Side by side refrigerator water on floor repairing a clogged defrost drain

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A leaky fridge is something you can’t ignore because any potential water damage is going to cost you more in repairs to your floor and more. Fortunately, diagnosing a leaking fridge is easy if you know where to look. The answer can be as simple as leveling a refrigerator or unmelting clogged lines. You just need to know how to access those lines. To learn how to fix a leaky fridge, you can start by learning what commonly causes one.

How to Fix a Leaky Fridge

1. Check Water Supply Line

Fridge leaks are the result of leaky water supply lines and/or inlet valves. Check your water supply line if you notice poor ice making or a poor flow with your water dispenser. Before you further, unplug the refrigerator and find a place to store your perishables.

Pull your fridge out from the walls and search for the plastic hose that connects your ice maker and water filter. If there’s water dripping from the hose, replace it, because that’s the source of the leak. If you fix it yourself, turn off the water supply before replacing the hose.

2. Check the Level of the Fridge

Another quick fix is checking the levelness of the fridge. Water can spill out of a drain pan if the fridge isn’t level. Level it by making it level from side to side and tilted to the back. Use a level to make sure the bubble is in the middle.

You can also make the fridge level by raising or lowering the adjustment screws. To access the screws, you’ll need to pull off the front cover grille.

3. Check Drain Pan for Damage

Occasionally, a broken drain pan will lead to leaks because water that typically evaporates in the pan slips through a crack. The drain pan is located under your refrigerator and usually has some water in it, so don’t be worried if there is some when you pull it out.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Inlet Valve

The inlet valve is located at the back of your fridge and turns water on and off to the ice maker. To see if the inlet valve is the issue, turn off the water at the saddle valve, typically located in the basement under your fridge, and disconnect the supply tube.

Hold the tube over a bucket and have someone turn on the saddle valve. If the water flows from the tube, the inlet valve is probably shot. To fix the inlet valve, unscrew the cover panel and unscrew the screws that keep the valve in place. Next, unplug the wiring and unfasten the nuts that connect the water lines. Then, to place the new valve, repeat the steps in reverse.

If you notice a leak at the inlet valve, fix it by tightening the compression nuts. If it looks like it’s coming from the tube, it’s time to replace the tube.

7. Water Dispenser

If the water dispensing  is dripping water, trapped air in the water line could be the cause. This can cause a build-up of pressure which is forcing some water to escape through the opening of the dispenser. If this happens, you should try continuity purging water through the water dispenser for at least three minutes.

8. Evaporator Fan Motor

A faulty evaporator fan motor can prevent a freezer from getting cold enough, which might start causing leaks. The evaporator fan motor is usually located in the freezer. It can get blocked easily by debris that falls behind it or through a collection of dust bunnies.

When that happens condensation can build on the coils and begin dripping water on the floor. You can clean the coils with a long brush.

9. Door Seals

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.

When to Call a Pro

Even if you’ve checked all the usual suspects, it may come down to something electrical. Or the actual problem could lie in something like a compressor start relay or refrigerator not cooling, which might be beyond your DIY skills. Call a pro when you’ve exhausted all other causes of the leak. It’s also important to know when to purchase a new refrigerator if yours has finally kicked the bucket.

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