No one likes to find a surprise puddle in their kitchen, and it’s enough to make you feel a bit of panic. So many plumbing problems can arise in the kitchen, but you may have never encountered a refrigerator leaking water before.
Luckily, it can be one of the least problematic leaks you can have in the kitchen. You may even be able to fix it yourself quickly. Here’s a handy checklist to follow to help you identify and stem the flow before it causes any damage.
Troubleshoot Your Leaking Fridge
Run down our quick checklist to find the most common causes of refrigerator leaks before you call for repairs.
1. Drain pan
Water that condenses on the refrigerant piping collects in the drain pan and normally evaporates. However, if the drain pan is cracked, it will leak onto the floor. You’ll find replacement drain pans at your local home improvement store.
2. Icemaker issues
Refrigerators with automatic icemakers and chilled water dispensers are a truly civilized innovation. However, they can also be one more thing that can go wrong with your fridge.
If your refrigerator is leaking water, damage to the water supply lines on these features should be at the top of your list to check. Turn off the refrigerator and the water supply before inspecting for damage.
Sometimes, these supply lines become frozen or clogged by ice. In this case, simply leave your fridge turned off until they defrost. The interior of the fridge will stay cold for several hours if you refrain from opening the doors. Use a hairdryer to expedite the process.
Bent or clogged supply lines to the icemaker can result in leaks, and you’ll need to call for repair. You can turn the refrigerator back on but leave the supply valve shut until the appliance can be serviced.
3. Check levels
Refrigerators are engineered to lean slightly backward when properly installed. The refrigerant and drainage lines depend on gravity to work. An off-kilter fridge results in condensate forming on any unbalanced refrigerant lines.
This condensate accumulates and drips onto the floor, making it seem like your refrigerator is leaking water.
Use a spirit to adjust the legs on your fridge for the right angle.
4. Defrost drain
The automatic cycle on your refrigerator keeps ice from building up inside your refrigerator. The intermittent defrosting cycle moves melted water out through a drain line.
When this defrost drain gets clogged, condensed water ends up as a puddle on the floor. Unplug your fridge and flush the drain line with warm water and a turkey baster to remove the blockage.
Escalation
If you’ve run through this quick checklist and can’t identify the problem, it may be time to call in a trained technician, after all.
Make an appointment today with the pros at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Pleasantville for fast and friendly service. We can quickly find and fix the problem if your refrigerator is leaking water.