If you have a fridge at home then you must have faced the problem of a leaky fridge at some point. I think we all must have gone through that problem at least once. This can be very annoying and dangerous at the same time. And when this leakage happens you immediately start to think how much the repair guy is going to charge now.
That is why you need to educate yourself about the reasons that are behind this kind of leakage. Usually, this kind of leakage happens because of a clogged fridge drain or faulty water inlet valve or broken ice maker or clogged ice maker fill tube, or some other good old reason.
So if you educate yourself in detecting those problem areas you may as well find a solution by yourself without calling for help all the time.
Why Is My Fridge Leaking Water Inside?
There are various reasons why your fridge might be leaking. So if you want to identify those problems then stick around to troubleshoot the top reasons.
Fridge drain
The first place you need to look at is the fridge drain if your fridge is leaking. Here the water empties during the defrost cycle. So look at the rear of the fridge behind the back panel if it’s frozen up or clogged. Because of e then the water won’t be able to drain. This will cause the water to build up and leak out the bottom of the door. Do make sure there is no ice or food clogged up on the drain.
Water inlet valve
The next thing you need to inspect is the water inlet valve. It regulates the water going into the fridge. These valves have solenoids that open and close to send water to the ice maker and dispenser so if there is any leaking check the outing or compression fitting where one of the water line plug-ins has failed or the body is cracked.
Ice maker
There are several different styles of ice makers. So if it’s leaking, check it to make sure the fill tube is going into the ice maker and that the ice maker is mounted properly. If it’s not mounted straight, the water will seep through and overflow. You should also check the plastic flex trays as they can crack causing a water leak out.
Water filter assembly
Depending upon your design the water filter assembly is made up of a water filter or a water filter head or a water filter housing. It’s usually in the fresh food section or down by the kick panel. If you notice water pooling underneath the assembly then take out the filter and check for any cracks or damage that can be causing the leak.
Ice maker fill tube
It’s a tube that attaches the water supply line to the ice maker to fill the cup. It’s unusually mounted on the outside of the fridge and his through the back wall to the inside and sits in the ice maker to fill the cup. If it’s cracked on the outside of the refrigerator water will run down the water supply line and leak onto the floor. If it’s vandalized on the inside water can leak forcing ice to build up under the fill tube.
Water tank
It holds water inside the fridge is you can have cold water from its dispenser. If it’s leaking you’ll get water on the bottom of the refrigerator. So if it’s leaking inspect it inside out.
Drain pan
They are made of plastic. As they are exposed to heat over time they can crack allowing water to leak out. They are usually located in the back of the refrigerator behind the access panel. If there is any leakage pull the pan out and inspect it for damage.
Water lines and connectors
They carry water throughout the refrigerator. There are diverse water lines and connectors throughout the whole refrigerator. If you’re getting a leak in a certain area and you’ve already checked everything else you should look at the lines and connectors.
3 Easy Steps To Know How To Fix Fridge Leaking Water Inside
If your refrigerator is collecting water at the bottom of the fridge and leaking onto the floor then there are a couple of reasons that are causing the leak. There is most probably something wrong with the defrost cycle. So to fix this problem follow the steps down below:
Step 1
First, unplug the fridge from the wall or at the circuit breaker. Wait for the defrost cycle to begin and check if the water is coming from there. If yes, then the drain tube must be clogged up. Remove the control panel which is held by a few screws and a wire harness connector.
Step 2
So test the drip channel with water from the faucet and if it comes out easily then the problem is not here. Then check the drain tube strap as most problems can occur here. Remove the flexible drain tube and try to clean it nicely to remove any clogs inside. Also, you can use a flexible wire which you can run through the drain tube, just in case there is something else stuck inside. After cleaning the tube reinstall it.
Step 3
Next check the drip channel. If the water flow is not correct in there then you have to fix it. If the water sticks to the wall and rolls down at the bottom then you can use an old plastic badge. Wedge it in between the defrost chute and the interior wall of the fridge. It would act as a separation wall and it should prevent water from sticking and rolling down the interior of the fridge. Hopefully, this will solve the leaking issue.
Why Is My Fridge Leaking Water Inside The Top Shelf?
