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Is your fridge leaking water inside? or maybe even from the outside and you’re not sure? Do you open the door only to find water on the floor, or water from your freezer dripping down. What’s the solution? More importantly, what’s causing the leaking?
There’s more than one reason your fridge might be leaking. Follow this guide to learn some of the most common reasons and the right approach to repair the leak.
Some of the most common reasons your fridge might be leaking include:
- Fridge is not level (yes, this is simple but can cause leaking)
- Defrost Drain is Blocked (most cases)
- Drip Pan is Overflowing
- Water supply lines or water inlet valve cracked
And, these aren’t even all of the reasons your fridge leaking water inside is occurring.
Fridge or Freezer Leaking Water on the Floor
There are numerous causes to fridge leaking water on the floor which you might not immediately think of when you open your fridge to a pool of water.
Make sure the refrigerator is level
If the fridge isn’t level, water can’t flow to the defrost drain to exit the refrigerator.
A first step is to make sure the refrigerator is level. A visual inspection or a bubble level will do the trick. If the fridge isn’t level, you’ll remove the front grill below it, and adjust the legs or rollers.
Check the defrost drain for obstructions
If the defrost drain is blocked, your fridge will be collecting water in the freezer. Even the smallest particle, or frozen ice chips, can clog the drain line. Instead of water going down into the drain pan, it will overflow into the freezer.
Simply unclogging the drain should help resolve the issue. To remove obstructions or clogs, you can remove the drain plug at the front of the defrost drain, and run some warm water through it.
This will allow the drain to unclog and will remove any sediments, dirt, or blocked items that are causing the jam. You can also use a steamer to unclog a drain line.
But probably the best way to defrost and clean drain line is to use a STEAMER (Check this one) You can clean drain line literally in 15 min
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If water lines aren’t flowing freely, this can also contribute to the fridge leaking water on floor issue you’re dealing with at home.
If there’s a leak in the hose, this is obviously where the problem lies. In these instances, you might choose to call a repair technician to repair the leak and replace the water lines.
Read Also: Why Maytag Fridge is Leaking
check the drip pan for overflow
A final quick check if the fridge leaking water inside your home is to check the drip pan. Refer to owner’s manual for exact location on your model.
Yes, it can overflow with water, especially if it is overworking, and this can lead to leaking.
Most of the time, only a small amount of water sits in the drip pan. Empty it out from time to time. Especially in warmer months, check it frequently to ensure your fridge isn’t working too hard.
Check water Supply and water inlet valve
If you notice water behind the fridge on the floor, and possibly water damage to the sheet rock, you likely have a problem with your water supply lines or the inlet valve they attach to.
If you have recently moved the appliance, the water supply lines may have been damaged in the transition. If the appliance was left out in the extreme cold, these lines may have frozen and cracked. Regardless of the cause, your leaks will continue until these parts are replaced.
First, you’ll need to make sure that the piping is secured tightly to the water inlet. With towels handy, gently tighten the connection from the water supply to the water inlet valve. Dry the area completely and come back later to check for leaks.
If the problem is not resolved, there could be an issue with the water inlet itself. If the back of the unit was damaged during a move or other activity, this inlet could be defective. They can’t be repaired easily, and should just be replaced entirely.
Replacement valves can easily be purchased at online retailers such as Amazon. They start around $20 and go up, depending upon model number. Click here. $20 is a cheap and easy fix if your fridge is leaking. Check model number before ordering.
Note: we may receive a small commission from your purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Read Also: Why LG Fridge Leaking Water- How to Fix It
Refrigerator Leaking Water from Freezer
In the event your freezer is causing fridge leaking water inside, you’ll want to check the top portion (or bottom, depending on where the freezer’s located), to determine what’s causing the leak.
A freezer has two water sources which are:
- Defrost condensation
- The ice maker’s water line
Inspect the ice maker
- A first step to try is to open up the door and inspect the ice maker in your freezer. Move the tray and run a cycle, just to make sure it’s producing ice as it should.
If the ice maker isn’t working, is jammed, or otherwise requires repair, you might have to replace it. If the ice maker seems to be operating as it should, you might have to try an alternative fix.
Inspect the drain line
2. If the fridge and freezer are both cooling normally, a plugged drain line is likely the cause of the freezer leaking water. It will trickle down to the fridge and onto the floor.
