Frigidaire refrigerator leaking water

Why is my Frigidaire fridge leaking water from the bottom?

Here are the most common causes of a Frigidaire refrigerator leaking from the bottom:

Clogged or Frozen Defrost Drain

The defrost drain removes water created during the automatic defrost cycle.

Water drips down into the defrost drain tray under the evaporator and then the defrost drain tube carries the water down to the defrost drain pan at the bottom of the refrigerator in the machine compartment. In between automatic defrost cycles, the water in the defrost drain pan evaporates away.

If the defrost drain tube gets clogged or frozen, water overflows the evaporator defrost drain tray and drips inside the fridge or the freezer compartment.

In a top-freezer refrigerator, the leaking water typically winds up at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment under the crisper drawers.

Follow this procedure to clear a clogged or frozen defrost drain:

• Unplug the refrigerator and remove the evaporator cover panel in the freezer to access the evaporator defrost drain tray. In some top-freezer refrigerators, you’ll need to remove the ice maker before removing the evaporator cover.
• Melt ice in the evaporator defrost drain tray under the evaporator using warm water and a small funnel or turkey baster. Water may seep from under the refrigerator if water drains down and overflows the drain pan at the bottom of the fridge.
• If the water doesn’t drain through the defrost drain tube after melting the ice in the defrost drain tray under the evaporator, use a pipe cleaner or straw to unclog the top of the drain tube. Check to see if the drain is clear by pouring some warm water down the tube by again using a small funnel or turkey baster.
• After clearing the defrost drain, reinstall the evaporator cover panel and plug in the refrigerator power cord to restore electrical power.

If the evaporator drain tray and defrost drain tube keeps freezing up and overflowing, schedule refrigerator repair service to have a technician diagnose and repair the problem. The tech may need to install a defrost drain tube heater to prevent water from freezing in that area.

Overflowing or Leaking Defrost Drain Pan

The drain pan at the bottom of the refrigerator in the machine compartment collects water from the evaporator drain pan under evaporator. The defrost drain tube carries the water from the evaporator defrost drain pan to the defrost drain pan.

In between defrost cycles, water in the defrost drain pan should evaporate according to refrigerator design.

If the drain pan cracks, it will leak water onto the floor that will seep out under the refrigerator.

Excessive frost caused by air leaking into the fridge through a bad door seal or other reasons can cause the defrost drain pan to overflow.

Unplug the refrigerator and remove the machine compartment cover. Examine the defrost drain pan and replace it if it’s cracked or damaged.

If the defrost drain pan is full and overflowing, empty the water out of the pan. Replace the refrigerator door seals or fix the cause of warm, moist air leaking into the refrigerator and causing excessive frost.

Here’s a DIY video that shows how to replace the refrigerator door seal on a common type of fridge:

Have a service technician replace the door seal or address the leaking problem if you’re unable to address the issue on your own.

High humidity or frequent door openings can also cause excessive frost leading to an overflowing defrost drain pan. Minimize refrigerator door openings and consider moving the refrigerator indoors if you’re using in a garage or a space that isn’t climate-controlled.

If these expert tips don’t help you resolve a problem with your Frigidaire refrigerator leaking water, schedule repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix the fridge.

What to expect when you experience a Frigidaire refrigerator leaking water issue

How is the leaking water problem fixed?

Correcting most leaking water problems usually involves replacing the defrost drain, dispenser water tubing or evaporator. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.

Sears Home Services recommendations for a refrigerator that is leaking water

When the refrigerator is leaking water it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of refrigerator failures.

What to look out for with a refrigerator leaking water diagnosis

Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your refrigerator problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.

How to Fix a Frigidaire Fridge Leaking

When your Frigidaire Fridge is leaking, check the water line connection on the back of the refrigerator. Tighten or replace the water line connection if you find the leak in that area.

If the leak is coming from the ice and water dispenser, check for a piece of ice stuck in the ice chute and blocking the ice door from closing. Remove the ice so the ice door shuts fully to prevent that type of leak.

