Why is water leaking from my refrigerator? (2022 guide)

Even though the tiny puddle under your refrigerator could just be a melted ice cube, it's important to look into the matter to make sure your appliance isn't harmed. To avoid water stains on your floor and structural damage to your home, you should act quickly to fix the problem if your refrigerator is dripping water on the floor.

Continue reading to find out how to fix your refrigerator, the typical reasons why they leak, your repair alternatives, and how a good home warranty may help you avoid such problems in the future.

What causes water to leak from a refrigerator?

There are several causes of refrigerator leakage. 

Even if the problem could be as straightforward as your refrigerator tilting, the underlying reason might be more serious. 

These are the top five typical causes of refrigerator leaks.

Incorrect tilting

Your refrigerator is not one of the products in your home that should be level with the floor. 

In order to guarantee that the door closes and the coolant flows correctly, it should have a tiny backward inclination. 

Your refrigerator could not be angled properly if you relocated it or renovated your kitchen floor.

Place a level just above your refrigerator's doors to inspect. 

Your refrigerator isn't at the proper angle if the bubble isn't shifting a little to the left. 

Follow these procedures to resolve the problem:

Take off the grill or kick plate cover that is located on the front bottom of the refrigerator.

Find the front legs of the refrigerator.

Use an adjustable wrench to raise or lower the two legs as needed. 

If your refrigerator is tilting too far forward, counterclockwise move the leg outward to lengthen it. 

If your refrigerator is tilting too far back, shorten the leg by rotating it counterclockwise.

Place your level on the refrigerator once more and look to see where the bubble stops moving to make sure you have the correct angle before replacing the lid.

Water supply pipe that is frozen

Only refrigerators with ice makers or water dispensers may have a frozen water supply line. 

The water line passing through them, if your refrigerator has them, might be frozen or blocked. 

This problem may be brought on by a number of things, such as an inappropriate freezer temperature or damaged door gaskets.

Use the methods below to see if your refrigerator is having this problem:

Pull your refrigerator away from the wall after unplugging it. 

Look for a transparent line made of flexible plastic or metal that is braided to locate the water supply line.

Examine the connecting locations for the supply line. Use an adjustable wrench to tighten the connection if you see a leak here.

If your connection points are safe but there is still a leak, turn off the water supply line running from your house to the refrigerator. 

Bring the water line to your neighborhood hardware shop to be replaced after removing it.

Reliable plumbers should be contacted if you're unclear about how to turn off your water or remove the supply line. 

Incorrect line replacement might result in severe damage and put you in a worse situation than when you started. 

You may still use your refrigerator while the plumber is on the way by turning off the water supply line.

Harm to the drain pan

The drain pan of your refrigerator catches part of the water that inevitably leaks, assisting in preventing floor damage and slippage. 

This pan is typically made of sturdy plastic, however, after time, cracks or drain holes may appear. 

Follow these methods to see whether your drain pan is broken or if your refrigerator is dripping water from the bottom:

From the refrigerator's bottom front, remove the grille or kick plate.

Look at the bottom of the refrigerator for the flat, rectangular pan.

This pan is behind your refrigerator; carefully remove it. Remember that it can be filled with water, so take care when removing it.

Look for any cracks or holes in the damage where water may seep in. The pan may be harmed if it is more than one-third filled.

Take it to a hardware store to get a replacement if you think it may be damaged. 

If your product is still covered by the manufacturer's warranty, you could potentially be eligible for a free replacement.

The defrost drain is clogged

Your freezer compartment has an aperture that permits humid air to leave. 

Your refrigerator's condenser coils begin to leak water as they work hard to expel air via the buildup when food particles or other debris obstruct the drain. 

Take the following actions to determine if this is the cause of your refrigerator's leak:

Locate the defrost drain in your appliance's freezer area. It needs to go down the base of the rear wall. 

Make sure there is a clean passage from the drain to the fridge's ceiling and remove any food that may be blocking it.

Check back in a day or so to see if the issue is fixed. If not, unscrew the defrost drain cap, disconnect your appliance, and empty the freezer.

Fill a turkey baster with warm water, then pour the liquid down the drain. 

Any frozen clogs in your line are intended to be thawed by this.

Your drip pan can get too much water in it; keep a watch on it and, if required, drain it. 

Your defrost drain may still have a clog if no water is draining from it.

Pull your refrigerator away from the wall, disconnect it, and then inspect the drain line. 

Use a bottle brush or pipe cleaner to unclog the obstruction if you see one.

Faulty ice maker

A broken ice maker is a typical issue with refrigerators. Usually, an ice blockage is the cause of the issue. 

Review these procedures to learn how to spot ice maker problems.

Look at the ice machine in your refrigerator. 

Pour a cup of hot water down the chute to dissolve any ice accumulation if you see it. 

If you catch any ice or water that could come out, be sure to set a large basin beneath the dispenser.

Check to determine whether the ice maker starts functioning correctly. 

Over the following several days, keep a look out for leaks since they might indicate that your issue is somewhere else.

If your leak doesn't stop, it can be caused by a misaligned fill valve and fill the cup or an old water filter.

