Is your refrigerator leaking? Here is how to fix it.

A leaking refrigerator can cause a series of issues including damaging your floors or slipping hazard, so it needs to be fixed immediately. The first thing you should do is to find the leak and stop it. If you are not able to find the source of the leak, simply shut off the water supply to your home. It is located either inside the crawl space, near the water heater or under the kitchen sink.

Follow these simple tips to get your refrigerator working properly:

• Check the icemaker and water dispenser tubing

If your model is equipped with an icemaker or a water dispenser, you should first locate the associated tubing and inspect the connections to the water fill valve, water filter, icemaker inlet and dispenser inlet to insure a water tight fit. Make sure the tubing does not have signs of abrasion or damage. Leaks that are associated with these components usually occur when the icemaker or dispenser are activated.

• Check the drain pan

All frost-free refrigerators have a drain pan to collect defrost water that will evaporate with either fan forced air or normal air flow. Drain pans can become dislodged or can develop cracks and leak water onto the floor. The drain pan is normally located at the bottom of the refrigerator, behind the front grill. If it is misaligned or not level, it may continue to leak. Your drain pan should be removed and cleaned on a regular basis to prevent mold and dust build-up.

• Check the refrigerator door seal

A faulty door seal or gasket may cause a leak because when a door does not close properly, excessive moist air can enter the refrigerator. This moisture can accumulate on the interior surfaces and eventually find its way to the bottom of the refrigerator and leak out through the door. Make sure that the gasket is clean, removing all crumbs and debris that could cause gaps in the seal, and any sticky substances that can cause the gasket to stick to the refrigerator and possibly create a tear. Torn or damaged gaskets should be replaced.

• Check the drain tube

If you see water on the bottom inside your refrigerator, the problem may be with the drain tube that leads to the exterior drain pan. If this tube becomes clogged the defrost water cannot exit the refrigerator to the drain pan to evaporate. Depending on the location of the drain tube and the blockage, the water may collect on the floor of the fresh food compartment or in the evaporator area in the freezer compartment. Clear the drain, break up any blockages and make sure the water can flow freely into the drain pan. Also, insure that your refrigerator is level so that the water will flow in the proper direction.

If after performing these basic inspections you cannot find the source of the leak, call (818) 600-2559 and we will send our professional technician to fix the problem with your refrigerator.

Things that might be causing the issue:

• Clogged or frozen defrost drain

If the defrost drain is clogged with debris or frozen, the water dripping off the evaporator coils will overflow the drain trough drip into the bottom of the freezer compartment and potentially leak onto the kitchen floor. You should thaw any ice buildup in the drain and flush the drain with hot water to clear any debris.

• Damaged water inlet valve

The water inlet valve controls the water being supplied to the dispenser and the refrigerator’s ice maker. If the inlet valve is damaged or the water supply line is not tightly secured to the valve, the assembly could leak. A damaged inlet valve will need to be replaced with the new one.

• Faulty water tank assembly

A faulty water tank assembly could cause a leak as well. Since glue won’t stick to the plastic components, you should replace the tank assembly instead of attempting to repair it.

• Misaligned water filter

A leak could also be caused by the water filter being misaligned in its housing. Try removing and reinstalling the filter to fix the problem. If the filter is damaged, replace it with a new one

• Damaged water filter housing

The water filter housing could also be damaged. If you detect any cracks, the housing should be replaced.

According to research, leaky refrigerators can cause significant water damage and make up 15% of all water damage claims. Part of the problem of a refrigerator leaking water is the age of the refrigerator and whether or not it comes with an ice machine.

If you experience any problems with your leaking refrigerator, call us (818) 600-2559 to schedule an appointment with our professional appliance repair technician.