Another cause of a Frigidaire fridge leaking is excessive frost that can cause the defrost drip pan at the bottom of the fridge by the compressor to overflow and leak. Check the door gaskets because an air leak through the door gaskets can allow warm, moist air to enter the fridge and cause excessive frost – resulting in the overflow of the defrost drip pan. Repair or replace any leaking door gasket that you find.

If the defrost drain tube is frozen and clogged, defrost condensate water won’t flow down to the defrost drain pan. The water will leak into the bottom of the freezer and eventually out the bottom of the freezer door. If you see this problem, have a Sears Home Services technician visit your home to fix the fridge.

What Causes a Frigidaire Leaking Inside

The main causes of a Frigidaire leaking inside include a frozen defrost drain tube, a leaking water reservoir, leaky water filter housing, cracked water tube or leaking water tube connection.

When the defrost drain tube is frozen, water will leak inside the freezer compartment. In a top-freezer Frigidaire fridge, the water fill often drip down into the refrigerator compartment and appear underneath the crisper drawers. A technician will unplug the fridge and remove the evaporator cover in the freezer compartment to access and melt the ice clogging the defrost drain tube to fix the problem. The tech will then determine the root cause of the problem and may install a heat probe under the evaporator that will prevent the problem from recurring. A heat probe is a piece of metal that connects to the defrost heater and extends down into the top of the defrost drain tube to prevent freezing.

If the cause of your Frigidaire leaking inside is a leaking water reservoir, cracked water tube, leaky water filter housing or leaking water tube connection, the technician will find and fix the cause of the leak by tightening water fittings or replacing parts.

Troubleshooting a Frigidaire Leaking Water on the Floor

Causes of a Frigidaire leaking water on the floor include an overflowing defrost drain pan, a leaking water supply tube, a frozen defrost drain tube and a leaking water supply connection on the back of the fridge.
If you see your Frigidaire leaking water on the floor from underneath the refrigerator every four or five hours, the defrost drain pan could be overflowing. Excessive frost from an air leak through a door gasket could be the root cause of this leak. Check the refrigerator and freezer door gaskets. Repair or replace a leaking door gasket if you find that problem and the leak may go away.

Check the water supply line and its connection on the back of the fridge. Replace the water line if it leaks or if you tighten the water line connection and water still drips from the connection because the seal if bad.

A frozen defrost drain tube will cause water to leak into the freezer and sometimes that water will leak out onto the floor. In a top-freezer Frigidaire refrigerator, the water will leak down under the crisper drawers in the refrigerator compartment and eventually out through the refrigerator door opening.

When you’re unable to find and correct the cause of your Frigidaire leaking water on the floor yourself, schedule refrigerator repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix the problem.

Frigidaire Leaking Water Solutions

Fixing problems for your Frigidaire leaking water can be challenging. You’ll need to find the cause of the leak in your fridge first. Common causes of a Frigidaire leaking water include an overflowing defrost drain pan, a clogged defrost drain tube, leaking water line or water line connection, water filter housing leak and a dispenser problem.

When your see your Frigidaire leaking water from the dispenser and you just replaced the water filter, air in the water line going to the water dispenser could be causing the drip. Purge 1 gallon of water as constantly as possible through the water dispenser to fix that type of leak.

Water leaks through the ice chute, check for a piece of ice stuck in the dispenser door that covers that ice chute. Remove the piece of ice to fix that cause of your Frigidaire leaking water.

When you discover your Frigidaire leaking water from the back of the fridge, check the water supply connection. Tighten the water line fitting on the back of the fridge if water drips from that fitting. Replace the water line if tightening the fitting didn’t fix the leak or if the water line itself leaks.

If water leaks from under the fridge every 4 to 5 hours, then the defrost drain pan could be overflowing. Have a Sears Home Services technician examine your fridge and fix that type of problem. You’ll also need a service technician to fix a problem with water leaking inside your fridge in most situations.