A leaking fridge freezer can cause great concern and stress within the household. In this help guide we look at the most common reasons your fridge freezer may be leaking water.
Top 7 Reasons Why Your Fridge Freezer Is Leaking Water
Please note: it’s important that you turn off and unplug your appliance before trying to diagnose the cause of the leak.
The appliance is not level
This may seem simple, but it’s also a common one. Stand back and take a good look at the appliance. Is it tilted forwards or to the side? If so, this could mean that the door seals are not closing fully preventing the water from draining back into the drain pipe. To fix this, adjust the feet at the bottom of the appliance to level it. A spirit level comes in handy here!
Faulty door seal
A perished door seal, or one accumulated with food or dirt, can prevent the door from fully closing and sealing. By design, a the door seal stops warm air from entering inside the appliance. Doors that don’t seal properly will allow warm air to enter and cause condensation – which then begins to leak. If this is the case, clean the door seal or replace it.
Cracked drain pan
Drain pans usually reside at the bottom of most fridge freezers. If this is cracked, it will allow water to go through it and leak onto the floor. Replacing this spare part should resolve the issue.
Clogged drain hole
Sometimes also called a defrost hole, the drain hole is there to allow water built up inside the machine to drain out of it. A clogged drain hole (usually with food or debris) will prevent this from happening. Clear the blockage with a pipe cleaner or cotton bud (you can also wash it out with warm water).
Faulty thermostat
The thermostat is responsible for monitoring the temperature inside the appliance and, in turn, telling the appliance when to start/stop cooling. If this becomes faulty you may notice the inside of the appliance become warmer than usual – which could lead to build up of water which then leaks.
How food is stored
This may seem like a silly one, but the types of food and how it is stored can play a part. If you are storing many high-moisture items then this could be upping the moisture limit inside of the appliance. Similarly, if you are resting too many items against the back wall this can push water down into the salad drawers – when this happens the water the flows out of the front of the appliance.
Ice maker fault
There are many things which can go wrong with the ice maker – loose water supply connection, cracked or kinked hoses or seals becoming damaged.
There you have it, 7 common reasons why your fridge freezer may be leaking water. If you require an engineer, book a repair with Anderson James today.