While there are several causes of a freezer leaking, the commonest is a clogged defrost drain. Let us look at the problems with their solutions.
Table of Contents
Refrigerator Is Leaking Water from Freezer – What to Do
If the refrigerator has an ice maker, open the door of the freezer section and check the ice machine. Run it through an ice-making cycle and wait for it to dump out ice into the ice bucket and water to fill the ice mold. If it does not go through this process, replace the machine.
Next, clean the door gasket with a cloth or old toothbrush and cleaning agent. Ensure you remove every trace of dirt and debris. Then, place a dollar bill on the gasket and close the freezer door. Move the bill up and down the length of the gasket and try to pull it out. The suction should not allow you to move the bill or pull it out if it is working. So, if you can move the dollar bill or pull it out, the gasket is weak and should be replaced.
After that, check the drain at the bottom back of the refrigerator. Disconnect the refrigerator from electric power and move it. Locate the drain opening inside the refrigerator and check for debris inside the drain tube. If you are not sure, pour warm water down the drain.
Go to the back, remove the drain pan, and put a small bowl under the dispensing end of the drain tube. If the water does not flow out, get a stiff wore and push the debris out of the tube. Pour more water down the tube until it runs free and clear. Then, wash and sanitize the drain pan before replacing it.
Thaw the Evaporator Coils
Check the evaporator coils behind the back cover panel inside the freezer. Unmount the screws holding it in place and remove the cover. Be aware that the evaporator fan is attached to the cover, so disconnect the wire harness before pulling out the cover.
Use a dryer or steamer to thaw the frozen evaporator coils. While doing so, take care that water does not drip from the ceiling of the freezer into the end of the dryer. Otherwise, there may be electric shock. If using a dryer is not an option, manually defrost the freezer.
Afterward, clean up any excess water inside the evaporator compartment and freezer. Then, replace the fan and cover, and reconnect the refrigerator to electric power.
If you find that your refrigerator is leaking water from the freezer, check the defrost drain and the water supply to the ice maker. When the drain is clogged, the condensate water backs up into the freezer and leaks out. And when the water supply line to the ice maker is loose or damaged, it leaks water into the freezer.
Also, warm air, laden with moisture, seeps into the freezer and condenses on the evaporator coils and other surfaces if the door seal is weak. Over time, the condensate water freezes. During the defrost cycle or door opening, the frost melts and pools inside the freezer. Eventually, it will leak down into the refrigerator or to the floor.
Leveling Problems
If the refrigerator is not level, the water will have a hard time flowing to the drain hole at the center bottom back of the freezer. Instead, it will remain stored inside the freezer. Therefore, if the drain is clean, the drain pan is clean and not cracked, and the coils are not frozen yet, the freezer keeps leaking water, then check the leveling.
Your user manual should have leveling instructions. Follow them to find the leveling feet and adjustment screws. Then, level the refrigerator and see if it fixes the leakage problem.
Freezer Leaking at Bottom – Quick Fix
Disconnect the freezer from electric power and move it to gain access to the back. You will find the drain pan under the freezer, next to the compressor. It may be filled to overflowing, thereby causing the leak. Or the pan is broken and is leaking water from the cracks.
Remove the pan and empty it if it has any content. Then, inspect it. If it is cracked, replace it. But if it is not broken, wash it under running water, rinse it thoroughly, and sanitize it with a little bleach or vinegar. Then, clean the water under the freezer and replace the pan.
Next, check the drain hose. It may have loosened from the coupler, causing water to leak. It may also have bent or cut. If the hose is loosened from the coupler, simply squeeze the holding clamp and push the drain hose back in place. Ensure the clamp faces the meeting point of the coupler and hose.
But if the hose is damaged, you may have to replace it. Another option is to clamp the hose together on either side after inserting a coupler into it. You need to take the hose along with you when purchasing a coupler so that you will get the correct size with the accompanying clamps.
If water is stored at the bottom of the freezer, unscrew the drain cover and allow the water to drain out. It will prevent leakage. Some freezers come equipped with a hose you can connect to the drain hole for easy drainage. Afterward, clean the drain with a mixture of equal parts water and bleach. Fill a syringe or baster with the mixture, pour it down the drain line, and allow it to run so that it cleans debris out.
Note: A freezer should drain when defrosting, whether it is a manual defrost or an automatic defrost. If it drains outside of these periods, something is wrong. Contact a service agent for immediate assistance.
Freezer Leaking During Defrost Cycle – Solved
If you find that your freezer is leaking during a defrost cycle, it means the defrost drain is clogged. Take a look inside the freezer to find the drain hole. Inspect it for ice or debris. If there is a layer of ice over it, open the drain plug and pour some warm water over it. You can also use a rag soaked in hot water to scrub at the ice until it melts.
Next, pour water down the drain to see if it drains into the pan or out of the freezer. If it takes too long to drain or does not drain at all, the hole is clogged with dirt. So, find a thin stiff tool, like a stiff wire, and push the debris out of the hole. Pour more water down the drain until it runs free.
Then, sanitize the drain with a water and bleach solution. Squirt the solution from a turkey baster or cooking syringe until no dirt comes out from the drain. Afterward, close the drain plug.
