You depend on your fridge to deliver consistent performance that keeps food fresh and cool, which can make problems with your appliance all the more frustrating. When used and maintained per your owner’s manual, refrigerator leaks are rare. If your fridge is leaking water, it’s important to make necessary repairs as soon as possible.
There are several reasons why your fridge may be leaking water, such as age, improper installation and inappropriate usage. Learn more about possible causes behind refrigerator leaks, as well as helpful tips on how to fix a leaking refrigerator.
1. Water leaking from the fresh food compartment
Many people have the habit of buying food in bulk for the whole week and storing it in the refrigerator. This can accidentally block the ventilation of the fresh food compartment, leading to a long time to cool. Furthermore, if those foods are thoroughly washed to remove dirt but not drained before being put in the refrigerator, this will also cause water to leak and affect other food.
It is easy to solve this. Please remember to drain or use paper towels to dry the food before putting it in the refrigerator. In addition, you can you plastic wrap or put the food in a zip bag. Besides, arrange food neatly and avoid overloading the refrigerator compartment.
2. Water leaking from the freezer compartment
In this case, check to see if overloading the food accidentally blocks the ventilation of the freezer compartment. Another reason could be that you are careless in closing the freezer door. Believe it or not, but a freezer door that doesn’t seal properly can lead to leaks, should the freezer reach melting temperatures. Check your door gaskets and seals for cracks and tears. If you find them, you’ll need to replace the gaskets. At the same time, you should also place food in the freezer neatly.
3. Check Defrost Drain
The defrost drain is typically located at the back of a freezer and can get easily blocked due to having a stuffed freezer. When that drain gets blocked, the coils start working harder and that can lead to condensation building up. That condensation will fall to the floor and form a puddle. To remedy it, rearrange your freezer so the drain is no longer blocked. Then flush warm water through the drain to clear any clogs.
4. Inspect Ice Maker
The inlet tube that goes to the ice maker can also be a source for a leaky fridge if it becomes clogged. First, unplug your fridge before removing the ice maker. To take a look at it, unscrew the screws, then unplug the wiring harness. Grab a hairdryer to melt any ice in the inlet tube until water stops dripping from the tube.