How to Clean LG Refrigerator Water Dispenser?

We are in the middle of tech evolution, something we’ve greatly benefited from over the past few years. With kitchen appliances, we’ve experienced massive comfort that comes from having machines that would automatically execute domestic tasks instead of the traditional, manual ways of getting things done. Today, thanks to technology, we now have different appliances that will get the tasks done in the right way, neater, and better than if we were to get them done manually.

The real threat these appliances are faced with would be improper maintenance. Cleaning is a huge part of maintenance and when an appliance doesn’t get enough of that, it’s only a matter of time before you start seeing the end of it. Cleaning might be a real deal for some people, but it’s a necessity if you want to protect your investment in these appliances. If you’re ever going to take chances with cleaning your appliances, it shouldn’t be with your refrigerator’s water dispenser.

If you own an LG refrigerator, it is very important to know how to clean the water dispenser in your LG refrigerator to promote personal hygiene. Most people never pay attention to the functionality of the water dispenser in their refrigerator. The sooner you realize water from the dispenser is not properly dispensed (might be coming out slower than usual), or it tastes different from what it should taste like, you should know something has gone wrong and quickly look for a way to solve it. A good start would be to get it cleaned; that’s the basic rule, which must always be followed to live a healthy life.

If you’ve got hard water running in your house, you may experience this a lot of times. The purpose of the refrigerator water dispenser is to serve as a convenient way to always have fluid available for consumption, according to Hunker. It is also susceptible to stains, meaning that grime and dirt can affect its water quality as well as flow. If you want your dispenser to stay free from dirt, you have to regularly get it cleaned, which, in turn, will allow you to enjoy fresh, crisp water.

Before we get into how to clean the water dispenser on your LG French door refrigerator or any refrigerator types, let’s take a quick look at some of the ideas behind refrigerator water dispenser and how it works.

The idea behind the refrigerator water dispenser

Almost every refrigerator in the modern-day kitchen now comes with an in-the-door water and ice dispenser. It has become a common occurrence since it was first introduced some decades ago. It’s hard to find a refrigerator that doesn’t come with an external water dispenser; that’s how common the feature has become. However, a lot of people have been left to wonder how the water dispenser really works, prompting questions like; “What is the water source?”, “How does it supply water?”

If you’re opting for a refrigerator that has its external water dispenser mounted to its door, you’ll be wondering if the water you’ll be getting from it will be coming from the refrigerator or not. Here’s the kicker. When you’re getting a refrigerator with an external water dispenser, you’ll have to place a cold water supply very close to the refrigerator, usually underground as a protective measure. According to The Spruce, the connection is established via a plastic supply tube, with one end connected to the back of the refrigerator, while the other is connected to the cold water pipe installed on the floor.

One of the most important parts of the installation is the shutoff valve. Its job is to shut the water supply anytime the refrigeration is not operational; perhaps it’s being serviced or replaced. With this installation, water is passed to the dispenser filter, taking out unhealthy particles that could pose threats to your health. From the small filter, water is then transported to the water dispenser, ready to be consumed.

The benefits and downsides of a refrigerator water dispenser

According to The Spruce, half of the refrigerators sold on the appliances market today come with different in-door water dispensers. This wasn’t the case some decades ago when refrigerating units were limited in their operations. Just like with every other appliance, refrigerator water dispenser comes with its benefits and downsides; they’re all parts of the package. The good thing is that you’re good to go if the pros don’t outweigh the cons.

Below are some of the pros and cons of a refrigerator water dispenser, so if you’re looking to get one, you should clearly pay attention to every detail;

Benefits

Convenience

We all know the convenience in-the-door water refrigerator can bring to the table. It’s always great when you can fill your glass with chilled water just by pressing a button. This means that you don’t have to go through unnecessary hurdles to get clean, refreshing water that you and your family need to stay hydrated. Truly, these dispensers have clear buttons, making them very easy to use. It will also come in handy if water is the first thing you entertain your guests with any time they pay you a visit.

As long as the water supply in your home is not disrupted, you have access to as much water as possible; not just any water now, clean and chilled water. Also, from the dispenser, you can control the temperature of the water, leaving you in total control of how cold the water you take in is.

Healthy living

The importance of a refrigerator water dispenser is that it promotes healthy living. The dispenser, of course, features a built-in filter that removes unwanted/unhealthy particles from the water coming into the dispenser before it becomes ready for consumption. This way, you have a great way of filtering the water you consume, rather than drinking directly from your sink faucet. Sometimes, the water supply in your area might not be totally clean, leaving you exposed to water poisoning if you don’t treat it. Having a refrigerator that has a water dispenser is a good way to treat your water, especially when you take into account the fact that you’re regularly consuming the water.

