Why Is Your Refrigerator Leaking Water (and How to Fix It)
Keeping your refrigerator running normally requires minimal effort. If you clean up any food spills or dirt and periodically check the seal to make sure there’s no cold air leaking through it, you’ll usually be in good shape.
But like any other appliance, your refrigerator may experience problems from time to time that require attention from you or a professional technician. For example, one day you may come into the kitchen and find a puddle of water on the floor in front of the refrigerator. Upon closer inspection, you determine that it’s not a spill or a melted ice cube: it’s a leak coming from the bottom of the refrigerator.
This is a relatively common problem, and in some (but not all) cases there is a relatively simple DIY solution. But before you try to stop the leak, you need to figure out what’s causing it. I enlisted the help of an appliance repair specialist to get advice on fixing refrigerator leaks and why you shouldn’t ignore them.
Why is water flowing from the bottom of the refrigerator?
After working as an appliance technician for over nine years, Jason Carter has discovered that most refrigerator leaks can be attributed to one of three common problems: a clogged water line, a clogged defrost drain, or an improperly leveled refrigerator. Here’s what Carter, who is also the founder of Simply Swider , a website that provides expert advice on DIY appliance repairs and other home maintenance tasks, recommends doing to determine the source of your refrigerator leak:
Step 1: Deal with the defrost drain
Typically located at the back of the freezer, the defrost drain often becomes clogged with food particles or debris. “Look for ice buildup or clogs and clear any clogs by using warm water in a turkey baster to melt the ice,” advises Carter. “If the clog is deep, you may have to access the hose and disconnect it by moving the refrigerator.”
Step 2: Inspect the Water Line
If you don’t find any ice buildup or clogs—or you do, but removing them doesn’t stop the leak—it’s time to move on to the second most common culprit: the plumbing (if you have one). .
Refrigerators with a water dispenser or ice maker also have running water; refrigerators without these features do not. Here’s what to do if you have running water:
“Turn off the refrigerator and water supply, then inspect the line for damage or ice blockages,” says Carter. “Damaged lines will need to be replaced, possibly by a technician.” Ice clogs are easier to fix: simply defrost your refrigerator for a few hours to solve the problem.
Step 3: Check Level
Finally, make sure your refrigerator is level. According to Carter, if your refrigerator is not level, it can cause condensation to form, accumulate and leak.
But don’t worry if you place a level on the refrigerator and notice that the bubble isn’t exactly in the center: According to Carter, the front of the refrigerator should be slightly higher than the back. This ensures proper circulation of the internal coolant. If the front of your refrigerator isn’t raised slightly, Carter recommends adjusting the legs to achieve the right balance.
When to Call a Home Appliance Technician
Of course, if at any point you feel like you’re not doing well, stop what you’re doing and seek professional help. “If you don’t have experience with DIY repairs, it’s best not to attempt them and call a technician right away,” says Carter. “You could potentially do more harm than good.”
On the other hand, if you feel comfortable doing DIY repairs but need more advice and instructions, Carter suggests turning to online resources. “I would recommend joining Facebook groups where there are experienced repairmen who can offer free remote assistance to help identify the problem,” he says. “Keep in mind that the most difficult task is often determining the cause of the problem. If you have experience with DIY repairs, you can also find tutorials on YouTube as there are plenty of them out there.”
Why You Should Never Ignore a Leaking Refrigerator
Aside from the inconvenience and dangers of having a constant puddle of water on your kitchen floor, there are other reasons why your leaking refrigerator needs immediate attention. First, it can damage the floor, causing stains, warping or mold growth, Carter says. “In the long term, this can significantly reduce the life of the appliance, leading to corrosion and rusting of internal components,” he says. “Consequently, more costly repairs or even complete replacement may become inevitable.”