You’ll first notice the problem because there’s a puddle of water underneath your refrigerator door. So before you jump to a conclusion you need to pull out the top shelf drawer and the bottom one. If you see a sheet of ice you need to scrap that out too. Because when you’ll look inside there will be a small pan down there.
This pan can handle a little bit of water but if too much goes down here and it fills up completely it’ll freeze up flat and cover that area. So when any new water hits that ice it’ll roll across and drip right out onto the floor.
To fix this problem you need to fix the root cause of the problem which is mostly a clogged drain line. Pull the refrigerator out, unplug it, take off the back cover plate with six screws, and look under the drain line. The drain will be the largest diameter plastic pipe under there. Everything else will be either metal or a thin plastic water feed line.
A good indication that you’ve found the problem is that, the drip tray down there will be completely bone dry. Pull that drain line off and make sure it’s not clogged. This problem may also happen if there is an ice clog behind the plastic panel on the top shelf.
To get that off you have to take off the icemaker and the side rails. To get the ice maker the rest of the way out, just give a good squeeze to the electrical connector and the back panel. There will be a drain hole under the cooling unit. If the drain hole is clogged or covered with ice this can cause this leaking problem as well. So all you need to do is clean out the ice and the drain tube. Now you can just reinstall all the parts back together.
Why Is My Refrigerator Leaking Water On The Floor?
Usually, a leaky refrigerator happens if you have a clogged freezer drain. So the first place you need to look at is the freezer drain it’s where the water drains out during the defrost cycle. The freezer drain is normally found in the rear of the freezer, behind the back panel. If it has frozen up or blocked, water won’t be able to deplete.
This will push water to build up and leak out at the bottom of the door or it will leak into the fresh food compartment. This may also force the bottom of the freezer to ice up. So follow the steps to solve this leaking problem:
- Once you have access to the drain you have to inspect it to make sure no ice or food is clogging it up
- If it’s clogged, you just need to remove the blockage but if it’s iced up you’ll have to either leave the unit unplug to defrost or pour hot water down the drain to clear it
- Also if you have one, inspect the drain tube that goes from the cabinet to the evaporator pan to make sure it’s not clogged up
- Once you have cleared everything out in there you can now put the fridge back together
Why Is My Mini Fridge Leaking Water Inside
If your mini fridge has started to leak all of a sudden then you need to check the drain line in the first place. But if your drain line is not clogged then the next probable reason must be a faulty water inlet valve. If controls the water going into the refrigerator.
Water inlet valves have solenoids that open and close to send water to the icemaker and dispenser. They’re normally found at the back of the fridge behind the access panel but can also be found inside the fresh food compartment. If you are getting water leaking on the floor at the back of the machine:
- It could be that 0-ring or compression fitting where one of the water lines plugs in has failed or the body is cracked.
- Anytime you have to leak from a connection point wherever it is in the fridge you can remove and receipt the line to see if that fixes the problem. if not, then the o-ring or compression fitting must have fallen.
- There is a diaphragm inside the water valve under each solenoid. If it’s damaged in any way this could let the water seep through
- If it’s leaking through the ice maker solenoid it could cause the water to be pushed up the eater line either causing the icemaker fill tube to freeze up or if bad enough to drip inside the freezer
- If it’s seeping through the dispenser solenoid you’ll get water dripping from that area
- If the valve has failed in any of those routes you’ll have to substitute the whole thing
Whirlpool Refrigerator Leaking Water Inside
If your Whirlpool refrigerator is leaking water inside you should check the model and serial number that will be inside the door on the left-hand side. Through this number, you can check any specific recommendations on their official website for this problem. But if you don’t have any luck you can give us our DIY hack a try to resolve this issue.
If your fridge has an ice market then you have to look inside that. This part makes the ice for you. There are many distinct styles of ice makers. The most popular kind is the half moon style and the flex tray style. They both work the same way. They have a won’t I’m section that controls the cycles of the ice makers and a tray where the ice is made.
Location
Ice makers can be located in several different places depending on your model of Whirlpool refrigerator. Usually, they are located in the freezer but n some models they can be located in the fresh food section.
Solution
If it’s leaking the first thing that you have to do is check to make sure the fill tube is going into the ice maker and that the ice maker is mounted properly. If it’s not ascended level the water will go to one end and stream.