In this case, there are likely no issues with the defrost line or timer, so you can rule this out as well. To resolve this issue, you’re going to want to
- Remove the panel covering the drain lines
- Remove ice or food particles which are clogging it
- Pour hot water down the drain and down the drain line or use a STEAMER
- This should melt the clogs and eliminate the leaks that are coming from the freezer
This should typically resolve the issue. However, if you notice that the drain line freezes over again, over the next 24 to 48 hours, you might choose an alternative once again, to resolve this problem.
defrost the fridge and freezer entirely
3. In this case, you’re going to want to unplug your fridge and freezer all together, in order to defrost it. Doing this will…
- Melt any and all ice that’s clogged
- Free up the drain lines to remove debris or dirt
- Remove any buildup in front of the condenser, or other parts which are overworking in your freezer
Once completely melted, you might choose to leave the doors open for a period of up to 24 hours after you melt and clean out the fridge and freezer. This will help to prevent mildew from forming or leaving behind harsh odors of food that may have spoiled.
If you have a fridge made by Whirlpool, Maytag, Kenmore, Kitchenaid – you probably will need this DRAIN TUBE KIT in order to solve your problem. Do not leave drain line rubber grommet!!! Change it with this new DRAIN TUBE KIT
Frigidaire Fridge Leaking Water Inside
Of course, every model of Frigidaire freezer/fridge combos are going to come with their own set of issues which may cause the freezer or fridge to leak water inside.
However, with this brand, there are some common problems which tend to arise for owners, causing the leaking.
Some of the common reasons fridge leaking water inside your Frigidaire may include:
- A clogged or freezing defrost drain
- A cracked/damaged
water filter head - Cracks or damage to the
water filter housing - Damage to the water inlet valve (which isn’t allowing water to be supplied where it should be)
- Leaks in the water tank assembly
- Improper
water filter (incorrect size) - Drain pans are overflowing (this is common with self-defrosting fridges)
Depending upon which of these issues is causing the water to leak into your fridge, the solution will vary for each. Read the following article for a detailed description of how to replace each part.
How to Repair Four Sources of Fridge Leaks
If there is damage, crack, or if the defrost drain,
If you aren’t comfortable with doing it yourself, it might be best to call a repair technician. If they can repair it, they can do so quickly. And, if there is no repair, they can quickly and easily replace the broken parts.
If it is something as simple as the drain pan overflowing, you can remove it from underneath the fridge and empty it out.
Replace filter with correct size/model filter. This is also a quick fix. Make sure to check the owner’s manual for the proper size filter, and replace the current filter with the correct one.
Samsung Fridge Leaking Water Inside
Similar to Frigidaire, there are some common issues that occur with Samsung fridges causing them to leak.
Improper size/Fit of Water Filter
One of the most common instances water leaks occur in Samsung fridges is after changing a
If it is not a proper fit or model number, this can cause leaking. To troubleshoot if this is the issue, you can perform a simple test:
Simply drain a few cups of water from the dispenser of the fridge. This will help to flush out trapped air in the system (caused during the filter replacement) which may cause dripping.
If the filter keeps dripping, it’s likely that it was incorrectly installed or isn’t the right filter size.
If the leak stops, you fixed your problem by flushing out the excess air and moisture.
Clogged Drain Line
A second most common issue causing leak, its when drain line clogged with some ice. In this case, you probably will need this SAMSUNG EVAPORATOR DRAIN CLIP ASSEMBLY
Condensation while in energy saving mode
A third common leaking issue with Samsung is in humid or warmer climates, especially with French door models.
When the unit is in energy saving mode, condensation tends to buildup on the inside the fridge.
If leaking occurs, you might choose to turn off the energy saving mode, and instead, keep the AC in the home a bit cooler. The greater the difference between the room temp and fridge temp, the more likely you are to get condensation.
This is more common in the summer months or warmer times of the year, as the fridge has to work harder to keep items cool inside.
Summary
Although this isn’t an inclusive list of the issues which might be causing leaks, these are a couple of the common issue fridge owners experience. Most solutions are fairly simple and the parts are not all that expensive.
Regardless of the fridge you own, it’s not uncommon for leaks to occur at one point in time or another, especially if your fridge is a little older.
If the leak is beyond repair, or isn’t as simple as it looks at the onset, consider hiring a repair technician to visit your home. It might be worth it to replace the broken parts. An appliance repairman will be able to give you an honest estimate if it is worth your time and money to replace/repair.
Please be sure to recycle your old appliances and dispose of them in a manner friendly with the environment.
