Whether due to unexpected damage or natural wear and tear, a leaking fridge is a problem many households experience at one time or another. If you're dealing with this issue, there's no need to fret. We've highlighted the common causes in this article - and, of course, how to fix them too.
For any fridge spare parts that you might need throughout the following steps, head to our fridge and freezer spares selection to find what you're looking for.
How to fix a leaking fridge step by step
Let's get started with our step by step guide on how to fix a leaking fridge. Simply follow the how-to video or the step by step guide below.
Safety first!
Before you attempt to repair or alter your fridge, make sure that you've switched it off and disconnected it from the mains for your own safety.
Cause 1: Door Seal
Door seals (also known as gaskets) are a component that we often overlook, but they are vital for your fridge's performance nonetheless. Without a working door seal, warm air can end up seeping inside your fridge and/or freezer, causing the appliance to work harder than required and resulting in leakages. Let's take a look at how you can fix that.
Step 1: Check your door seal's cleanliness
Check if your door seal is clean. If there is a build-up of grime, food and debris, this could be preventing your seal from closing properly. If so, simply give it a good clean. We've got a huge collection of fridge and freezer cleaners to deal with just about any spill or stain.
Step 2: Check for other damage
If your door seal is clean, check for any damage such as tears or wearing. If there is any other damage, or it is still not working properly, you may need to purchase a new door seal which you can find here on our website.
Step 3: Remove the old seal
If you need to replace your fridge door seal and have a replacement at the ready, you will want to remove the old seal. Certain fridge models will allow you to pull the old seal away. However, you may need to use a tool or a knife if the seal is well attached, so take extra care during this step.
Step 4: Fit the new seal
Once the old seal has been removed, attach the new one into place. Just make sure you order the correct seal for your fridge. You can usually find the make and model number of your fridge on an internal wall or behind the vegetable drawer.
Cause 2: Uneven Fridge
If your door seal is fine but your fridge door is still not closing properly and leaking, the issue may be the positioning of your fridge. This can cause serious issues and often render it unusable until the issue is fixed, so you'll need to make the fridge level again. This is done by adjusting the feet.
Step 1: Tilt the fridge back
First, you're going to need to tilt your fridge back to reach the feet. You can either lean it against the wall, have a friend hold it back or push the fridge back and place some kind of sturdy block beneath it to keep it tilted.
Step 2: Adjust the feet
You can then turn the feet to adjust their level manually to a point where your fridge is no longer tilting forwards. You will be able to turn most feet with your fingers, but a few models may require a screwdriver for this. Once you've done this, you can un-tilt your fridge.
Cause 3: Drainage
Another common issue that can cause a leaky fridge is drainage faults. Moisture builds up each time the fridge door is opened. This moisture should be condensed onto the back wall before being drained through a rear drain hole and working its way into the evaporator tray. If your fridge is leaking, it means it is not carrying out this function properly.
Step 1: Unblock the drain hole
Locate the drain hole at the back of your fridge and try unblocking any food or debris clogging it up. You can use a fridge drain hole cleaning tool for this - some fridges come with one, but you can also get hold of one here.
Step 2: Check the rear tubing and tray
If you're still having leakage issues, check the rear tubing at the back of your fridge. If the evaporation tray has any cracks or damage, you will likely need to replace it. Also, check any visible hosing and make sure it is not out of place and dripping onto the floor. Again, if there is any damage to the hose, you will need to replace it with a new one. As mentioned earlier, you can find all of these spares on our online shop.
Cause 4: Defrosting
Another cause of leaking is a build-up of ice in your freezer, preventing the door from closing. If your freezer is suffering from excess ice, simply do the following:
Step 1: Defrost your freezer
If you have a manual defrost freezer, you'll need to defrost it once every six months or so. If you have an auto-defrost freezer, an element will turn on every six hours or so to remove any ice build-up which will go down the drain hole.
For help with how to defrost your fridge freezer, take a look at our video:
Cause 5: Water and Ice Dispenser
Finally, if your fridge freezer has a water or ice dispenser, you'll want to check the hosing used to transport the water from the mains to the fridge. There are usually three hoses:
- One inlet hose that runs from your mains water supply into the top of the fridge.
- One that runs from the bottom of the water dispenser to the bottom of the door.
- One that runs from the bottom of the door into the evaporation tray.
Step 1: Check the hoses
Check all of the hoses for any signs of damage, cracks or leaks. If you find any damage, the hose(s) will need replacing. You'll also want to check all of the pipe connections. If there are any leaks here, the connections will need tightening.
Hopefully, now that you've carried out all of these checks, your fridge should no longer be leaking.
Caring for and maintaining your fridge
While there are a variety of issues that can occur with a fridge, some come down to simple cleanliness. By keeping your fridge clean and dirt-free, you can prevent it from developing a fault, help save money on energy bills and help it last for longer. Be sure to give the inside a deep clean, vacuum the coils at the back of your fridge (if you have them) and keep the outside clean too.
If your fridge develops any further faults, we have a range of fridge and freezer articles on fixing and maintaining your appliance as well as spare parts and accessories to get it back up and running again.
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