--- title: "Follett LO WATER: the ice machine cannot find water in its reservoir" description: "What LO WATER means on Follett LO WATER: the ice machine cannot find water in its reservoirs, what to check before booking, and when it is not a failure at all." url: "https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/follett-lo-water/" --- # Follett LO WATER: the ice machine cannot find water in its reservoir Follett machines keep a small reservoir level between two probes. ## What LO WATER actually means. Follett machines keep a small reservoir level between two probes. If water does not reach the probes soon after power-up or during a refill, the board stops, lights LO WATER and waits an hour before trying again. Because the probes sense water through its minerals, water with too little dissolved solids can read as no water at all. Follett ice machine display · also shown as LOW WATER, Low Water What to do when LO WATER shows on the ice machine ### Kind of code Water supply The water side came up short: the trough did not fill in the time allowed, the float or level probe never saw water, or water kept flowing when the inlet valve should have closed. A supply valve left partly shut, a clogged filter cartridge, low building pressure or a sticking inlet valve are the usual causes. Opening the valve fully and fitting a fresh filter clears the simple cases; a valve that hums without passing water is a visit. ### Usually leads to Ice machine water valve and filter repair The inlet valve, filter, sump float or level probe and supply line, tested and replaced when water arrives short, dirty or nonstop. ### Shows up as Ice Machine Error Code or Flashing Light: What It Is Telling You An ice machine error code may show as a number on a small display, a pattern of blinking lights on the control board, a colored light on the front, or a machine that stops with one indicator flashing. ### Make Follett A Follett visit weighs how chewable ice is made and moved to the bin or the dispenser before looking at any single part. ### Source Follett Technical Bulletin TS TB 011, Solid Low Water error, Horizon Elite Horizon Elite (solid LED, Technical Bulletin TS TB 011), Maestro Plus (LO WATER with TIME DELAY after 10 seconds without refill) and the Champion 7 and 15 dispensers, which print Low Water on the touch screen. ## Before you book, in this order. Each step comes from Follett's own guidance for LO WATER on its ice machines. Follow it to the end: the last card says whether this is a visit. 01 Check that the shut-off valve feeding the machine is fully open and the filter housing is not overdue. 02 If the site uses reverse-osmosis water, ask whoever maintains it whether it was recently serviced, since very pure water can fool the probes. 03 Switch the machine off and on once; Follett says a power cycle clears this error. 04 If LO WATER returns with water clearly available, book a visit to test the fill valve, inlet screen and probes. ### Still there? It usually turns into [ice machine water valve and filter repair](https://icemachinerepair.center/services/ice-machine-water-valve-and-filter-repair/). Book with the code and the model number. ### What not to do A steady LO WATER is different from a flashing one: flashing means water is present but is not being used up while the machine tries to make ice. It is also not a leak alarm; on Champion dispensers leaks have their own message. ## What you may notice with it. The ice machine problems LO WATER tends to arrive with. Answer these at the ice machine before anyone is booked. [All problems](https://icemachinerepair.center/problems/) Before you call ### [Ice Machine Error Code or Flashing Light: What It Is Telling You](https://icemachinerepair.center/problems/ice-machine-error-code/) [All 7 causes, cheapest first](https://icemachinerepair.center/problems/ice-machine-error-code/) It also comes with - [**Ice Machine Running but Not Making Ice**](https://icemachinerepair.center/problems/ice-machine-not-making-ice/) - [**Ice Dispenser Not Dispensing Ice or Water**](https://icemachinerepair.center/problems/ice-dispenser-not-dispensing/) Problem ### Ice Machine Error Code or Flashing Light: What It Is Telling You 7 causes, cheapest first Where LO WATER usually leads ## Ice machine water valve and filter repair. **Inlet valve, sump float or level probe, supply line and filter head · low to moderate.