Five Reasons Your Refrigerator May Be Leaking (and How to Fix It)
If you notice water dripping from or pooling underneath your refrigerator, there is no need to panic (right away). There are some basic troubleshooting steps you can take to diagnose the problem, and you may even be able to fix it yourself. If your refrigerator is leaking, here are five problems to look out for before calling a professional, and how to fix them before the trickle becomes a deluge.
Door seal damaged
Your refrigerators have a large rubberized gasket that seals the outside edges of the door and maintains proper humidity inside the refrigerator. If it is dirty, cracked or damaged, it can allow air to flow between the inside and outside of the refrigerator, causing water to condense in that area. You can usually remove the old gasket using a Phillips screwdriver or hex wrench. Check your refrigerator’s model number online to find the correct replacement gasket. You can install a new one by inserting it into the groove on the edge of the door and replacing the fasteners holding it in place.
Cracked pallet
In some cases, a cracked pan may be the culprit. You can check the drip tray by removing the front grille of the refrigerator at the bottom, usually by unfastening or unscrewing it. The drip tray will be located under the refrigerator, behind the grill, and can be pulled out once the grill is free. If your tray is cracked, you should use the model number to find the correct replacement part for your refrigerator, and then you can insert the replacement and replace the grill.
The ice dispenser is clogged
If your ice dispenser is leaking, there is likely ice stuck in the chute; this ice will melt over time and drip slowly. If the gutter is truly jammed, future ice will also get stuck inside, causing a leak. To fix this, let the clogged shoot thaw for a few hours before trying to use it again. If there is no ice in the gutter, you should look for problems with the water line.
Worn out water pipes
Sometimes your refrigerator’s plumbing can become damaged or simply wear out over time. The first step to solving this problem is to inspect the hoses on the back of the refrigerator to see if there are any visible kinks or cracks. Also check areas near the valves to make sure the connectors are tight. If you find damaged hoses or valves, you can find replacement parts for most systems online or at a hardware store. To avoid an even larger leak, turn off the water before removing damaged tubing or dealing with kinks in the line. Be sure to measure the required hose length to ensure sufficient length during installation, and always check connections before turning the water back on.
Ice on the defrost drain
Sometimes ice can accumulate in your refrigerator’s defrost drain, causing the moisture to find another outlet. Locate the defrost drain at the bottom of the freezer, toward the back, to check if there is any ice clogged there. In this case, you can clean it using a mixture of two cups of hot water and two tablespoons of baking soda. Use a turkey baster to squirt drain cleaner into the drain at the back of the appliance and you’ll see the ice melt pretty quickly.