Refrigerators have become an integral part of life, and its breakdown causes a lot of trouble. One of the most common breakdowns is when the unit begins to leak. A puddle may form under or inside the device. If it continues to function normally, you need to figure out why the refrigerator is leaking. Most often, the problem is not too serious and can be easily fixed on your own or with the help of a specialist.
Why is there a puddle under the refrigerator?
There may be other sources of water in the kitchen, next to the refrigerator. For example, a sink, dishwasher or washing machine. The water could have simply been spilled. Therefore, you should not panic prematurely as soon as you notice a fresh puddle under the refrigerator. Arm yourself with a flashlight and try to determine the source of the leak.
Make sure that the puddle on the floor is caused by the refrigerator. In the event that the refrigerator is leaking, and not the contents in it, we move on to the next stage: determining the causes and methods of eliminating them.
How to avoid such problems
To prevent water from accumulating in the refrigerator and leaking onto the floor, it must be used correctly. There are several recommendations for use:
- do not leave the door open, make sure it is sealed;
- food should be in containers so that crumbs do not fall into the drainage hole;
- do not place open containers with liquid inside, as it will evaporate;
- put only cold foods inside;
- When defrosting, do not use sharp objects to break off ice, as this may damage the freon tubes;
- do not touch the door seal when opening, periodically treat it with silicone grease;
- monitor the cleanliness of the internal chambers.
If water appears in the refrigerator or on the floor next to it, you need to determine the cause as soon as possible. It is recommended to defrost the equipment and find the problem. In the event that it is impossible to fix the problem yourself, be sure to call a specialist. If this is not done in time, it will lead to more serious damage to the device.
What to do if the refrigerator is leaking
As a rule, an external inspection allows you to notice a leak. But figuring out what the reason is is sometimes more difficult.
First, you need to carefully inspect the refrigerator. Much depends on the type of refrigerator. There are two main ones, namely:
- Drip defrosting system.
Representatives of this type are characterized by a common problem - the accumulation of fluid on the back wall. The principle of their operation looks like this: the evaporator is located behind the rear wall of the chamber. When the refrigerator is running, this element, as well as the back wall, becomes covered with frost. Having reached the set temperature, the cooling cycle stops, and the evaporator and the rear wall heat up, which leads to the melting of the frost. The water formed at this moment flows into a special hole located at the bottom of the chamber. After which all the liquid enters a special reservoir through a hose. This is where complete evaporation occurs. It is located above the compressor (most often), or next to it. - No Frost system.
The evaporator in such systems is located in the freezer. A special fan forces air from the freezer and refrigerator compartments into circulation. Passing through the evaporator, the air is cooled and supplied through special channels to the products. The process of temperature adjustment occurs using a damper that is activated automatically when the desired degree is reached.
It is easier to deal with leaks if you know the type of freezer. Knowing the type of system, it is much easier to figure out why the refrigerator is leaking.
Above
With a drip defrosting system, water can indeed flow from above (or rather from behind the refrigerator). The reason may be a simple blockage or a disconnected drain tube. Check if it is securely fastened.
If the defrosting system is drip, the refrigerator may leak from above.
Inside
Often, due to improper placement of the refrigerator or a damaged seal, warm air can get inside the chamber. This leads to increased operation of the cooling system, defrosting of food and the appearance of moisture at the bottom of the chamber. And since it has nowhere to go, it flows onto the floor.
Due to increased moisture, the refrigerator may leak from the middle.
Inside and underneath the refrigerator
For the same reasons why water accumulates inside the chambers, it can also be seen under the refrigerator itself. Having noticed a puddle and made sure that the reason is in the refrigerator, you need to check a number of possible causes of the breakdown, which will be discussed further.
Most often, water is noticed when it has already accumulated under the refrigerator.
Evaporator failure
Sometimes it happens that a refrigerator with a no frost system leaks. The peculiarity of this technique is that the resulting moisture settles on the evaporator, forming ice. It periodically heats up and water is discharged through a drainage tube into the tank.
Thanks to this, there is no humidity inside No Frost refrigerators. If water suddenly appears under such a device, the evaporator may be faulty. For example, the heating element or fan is broken. The evaporator does not remove the resulting moisture; it freezes on the inner walls and flows out. At the same time, there will be a lot of ice in the freezer and a puddle on the floor. Only a specialist can fix such a breakdown.
Evaporator failure
Reasons why a refrigerator may leak
Among the many reasons, there are the most common ones. Alas, even expensive models of these household appliances are prone to breakdowns. Some of them are quite easy to fix on your own, without resorting to the services of specialists. Especially if you have a good understanding of how the equipment works.
You can try to figure out why your refrigerator is leaking on your own. Let's figure out what causes most often occur, their symptoms and methods of elimination.
