Why Your Refrigerator Is Leaking Water — 5 Common Causes & Easy Fixes

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Finding water under your refrigerator is frustrating, but in most cases, the fix is simple and inexpensive. Before you call a repair technician, follow this guide — you can usually stop the leak in just a few minutes.

Here are the five most common causes of refrigerator leaks and how to fix each one.

1. Clogged Defrost Drain (Most Common Cause)

Modern refrigerators defrost automatically. When ice melts, water drains through a small tube into a drip pan underneath the fridge.

If this drain tube gets clogged with:

  • Ice
  • Food debris
  • Mineral buildup

…the water has nowhere to go — so it leaks onto the floor instead.

How to fix it:

  1. Unplug the fridge
  2. Empty the freezer
  3. Remove the bottom drawer
  4. Look for the drain hole at the back
  5. Use a turkey baster or squeeze bottle to flush it with hot water
  6. Repeat until the water drains freely

This is the #1 fix for leaking fridges.

2. Fridge Not Level (Tilted Forward)

If your fridge leans slightly forward, water may spill out of the drip pan instead of evaporating.

How to check:

Place a level on top of the fridge.

It should be:

  • Level side-to-side
  • Tilted slightly back (¼ inch)

How to fix:

  1. Locate the front leveling legs
  2. Turn them clockwise to raise the front
  3. Adjust until the fridge leans slightly backward

This helps water flow to the drain pan correctly.

3. Damaged or Loose Water Supply Line

If your fridge has:

  • An ice maker
  • A water dispenser

…it has a water line connected behind it. A small leak here can create puddles.

How to check:

  1. Pull the fridge away from the wall
  2. Look for dripping or a wet floor
  3. Inspect the plastic or braided hose

Fix options:

  • Tighten the connection
  • Replace a cracked hose ($10–$20)
  • Make sure the valve is fully open

If you see water spraying or dripping steadily, turn the valve off immediately.

4. Cracked or Overflowing Drain Pan

Your fridge has a drain pan underneath where water collects and evaporates.

If the pan is:

  • Cracked
  • Misaligned
  • Overflowing

…it can leak onto the floor.

How to fix:

  1. Slide the pan out
  2. Check for cracks
  3. Clean it
  4. Reinstall securely

If it’s damaged → replace it (usually $15–$30).

5. Blocked or Frozen Evaporator Coil

If the evaporator coil inside the freezer freezes solid, the defrost system can’t melt ice properly — causing water to leak.

Signs this is the issue:

  • Thick frost on the back freezer wall
  • Freezer temperature fluctuating
  • Loud fan noises

Fix:

  1. Unplug the fridge
  2. Leave the freezer door open for several hours
  3. Let all ice fully melt
  4. Plug the fridge back in

If the coil freezes again, you may have:

  • A broken defrost heater
  • Bad thermostat
  • Failed sensor

Those require a technician.

When to Call a Professional

Call a fridge repair tech if:

  • You see electrical issues
  • The leak returns every few days
  • The freezer coils keep freezing
  • Water is leaking from inside the walls of the fridge

But for 80% of fridge leaks, the issue is just:

  • A clogged drain
  • A tilted fridge
  • A loose water line
  • A damaged drip pan

All simple fixes.

How to Prevent Future Leaks

  • Keep the defrost drain clear
  • Avoid overfilling the freezer
  • Check water lines annually
  • Keep fridge level
  • Clean the drip pan once a year

Small maintenance = no more puddles.

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