At a Glance:
Your Fridge Might Not be Level
Your Fridge Might Have an Obstructed Water Line
When to Leave it to the Professionals
Average Price for Refrigerator Repairs
Recommended Replacement Refrigerators
It can be distressing to walk to your fridge and right into a puddle of water. You never want to see your refrigerator leaking water inside your kitchen, but if you do find yourself in that predicament, then we have some common reasons for a refrigerator leaking, how to fix them yourselves, and when it's time to bring in a professional.
Even though your refrigerator leaking water can be stressful, there are a few common reasons that you are having this problem, and the fixes may be easier than you think!
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Shop NowBlocked Defrost Drain
One of the biggest reasons that your refrigerator could be leaking is a blocked or clogged defrost drain. The defrost drain’s job is to prevent your refrigerator from freezing by automatically defrosting itself and dripping water into a pan. Sometimes, large food particles or other unwanted debris can clog the drain and cause it to leak.
✅ How to Fix a Blocked Defrost Drain
Unblocking the defrost drain is relatively easy and can quickly resolve the problem of water leaking on the floor. Most refrigerator models have the defrost drain on the inside back of your freezer, so finding it shouldn’t be too difficult. Once you find the drain, look and see if there is anything blocking the drain, like frozen meals, ice build-up, etc., and if there is, simply move them out of the way to allow proper airflow. Give your refrigerator a day or two to get back to normal, but if the puddles still persist, you might investigate if there are any smaller ice cubes or debris still blocking it.
Remember, when attempting to unblock a defrost drain, you will need to take all of the food out of your freezer, so have an alternative place to store your food during this process. Once you have your food taken out, unplug your freezer, remove the plastic plate from the drain hole, and take a turkey baster or funnel to flush hot water down the drain. This should efficiently cause any debris to be flushed out properly.
Your Drain Pan Needs Replaced
Though this may not be the most common reason your refrigerator is leaking water, sometimes there can be a crack in your drain pan, or your pan is warped, and that can cause water to be coming out and pool underneath your refrigerator.
✅ How to Replace a Refrigerator Drip Pan
Look under your refrigerator for the plastic pan underneath and pull it out. If you see that it does in fact have a crack or is warped, then simply visit your local hardware store to get a replacement piece. This could potentially save you from a hefty technician bill.
Your Fridge Might Not be Level
It isn’t necessarily a bad thing if your fridge is a little uneven. In fact, it is recommended that the front of your refrigerator is slightly higher than the back of your refrigerator, to allow the coolant to run correctly. But, if your refrigerator is uneven from left to right and not front to back, then it is not allowing the coolant to run freely, and that can cause condensation around the coils and cause water to drip on your floor.
✅ How to Fix an Uneven Fridge
This can be a simple fix. Simply start by placing a level on top of your fridge to ensure it is level from left to right, and then turn the level to check that the front of your fridge is slightly elevated to the back of your fridge. If you do end up needing to adjust the level of your fridge, you might need an extra set of hands and/or a screw or wrench to do this, but simply follow the instructions in your owner's manual on how to adjust the legs. When adjusting the legs, remember to try and keep the front of your fridge ¼ to ½ inch higher than the back of your fridge.
Your Fridge Might Have an Obstructed Water Line
You might notice other symptoms of a blocked water line before you see a puddle of water coming from underneath your refrigerator. If you notice that your refrigerator isn’t making ice properly or the water dispenser isn’t working, then you could have a blocked water line. Not taking care of a blocked water line can oftentimes lead to your refrigerator leaking.
✅ How to Fix an Obstructed Water Line
Just like with the defrost drain, this fix will require you to unplug your fridge, so have a designated cooler or other freezer for your perishables. Once you unplug the fridge, pull it out from the wall, and check the plastic hose that runs behind your fridge—that's the water line. If your water line has water dripping or coming out of it, you have a leak.
If you are sure that you can replace this yourself, ordering a new line to replace the leaking one is simple enough if you follow the instruction manual for your fridge. But, if you feel less than confident, then calling a technician might be the best option. If you choose to replace the hose yourself, be prepared to turn off the shutoff valve to the water supply.
When to Leave it to the Professionals
Sometimes, calling in the professionals truly is the best option, especially if you're not familiar with the functions and mechanics of your particular refrigerator, or if your refrigerator is more than eight years old. A professional refrigerator technician can properly asses your leak, and decide whether a replacement part is needed, or if it would be more cost-efficient to replace the entire unit.
If, after you have tried the quick fixes mentioned above, your refrigerator is still leaking, then you could be looking at issues with the mechanical aspect of your refrigerator like the coils, motor, thermostat, or control board. If that’s the case, then it is definitely best to call in a technician and let them take care of it.
