Is your fridge leaking? If so, then there are a lot of things that could be causing this.
You are not alone, many homeowners and renters experience their fridge leaking at some point.
It can be an incredibly frustrating situation — especially if you’re worried about having to call an expert to fix the fridge, and the final price of the bill.
What’s even more stressful, is the chance that you might need to purchase a new refrigerator.
The good news is, you may not need to call an expert and even better news — you may not need to replace your refrigerator.
Some of the reasons that the fridge leaks water are very solvable. This means that it should be pretty easy to fix, even by yourself.
Before you decide to call an expert or decide to purchase a new fridge, you should rule out some of the common ways that fridges leak water.
A very common reason that fridges leak water is due to a cracked seal, but there are lots of different reasons that we will discuss.
Of course, it might be that your fridge is genuinely damaged, and you will need to call an expert or get a new fridge.
However, it’s worth your time to check to see if you can fix your fridge yourself before you spend any unnecessary money.
Make Sure Your Fridge Is Properly Sealed
A very common cause of a fridge “leaking”, isn’t actually a leak, at all.
Instead, it could be the direct result of your fridge not sealing properly.
If your fridge is running overtime, then it’s going to build up condensation on the coils. This condensation produces water to fall on the floor, which is why you might think your fridge is leaking.
In order to check if this is your problem, you will need to inspect the rubber door seals that are on your fridge.
You should also check the seals on the freezer section too (we will discuss more fridge-freezer issues later). Make sure that the seal has not cracked, and is not lifted.
If you notice that you have an issue, then all you need to do is wash the seal with warm water, and a bit of soap.
After that, you need to apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to the coil. This will help ‘seal’ the seal.
If you still have an issue after this, then it’s likely that the gaskets need replacing. In this case, you will likely need to contact an expert, as replacing a gasket is not particularly easy.
Don’t Forget To Check The Drain Pan
Cracked or damaged drain pans are common issues with fridges.
Your fridge is always draining water into the drain pan. The purpose of the drain pan is to make sure that water does not collect in the fridge. Instead, it collects in the drain pan, where it is evaporated.
If you are noticing leaks, it could be that the drain pan is cracked, which is why you are noticing pools of water, which you think are leaks.
This means you need to check whether your drain pan is damaged. The drain pan is located underneath the fridge.
Remove the drain pan, and see whether you can spot any cracks or damage.
If you do notice any type of damage to the drain pan, it will need to be replaced ASAP. The good news is that all you need to do is check the specifications of the fridge to discover what drain pan you need.
Or, you can contact the retailer and ask them to advise you on what drain pan you require.
The Defrost Drain
If the defrost drain is clogged, then it can cause the fridge to ‘leak’ and could be the reason why you are having an issue with your fridge.
Below, we will discuss what is a defrost-drain. We will also explain why a clogged defrost drain is an issue, and how to solve it.
What Is The Defrost Drain?
In every refrigerator, there is a drain, known as defrost drain, that collects the water produced by ice and melting frost.
This drain, however, can suffer from clogs. The reason is that food particles will, naturally, accumulate inside the drain.
When this happens, however, the hose is no longer able to carry away the water in the freezer compartment.
What does that cause? Well, it causes exactly why you’re reading this article — water to leak onto the freezer floor.
If you are unsure where the location of the defrost-drain- hose is, it is quite easy to locate. The hose is usually underneath the freezer compartment.
However, if it’s not there, check behind the unit, and also check below the produce bin. It will be in one of those locations.
How Serious Is A Blocked Defrost Drain?
Generally, a blocked defrost drain does not take an expert to solve. Most people can fix this issue themselves if they follow the right instructions.
If your fridge is leaking inside, rather than outside, that is thought to be a good and less serious sign.
How To Fix Clogged Defrost Drain Hose?
Do not allow water to build up inside your fridge. In the wrong run, it can cost you a fortune in repairs.
If you fix the problem fairly quickly, then you should be perfectly fine.
1. First, you will need to find the defrost drain hose. As already stated, this is usually under the freezer compartment, below the produce bin, or behind the fridge.
2. Next, you need to check if there are any food particles and debris that is blocking the flow of water. If there is any debris, it’s time to remove it.
You need to clear away any type of debris that could be causing an obstruction to the water flow.
4. Before you solve this, make sure that you cannot find any leaks with the pipes. If no leaks are found, then you can clean with an adhesive cleaner.
Next, you will need to remove the clog by pouring water down each side of the pipes. You need to repeat this process until you see clear water flowing out.
If this process does not work, then you will need to contact an expert.
Okay, so it might not be food debris that is your issue. It could be that you have a blockage of rice. In that case, follow the below instructions:
1. You will need to use a screwdriver, and try to remove as much rice as you can from the drain hole.
2. Next, using a basting syringe, you should pour warm water into the drain hole. This process needs to be repeated until all the rice has been removed. Again, if this does not work, you need to contact an expert.
With both steps, you should make sure that you have a towel on the floor and some type of container that excess water, ice, and food debris can fall into.
Summary
These are a couple of common reasons why your fridge has started leaking.
There are dozens of other reasons why your fridge could be leaking, so if you are unsure, it is best to contact an expert who can advise you.
Hopefully, your issue can be fixed by using our advice, and you won’t need to spend any money!
