There are several reasons why refrigerators might leak. Many of them have their root causes in the gentle wear and tear that takes place over the years. Whether it's this kind of gradual leak or a sudden breakage, you may be able to troubleshoot your fridge yourself.
But let's start at the beginning: why is your refrigerator leaking? The first job is to identify the source of the leak: the front of the fridge, the back, the bottom center, or inside. After that basic diagnosis, you can take the right steps to address the issue and make your leaky refrigerator watertight once again.
LET'S MAKE YOUR FRIDGE WATERTIGHT AGAIN
You probably don't think about your refrigerator very often. After all, it usually just sits there quietly, doing exactly as it should. But if puddles suddenly start to appear on your kitchen floor, it's time to pinpoint the problem and do something about it. Let's get started.
IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK
HOW TO REPAIR A LEAKY FRIDGE
The location of a refrigerator leak can tell the story of its underlying cause. In fact, there's a big difference between a leak at the front of your fridge and a leak from its rear panel.
- Water is leaking from the front of the refrigerator: Don't let that puddle beneath the fridge doors fool you—this probably isn't a problem with your refrigerator door seal. Instead, you may be experiencing the symptoms of a blocked drain line. This could be remedied by removing the tube and running it under hot water to thaw the ice that's causing the blockage. But if this leak is a regular occurrence, a more thorough inspection and repair job may be in order.
- Water is leaking from the back of the refrigerator: You may have experienced this kind of problem if your fridge is hooked up to a water supply for its water or ice dispenser. A damaged water valve or water line is the most likely culprit. The fix could be as easy as tightening some connections, or it could require replacement parts if there are holes, cracks, or other signs of damage.
- Water is leaking from the bottom center: If you have a cracked or improperly positioned drain pan—or there's excessive humidity in the air—you'll probably notice that your refrigerator leak is coming from the very center of your fridge's base. Drain pans vary by refrigerator model, so this kind of problem is often best left to the professionals.
- Water is leaking inside the refrigerator: Again, this depends on your particular model, but if your refrigerator has an interior drain line (usually running behind the crisper drawers), it can become blocked and cause a leak inside the refrigerator itself. Hot water or a mini plumber's snake can remedy this—or expert attention may be needed if this leak happens regularly.
DO IT YOURSELF OR CALL IN THE PROS?
There are various factors to consider when you're choosing between repairing your fridge yourself, calling in a technician, or even replacing it entirely. For instance, how old is your refrigerator? How severe is the leak? Are you comfortable installing a replacement part, if that's what it takes?
However you decide to proceed, we're here to help. Explore our refrigerator repair resources, shop replacement parts, or book an appointment with our local specialists. We're usually able to get the job done in the first visit.*
*GE Appliances technicians carry an extensive parts inventory on their service trucks. In the event a part is not available on the service truck, a follow-up service call may be required.