The drain pipe is disconnected
This is a common reason why water leaks from the bottom of the refrigerator. The symptoms are as follows: there is no ice or frost in the chamber. The refrigerator compartment is also dry. But moisture (puddle) forms under the refrigerator. Most often, the tube comes off when moving the refrigerator, in other words, mechanical disconnection due to negligence.
Disconnection of such a tube often causes a leak. Try moving the receiver with your hand. For convenience, you can move the refrigerator. If the problem is fixed, but the water stops appearing, then there is no need to call a technician. Otherwise, read on.
In this case, you just need to put the handset back in place.
The fluid reservoir is broken
Finding out that this is the problem is quite simple. The main signs are dryness inside the refrigerator, and water outside at the bottom. To fix the problem, you need to move the equipment so that you can get as close as possible to the fluid reservoir and inspect it.
Carefully inspect the fluid pan or reservoir. Cracks and other mechanical damage will be immediately visible. In this case, it is better to seek qualified help to replace the tank.
The evaporator heater is broken
Among the main signs of this breakdown is significant icing inside the refrigerator and freezer compartments. Most water accumulates under equipment. A broken evaporator heater causes excessive water to accumulate underneath it. Reservoirs in No Frost systems are not designed to hold a large volume of liquid, and therefore the residue will flow down. You can't do it without a master.
Failure of this element is the likely cause of a refrigerator leak.
The drain hole in the freezer compartment is clogged
Detecting the problem is quite simple: a lot of icing inside the freezer. And the water flows straight from the chamber onto the floor. The hole itself is located inside, under the body. And although cleaning it does not require special skills, you will have to get to it. And this can only be done by removing the housing.
A clogged drain hole in the freezer is characterized by icing.
The drain hole in the refrigerator compartment is clogged
In this case, liquid accumulation occurs in the refrigerator compartment, mainly under the drawers for storing fruits and vegetables. Ignoring the problem leads to a significant accumulation of fluid, which eventually leaks through the seal.
With such a blockage, water will collect under the fruit boxes. The blockage is cleared using a syringe. We sharply inject water into the drainage hole to push out particles of dirt or other blockages. In the future, try not to store unwashed food in the refrigerator.
The door does not fit tightly
In this case, water can appear both outside and inside. This happens because air leaks through the opening in the seal. Due to the difference in temperature, excess moisture forms, and since the system freezes more intensely, condensation quickly turns into frost. The next time warm air enters the chamber, the reverse process occurs.
Leaving the refrigerator not completely closed can also cause a leak. You need to adjust the door hinges and level the refrigerator. But sometimes the seal needs to be replaced. It can be purchased separately and glued with sealant in place of the old one.
You need to position the equipment so that the door closes tightly.
The refrigerator is not positioned correctly
The floor is not always perfectly level. That is why the legs of the refrigerator can be adjusted. Otherwise, the door will not fit tightly enough and problems with moisture accumulation and excessive energy consumption will arise. To level it perfectly, you will need a building level. It should be level in all positions of the level: crosswise, along the width and length of the top cover.
The refrigerator must be installed so that it stands perfectly level.
The seal on the door is damaged
The seal may become compressed in places during operation. For example, if you are closing the refrigerator and did not notice that a foreign object has fallen below between the door and the frame. In this case, the door will close because the seal will shrink.
If damaged frequently, the seal may become detached from the seal door. But if the action described above is repeated frequently, the rubber of the seal may not fully return to its previous position. In this case, there is only one way out - a complete replacement of the seal.
You will need:
- remove traces of glue after removing the old seal (you can use fine-grained sandpaper);
- degrease the surface, wipe it dry for better adhesion;
- apply sealant to the surface of the new seal and the place of its future fixation;
- press tightly and fix for a few minutes.
If necessary, you can replace the seal yourself.
It is better to remove the remaining sealant immediately; in the future you will have to clean it for a long time with a stationery knife, and there is a risk of damaging the paint of the door.
Freon leak
This phenomenon is found everywhere in refrigerators. It manifests itself in the fact that it simply cools worse and worse. A characteristic hissing sound appears, as if compressed air is escaping. It will not be possible to pump in freon yourself and repair the crack through which it escaped. This requires special equipment and skill.
If freon leaks, the refrigerator will begin to freeze slightly.
The thermostat is broken
The thermostat activates the compressor when certain temperatures inside the chamber are reached. If it does not perform its function, then the compressor will not turn on at all.
If the thermostat breaks down, the compressor will not turn on. You can check it with a special tester. But it is better to turn to professionals, since this service is not expensive and can be quickly corrected.
The technician can check its serviceability with a special tester.
How to fix the problem
The methods listed above for identifying and eliminating problems are relevant in most cases. But sometimes you need the help of a qualified specialist, since you need to use special equipment.
In case of some breakdowns, you cannot do without a specialist. Serious breakdowns require replacement, usually complete, of the failed part. But sometimes everything gets done with cleaning, repair, restoration. If brown liquid is leaking from under the refrigerator:
- Test it by touch. This could be remnants of melted sealant or debris from the filter. In this case, the liquid will be sticky.
