Water Pooling At Bottom of Fridge

6.21.19

Water Pooling At Bottom of Fridge

So you have water pooling on the bottom shelf of your fridge or in the veggie/fruit crisper drawers? Well, I was in the same boat a few days ago! Chances are you have a simple issue to fix, so no need to freak out or run out and buy a new fridge! However, if after doing these simple checks and fixes, your fridge is still leaking water then you’re probably going to have to go down to Happys Appliance Outlet and get yourself a new one. Here are some common issues and fixes to try first though!

1. Clogged Defrost Tube

This is the number 1 most common issue in a leak situation. If your fridge has water pooling at the bottom, the defrost tube is your MOST likely suspect. Your defrost tube is what carries the water all the way down to the drain pan where it eventually evaporates. When working correctly, it helps make sure your fridge has a smooth defrost cycle. This tube can get clogged with ice or debris which leads to water backing up and leaking back into the fridge.

The Fix

To fix this, make a bowl of hot water–HOT, not BOILING and get a turkey baster or funnel. Your goal here is to flush away the debris or melt the ice in the tube that’s backing everything up. Flush the water into the tube until it begins to flow through to the drain pan. Voila! You have now fixed your issue. If your issue isn’t fixed, you might be looking at another problem or having to replace the defrost tube.

2. Dirty Drain Pan

Next thing to check is your fridge’s drain/drip pan. As said before, the drain pan is where the water goes from the defrost cycle to evaporate. Things like debris, bugs, and mold can dirty the pan and cause water there to back into the fridge when it doesn’t evaporate fast enough.

The Fix

A thorough cleaning should be enough to get this part back up and running. You can also purchase a new one if cleaning the old one squicks you out! Again, if this doesn’t fix your issue, you’re likely looking at something else.

3. Damaged Water Line

This is for those of you who have a fridge with a water/ice dispenser. Sometimes the water lines can break suddenly. When they do, the water can backflow and pool down at the bottom of your fridge, obviously causing a huge issue.

The Fix

With this fix, you’re going to have to purchase a new water line and install it. There’s pretty much no salvaging the part, so you HAVE to buy it. Still, though, it’s a cheaper fix than having to purchase an entire new refrigerator.

Conclusion

Though scary, there are plenty of explanations as to why your fridge has water at the bottom and not all of them mean you have to rush out and spend like, a bajillion dollars on a new fridge. If none of the issues above seem to fit, then I would recommend getting a second, professional opinion. If they can’t figure it out or it’ll cost more than it’s worth then go ahead and get yourself a fridge!