Our refrigerator has no water or ice production. We have ordered a new filter cartridge, but our owner's manual says the supply line or shutoff valve is clogged. I'm wondering if there is a way to test/check this myself. Let me know, any help would be appreciated.

Refrigerator water supply line is probably attached to house water pipe by a piercing saddle valve. That is most likely place for blockage to occur. Close piercing valve completely then reopen. If that does not correct problem, close piercing valve, remove refrigerator supply, open valve and see it water comes out. If you have water, close valve, reattach refrigerator supply line, trace line to water solenoid valve at refrigerator. Disconnect in coming water line at solenoid valve, open piercing valve and see if you have water at solenoid valve. If you have water to solenoid valve but not coming out to ice maker, check for blocked screen on input side of solenoid valve. If you have water coming out of solenoid but not to ice maker you probably have frozen lines to door and ice maker.

hkstroud

Thanks for the info. When I look under my sink, I don't see a piercing saddle valve, and I'm not sure where the solenoid valve would be. I did take some pictures of the pipes/plumbing underneath our sink, is there a way to send that to you so you can see what I'm working with? Let me know, I appreciate the help.

Icemaker connection and/or valve may be directly behind the fridge. Pull the fridge away from the wall and see if there is a valve.

Back to you. Milo

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Here are a few pictures.
First, under the sink.
Second, two from behind the fridge.
Let me know if there is anything to check based on these, thanks.

OK, it looks to me that the clear plastic line is connected to the cold water valve (I see what looks like some blue around the stop valve that indicates cold.)
What you have is an adapter for connecting the refrigerator line, not a piercing valve. I don't know how you are suppose to have cold water to the faucet should you decide to disconnect the refrigerator but that is neither here or there for now. That adapter is not likely to become blocked but just in case, turn of the stop valve, take off the plastic line. Open the stop valve slightly for just a moment to see if you get water.

In the first picture behind the refrigerator, it appears that there is a coupling connecting the clear plastic line from the sink to the water lines that came as a part of the refrigerator. Again close the stop valve under the sink, disconnect the clear plastic line from the refrigerator line, open the stop valve slightly momentarily and see if you water to that point.

I'm not sure what I'm looking at in the third picture (other than Christmas lights). I think I'm looking at the back of the refrigerator up toward the ceiling. If that is correct it looks like the water line goes up to the top of the refrigerator and then comes back down. I say that because it looks like there are two lines there. I don't know why it would do that. Is the filter in that area? It looks like the line from the top goes to the bottom and goes into the compressor space underneath.
If that is correct, that is where the solenoid valves will be. Remove the card board dust cover at the bottom of the rear of the refrigerator. Valves may be and probably are there. If not remove the front toe kick plate.
Proceed with checking for water coming into and going out of the valves. You may have two separate valves but most likely you will have two valves in one. That is to say you have one water line in and two lines out. Because both the door water and the ice maker have quit it is likely you have a blockage at the screen of incoming line.

Of course if you would like, you can start at the valves (once you find them) and work your way backwards.

You said you have changed the filter, what are the instruction for changing the filter. If instructions for changing filter require you to turn off the water at the sink, you can just turn off the water, remove the filter and then briefly turn on the water to check everything from the sink to the filter.

Harold

Thank you so much for all this info. I have a few more questions and, since I know basically nothing about any of this, I want to double check a few things before I start turning things on/off, disconnecting, checking valves, etc.

The clear plastic line does run cold water to the fridge. Once I turn off the water, do I just pull the plastic line out of the gold six-sided piece (not sure of the official name), or do I actually unscrew the gold six-sided piece? Again, just want to check and make sure I don't mess anything else up.

Same question for the connection behind the fridge, how do I disconnect the water line from the fridge line?

You are correct about the third picture, I think. It's the top of the fridge, that goes right to where our filter is in the regular fridge half of the unit, and those are Christmas lights. :)

Once I find the solenoid valve, any specific instructions on how to disconnect/check that? Anything/everything you can tell me would be a big help.

I did not have to turn off the water to replace the filter, which has been in for a couple of days now. I think there is a little water making it in - a little will squirt out when we press the water button, and a very few, tiny pieces of ice have been made. Not sure if that helps with the diagnosis, just FYI.

I appreciate all the info and direction, especially since I know nothing about any of this and am trying not to cause any more problems/damage. Thanks again.

Is there anyway you can bypass the filter? Back to you, Tom

To disconnect the plastic line under the sink, turn the water off and with a pair of pliers or a small adjustable wrench unscrew the nut around the plastic line. Same thing applies to the coupling behind the refrigerator. Only there is you will have to hold the center part of the coupling with pliers while you unscrew the nut. Disconnecting the lines at the solenoid valve would be the same procedure.

If the instructions for changing the filter say to turn off the water first, that would mean that there is not automatic cut off when you remove the filter canister or cover. If the instructions do not say turn off the water then there is probably an automatic water cut off when you open the filter. If there is no automatic cut off at the filter and you did not get water out when changing the filter then the blockage is between the filter and the sink.

Hi Harold, I was finally able to get behind the fridge and check things out. I checked the coupling that connects the line from the sink to the line to the fridge, and water was coming out there. I removed the cardboard cover and found this. Not sure what this is exactly - might be the valves your talking about - and how to check it, so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi Sean, It has been a long time.
Yes, those are the solenoid valve that control the water to the ice maker and the door.
Turn the water off under the sink. Then disconnect the water supply line to the valves. Turn the water back on and see if you get water out of the line at the valves.
If you have water, reconnect the incoming water line. Disconnect the lines leaving the valve to the ice make and the door to see if you have water coming out.
If you do not, look for a blockage of the screen on the incoming side.
It is possible but would be highly unusual for both valves to fail at the same time.
To check the valve electrically, find an old extension cord. Cut off the female end. Put a small alligator clip on each wire. Remove the electrical connection to the valves. Clip the alligator clips to the terminals of one of the valves.
Plug the extension cord in briefly. You should see and hear the solenoid valve move as you plug and unplug the extension cord. You should also get water out the output side if you have the water connected and turned on.

If you do not see or hear any action of either valve replace the valves.