A refrigerator leaking water on the floor can be an electric shock and slipping hazard. This issue needs to be fixed immediately to avoid causing injury. There are different areas a water leak will be coming from on your refrigerator. Knowing where the leak is coming from will help you to diagnose what could be wrong with your fridge.
A rear water leak usually means the ice maker or water line is at fault. A leak coming from the front of the refrigerator usually means that a drain tube is clogged. A leak from the very bottom center of the refrigerator usually is caused by the drain pan having a crack or not being in the proper position. A water leak inside your refrigerator will usually occur if the drain line from the defroster is routed on the inside of your refrigerator.
Since there are many different types of refrigerators, these troubleshooting tips and ideas will help you to get to the root of the problem and you may need to do a little bit of further research to fix the problem. Consulting your refrigerator owners manual will assist in fixing your specific model.
1. Fix water leak from front of lower refrigerator:
This usually means that your refrigerator is a self defrosting model and the drain line has become clogged. The easiest way to fix this is to unplug the fridge, remove the front plastic guard on the front of the fridge. Once removed there should be a plastic tray that slides out. Search for the end of the drain line. Once found put the end of the drain in an empty bucket.
Next remove the top portion of the drain tube. Inspect for any chunks of ice that can be clogging the line. If ice is found, run the area of the line with ice under hot water to melt it. Once the clog is removed, reinstall the drain line and check periodically for leaks.
2. Repair water leaking from very bottom of refrigerator:
This usually means that there is a hole or crack in the bottom drain pan. The drain pan could also be positioned wrong so the water is going directly on the floor. NOTE: Some refrigerators have the drain pan (condensate pan) mounted directly on the compressor. The drain pan catches any water that may be leaking downward from the fridge. When water is on the floor, fix this by doing a visual inspection on the drain pan making sure there are no cracks or holes.
Be sure to make sure it is positioned correctly if it is not mounted to the compressor. Excessive humidity can create more water going into the drain pan. When water enters the drain pan, it will evaporate from the heat the refrigerator is producing below and you will never even notice there is water there. So, if you find water under the drain pan, just make sure it not damaged. Check periodically to be sure the leak has stopped.
3. Fix water that is leaking from back rear of the refrigerator:
A rear water leak on your fridge will almost always mean the water valve or water line is leaking. To fix this, unplug the refrigerator and check the water line coming from the wall to the fridge. Also check the water line that goes from the bottom of the fridge and then enters the back of the freezer. The solenoid that opens and closes the water valve can also be leaking.
Another leak can occur on the valve in the wall that turns the water on and off for the ice maker and water dispenser. If you have a water filter installed on the water line, check to be sure the connections are tight. Check anywhere that water flows and be sure there are no holes in the water line. Also check to be sure a water line has not pulled out and is leaking directly onto the floor. If holes are found, replace the water line.
4. Repair water leak on inside of refrigerator:
This will usually mean that the drain line from the defroster is routed inside the fridge and it is clogged. Most drain line outlets are located behind the refrigerator crisper drawers. Remove the 2 drawers and look for the drain line outlet. Once found get a mirror and try to look inside the top of the drain outlet. Inspect for anything that may be clogging it.
If nothing is found, remove the drain line from the other end so you can pour hot water into the outlet and it will come out of the drain line on the other side. This should remove any junk that may be clogging the line. You can also use a mini plumbers snake to make this easier. If you do not have this then a hard long piece of wire can be used. Once the clog is removed put everything back together and periodically check for leaks.
