Kitchenaid water dispenser drip

Looking for ideas on where to turn with a nagging drip I am getting from my water dispenser. I have scoured the internet and came up with some good information. I have replaced the water inlet valve along with a vaccum chamber type dispenser hose that is suppose to help with this exact issue, but no luck with either. I have painstakensly flushed the system numerous times to ensure all trapped air has been removed. What I get is a drip or two an hour that left un attended developes into a puddle that drips down the door. I have ran accross some additional information that suggests reverting back to an older style tank resevoir and adding some check valves. Thought before I “add” to the system, I would exhaust all normal repair type options.

Thanks…

[quote=cegusa60;255447]Looking for ideas on where to turn with a nagging drip I am getting from my water dispenser. I have scoured the internet and came up with some good information. I have replaced the water inlet valve along with a vaccum chamber type dispenser hose that is suppose to help with this exact issue, but no luck with either. I have painstakensly flushed the system numerous times to ensure all trapped air has been removed. What I get is a drip or two an hour that left un attended developes into a puddle that drips down the door. I have ran accross some additional information that suggests reverting back to an older style tank resevoir and adding some check valves. Thought before I “add” to the system, I would exhaust all normal repair type options.

Thanks…[/quote]

You’ve exhausted all the “normal” checks and repairs,that I’m aware of.

Time to install the tank and check valve.

Check valve part no. AP3844698(1/4") connection
AP4108190(5/16") connection
Tank/reservoir AP3181346 (not a tank/ tubing coil)

The check valve is installed on the exit tube, from the tank to the dispenser.

Good Luck :slight_smile:

Thanks for the quick reply Joe, So it looks like the 5/16" check valve right after the tank and then the 1/4" right before going into the door correct? Also, I’m trying to get my head around two things. How does the check valve impact the issue? It seems that it would be a good thing having the water back up some creating a bit of a vaccum. And second, why would this work for years set up conventionally then then not? Scratchin’ my head :confused:.

Yes,

You have the location of the check valves correct.

Like any “check” valve, it allows water / air to move in one direction only.

There is an air pocket in the tank(normal) and water seeks it’s own level, sometimes it “bubbles” into the tube and causes a drip.

You don’t want a vaccum in the water system,and you don’t want air in it either(air is not condensable) and will escape one way or another(the drip).

I don’t know why it happens, they(engineers) could never explain it properly/satisfactorily.

Only other possibility would be, a drop in your water pressure to the fill valve connection(not likely).
:slight_smile: :rolleyes:

Thank you for the explanation.

Joe, I just went to the parts search section to plug in the part numbers you recommended and noticed the part number you supplied for the reservoir is the coiled line type like I already have on my unit. Would I only need the connectors/check valves then or is this coil an updated version of some sort?

I apologize,

Got a head of myself.

No, the updated tech information , wants you to install a new tank.
But the check valves are correct.

AP6018425
:rolleyes: :slight_smile:

I recieved the replacement parts to do the install but there are no directions with the replacement tank. Does it matter which one of the lines are considered the inlet to the tank. I guess looking at the replacement, when mounted it appears that there is a high and a low side. Would the line coming out of the high side of the tank be considered the outlet or vice versa?

Thanks

Chuck

[quote=cegusa60;259734]I recieved the replacement parts to do the install but there are no directions with the replacement tank. Does it matter which one of the lines are considered the inlet to the tank. I guess looking at the replacement, when mounted it appears that there is a high and a low side. Would the line coming out of the high side of the tank be considered the outlet or vice versa?

Thanks

Chuck[/quote]

Chuck,

It’s vice versa, the high fitting is the water inlet to the tank,from the filter.

The lower fitting is the outlet from the tank to the dispenser.

Don’t forget to install the check valves on the outlet of the tank and at the tube going into the freezer door hinge.

Later
:slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

Thank you Joe.

It was my pleasure.

Drop us a line, when you’re through and let us know how things went.

:slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

Installed all the new parts as recommended. When I run the low side to the dispenser as noted though, I get a fairly constsant trickle after releasing the fill lever paddle that makes quite a mess. For the heck of it, I flipped flopped the position of the lines with the high side going to the dispenser and that cured the trickle but I have not gained any improvement with the annoying drip, it’s still the same. a few drops an hour or so. Am I expecting too much for this not to drip at all? I don’t remember it always having this drip issue.

Cegusa,

The repair you just did solves the drip problem in 99% of the case.

(it has always worked for me).

A couple of other things to look for:

Does your icemaker fill in 7 seconds or less ?
Do you have properly sized and solid ice cubes ?
(this could indicate a low water pressure or water supply to the unit).

Check all of the tubing(old and new) for good air tight seals on all the connections.
(make sure there are no burrs on the tubing and that they are all clean, flat cuts on the ends).

Other than these checks you should not ever have a constant drip from your dispenser, unless you’ve got a lot of air in your water supply, or low water pressure.
:slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

[quote=Joe / APP Team;262191]Cegusa,

The repair you just did solves the drip problem in 99% of the case.

(it has always worked for me).

A couple of other things to look for:

Does your icemaker fill in 7 seconds or less ?
Do you have properly sized and solid ice cubes ?
(this could indicate a low water pressure or water supply to the unit).

Check all of the tubing(old and new) for good air tight seals on all the connections.
(make sure there are no burrs on the tubing and that they are all clean, flat cuts on the ends).

Other than these checks you should not ever have a constant drip from your dispenser, unless you’ve got a lot of air in your water supply, or low water pressure.
:slight_smile: :slight_smile: :)[/quote]

The ice maker does appear to be filling quickly (under 7 seconds as you note) and the cubes appear AOK. I was pretty careful about cutting, inspecting and installing the lines. Pressure at the wall is fantastic and the line in from the wall appears to be fine. Maybe I’ll pop on a new one in case the line is coming apart internally creating an interruption. I ran it at “full on” the other day and it was flowing extremely strong. After work I’ll pop all the connections loose and double check as you recommend.
Thanks…

[quote=cegusa60;262202]The ice maker does appear to be filling quickly (under 7 seconds as you note) and the cubes appear AOK. I was pretty careful about cutting, inspecting and installing the lines. Pressure at the wall is fantastic and the line in from the wall appears to be fine. Maybe I’ll pop on a new one in case the line is coming apart internally creating an interruption. I ran it at “full on” the other day and it was flowing extremely strong. After work I’ll pop all the connections loose and double check as you recommend.
Thanks…[/quote]

Those are all the checks and repairs I know of at this point.:slight_smile: :slight_smile: :slight_smile: