Have you been surprised by a puddle of water under your fridge? You may be wondering where it even comes from! Who knew that refrigerators leaked? But if your refrigerator is leaking water, it’s time to take action.

Common Reasons for Refrigerator Leaks

A puddle of water under the appliance may seem like a death knell, but it’s likely something less dire. Let’s take a look at the potential causes:

Broken drain pan

Check the drain pan below your fridge to look for excess water or even cracks and breaks. Water normally evaporates from this drain pan, but a cracked pan be a leaking refrigerator.

Luckily, you can purchase replacements from hardware and home improvement stores.

Defrost drain blockage

Your refrigerator/freezer combo has an automatic cycle that keeps it from freezing up and ruining the contents. This cycle regularly defrosts any ice buildup, and the resulting water moves through the defrost drain into a holding pan.

If this drain line becomes blocked with dirt, debris, or even ice, it often results in a puddle on the floor.

Flush the line with warm water using a baster or funnel after unplugging the appliance.

 

Uneven installation

Your refrigerator should be installed so that it remains level. That’s because many of the drainage hoses and refrigerant lines rely on gravity to work properly.

If your refrigerator is tipping forward instead of backward, the refrigerant lines become unbalanced. This causes condensation to form where coolant has pooled, and this condensation forms puddles under your fridge.

If you’ve recently installed your refrigerator or moved it to clean the coils or behind the appliance, you can blame that tilt as the reason your refrigerator is leaking.

Use a level to adjust the legs to ensure that the refrigerator is properly installed.

Water line blocks

If your refrigerator has a water line for making ice or chilled water, this may be the culprit. Turn the refrigerator off and close the supply line to the mains before checking for damage.

Oftentimes, these delicate supply lines become damaged, in which case, you should call for a technician for repair. Turn your fridge back on until they arrive but keep the water supply valve turned off to prevent future leaking and damage to your floors.

If it appears that the water line is frozen or blocked with ice, you can allow it to melt by keep your refrigerator off until it does. Make sure you don’t open the doors to the fridge or the freezer section to prevent food spoilage. The interior will remain cold for a few hours while the exterior water lines defrost.

When to Call a Pro

A leaking refrigerator can be an emergency or a nuisance, depending on the cause. While most homeowners feel confident replacing drain pans or leveling a fridge, replacing water lines may be best left to the pros.

Make an appointment with the team at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Port St. Lucie today for help if your refrigerator is leaking.