** Book a visit [What the job involves](https://icemachinerepair.center/services/ice-machine-water-valve-and-filter-repair/) ## Follett ice machines. A Follett visit weighs how chewable ice is made and moved to the bin or the dispenser before looking at any single part. [Follett ice machine repair](https://icemachinerepair.center/brands/follett/) More Follett codes [HI AMPS](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/follett-hi-amps/) [LO WATER flashing](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/follett-lo-water-flashing/) [HI PRESSURE](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/follett-hi-pressure/) [DRAIN CLOG](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/follett-drain-clog/) [SERVICE](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/follett-service/) [TIME DELAY](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/follett-time-delay/) [Internal Water Leak Detected](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/follett-internal-water-leak-detected/) [Empty Drip Tray](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/follett-empty-drip-tray/) [Clean and Sanitize](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/follett-clean-and-sanitize/) [Filter Replacement Required](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/follett-filter-replacement-required/) Water supply on other makes [Atosa E5](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/atosa-e5/) [Blue Air E5](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/blue-air-e5/) [Hoshizaki 5 beeps](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/hoshizaki-5-beeps/) [Ice-O-Matic Error 3](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/ice-o-matic-error-3/) [KitchenAid Order Filter](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/kitchenaid-order-filter/) [Koolaire SL#1 + SL#2](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/koolaire-sl3/) [Manitowoc E20](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/manitowoc-e20/) [Marvel Er15](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/marvel-er15/) [All 26 codes of this kind](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/#family-water) Follett builds this ### Modular ice machine An ice-making head set on top of a separate storage bin or drink dispenser, cooled by air, water or a condenser on the roof, turning out hundreds of pounds of cubes a day. Follett builds this ### Undercounter ice machine A self-contained ice machine that makes and stores its own ice under a bar, a service counter or a kitchen island, from commercial units to clear-ice models in large homes. Follett builds this ### Nugget ice machine An ice machine that freezes a thin layer inside a chilled cylinder and pushes it out with an auger as soft, chewable nuggets, for clinics, offices, hotels and large homes. ## In Follett's own words > fails to detect the presence of water within 60 seconds of turning on power to the machine. [Follett Technical Bulletin TS TB 011, Solid Low Water error, Horizon Elite](https://www.follettice.com/sites/default/files/2024-12/TB11_HorElite%20Solid%20Low%20Water%20Error%20R01.pdf) [Follett Technical Bulletin TS TB 011, Solid Low Water error, Horizon Elite](https://www.follettice.com/sites/default/files/2024-12/TB11_HorElite%20Solid%20Low%20Water%20Error%20R01.pdf) [Follett Champion 7 and 15 ice and water dispenser manual](https://www.follettice.com/sites/default/files/2025-07/Iwd_IOSMan_Champion%207_15%20Series_01555127R05.pdf) Every code on this site is taken from the manufacturer's documentation, never from a forum or a parts listing. Horizon Elite (solid LED, Technical Bulletin TS TB 011), Maestro Plus (LO WATER with TIME DELAY after 10 seconds without refill) and the Champion 7 and 15 dispensers, which print Low Water on the touch screen. ## Follett LO WATER ice machine repair, where we come out. The same visit in every metro below: the code, the model number, and a diagnosis before any part is ordered. 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Check that the shut-off valve feeding the machine is fully open and the filter housing is not overdue. If it comes back, it needs a visit. ### My Follett shows LO WATER right after a water filter change. Why? Air in the new cartridge or a housing that was not fully seated can slow the refill past the time the board allows. Flush the filter as its instructions say, then cycle the machine's power once. ### Can reverse-osmosis water cause LO WATER on a Follett? Yes. Follett needs at least 10 ppm of dissolved solids for the probes to see water, and some RO systems strip nearly all of it out. ### How long does a Follett wait after LO WATER? One hour. It then tries again, and it will run once the water reaches the normal low probe. --- **[Read on the site: Follett LO WATER: the ice machine cannot find water in its reservoir](https://icemachinerepair.center/error-codes/follett-lo-water/)** **[Book a visit with IceMachineRepair.center](https://icemachinerepair.center/schedule/)**