How Does a Fridge with a Water Dispenser Work?

What's the Difference Between Plumbed and Non-Plumbed Dispensers?

A plumbed fridge never runs out of water and never needs refilling, but it has to sit somewhere with a water line. A non-plumbed fridge goes anywhere you can plug it in, at the cost of topping up a tank by hand.

A plumbed fridge ties into the mains, so the dispenser and ice maker have continuous access to water. Nobody has to remember to fill anything, and the ice maker keeps producing without a capacity ceiling. For a household that gets through a lot of cold water and ice, this removes the only real friction in owning a dispenser fridge.

The requirement is a water line reaching the spot where the fridge stands. Kitchens designed around that make the connection straightforward. In an apartment where the fridge alcove has no plumbing, you are looking at running a supply line. That means a plumber, and a cost worth pricing before you commit to the fridge.

A non-plumbed fridge carries its own water tank, which you fill by hand and the fridge chills like anything else inside it. Keep it topped up and chilled water stays on tap. Several LG side-by-side models use a non-fixed tank, meaning it lifts out for filling at the sink instead of forcing you to pour water into a fixed compartment.

The tradeoff is capacity. A tank holds a set volume and then needs refilling, so a household of five will visit the sink more often than a couple will. In exchange, the fridge can stand anywhere with a power socket, which matters in rented apartments, in kitchens where the layout is already fixed, and for anyone who would rather not pay for plumbing work.

Check three things before deciding:

● Water line access: Confirm a supply point reaches the spot where the fridge will actually stand, or price the cost of running one.

● Ownership status: Check what your lease allows, since rented properties often rule out plumbing modifications entirely.

● Household demand: Estimate your ice and water use, because heavy demand turns tank refilling into a daily chore.

Which LG Fridge Should You Choose?

Choose a plumbed model if a water line reaches the fridge's position and you want ice on demand. Choose non-plumbed if it does not. LG's current UAE range covers both, and two models show the split clearly.

The Black Glass InstaView model suits buyers who want the dispenser to do everything. It requires plumbing, so confirm you have a water line at the installation point before ordering.

The ice and water dispenser uses UVnano, which eliminates 99.99% of bacteria from the water nozzle. That figure reflects TÜV Rheinland laboratory testing measuring the reduction of E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa in distilled water samples after UV LED exposure of 10 minutes each hour across 24 hours. Actual results vary with environmental conditions and use.

● Ice and water dispenser with UVnano: chilled water plus cube and crushed ice from the door, fed by an automatic Slim SpacePlus ice maker.

● Black Glass InstaView Door-in-Door: two knocks illuminate the tinted panel so you can see inside without opening the door.

● 733 liters of storage: 474 in the fridge and 226 in the freezer, across a multi-door layout.

● Inverter Linear Compressor: carries up to a 10-year parts warranty.

● LG ThinQ with Smart Diagnosis: remote control of settings and guided troubleshooting through the app.

Checking through the panel avoids opening the door, so the cold air stays in. In a UAE summer, where the kitchen is warm and the fridge gets opened all day, that adds up.

The LinearCooling side-by-side model covers the non-plumbed case. Its water tank is non-fixed, so it lifts out for filling at the sink rather than being topped up in place, and the Smart Inverter compressor carries up to a 10-year parts warranty.

● Non-fixed refillable water tank: removable for easy filling at the sink.

● LinearCooling: holds internal temperatures steady with minimal fluctuation.

● Smart Inverter compressor: adjusts output to demand, with up to a 10-year parts warranty.

● Side-by-side layout: full-height fridge and freezer sections, so everyday items sit at eye level.

Capacity and tank volume vary across the side-by-side range, so check the specification sheet on the product page before buying.

So, Which Fridge Dispenser Is Right for You?

Start with your kitchen, not the fridge. If a water line already reaches the spot where the fridge will stand, or you own the property and are willing to have one run, a plumbed model like the GR-X39FFCRB gives you unlimited chilled water plus cube and crushed ice with nothing to refill. If the fridge has to go where the socket is, a non-plumbed model like the GR-L267KLKW delivers the same chilled water from a tank you fill yourself.

Household size settles the close calls. Larger families and anyone who gets through ice quickly will find a tank restrictive. Smaller households rarely notice it.

Both types sit across LG's side-by-side, multi-door, and InstaView ranges, so the dispenser decision does not lock you out of a particular style or capacity. Dispenser specifications and features vary by model, so check the individual product page for the fridge you are considering.