What to do if your freezer is leaking water

Knowing how to fix your freezer when it’s leaking water will save you time and money on repairs.

The refrigerator and freezer are such a common part of everyday life that most of us would struggle to cope without them.

• So when the freezer goes on the fritz, we know we need to fix it immediately, whether that involves DIY tactics, calling in the repairperson or swapping the unit out entirely.

But not every problem is a huge one, and some can be fixed with a few simple tricks. Here’s what to do if your freezer is leaking water.

• Is there a pool of water on the floor behind the fridge?
• Is there water running down the inside of the unit from the freezer and soaking your food?
• Is the wall behind the freezer getting wet?

If your refrigerator is leaking, you need to first track down where the leak is coming from. If it’s coming from the freezer, the following offers you some suggestions.

First things first, you need to check to see that your freezer is working.

• Does it keep things cold?
• Are your ice trays still frozen?

If not, you’ll probably need to bring in a technician to have a look because you may have engine issues, or have leaked coolant.

However, if the freezer is working but leaking, there are two possible fixes.

Your freezer defrosts as it runs, and this creates water. When things are working correctly, this water is passed through a drain, down a tube, into a cup at the bottom of the fridge where it evaporates.

The most likely cause of water leakage is either a blocked drain, or a blocked cup.

• For a blocked drain, the usual cause is that the drain has frozen over.
• You’ll want to shut the fridge down and open the doors, possibly overnight, to have this melt.

• A blocked cup is generally caused by something getting spilled in the freezer or some food item getting stuck in there.
• You’ll want to get in back of the fridge, remove the light cover, the knobs, and the control cover.
• Remove the drain cup and replace it.

Your refrigerator is the kind of thing you don’t think about until it breaks down.

Knowing what to do if your freezer is leaking water can help you diagnose the problem and repair your unit while saving a few bucks.