Make more inquiries about the problem by getting in touch with a knowledgeable professional who can recognize and fix your particular issue.

When do I need a pro to fix my refrigerator?

For many households, repairing a refrigerator leak is a straightforward do-it-yourself (DIY) effort. 

But if you've tried all you know about repairs and there's still a leak, it might be time to hire a specialist. 

Your problem will be swiftly identified and fixed by an appliance professional, preventing further moisture or appliance damage.

Contact a repairman right away if you see an oily material dripping from your refrigerator. 

Your refrigerator uses a material called freon to keep food cold, but it is poisonous and might be bad for your health.

My refrigerator is covered by my house warranty, right?

A refrigerator is a common household necessity that ought to be protected by a home warranty. 

Although virtually all home warranty companies offer a refrigerator protection plan, most plans demand that you obtain coverage before an item malfunctions.

If you want to safeguard your refrigerator and other necessary objects, you should think about the home warranty choices that are listed below. 

All pricing data was compiled using example quotations for a Coral Gables, Florida, single-family home under 5,000 square feet. 

We advise receiving personalized quotations from many companies as your pricing could change depending on the size of your property and the coverage you choose.

The price range from the least costly to the most expensive plan is shown.

A service charge is a one-time cost that can range from $60 to $125, sometimes even going as high as $150. 

Usually paid directly to your service provider, this fee covers the cost of your service.

Coverage for refrigerators from American Home Shield

Customers of American Home Shield can choose from three different plans, two of which cover refrigerators. 

Your dishwasher, refrigerator, and other large appliances are covered by the company's ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum policies. 

For its ShieldGold Plan and ShieldPlatinum Plan, AHS has coverage limits of $3,000 and $6,000 per item, respectively.

Refrigerator insurance from America's 1st Choice Home Club

Four house warranty plans from America's First Choice Home Club (AFC Home Club) provide complete coverage. 

Your refrigerator is covered by three of its plans, the Silver Plan, the Gold Plan, and the Platinum Plan. 

The lifetime craftsmanship guarantee of AFC Home Club is a key factor in the choice of many homeowners.

Liberty Home Guard coverage for refrigerators

Many homeowners use Liberty Home Guard because of its broad array of add-on options and flexible cancellation policy. 

The key appliances in your house, such as the refrigerator, dishwasher, and trash disposal, are protected by the Appliance Guard and Total Home Guard plans, two of the three offered by the supplier. 

It's crucial to remember that each insurance has certain limits even if Liberty Home Guard covers refrigerators that malfunction due to natural wear and tear.

The bottom line: Repairing a refrigerator with a leak.

Leaks from refrigerators are typical. The majority of problems, whether your refrigerator is tilting too far forward or its drain pan is broken, may be fixed by easy do-it-yourself fixes. 

It's better to consult a professional if you don't feel comfortable tinkering with the pipes or vital parts of your refrigerator.

Professional appliance repair services can address your problem quickly, relieving you of the stress of locating and fixing the problem. 

We advise getting a home warranty to help guard your finances against pricey issues and provide you peace of mind that your refrigerator and other appliances will be maintained in the future. 

A thorough warranty from a reliable company like American Home Shield makes repairs simple and reduces your out-of-pocket repair expenses.

Methodology: How we rate the top home warranty providers

Because our customers depend on us to deliver unbiased and reliable information, we develop an extensive grading methodology to develop our rankings of the top home warranty providers. 

We gather information on dozens of home warranty providers and use it to evaluate the firms on a wide variety of ranking parameters. 

The final result is a cumulative score for each supplier, with the highest-scoring businesses at the top of the list.

We contact every significant home warranty provider directly to obtain prices, details on coverage choices, availability according to the area, and other information in order to guarantee that our research is as complete as possible. 

In order to comprehend each plan's coverage in more detail and to spot any limits, we carefully analyze example contracts. 

Additionally, we mimic the process of contacting the customer service department of each business to assess how helpful and problem-solving-capable they are.

After compiling all the necessary information, we utilize the following grading methodology to assign each home warranty provider a score out of 100.

Plan alternatives overall (25 points): Organizations that provide a range of plan options are more likely to satisfy customer expectations.

As a result, we give suppliers more options more flexibility more points.

Cost (25 points): Both monthly charges and service charges are taken into account. The higher the score, the lesser the costs.

Trust (25 points): To assess each company's reputation, we examine consumer reviews posted on independent review websites. 

Companies that are now involved in or have previously been involved in legal litigation lose points.

Customer service (10 points): We base this element on how quickly, amiably, and helpfully a company's customer service representatives respond to inquiries.

State availability (5 points): Few home warranty providers offer services in all 50 states in the United States. 

The service providers who serve the most states receive the highest ratings in this area.

Additional advantages (5 points): Discounts and promotions are a few extras that might increase customer interest in a home warranty. 

More points are given to businesses that provide advantages over rivals.

Details of coverage (5 points): It's critical to think about each plan's coverage as well as the overall quantity of available possibilities. The better coverage, the more thorough.

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