My Refrigerator Is Leaking Water in Warm Weather. How Can I Fix the Problem?

A leaking refrigerator may need cleaning.

Refrigerators draw heat out of the refrigerator and freezer cabinets. This makes the air inside the fridge cold. As new items placed in the fridge cool, they sweat and drip. Usually, a drain in the fridge carries all this water out of the unit. If the unit is dirty or placed on an uneven surface, the water will not drain, causing leaks to appear. Cleaning and adjusting of the refrigerator will usually solve leaking problems.

Things You'll Need

• Wrench
• Spirit level
• Screwdriver
• Plastic tube

Instructions

1. Pull the refrigerator out from the wall.

2. Inspect the water line leading to the back of the fridge if you have an ice maker. Tighten the compression nut with a wrench to stop leaking from the line.

3. Set a spirit level on top of the fridge and check whether it is level. The refrigerator should lean towards the back, so the front is up slightly higher. This guides water to the back of the fridge, where the drain is.

4. Pull off the front kick plate at the bottom of the fridge by pulling towards you if the fridge is not level. Insert a screwdriver into the foot adjustment holes on each side of the fridge and turn the screw to adjust the fridge height. Adjust until the spirit level is even.

5. Remove everything from the freezer and unplug the unit. Let the fridge defrost.

6. Remove the screws from the back panel of the freezer and pull the panel off. Insert a plastic tube into the drain hole behind the panel and blow into the tube. Poor a cup of water into the drain hole to make sure it drains properly.

References

• The Family Handyman; How to Repair a Refrigerator; November 2004
• Acme How-To: Refrigerator Troubleshooting Guide