm automatically stops ice production when it’s in the raised position.

If you’re wondering how to turn on Whirlpool refrigerator ice maker, simply lower the wire shutoff arm and ice production will continue.

Whirlpool Ice Maker Jammed

Sometimes small temperature changes can cause the ice in the dispenser to melt and refreeze, clumping together and causing a blockage. When this happens, your Whirlpool refrigerator dispenser not working will affect ice but not water. Here’s how to reset Whirlpool ice maker and remove jammed ice:

1. Unplug the refrigerator
2. Open the refrigerator door with the ice dispenser
3. Locate the chute where the ice drops down
4. Slide a long wooden spoon into the jammed ice in the chute to break up clumps and remove the blockage
5. Close door and plug in refrigerator

Whirlpool Refrigerator Water Line Frozen

A frozen water line is another common cause of a Whirlpool refrigerator water and ice dispenser not working. If your Whirlpool refrigerator water line keeps freezing we recommend checking the freezer temperature to make sure its between 0 and 5degrees Fahrenheit. Any lower, and your water line will keep freezing. Here’s how to defrost a frozen water line:

1. Unplug the refrigerator
2. Turn off the water supply valve
3. Loosen the two screws holding the ice maker to the freezer wall.
4. Lift up to remove the ice maker from its brackets
5. Gently unplug the ice maker from the wire harness in the freezer
6. Place the ice maker on a towel on your counter
7. Plug a hairdryer into a nearby outlet and turn it on, holding it near the fill tube that protrudes from the freezer wall.
8. Blow the dryer for about 15 minutes until ice falls out and water stops dripping from the tube
9. Reconnect ice maker to wire harness and screw it back into freezer
10. Turn on water supply valve and plug in refrigerator

Defective Whirlpool Refrigerator Inlet Valve

When you press the button on your refrigerator control panel to release water or ice, this command sends an electrical signal to the water inlet valve. The valve then allows water or ice to flow. Sometimes the water inlet valve or its tubing can be faulty or become damaged with time. When this happens ice or water won’t flow and the valve should be professionally replaced.

Whirlpool Water Filter Clogged

Your Whirlpool water filter’s job is to remove contaminants like some mineral deposits and chemicals from water. Over time these contaminants can build up in the filter, causing a clog and reducing the flow of water.

While we recommend preventatively replacing the water filter every 6 months, it will need to be replaced if clogged. We suggest referring to your owner’s manual for the proper replacement filter and instructions.

Whirlpool Refrigerator Dispenser Switch Broken

The dispenser switch is what actually supplies power to the water inlet valve, allowing water or ice to flow. If the switch isn’t working, the water inlet valve won’t receive the signal to release water or ice and neither will dispense.

A dispenser switch needs to be tested with a multimeter to determine if it’s defective. If so, it should be professionally replaced.

As frustrating as it is when your Whirlpool refrigerator won’t dispense ice or water, this troubleshooting guide can help pinpoint the problem. And if you determine the need for a refrigerator repair service, call Callahan’s Appliance to help!

Why won't my Whirlpool ice maker fill with water?

How do you reset a Whirlpool ice maker?

What tells the ice maker to fill with water?

Why does my water dispenser works but not ice maker?