- If the liquid looks like oil, then call a professional. After all, this can occur due to the appearance of microcracks in the compressor housing.
Parts may need to be professionally replaced. More serious damage is immediately visible: loss of cooling capacity, failure to turn on the engine, strong knocking and noise during operation. Here you need to call a technician to fix the problem.
Problems with the seal
Over time, the door seal becomes less tight and reliable.
Whenever warm air enters the refrigerator, the water inside melts and frost forms on the walls. As a result, the food on the bottom shelf becomes frozen. Melt water accumulates mainly under the bottom drawers and under the refrigerator. In this case, the seal needs to be replaced.
General rules for caring for a refrigerator
In order for your refrigerator to serve for a long time, you need to adhere to some, perhaps obvious, rules. Among them:
- defrost and clean the refrigerator every few months;
- do not put dirty food in it, as this may clog the drainage in the refrigerator compartment;
- always close the door tightly;
- Pay attention to operational problems, even if they are minor.
It is important to systematically clean and clean the refrigerator.
Even the smallest malfunction can lead to serious technical failures. Fix minor problems in a timely manner!
Clogged drain hole in the refrigerator compartment
A less hysterical malfunction, but in first place in popularity. It is not difficult to detect the problem and fix it. The accumulation of ice floes and various crumbs clog the hole and prevent the liquid from draining.
You need to remove all debris around the hole and use warm water, under low pressure, to blow out the drainage hole. It is unacceptable to use wire or similar objects, so as not to aggravate the situation. Again, if in doubt, it is better to call a specialist.
Oil leak from compressor
Sometimes you can find an incomprehensible dirty slurry under the refrigerator. This is most likely not water, but oil from a faulty compressor. The element body may be damaged (crack, corrosion) and oil will run under the refrigerator. You can temporarily seal the crack with a sealant, but it's best to leave this to the professionals.
The thermostat is broken
To ensure that the compressor turns on and off on time, the refrigerator is equipped with a thermostat. If this element breaks, the ice will slowly defrost and accumulate in the unit as condensation. Some models, such as Atlant, Bosch or Stinol, are equipped with several thermostats. You can't fix a broken regulator yourself. It needs to be changed, so it is better to call a repairman.
You can tell that the thermostat is faulty by hearing. The compressor runs constantly or switches off from time to time.
Leak prevention
Refrigeration equipment is one of the most important devices in the home. The problem will have to be solved quickly, and in some cases repairs are associated with significant financial costs. Do not ignore situations when liquid leaks from under the refrigerator. The occurrence of a leak is a danger signal, evidence that negative processes are occurring within the system.
We list preventive measures that will help you save on repairs:
- laying out products at a certain distance from the inner walls (3-5 cm is enough);
- regular cleaning and washing of sections;
- lack of habit of placing hot foods in the chamber;
- annual defrosting (this is done more often if there is a snow coat);
- tracking the tightness of the doors.
When replacing a compressor or thermostat, a technician must be called (such operations are performed by professionals). You shouldn't joke with dry freezing either - attempts to repair it yourself will lead to disastrous consequences. Regular leaks are a reason to contact a specialist.
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Source
The liquid drain tube has come loose
Description. There is a puddle under the refrigerator that appears again as soon as you wipe it off. The reason is the failure of the drainage structure (loose attachment of the tube, its damage during transportation or during use).
Solution. The tube must be brought to the initially specified position. It's pretty simple. It will take a couple of minutes to connect it to a special container. If the problem persists, you need to inspect the device for integrity. There may be a crack in the tube. In such a situation, the part will need to be replaced. It is better to entrust this matter to an experienced specialist.
Thermostat doesn't work
Description. The refrigerator completely stops working. An impressive puddle forms under it.
Solution. This problem is classified as serious. It occurs quite often, and its elimination requires a lot of time and effort. In addition, to eliminate such a problem, significant financial expenditures will be required. Repairs are not possible here. The damaged mechanism needs to be replaced. Experts do not recommend doing this on your own. So, among other things, you will need to hire a specialist.
No frost system
Description. The cause of the leak is a faulty evaporator heating element. A small amount of ice appears on the inside surface of the refrigerator, which, when melted, contributes to the accumulation of moisture under the fruit and vegetable drawers. Some water can also be seen on the floor.
Solution. This issue is not intended to be a self-fix. By interfering, you can only make things worse. Submit a request to call a technician as soon as possible. Only a specialist can eliminate such a breakdown.
Preliminary control
First, check whether the device is turned on and whether water has appeared from a leak in the washing machine or sink. If you are convinced that there are no extraneous factors, then consider the following possible causes of failure and ways to solve them.
Important! Before starting any repair work, disconnect the device from electricity.
