Why Is My Fridge Leaking?
Get to the bottom of a fridge leak
Highlights
Most causes of fridge leaks can be fixed easily.
The configuration of items inside your freezer can affect performance.
If leaking is caused by a frozen blockage, you may need to unplug your refrigerator until the ice melts.
The color of the water coming from your fridge could offer clues into the leak's origin.
Why is my fridge leaking? While the sight of dripping water in your kitchen may have your jaw dropping, a leaking fridge isn't necessarily a sign of a catastrophic issue. A little troubleshooting can often help you find a simple fix. Use these tips to diagnose the cause of a fridge leak easily.
1. Blocked Defrost Drain
Is your freezer stuffed to the brim? It's possible that items stacked in your freezer are blocking a component called the defrost drain. The defrost drain in most refrigerators is located on the interior of the appliance's backside. When this drain is clogged, its coils will collect condensation until water begins leaking on the floor surrounding the refrigerator. You should have this potential cause on your radar if your leak began soon after you stacked items in your freezer following a grocery haul.
The easiest fix in this case is to simply remove any freezer items that are blocking the drain clog. You can usually just rearrange items until air is able to flow freely through the drain. It generally takes 24 to 48 hours for leaking to stop once you've rearranged your freezer.
If puddling persists after playing musical chairs with your frozen items, it's not time to rule out a clogged freezer drain just yet! Small crumbs and ice particles could also be behind your clog. In order to rule out these tiny culprits, a DIY flushing is in order.
The hardest part of this otherwise simple fix is that you'll need to find a way to transfer food from your refrigerator and freezer to another fridge or cooler because your main unit will be unplugged. Once your refrigerator is empty and unplugged, remove the drain hole over your defrost drain to flush the component with warm water using a funnel or baster. This should allow air to flow again.
2. Blocked Water Line
It's probably not just a coincidence if your refrigerator's ice machine or water dispenser stopped working at around the same time you noticed a puddle of water spreading from under your refrigerator. This is a sign of a blocked or damaged water line. Almost every modern refrigerator has a water line that serves as the water source for the water filter and ice maker.
After unplugging your refrigerator, pull it away from the wall to look for a plastic hose. If the hose is dripping, it needs to be replaced. If the hose appears to be intact, this could mean that you need to let the refrigerator remain unplugged for up to five hours to allow an ice blockage to melt. Unlike a garbage disposal that's leaking from the bottom, a fridge that's leaking from the bottom probably doesn't need to be replaced.
3. Tilted Refrigerator
Floors can sag over time as homes settle. The weight of a heavy refrigerator can accelerate sagging in your kitchen floor. This is why it's wise to confirm that your fridge is level if you notice a puddle forming under it. While the doors on an unlevel fridge will often have trouble staying shut, this clue doesn't always accompany leaking.
An unlevel refrigerator is actually a problem long before it causes leaking. Temperature fluctuations created by even the slightest amount of tilting can cause food to spoil. Once the tilting gets to a point where coolant can no longer flow, you'll get condensation and leaking.
The easiest way to check if your fridge leak is caused by a tilted refrigerator is to confirm that the appliance is level. You can do this by placing a level straight across the top of the fridge. Most refrigerator manuals include instructions for how to adjust the legs to be level. Always use a helper when adjusting the positioning of your fridge for safety's sake!
4. Oil Leak
If your fridge is leaking brown liquid, this is a sign of an oil leak. An oil leak in a fridge is usually caused by a compressor failure. A refrigerator compressor keeps refrigerant circulating.
While a compressor doesn't actually need oil to run, it contains oil-based lubricants that help to slow down wear and tear. Tiny cracks will cause these lubricants to turn black after mixing with oxygen in the air. This is the cause of the alarming black sludge that you might see trickling out from the undercarriage of your fridge. While cracks can sometimes be repaired with sealant, it's usually time to replace your compressor if you're seeing oil marks.
What to Do If You Have a Fridge Leak
Mopping up the water, crossing your fingers, and hoping that the moisture won't return is not an option if you want to do this the right way! Start by investigating the common causes of fridge leaks above. If you still need more answers, contact local fridge repair experts. The average cost for a fridge repair ranges from $40 to $350. If you've had to foot the bill for coolant leak repair costs for your home's cooling system in the past, you'll be glad to know that swapping out a refrigerator hose often costs much less.
How to Prevent Fridge Leaks
Once you've taken care of a leak, you'll be eager to avoid ever having a puddle in your kitchen again. Luckily, some simple fridge maintenance tips can keep water away. The tips below can help you to keep your refrigerator chugging along.
Avoid Overstuffing Your Freezer
It's common for fridge leaks to occur after large grocery hauls. Lining your freezer's back wall with stacked food can throttle the defrost drain. Be methodical about placing items in the freezer. If you routinely have trouble shutting the freezer door, consider purchasing a backup freezer that you keep in a garage or basement.
Level Your Refrigerator
If you're bringing a new refrigerator home, make sure to check that it's level after installation. You should also confirm that an existing refrigerator is level if you're moving into a new place. While a fridge should never have any side tilt, your owner's manual will probably instruct you to position the front of the fridge slightly higher than the back to achieve a proper door seal.
Defrost Your Freezer
A freezer should be defrosted at least once annually. A big defrosting helps to eliminate frost buildup that can lead to clogs and leaks. Routine defrosting also helps to boost a fridge's efficiency.