5 reasons your refrigerator may be leaking.

It's early in the morning. The kids aren't up yet, so the house is quiet and still before the impending chaos of getting ready for school. You let the dog out. The crisp morning air is slightly cold, and there's a fine layer of dew on the grass. A pot of coffee is started and the smell fills the kitchen. You pour yourself a cup but leave a little room for some milk. You go to the refrigerator to get the milk out and feel something on your foot. What is that? Water? Why is there water? As your sock begins to turn into a sponge, you trace the puddle back to its source and find it's coming from under the refrigerator.

There are a few reasons your refrigerator may be leaking. Some are simple and can easily be resolved while some may require a more in depth look, but typically leaking issues can be resolved fairly easily. In this article I'll go over 5 reasons your refrigerator may be leaking and how to fix them.

1. Broken water line

   If you have a large, sudden leak that doesn't seem to be stopping, you may have a broken water line. Many refrigerators use plastic water lines that may become brittle with age, leading to cracks or pinhole leaks. This is usually fairly easy to find, as the line will be spraying a small stream of water from the point of failure. Pull the refrigerator out and shut off the water to stop the leak. There should be a shutoff valve behind the unit. Sometimes, if there's just one area where the leak is coming from, a fitting may be used to stop the leak, but if the lines are old and brittle, it may be best to replace the water line entirely.

2. Clogged drain tube

   Almost all modern refrigerators have a built in defrost system. When the unit goes into defrost it will melt the ice off the evaporator coils and drain the water into a drip pan in the base of the unit. From there it will evaporate into the air and the cycle will start over. If you have a clog in the drain tube, it will stop the water from flowing into the drip pan and instead leak out into the base of the unit and eventually out into the floor. If the tube is clogged it must be removed and flushed, but normally doesn't require a part. Some units will have an updated drain tube and will require a replacement, but they are generally an inexpensive part.

3. Cracked drain pan

   Like a clogged drain tube, the drain pan, or drip pan as it's sometimes called, is part of the defrost system. The drain pan collects the melted frost water and warm air is blown over it until it evaporates. If there is a crack in this piece, water will flow out of the drip pan and onto the floor, causing a leak. Drip pans can be replaced, though this would generally require a service call as they can be difficult to remove and reinstall.

4. Door seal

   If you've got leak and it looks like your freezer snowed over night, you may have a bad door seal. Door seals are made of a soft plastic/rubber composite and over time can develop tears or cracks. If that happens, warm, moist air from outside the unit can meet the cool, dry air inside and cause frost to form. Because there is an air gap, the warm air will continue to enter the unit, melting the newly formed frost and causing a leak. The type of seal determines how difficult the install is, with some being simple fit in place gaskets and others requiring the entire door to be replaced.

5. The door was left open

   Probably the most common cause of a leak on refrigerators, a door being left open is also the most simple fix. Everything I said about the door seal applies here as well. Check and make sure the gasket is fully shut all the way around and make sure no items have fallen behind shelves causing the door to stick open. Even a small gap can cause a big issue, and frost can form within hours.

So there it is. These are 5 reasons your refrigerator can be leaking. If you have a leaking refrigerator and need service, Ken's Appliance Service is happy to help. We service all of Middle Tennessee including Murfreesboro, Nashville, Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, Brentwood, Franklin, Manchester, Shelbyville, Lavergne, Smyrna, Dixon, and pretty much everywhere in between. We also service Chattanooga and Memphis and the areas surrounding these locations. Our office is open Monday-Thursday from 8:00am to 4:30pm Central time, and Fridays from 8:00am until 4:00pm Central time. Feel like tackling a repair yourself? We also sell parts at our Murfreesboro parts counter. Grab your model number and call us or stop by 511B Middle Tennessee Blvd 37129. You can also use the link below to schedule an appointment online or call/text us at 615-896-2933!