GE refrigerators can sometimes suffer from a leak, just like any other fridge on the market. However, where the leak comes from will tell you a lot about what’s causing it. If your GE fridge is leaking water onto the floor, you’ll want to read this guide to the end.
When a GE fridge leaks water onto the floor, it’s likely because of a damaged water inlet valve, clogged or frozen defrost drain, or a cracked drain pan. When melting any ice buildups, be sure to use hot water and not heat guns or hair dryers that will damage the fridge’s plastic parts.
This guide will guide you through the necessary troubleshooting steps to resolve this issue.
How To Fix GE Refrigerator Water Leak?
The solution you need to fix your leaking GE refrigerator will depend on the exact cause. This section will explore three most likely causes: a damaged water inlet valve, a clogged or frozen defrost drain, and a cracked drain pan.
Damaged Water Inlet Valve
What it is: Your GE refrigerator has a water inlet valve that it uses to control all incoming water. You’ll find this valve located at the back of your fridge, connected to your household waterline.
The water inlet valve is a mechanical component that the fridge controls mechanically. When the refrigerator needs water, it signals the valve to open. That water will then flow towards the water dispenser and ice maker.
Once the fridge senses enough water inside, it will signal the water inlet valve to close. That will prevent the refrigerator from overfilling or overflowing with water.
How it fails: When you find water leaking onto the floor around the refrigerator, it’s likely because a part of the water inlet valve is damaged. For example, water will leak through a crack in the valve and flow downwards onto the floor.
That kind of damage likely happens when the fridge is pushed too hard against the wall behind it. When that happens, the valve experiences enough impact to cause a crack.
How to fix it: A damaged and leaking water inlet valve cannot be repaired, so you must replace it with a new one. To do that, first shut off the fridge’s power and water supplies so you can work safely.
The exact location of the valve will depend on your fridge model and design. However, you’re likely to find it concealed behind a panel at the back of the fridge, close to the ground.
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Firstly, you must remove that panel to uncover the valve. Then, disconnect all hoses attached to the valve.
Next, unthread the screws that mount the valve to the fridge’s frame. That will free the existing water inlet valve.
Then, mount the new valve onto the fridge frame and reattach the hoses you removed earlier.
Read: Why My Refrigerator Keeps Running And It Does Not Turn Off?
Clogged or Frozen Defrost Drain
What it is: Several times a day, your GE refrigerator goes through a defrost cycle that melts away any buildup of frost and ice. As that cycle runs, those buildups will melt, and the water must be carried away.
That’s why GE fridges, like many other brands, come standard with a built-in defrost drain that allows the water to flow to the drain pan, where it will then evaporate.
The drain is located towards the back of the fridge compartment, where it’s likely concealed behind a faceplate.
How it fails: The defrost drain line can get clogged or frozen quite quickly. For example, dust and food bits could get into the defrost drain and block any water from passing through.
Besides that, it’s also common for the defrost drain to become frozen. When the defrost cycle is running, the water that enters the drain is close to freezing temperature. So, that water can freeze up and block the drain.
Worst still, the defrost drain doesn’t have a heater of its own. So, any frozen water inside it will stay frozen until you melt it away manually.
Water will build up inside the fridge compartment when the drain is blocked and leak out onto the floor.
How to fix it: A clogged or frozen defrost drain needs to be cleaned manually. Depending on your GE fridge model, you might have to remove the fridge contents, shelves, and the faceplate at the back to access the defrost drain.
Once there, start by removing any water that might still be built up around the defrost drain. You can do so by soaking all of it up using a towel.
Then, remove any large food bits or other debris that might be blocking the drain hole. If you notice that the hole is frozen, then you’ll need to use hot water to gradually melt the ice buildup away.
You can apply the hot water with a turkey baster, syringe, or similar items you might have at home.
Avoid using any heating tools like heat guns or hairdryers. Those tools shoot a concentrated blast of heat that will warp and melt the plastic parts of your fridge.
Read: Top Reasons Why Fridge Is Making Ice But Not Dispensing Water
Cracked Drain Pan
What it is: As you’ve seen above, your refrigerator runs a defrost cycle regularly to remove any buildup of frost and ice. That defrost cycle produces water that flows down the defrost drain and into a drain pan.
The drain pan collects and holds all of that water which will then evaporate naturally after a few hours.
How it fails: The drain pan is the final step in the defrost water’s journey as it pools and gradually evaporates. However, a cracked or otherwise damaged drain pan will send that water dripping straight onto your kitchen floor.
As a result, you’ll see that water leaks from the bottom of your fridge and flooding the rest of the space.
How to fix it: The cracked drain pan must be replaced with a new one. Firstly, you’ll have to locate the existing drain pan at the lowest part of the refrigerator. So, you might have to remove a front or rear panel to access the pan.
Next, slide the existing pan out. Careful, though, as it might still have lots of water on it.
Lastly, slide the new evaporator drain pan into place and replace any panels you removed earlier.
Read: Why Is Fridge Making Rattling, Humming Or Buzzing Noise?
Why GE Refrigerator Drain Keeps Freezing Up?
Unfortunately, it’s normal for the drain in your GE refrigerator to keep freezing up. There are two main reasons for this:
- The water produced by the defrost cycle is still close to freezing temperature. So, it often turns to frost or ice when it flows into the drain.
- Refrigerator drains like your GE unit doesn’t have a heating element inside. Unfortunately, that means there is nothing there to prevent the water from freezing or remove any frost or ice buildup.
Although less likely, another possibility is that the defrosting cycle in your GE refrigerator isn’t complete.
The defrosting cycle in your fridge happens at least once a day for a fixed period to melt away any frost and ice buildup. However, that cycle isn’t long enough to melt away any massive ice buildups.
As a result, the water that flows through the drain will quickly frost and turn to ice, causing the drain to freeze up entirely.
Read: Your Refrigerator Freezing Food? Here Is How To Fix It
Why GE Monogram Refrigerator Leaking Water From Top?
When you notice water leaking from the top of a GE Monogram fridge, it’s likely because its vaporizer pan has a crack that’s letting water flow out.
GE Monogram refrigerators are built-in units with a different design than other models. The fridge’s compressor and other components are located at the top of the refrigerator.
Also, in that area on top is a part called the vaporizer pan. Similar to the drain pan we explored above, the vaporizer pan is designed to collect water which will then evaporate into the air naturally.
You can fix this problem by replacing the vaporizer pan. However, a short-term solution would be to use epoxy to seal that crack and prevent at least some of the water from leaking out.
Read: Does Fridge Need To Be Level And Why?
Where Is The Defrost Drain On A GE Profile Refrigerator?
The defrost drain on a GE Profile refrigerator is concealed behind a faceplate on the back of the fridge compartment.
You can access the defrost drain by removing all of the contents in the fridge and sliding out the shelves. Then, you’ll need to unthread three screws (two at the bottom and one at the top) to free the faceplate.
When you remove the faceplate, only do so by a few inches. You must also remove the wire harness connecting it to the fridge.