How to Fix a Leaky Refrigerator

Welcome to the ultimate guide on how to fix a leaky refrigerator!

A leaky refrigerator can become a safety risk due to water building up on your kitchen floor. It can also indicate that something is more seriously wrong with one or more components in your fridge. To find the cause of the leak and fix it, simply follow our step-by-step instructions below. We promise you’ll have your fridge operating correctly in no time.

Inspect the defrost drain

The defrost drain is where the water that evaporates and drains out of your refrigerator unit goes. When the drain becomes clogged, water can stop draining correctly and as a result, it leaks out onto your floor.

Follow these instructions to inspect the defrost drain:

1. Locate the defrost drain at the bottom of your refrigerator. You may need to remove food and/or shelves to gain access to it.
2. Once located, attempt to pour warm water down it. If the drain is blocked, pour hot soapy water down it to dislodge whatever is causing the blockage. If that doesn’t work, use a piece of wire to unblock the drain. If the drain isn’t blocked, you can check the drain pan.
3. Once the drain is unblocked, monitor your fridge over the next few hours to ensure the leak has stopped. If your refrigerator is still leaking, move on to check the drain pan.

Check the drain pan

If the defrost drain isn’t the source of the leak, the next step is to check the drain pan. The drain pan is at the bottom of your fridge and is there to collect water that flows out of your appliance. Sometimes the water can become frozen, which in turn causes the pan to overflow or crack, which causes a leak.

Follow these instructions to check the drain pan:

1. Switch the power off to your fridge.
2. Locate the drain pan. You may need to remove the back or lower front panel.
3. If the drain pan has frozen over, let it defrost and then remove all water from it.
4. Next, carefully inspect the pan for any signs of damage.
5. If the pan is damaged, it needs to be replaced. If the pan is fine, you can check the door seal.
6. After replacing the pan, turn your fridge back on and check if the leak has stopped. If not, it’s time to check the door seal.

Check the door seal

Your fridge has a door seal (sometimes called a gasket) around the refrigerator door to ensure the door stays closed properly. If the seal becomes defective, air can get into the fridge, which can cause condensation. As a result, water will leak out of your fridge.

Follow these instructions to check the door seal:

1. Open the fridge door.
2. Carefully inspect the door seal/gasket for any signs of damage.
3. If damaged, the door seal needs to be replaced.
4. If the seal isn’t damaged, clean it thoroughly.
5. Once the seal has been replaced or cleaned, monitor your fridge to see if the leak has stopped. If not, you should check the water inlet valve.

Check the water inlet valve

The next step is to check the water inlet valve. The water inlet valve supplies water to the ice maker. If it becomes faulty or gets damaged, a leak can occur.

Follow these instructions to check the water inlet valve:

1. Switch the power off to the refrigerator.
2. Gently pull the fridge out from the wall.
3. Locate the water inlet valve. (You may need to remove the back panel of the fridge.)
4. Check the water inlet valve for any damage. If damaged, it needs to be replaced.
5. Check the water hose for any leaks. If damaged, the hose needs to be replaced.
6. If the valve and hose are fine, you should check the water tank. If you replace the valve or hose, turn your fridge back on when they are installed to check if the leak has stopped. If not, it’s time to check the water tank.

Check the water tank

The next step is to check the water tank, which supplies water to the ice maker. A cracked tank will result in your refrigerator leaking water.

Follow these instructions to check the water tank:

1. Switch the power off to your refrigerator.
2. Locate the water tank and check for any signs of damage.
3. If damaged, the water tank needs to be replaced. If the water tank isn’t damaged, consider replacing the water filter.
4. Once a new tank is installed, check if the leak has stopped. If not, move on to replacing the water filter.

Replace the water filter

The final step is to replace the water filter. When the water filter gets worn out, leaks can occur. The water will eventually leak out of your fridge. To prevent this from happening, you should replace the water filter every couple of months.

Follow these instructions to replace the water filter:

1. Switch the power off to your refrigerator.
2. Locate and then remove the water filter.
3. Once removed, place a new water filter into your fridge.
4. If the new filter isn’t able to be securely placed into the fridge, this indicates the water filter housing is broken and needs to be replaced.
5. Once you have successfully replaced the filter (and replaced the housing if required), turn your fridge back on and check if the leak has stopped. If your fridge is still leaking, call a technician to come and inspect your appliance.