The next thing to have to check is the plastic trays. These plastic flex trays can crack and cause water to leak out. On the half moon-style ice makers, the mold itself can crack on a road and let water through. On some ice makers, you can adjust the size of the cubes which turns the water off sooner.
If you have an adjustment screw you have to take the cover off and turn the screw clockwise to make the cubes smaller. Only rotate it in short increments at a time. You may have to do it a couple of times to see if it works. If it does work great, otherwise you’ll have to look at the control section.
If the control section has gone terribly it could affect the ice maker not to drop the cubes. So the next time it goes to fill it overflows. Or up the connections inside that turn the water on or fail to result in the water being on for too long and overflowing. Depending upon the size you have you may be able to buy the parts individually. Otherwise, you may have to substitute the whole assemblage.
Samsung Fridge Leaking Water Inside
For this problem, you have to check out the water filter assembly. It purifies the water as it comes inside the fridge. Depending upon your strategy the water filter assembly is built of a water filter and either a water filter head or a water filter housing.
Location
The assemblage is usually encountered inside the fresh food compartment or down by the kick panel.
Symptoms
If you notice water pooling underneath the assembly you’ll have to take out the filter and check for any damage that can be causing a leak. Also, check the o-rings on the end of the filter.
Solution
If it’s still leaking you have to take the filter back out and inspect the head or housing whichever you have to make sure it’s not cracked or damaged. You can also check to see if your lines are removable and try to reseat them. If you witness the filter or housing is impaired or still dripping you’ll need to change out the damaged part.
Frigidaire Refrigerator Leaking Water On The Floor
If your Frigidaire refrigerator is leaking and left a puddle of water outside on your floor then we would recommend you to inspect the icemaker fill tube through which water flows to get to the ice maker.
Types
There are many different styles of icemaker fill tubes depending on the model, but they all work the same way. It’s a superficial tube that links the water supply line to the icemaker fill cup.
Location
It’s usually mounted from the outside of the fridge and goes through the back wall to the inside and sits in the icemaker fill cup.
Symptoms
If it’s decrypted on the outside of the refrigerator, water will run down the water supply line and leak onto the floor. If it’s harmed on the inside water can dribble underneath it causing ice to build up under the fill tube.
Solution
If it’s sabotaged you’ll have to substitute it.
Water In The Bottom Of The Fridge Under Vegetable Drawers
If to notice water coming out from the vegetable drawers or a puddle of water underneath the drawers just sitting around and leaking then you must check the drain pan towards the water defrost cycle.
There are many different styles of drain pans and they are usually made out of plastic. Because they are exposed to heat over time they can crack allowing water to leak out. They are usually located in the back of the refrigerator behind the access panel but can also be located in front behind the kick plate.
If you have water leaking from that area you can pull the pan out and inspect it for damage. If the pan is impaired you’ll have to supersede it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is a fridge leaking water dangerous?
If your fridge is leaking water outside on your floor then it can be dangerous and fatal accidents can also happen. As there is a big chance that you or anyone in your family can slip on that water and get hurt. There is also a great chance to get electrocuted from that water. If you have kids at home then you need to be very more cautious about these issues and get your fridge fixed as soon as possible.
How do you fix a refrigerator that leaks water inside?
If your refrigerator is leaking from inside then there is a good possibility that the drain line has clogged up or there is ice buildup over the drain line. So let your fridge defrost and clean up the drain line and the drain tube at the back to remove any clogs. If there is an ice build-up inside the drain line then you can use a hairdryer to melt that ice and release all that pressure.
Where is the defrost drain on a refrigerator?
The defrost drain is usually located in the rear of the back panel. If it has iced up or clogged then water won’t be able to exhaust.
How do you unclog a refrigerator drain tube?
You can use a dredge to unclog the drain tube. Just insert it into the drain hole repeatedly to brush and then inject hot water to melt the ice and it will extract the deposited garbage made of stainless steel. It is 1.5 meters long and comes with four matching tools.
How do you unclog a freezer drain?
To unclog the freezer drain you need to unclog it and melt the ice that’s inside the hole by pouring in hot water or just using a hairdryer.
Final Verdict
A leaky refrigerator can be annoying for anyone and we all know how expensive it can be if we call someone for a repair. That is why in this article we’ve tried to explain all kinds of possible problems and their probable solutions so that you can at least identify the problem and do the minimal repair yourself.
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