Water leaks occur for the following reasons:

1. Simple liquid spills by the user. User spills can cause frozen fan blades and a frozen bridge can form and even block airflow across the evaporator. User spills can be corrected by a simple cleanup with hot water and a hair dryer.

2. Leaks from an icemaker, water supply line, or water dispensers on the door. Locate the water source and correct the problem (or see Manual 9: Icemakers).

3. Water coming from the defrost system.

   Three times a day the automatic defrost system generates about 1/2 cup of water. This water flows through a pan and tube system down to a final reservoir within the condenser. Heat from the condenser evaporates the small quantity of water long before the condenser pan overflows. Clogs in the drain system will result in water dripping on the food or accumulating in the bottom of the fresh food or freezer section.

4. Water coming from condensate on various cold surfaces.

   A badly torn door gasket will allow continual fresh air to enter the refrigerator and condense on the cold internal surfaces. In certain cases, it will run down the surface of the gaskets or door jam and drip on the floor. For door seal replacement techniques--and it is not an easy job---see Door Gaskets in Manual 7: Refrigerators and Freezers.

   During the summer, under high humidity conditions, water may form on the front panels and drip on the floor. "Energy saver" and "high humidity" switches control small heaters built into the door jam that are designed to prevent condensate.

If the water source is not obvious, it is necessary to do a more careful diagnosis.

Sometimes the water source may be hard to locate. Depending on the type of refrigerator you have, it may appear in one of a number of places.

On Top Freezer Refrigerators

1. Under the food crispers or on the floor beneath the refrigerator.

2. Dripping off the roof of the fresh food department.

   Water dripping from the evaporator during the defrost cycle first collects in a long shallow pan. If the outlet to the pan clogs up, the puddled water will freeze as soon as the defrost cycle is over and water over flow during the next defrost. Depending on the design it will accumulate in the Styrofoam insulation and eventually begin dripping through holes in the ceiling of the fresh food compartment. (See The Difference Between Ice and Snow in Manual 7: Refrigerators and Freezers).

   On many models, if the water successfully exits the evaporator drain pan, it next flows through a tube and funnel device in the fresh food section. Many funnel outlets clog with food (especially Whirlpool). The funnel directs the water through the back wall of the refrigerator, through more tubing and eventually down to the condenser drain pan. Clogs in any of the tubing will cause water to accumulate and overflow.

   Disassembly and visual inspection is the easiest method of diagnosis for water leaks.

Side-By-Side Refrigerators

On a side-by-side, water seldom appears in the fresh food section. Instead it forms on the floor of the freezer. Other than a leaking icemaker or a spill, the water will come from the defrost cycle. Defrost water is designed to collect in a small pan under the evaporator and drain out through a pipe in the insulation into the condenser drain pan.

Frequently the outlet to this piping clogs with debris and water (soon to be ice) backs up on the bottom of the freezer. Occasionally, the evaporator pan may include a small heater to assist the flow of the water. If the heater fails, the water may turn into ice before exiting as it should. (See The Difference between Snow and Ice in Manual 7: Refrigerators and Freezers.)

Troubleshooting Refrigerators
Diagnostic System