How to Fix a Leaking Refrigerator

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Analyzing the likely source

Step 1

Move the refrigerator out from the wall and look for the location of the leak.
Step 2

Check the side panels and the seals around the door for beads of "sweat." This could indicate a condensation problem.
Step 3

Check the floor. A puddle there could indicate a missing or cracked drip pan, or a leak in the water line that feeds your ice maker.
Step 4

Check for water seeping from the front of the freezer or the refrigerator. This could indicate your defrost drain is plugged or your ice maker is leaking.

Fixing a condensation problem

Step 1

Check that the doors shut correctly. Hold each door about halfway open, then let go. If the doors don't shut completely, adjust the screw legs on the front of the refrigerator so the unit tilts back a bit. With adjustable pliers, turn each leg one revolution clockwise. Recheck the doors and, if necessary, repeat the process until they shut securely.
Step 2

Inspect the door gaskets. Look for debris that may keep the doors from shutting. Also check for cracks or gaps in the gaskets that could allow the cold air to seep out. If you find debris, clean the gaskets with warm, soapy water. If you find cracks or gaps, you'll need to replace the gaskets (see How to Fix a Refrigerator That Cools Poorly).
Step 3

If your refrigerator is equipped with a door-frame heater that evaporates condensation, make sure the heater is turned on. The switch should be located with your other refrigerator controls.

Fixing a drip-pan problem

Step 1

Pull off the grill that runs along the bottom of your refrigerator.
Step 2

Locate the drip pan, using a flashlight if necessary. The pan should be sitting on top of a set of black condenser coils and directly below a drain tube that carries water from your freezer when it is in defrost mode.
Step 3

Place the drip pan in your sink and fill it with water to test for leaks. If it leaks, order a replacement from your appliance dealer.
Step 4

If the drip pan doesn't leak, clean it with warm, soapy water, then reinstall the pan and the refrigerator grill.

Fixing a clogged defrost drain

Step 1

Locate the defrost drain. It should be a round hole or a channel running under the vegetable and fruit bins in the refrigerator or along the floor of the freezer compartment.
Step 2

Inspect the drain for clogs and remove any debris. If necessary, use a small screwdriver to break up debris that's trapped in the drain hole.
Step 3

Fill a meat baster with hot water and force it through the drain to make sure the clog is gone. If the drain is operating properly, the hot water will fill the drip pan.

Fixing a leaky ice maker

Step 1

Pull the refrigerator away from the wall and locate the copper water-supply line. It runs from the house water line to the refrigerator water-supply valve. (To get to the supply valve, you may have to use a screwdriver or a nut driver and socket to remove your refrigerator's back access panel.)
Step 2

Inspect the copper supply line, the supply valve, and the plastic supply tube that runs from the other side of the supply valve to the back of the ice maker.
Step 3

If a connection is leaking, tighten it with an adjustable wrench. If either the copper supply line or the plastic supply tube is leaking, you need to replace it.
Step 4

Turn off the water supply. The valve may be under the kitchen sink or connected to a cold-water pipe in your basement.
Step 5

Remove the faulty line and take it to a hardware store to get an exact replacement.
Step 6

Install the new line, tighten the connections with the adjustable wrench and turn the water back on.

Comments

tiba21 said

Flag This Comment

on 1/12/2009 Great article and actually lead me to the source of my problem. My problem was caused by a bad water filter. I guess the gaskets at the end of my filter were bad and the noticed the leak at the back of the filter housing. That constant drip was overflowing my drip pan and leaking on the floor. Luckily I had a new filter handy. Replaced and cleaned up and now everything is fine!!

projectmgr said

on 8/15/2008 mmurtha; I would suggest having a service person look at the fridge for a possible simple repair. You talked to the Hotpoint person on the phone or on a service call to your home? I would suggest pulling out your next fridge once a year to vacuum off the dust rather than once every 17 years to prolong the life of the fridge.

DiscountTickets said

on 6/11/2008 Really great information.

mmurtha said

on 10/12/2007 I HAVE A HOTPOINT NO FROST SIDE BY SIDE REFRIGERATOR,MODEL CSX22GABWW.
I BOUGHT IT IN 1990.IT LEAKS UNDER THE PANEL ON THE FLOOR OF THE REFRIGERATOR.I LOOKED FOR THE DRAIN PAN AND CANNOT FIND IT.I SEE THE WHITE WHEELS AND CABLES BUT NO DRAIN PAN.I DO NOT HAVE AN ICE MAKER WITH THIS REFRIGERATOR.I KEEP CAULKING IT AND IT STILL LEAKS WATER THRU THE CAULKING.I HAD THE REFRIGERATOR MOVED AWAY FROM THE WALL SO I COULD VACUUM ALL AROUND AND ALSO THERE IS A AREA IN BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR THAT HAS LOUVRES GOING TO BOTTOM OF REFRIGERATOR.THEY WERE VERY DIRTY,ETC.A LOT OF DUST BUNNIES.I THOUGHT THE WHOLE BACK OF THE REFRIG. WAS CLOSED.I NEVER MOVED IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 1990.IT IS ENCLOSED WITH A COUNTERTOP ON ONE SIDE AND A PANEL ON THE OTHER SIDE,ENCLOSING IT PRETTY TIGHT.I TALKED TO THE HOTPOINT PERSON AND HE SAID THAT THE CONDENSER IS PROBABLY BAD AND I SHOULD GET A NEW REFRIG.