Why is my Refrigerator Leaking Water? (2023 Guide)

Dec 16, 2023

While the small puddle under your refrigerator could be as harmless as a melted ice cube, it's crucial to investigate the issue to ensure your appliance isn't damaged. If your fridge is leaking water on the floor, you should take steps to resolve the issue immediately to prevent water stains on your floor and structural damage to your home.

To get your refrigerator back in working order, read on to learn about common causes of refrigerator leaks, options for repairs and how you can prevent future issues with a quality home warranty.

There are a few reasons refrigerators leak. While the issue can be as simple as the tilt of your refrigerator, the root cause can be more serious. Here are five common reasons why your refrigerator might be leaking.

While most items in your home should be level with the floor, your refrigerator isn't one of them. It should have a slight backward tilt to ensure the door closes and the coolant runs properly. If you’ve moved your fridge or completed a kitchen floor renovation, it may not be tilted correctly.

To check, place a level atop your fridge, perpendicular to its doors. If the bubble isn't moving slightly to the left, your fridge isn't at the right angle. To fix the issue, follow these steps:

A frozen water supply line is only an issue for refrigerators with ice makers or water dispensers. If your refrigerator has these features, the water line running through them may be clogged or frozen. Various factors can cause this issue, including improper freezer temperature or broken door gaskets.

To check whether your refrigerator is experiencing this issue, follow these steps:

Note: If you’re unsure how to shut off your water or remove the supply line, contact a trusted plumber. Incorrectly replacing your line can cause serious damage that leaves you with a bigger mess than you began with. While waiting for the plumber to arrive, you can still use your fridge with the water supply connection turned off.

Your refrigerator's drain pan collects some of the water it naturally leaks, helping to prevent floor damage and slipping. Typically, this pan is durable plastic, but drain holes or cracks can develop over time. If your refrigerator is leaking water from the bottom, check whether your drain pan is damaged by following these steps:

There's an opening inside your freezer compartment that allows humid air to escape. According to Amy Wampler, CEO of HVAC and refrigeration company Spartan Mechanical, an overstuffed freezer compartment can block the defrost drain. She added that a stuffed freezer also forces your refrigerator's coils to work harder, thus adding extra condensation build-up that can't drain out. To see if this is the reason for your fridge leaking, Wampler advised to follow these steps:

A common problem for refrigerators is a defective ice maker. Typically, the problem stems from a simple ice jam. Review these steps to see how you can identify issues with your ice maker.

Fixing a refrigerator leak is a simple do-it-yourself (DIY) project for many homeowners, according to Wampler. She explained, however, that once you’ve exhausted your repair knowledge and still see a leak, it might be time to call a professional. She said, "It should be done promptly so that one simple water issue doesn't get aggravated into something disastrous."

If you notice an oily substance leaking from your refrigerator, contact a service professional immediately. The substance, known as freon, keeps your fridge cool but is toxic and may cause health issues.

For many homeowners, a refrigerator is an essential item that should be covered under a home warranty. While almost all home warranty providers offer a plan that protects refrigerators, most plans require you to have coverage before an item breaks down.

Below are a few home warranty options you should consider if you want to protect your refrigerator and other essential items. All pricing information is pulled from sample quotes obtained for a single-family home under 5,000 square feet in Coral Gables, Fla. Your quote may vary based on the square footage of your home and your selected coverage, so we recommend getting customized quotes from multiple providers.

Provider

Monthly Cost*

Service Call Fee**

States Covered

American Home Shield

$34.99–$79.99

$75–$125

49

AFC Home Club

$43.75–$75

$75–$125

49

Liberty Home Guard

$49.99–$59.99

$65–$125

48

*Range shows the least expensive plan to the most expensive plan.**A service fee is a one-time payment typically between $60 and $125, with some fees as high as $150. This fee covers your service and is typically paid directly to your service contractor.

American Home Shield offers customers three plans, two of them providing refrigerator coverage. The company's ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum plans cover components and parts in your refrigerator, dishwasher and other major appliances. AHS caps coverage at $3,000 per item for its ShieldGold Plan and $6,000 per item for its ShieldPlatinum Plan.

Learn more: American Home Shield review

America's 1st Choice Home Club (AFC Home Club) offers comprehensive coverage through four home warranty plans. Three of its plans — the Silver Plan, Gold Plan and Platinum Plan — cover major appliances and systems, including your refrigerator. Many homeowners choose AFC Home Club because of its lifetime workmanship guarantee.

Learn more: AFC Home Club review

Liberty Home Guard is popular with many homeowners for its extensive list of optional add-ons its 60-day workmanship guarantee per completed repair. Of the provider's three plans, Appliance Guard and Total Home Guard protect your home's major appliances, including the refrigerator, garbage disposal and dishwasher. However, it's important to note that though Liberty Home Guard covers refrigerators that break down due to normal wear and tear, each policy has a $2,000 maximum limits per covered item.

Learn more: Liberty Home Guard review

Refrigerator leaks are common. Whether your refrigerator is tilting too far forward or its drain pan is damaged, most issues can be resolved through simple DIY repairs. However, if you don't feel comfortable messing with your refrigerator's plumbing or key components, it's best to call a professional.

Professional appliance repair services can resolve your issue in no time, taking the stress of identifying and resolving the issue off your to-do list. To give you peace of mind that your refrigerator and other appliances will be taken care of in the future, we recommend a home warranty to help protect your budget against costly problems. A comprehensive warranty from a quality provider like American Home Shield makes repairs convenient and saves you money on out-of-pocket repair costs.

The average repair cost for a refrigerator is between $200 and $330, according to HomeAdvisor. The price depends on various factors, including what needs to be replaced and how labor-intensive the repair is.

It is worth it to fix a leaking refrigerator. Most leaks can be fixed with simple DIY repairs, such as replacing the drain pan or correcting the tilt of your refrigerator. However, if your fridge is leaking water inside or out after a few repair attempts, it may be worth calling a professional to see if you need to replace the unit.

According to the United States Department of Energy, the average life expectancy of a refrigerator is approximately 12 years.

Our team created a comprehensive rating system to rank providers based on objective factors. We researched each company by speaking with company representatives, reading sample contracts, and analyzing and comparing consumer reviews. We deepened our research by gaining homeowner insights through surveys and focus groups.

After collecting data, we scored each provider in the following categories: plan options, cost, trustworthiness, customer service, state availability, additional benefits and coverage specifics.

Jesus Sanchez Garcia is a writer specializing in home warranties and related insurance products. He holds a particular interest in research and understanding his readers, and he has facilitated focus groups to gain deeper insight into homeowners’ needs. Jesus has a bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing. In his spare time, Jesus can be found cheering on Arsenal or spending time with his cat, Nevi.

Rebekah Young is an editor with a decade of experience in educational content and editing. Before joining the Guides Home Team to focus on home services content, she guided content strategy and edited in the insurance, venture capital, financial and health care fields. Rebekah has a bachelor's degree in communication and English.