Average Price for Refrigerator Repairs
Depending on the problem of the leak, prices can vary for which parts may need to be purchased to get your refrigerator back in working condition. These prices may be higher, for instance, if you have a refrigerator that is rather old or is an uncommon model.
General Parts Repair Costs:
- Refrigerator Leak Repair: $200-$300
- Control Board Replacement: $80-$800
- Thermostat Replacement: $100-$440
- Coils Replacement: $100-$440
- Drip Pan Replacement: $50-$200
- Motor Replacement: $100-$440
Recommended Replacement Refrigerators
If your refrigerator is leaking water on the floor, then you might be tempted just to go ahead and replace it. If that is the case, then we have some top-rated refrigerator models for you to consider.
GE Profile™ 27.6 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator
Shop This GE Profile French Door Fridge
Give your kitchen a facelift with this beautiful GE Profile French door refrigerator. We are loving the Fingerprint Resistant stainless steel finish, Door-in-Door Storage, and Removable Bin Caddy, as well as over 4,900 buyers reviews that give this model 5/5 stars, including this fan that says, “I love this refrigerator. It has a lot of space and is very convenient with the extra drawer in the middle. The quality of the product is very good and I highly recommend this one to anyone.” Let’s take a closer look at some other features GE offers.
Adjustable Temperature Drawer
With four different settings, comfortably store a wide range of foods like meat, seafood, beverages, snacks, or even wine, in the adjustable temperature drawer.
Hands-Free Autofill
This feature uses sensors from inside the refrigerator to perfectly fill up your glass, without needing to be monitored by you.
Beko 16.2 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Free Stainless Steel Freestanding Bottom Freezer Refrigerator
Shop This Beko Bottom Freezer Fridge
Looking at this Beko bottom freezer refrigerator, we can see the ample amount of storage for a household of three offered in its 16.2 Cu. Ft. capacity. With the sleek stainless steel, this is a showstopper for any kitchen space. Featuring tech like NeoFrost Dual Cooling Technology and Active Fresh Blue Light, this refrigerator was designed with freshness in mind.
EverFresh+ (Double Drawer)
With temperature management and precise humidity control, EverFresh+ keeps your food fresher for longer than the average refrigerator.
Advanced Ion Guard Technology
Creating a fresh-air environment, this feature eliminates odor transfer and preserves food for longer.
Whirlpool® 21.3 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Top Freezer Refrigerator
Shop This Whirlpool Top Freezer Fridge
With this Whirlpool top freezer refrigerator, you can give your family all the space they need to enjoy their favorite snacks and foods. With 21.31 Cu. Ft. of total capacity, multiple shelves, and double crisper drawers, this refrigerator gives you and your family flexibility to enjoy the things you hold most dear. Overall, more than 6,400 buyer reviews give this a recommendation. Here’s what one happy user has to say: “Very happy with my Whirlpool refrigerator…I needed a refrigerator to fit a smaller place and this one is perfect. It still holds plenty of food.”
EZ Connect Icemaker Kit Compatible
Install this simple icemaker kit in five minutes or less, and never have to fill up an ice cube tray again.
Flexi-Slide™ Bin
Easily move it side-to-side for easy storage flexibility, creating more room for taller items when needed.
A leaking refrigerator is never what any homeowner wants to experience, but fortunately, some DIY tips can help turn a potential big bill into a small fix. With refrigerators incorporating more technology, there might be new possible reasons a refrigerator might be leaking with newer models, but luckily, we’re the experts and we can help you diagnose your faulty fridge. Or, we can find you a new one to take the trouble off your shoulders entirely. Browse our complete refrigerator selection online, or visit one of our Pittsburgh appliance stores today to learn more.
Why Trust Don’s Appliances?
Founded in 1971, Don’s Appliances is a family-owned, independent appliance retailer based out of Pittsburgh, PA. Don’s has since expanded to 10 locations selling, delivering, installing, and servicing all major appliance brands. Large enough to offer competitive pricing yet small enough to continue offering the “white glove” service we pride ourselves on, our focus is always on the customer experience — from the first step into a showroom to the purchase transaction to well after your new appliance has been installed.
When our customers are remodeling or building a new house, Don’s has all the expertise, product knowledge, inventory, brands, displays, and services to meet and exceed your needs. And in the event an appliance breaks, we are there, right on time and with the right product, delivery, installation, and service.
Shop Refrigerators at Don’s
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today, and shop refrigerators online at Don’s Appliance. Our friendly experts are always happy to help you solve your refrigerator leaking — whether you call us at 866-544-1711, email us, or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by any of our Don’s Appliances Pittsburgh, PA warehouse locations. Visit us today!
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