Your space becomes more valuable

Prospective buyers will be drawn to the sophistication of your space, and that includes the newest technologies. If your home is packed with great appliances with the latest tech-inspired, high-end features, you’re likely to command a great selling price because the buyers will find the home highly valuable.

Drawbacks

Less storage space

Every good thing comes at a cost, right? We guess so too! Since the water dispenser is taking a spot on the refrigerator door, this reduces the dedicated refrigerator space, and that leaves you with less storage space. Some brands also place these water dispensers at the top shelf of the refrigerator, causing reduced usable storage space. If you’re going to be using your refrigerator a lot and there’s just about a lot of things to be stored, you might think twice before opting for this feature.

Additional cost

If you’re opting for an automatic water dispenser for your refrigerator, you should be prepared to part ways with an additional $200, at least. If you’re on a budget, this might be particularly difficult and you might have to settle for a refrigerator without this feature. Apart from the additional payment you have to make on getting a refrigerator that has this feature, you need to know that the running cost for the water dispenser is another thing you need to put into consideration. Having the water dispenser means more energy consumption, and this will reflect on your electricity bill.

Another drawback regarding operating cost is the amount of money you will be charged if the dispenser ever breaks down. You should be ready to part ways with any fee of around $100 to get the dispensing unit repaired, which doesn’t involve the cost of replacing the water filter if it ever breaks down.

Maintenance

If you don’t properly maintain your refrigerator with a water dispenser, you’ll see it breaking down a lot. This might make you face a lot of time repairing it, and that means having to spend more than you ever expected. With the water dispenser, you’ll have to clean it often to make it free of dirt and germs.

How to clean LG refrigerator water dispenser

Despite the drawbacks that come with an LG refrigerator water dispenser, it is undeniable a good feature that promotes convenience and healthy living. Slime and bacteria on your LG refrigerator water dispenser are not abnormal. What is abnormal is when you leave these things to grow in the dispenser, and, in turn, have an effect on your health and everyone else who drinks from the dispenser. LG refrigerator water line cleaning process is very important if you want to stay healthy, because, let’s face it, you’ll probably be drinking from this dispenser every single day; you can’t afford to have stains in it. If you want to clean an LG refrigerator water dispenser nozzle and every other part of the dispenser, you have to make sure you’re cleaning with a non-chemical cleaner. We’ll introduce you to how to clean your LG refrigerator water dispenser using vinegar.

DIRECTION

STEP 1: The first step, of course, would be to disconnect the unit from the power source. You’ll also need to disconnect the water by turning the valve off. This gives you clear access to the end of the tube where you can start the cleaning process with vinegar.

STEP 2: Mix the vinegar with water and via a fitting funnel, pour the mixture into the water dispenser. It might take a while before the mixture gets into the water dispenser because the tube is a little tiny, and so should be the funnel. You need to be very careful to make sure the mixture is not coming back off the refrigerating unit because that can also cause major damage. After letting the vinegar sit for about five minutes, make the machine dispense the mixture as if you were taking out water. Make sure every bit of the mixture is dispensed before letting go of the button.

STEP 3: The next thing to do is to clean the water dispenser nozzle using a clean and soft toothbrush. You can sink the toothbrush in the vinegar mixture to get the nozzle cleaned properly.

STEP 4: This is, perhaps, the most important part of the cleaning process; rinsing the vinegar out of the dispenser. If you forget to do this, for the next few days, you’ll have to make do with drinking your water with the vinegar taste. The process is pretty simple as well. Just run the dispenser as you would if you wanted to get water out of it. Place a large container under the nozzle and flush the system with fresh water that will leave you with refreshing memories, again.

STEP 5: using the same vinegar solution, clean the outside of the water dispenser to round up the process. Don’t forget to dry the solution with a clean, soft paper towel. Additionally, you can as well take out the removable tray which is placed just below the dispensing area to get hold of water drips. As the name implies, it can be removed entirely from the unit. Clean it under running water in the sink to have a clean tray again.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do you remove mold from an LG refrigerator water line?

You can spray the waterline with vinegar solution. All you need is a bottle spray and vinegar solution (a mixture of vinegar and water). Spray the waterline area properly to get rid of the mold.

• How do you clean a refrigerator water line?

Using vinegar solution, the best way to go about it is to use a bottle spray.

• How do you reset an LG refrigerator water dispenser?

Every LG refrigerator water dispenser comes with a “filter” or “reset” button. Locate this button, press, and hold for 5 seconds.

Conclusion

Cleaning is an important part of any maintenance process. We believe that this should be practiced regularly, especially with a refrigerator water dispenser. The convenience of having chilled and filtered water makes the water dispenser feature in a refrigerator a great idea. However, things can quickly pan out oddly if regular cleaning is not involved. The water filter can be damaged, and that’s only one of the many things that could happen to the unit. In that light, it is very important to know how to clean your LG refrigerator water dispenser. We’ve highlighted the different steps you need to take to make the process a success.