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Is it a bad sign when the water dispensed from a refrigerator isn’t cold?

Not usually. In older refrigerators, water is often stored in a reservoir near the crisper drawers. But in many modern models, water flows through tubing that runs up the back of the refrigerator to the water filter, then down to coiled tubing that serves as a storage tank, and back up to the door dispenser. Along the way, it’s exposed to warmer parts of the refrigerator. Because the water is constantly flowing through the tubes instead of chilling in a reservoir, it may not be as cold as you’d like. Here are a few ways to enjoy colder water:

Keep a small glass handy for the first 4 oz. or so of water, then fill your drinking glass.

Make sure your refrigerator is full (but not overcrowded). The fewer items in your fridge, the harder your fridge must work to maintain a cool temperature (usually 34 to 38 degrees on newer models).

Wait at least 15 minutes between fill-ups.…