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Refrigerator Water inlet valve: What It Does and Signs It's Failing

An electric valve at the bottom back of the fridge where the household water line connects. It opens to send water to the dispenser or the ice maker. Some LG models add a flow sensor in the same water path to measure how much passes.

How it works

When the board powers one of its coils, a solenoid opens and water flows through. The valve needs at least about 20 psi of house pressure to open properly.

Signs it is failing

• No water from the dispenser and no ice
• Ice maker overfilling or a constant drip
• Water pooling behind or under the fridge
• A cracked valve body or brittle outlet tubing
• Flow sensor codes

Flow sensor codes are often a closed supply valve, a kink or low pressure. If the ice maker overflows instead, the valve or the flow sensor may be failing.

Can you replace it yourself?

Check that the saddle or shutoff valve is fully open and the line behind the fridge isn't kinked. To swap the valve, unplug the fridge, shut off the water, remove the rear lower panel and move the tubing over.

Buying the right part

Match the number of coils and fitting types to your model. OEM valves are worth it; this part holds back line pressure all day.

Error codes linked to the water inlet valve

• CIIcemaker not working properlyGE
• Er gFWater flow sensor errorLG
• 76CWater detected in the AutoFill pitcher areaSamsung

Last reviewed 2026-10-19.