Video – Is your Refrigerator leaking water? Here’s how to fix it

Is your refrigerator leaking water? Don’t panic: you can solve many refrigerator problems yourself, and without resorting to costly interventions.

Puddles under the refrigerator are never a good sign, but it is also a fairly common occurrence, and can usually be solved relatively easily. Water loss typically results from one of these two problems:

Cause 1: A blocked defrost drain is one of the most common causes. This happens when food particles or other debris clog the drain hose, which can cause ice to build up and eventually water to leak out of the freezer and refrigerator.

Remedy: First, try rinsing the drain from inside the freezer with warm water, using a stick or small funnel. You can also try using a pipe cleaner or straightened coat hanger. If this does not solve the problem, it may be necessary to manually remove the debris blocking the check valve at the end of the drain hose.
Then move the refrigerator away from the wall, and locate the defrost drain hose in the service panel at the bottom of the back. This hose should have a rubber check valve, which helps regulate humidity, and is known to catch debris and clog. Clean the valve with warm soapy water and reinstall the valve.

Cause 2: Occasionally, a clogged or frozen water supply hose will cause water to settle under the refrigerator. It will also affect ice production, and will slow or stop the flow of water from the dispenser.

Remedy: First, unplug the refrigerator and locate the valve, usually under the sink, behind the refrigerator, or under the refrigerator. Make sure this valve is closed and look for any leaks, kinks, or obstructions in the plastic supply line.
If there is a break or tear in the water supply hose, replace it. Typically this is a nylon tube, with threaded compression fittings at both ends.
If the water pipe is intact, but you see a translucent block, the culprit is ice. Simply leave the refrigerator unplugged for about 2 hours to remove the obstruction. Once the hose has thawed, plug the refrigerator back in and push it against the wall.

Finally, here is a video that illustrates with a practical case how to remedy, if your refrigerator is leaking water:

And if you have come to the conclusion that your refrigerator, after an honored career, finally deserves retirement, here are some ideas to find a worthy replacement: these are the 10 best models of refrigerator on the market, easily orderable online from Amazon: