Washer Dispenser Not Working Properly

Some dispensers use a siphon tube. If the siphon tube gets plugged you may get a diluted mixture of detergent, bleach, or fabric softener remaining in the tray. Make sure the dispenser compartment trays and siphon tubes are clean.

A washer detergent dispenser not working is often the result of low water pressure in the home or a defective water inlet valve not supplying water to the dispenser. However, it's also possible the appliance's control board is not sending power to the dispenser water valves or dispenser actuator at the proper times. You can use a multimeter to help determine if voltage is reaching these components. If not, the control board will need to be replaced.

A washer dispenser not working is often the result of low water pressure in the home or a defective water inlet valve not supplying water to the dispenser. However, it's also possible the dispenser drawer is obstructed or damaged and not allowing the detergent, bleach, or fabric softener to be dispensed. You should inspect the drawer for any obstructions or damage and replace the component if necessary.

The dispenser actuator controls what compartment tray the water gets diverted to. If the actuator gets stuck the water will not get diverted to the proper compartment leaving the detergent, bleach, or added softener behind.

Since a washing machine's main control board provides voltage to nearly all of the washer's electrical components, a faulty board may not be sending power to the dispenser to release the detergent, bleach, or fabric softener, although this is not a common problem. You can inspect the board for signs of burning or a shorted-out component. You can also use a multimeter to test the power output terminals on the board after reviewing the appliance's wiring diagram.

A washer detergent dispenser not working is often the result of low water pressure in the home or a defective water inlet valve not supplying water to the dispenser. Low water pressure can cause the detergent dispenser to not rinse out properly and the tub to fill slowly. You can check the water flow at the kitchen faucet to help determine if the home's water pressure is sufficient or not.

If the fabric softener is not fully dispening from the agitator cup during the first spin cycle, try cleaning out the holes in the cup and below the cup in the agitator. Since the softener needs to be mixed with water to be properly dispensed, you can also try diluting the softner with more water.

The home water pressure might be too low. The water inlet valve requires at least 20 psi to function properly. Check the water pressure to the valve to determine if it is sufficient.

Some washer models has the water inlet valve built into the dispenser housing. If the inlet is malfunctioning, water may not be entering the dispenser to flush out the detergent into the tub. On these models, the dispenser housing will need to be replaced if the water inlet valve is determined to be defective.

On some washer models, a dispenser drawer is used to hold the detergent, bleach, and fabric softener. If the drawer is misaligned or damaged, the contents may not be dispensed properly. Inspect the dispenser drawer for any damage and replace if necessary.

On some washer models, a diverter motor is used to determine where water will be sent to flush out the detergent, bleach, or fabric softener into the tub. If the diverter motor is malfunctioning, the dispenser will not work properly. You can use a multimeter to test the diverter motor for electrical continuity to help determine if the part is defective.

If the washer is not level, the incoming water may be unable to rinse the detergent out of the dispenser into the tub during the wash cycle. Confirm that the washer feet are equally touching the floor and the unit does not wobble. Adjust the feet as needed; a bubble level can be used to confirm the washer is level from front-to-back and side-to-side. If the appliance can't be leveled, service may be required.