Got a Leak Under Your Fridge?

Constantly running and used daily, your refrigerator is constructed to last. Nevertheless, some simple errors can jeopardize its functions and cause a leak. If you notice water on your kitchen area floor, keep checking out for typical causes and (primarily) simple repairs.

Q: There’s a small day-to-day puddle on my kitchen area flooring that seems to be coming from my fridge– not from anything within, however from the fridge itself. Why is my fridge leaking water? And do I have to call in a repair work tech?

A: Seems like you’ve got a little mess on your hands! You could be handling a number of issues, however it’s probably among four typical scenarios, all of which you can fix yourself without calling for backup. So, let’s run through the likeliest possibilities and see which one’s wreaking havoc in your kitchen.

Examine to see if the fridge is level.
If you’ve simply bought your fridge, moved into a new home, or recently renovated your kitchen floorings, there’s a good chance that merely moving the home appliance has caused it to begin dripping water. Now, a fridge isn’t meant to be completely level; in fact, the front actually requires to stand someplace in between a quarter-inch and half-inch taller than the back– this slight front-to-back tilt makes it possible for coolant (the liquid responsible for keeping the appliance chill) to stream freely. When coolant can’t quickly flow, it may pool in the pipelines and require the refrigerator to work more difficult than essential to pump it; this develops additional condensation around the coils that may wind up leaking water on the floor, which might look as though your fridge is leaking.

Put a level on top of your fridge of your refrigerator (not a rack, which might be irregular on its own) to verify that it’s even-keeled from side to side. Then turn the level so that it runs front to back in order to verify that the device stands just a little higher in the front.

If you require to do some adjusting, remove the grill from the front bottom of the fridge and adjust the legs or rollers according to directions offered in your owner’s handbook. Depending upon the model, this may need a wrench or screwdriver. Go for a 1/4 to 1/2 inch rise in the front, and check the level again. Be prepared to phone a friend in case the back legs or rollers need adjusting, too, because that will include unplugging and pulling the fridge far from the wall to do so.

Check your defrost drain for a clog.
When the defrost drain (available at the back of the freezer on many refrigerators) is obstructed– whether it be by a food particle, water deposits, a stack of frozen dinners, ice, or some combination– your home appliance has to work overtime again. Then begins the condensation gathering on the coils and, soon, water dripping onto the floor just like in the situation of an incorrectly leveled refrigerator. Unclogging the drain then should eliminate the leakage.

Open the freezer and seek to see that absolutely nothing blocks the defrost drain along the back wall. If it’s blocked by products in the freezer, simply move things around until air can flow easily, and then give it a day or more to see if the issue’s been resolved. If puddles persist, the obstruction may be something smaller sized: crumbs or ice. In either of these cases, you’ll require to transfer your food from the refrigerator and freezer to a mini fridge or freezer chest and unplug your refrigerator from the wall. Next, get rid of the plastic plate over the drain hole (your device manual may have pointers for this) and use a turkey baster or funnel to flush warm water down the defrost drain. This ought to clear the drain of particles and permit your unit to operate generally once again. You may want to use a product like CLR to help break up water deposits.

Ice Maker/Water Line.
If your fridge is level and your drain is unblocked but you’re still seeing an everyday puddle, the problem may lie with your supply of water line. To troubleshoot this as well, you’ll need to unplug the fridge to examine further, so prepare by setting your perishables somewhere safe for the time being.

Pull it out from the wall, and inspect the plastic hose that ranges from your ice maker and water filter down the back of the appliance. If you see water dripping or collecting drops along the exterior of the hose pipe, you have actually got a leak. At this point the choice is yours: You can hire a repair service technician or, if you’re confident in your capability to complete the job at hand, order a brand-new tube and swap it in yourself. The latter includes shutting off the shutoff valve to the supply of water, which you’ll find either beneath the sink closest to the fridge, in a recessed panel in the wall, or in your basement, and change the supply line following your manufacturer’s instructions. Just make certain to tighten up the connections on both ends when you’re through to avoid another circumstances of your refrigerator dripping water.

Lastly, check your drain pan.
Though it’s the least likely of the possibilities we’re noting, this due diligence may conserve you a significant bill from a fridge professional. Look under your refrigerator and pull out the plastic drain pan housed below it. It’s typical for there to be a small amount of water inside the pan, which should evaporate eventually under the condenser fan housed nearby. If you can see that the water has actually left the pan and pooled onto the floor due to a crack, warp, or another kind of damage, then get yourself to your regional hardware store to change it.

South End Plumbing specializes in all drain cleaning, so remember, we are just a click away. We also specialize in leak detection – give us a call! South End Plumbing is one of the only companies that will give you a free estimate. Call us at 704-919-1722 or fill out the form online to schedule a visit.