During the defrost cycle, the water that forms from melting ice drains out through the defrost drain. There is usually a drip pan under the fridge in fridge freezers to catch the water as it drains. Afterward, the condenser fan blows hot air over it to evaporate the water. The same happens if a freezer automatically defrosts unless you have to defrost it manually.
However, if the drain becomes clogged with dirt, ice, or both, the water from the defrost cycle will have nowhere to go. As a result, it will remain inside the freezer and slowly leak from other avenues. And if the drain pan is filled with dirt and water where applicable, it will overflow from under the freezer. The same applies if the pan has cracks.
Why Does My Freezer Ice Up and Leak?
There are a couple of reasons your freezer ices up and leaks. One reason is that there is an opening somewhere through which warm air enters, condenses on every available surface, and freezes. Another reason is that the defrost system is no longer working as it should.
Check the door seal; it may have cracks or have become loose. If it has cracks, it means it is old and can no longer keep the warm air out. It is best to replace it. Also, check the door hinges, especially if you had to remove and replace the door. The hinges may not be aligned, thereby leaving gaps for warm air to seep into the freezer. Follow the steps in the user manual for proper installation.
While fixing the door, check the door bins. If you have too many items stored in them, reduce the contents. Heavy items such as jars should go onto the top shelf. If you have to store anything in the door, keep it low so that it does not put excessive weight on the hinges and take them out of alignment.
However, if it is the defrost system that is unable to keep up with the defrost function, you need to troubleshoot and find the faulty components. Otherwise, the freezer will keep icing up and melting. Locate the defrost timer, defrost heater, and defrost thermostat. In rare cases, you may have to check the defrost control board if nothing else seems to be the problem.
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Freezer Leaking Gas – Quick Fix
It is not a common occurrence for a freezer to leak gas, even if it operates solely on gas. But if you suspect your freezer is leaking gas, disconnect it from electric power. Then, contact the manufacturing brand to report the issue and request service. You can also opt for an independent technician if the brand is no longer in business.
After that, open windows and doors in the room for proper ventilation. Turn off appliances that generate too much heat to avoid a possible explosion. Leave the room while the gas evacuates and avoid igniting a fire close to the area.
Detecting a Freezer Gas Leak
Different smells can mimic the smell of the gas that a freezer uses. So, ensure the freezer is leaking gas before employing the services of a technician. It will save you money and time.
The first tell-tale sign of a leak is that the freezer stops cooling as it should. Other factors can cause the freezer to stop cooling, and since the gas hardly leaks, you may want to check other possible causes.
Another sign is when the compressor runs without seeming to stop. It means the internal temperature is high and it is trying to make up for the lost coolness. Additionally, if you notice a spike in the electricity bill, check the freezer because it may be running all the time due to a gas leak.
You can mix some dish soap in water and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Spray it on the pipes and tubes in the freezer and check for bubbles. If you find bubbles in any location, that is where the leak is.
Freezer Leaking Brown Liquid – Solved
If you find that your freezer is leaking brown liquid, check the drain pan under it if it has one. It may be filled with dirty greasy water and is overflowing. It could also be cracked and leaking dirty water. This is especially true if you have never cleaned the pan or the area around it.
Remove the pan, if it is the removable type, and empty it. Examine it for damages. If the pan is broken, the only fix is to replace it. But if it is not broken, wash it thoroughly with soap and a soft brush. Rinse it under running water and sanitize it. Then, replace it under the freezer.
A more dire cause of leaking brown liquid is a damaged compressor. If you notice a cooling problem in the freezer at the same time as the start of the leak, it may mean that the oil in the compressor is leaking out, so it cannot cool the freezer anymore. And if that is the case, you will have to replace the compressor. But first, unplug the freezer from the wall outlet.
Note: Follow the same steps above if your freezer is leaking black liquid.
Freezer Door Leaking Air – How to Fix
Here are common causes of a freezer door that is letting cold air out and how to fix them:
1. Broken Door Seal
It is common to see that the seal on the freezer door is broken, especially if the freezer is old. Run a hand down the edge of the door to see if you feel a cold draught. If you do, the seal is loose in that spot and needs to be pushed into place. But if you feel nothing, use the dollar-bill trick and replace the seal if it cannot hold the dollar bill.
A few times, the seal ceases to work because it is too dirty. Food crumbs and spills soil it and over time, it stops adhering to the frame. If you suspect the seal is dirty, clean it using soapy water and a rag. An old toothbrush may do a better job of cleaning it because it will reach areas the rag cannot reach. But after cleaning it, wipe it with a damp cloth. You can repeat the process once or twice every week.
2. Improper Leveling
The appliance has to tilt slightly to the back for the door to close and seal. If it is completely level or tilted to the front, the door won’t fully close or seal. This part applies to fridge freezers. Therefore, check how well the unit is leveled. If necessary, adjust the leveling screws. Follow the leveling instructions in the user manual to do the job correctly.
3. Too Much Weight
Check what you store in the door bins. Heavy items add to the weight of the door and keep it from fully closing and sealing. Consequently, the gap will allow cold air to leak out of the freezer. Reduce the items in the door; store only what it can hold. Avoid putting heavy juice or milk gallons in the door. It will also affect the door hinges.
4. Misaligned Hinges
If the freezer is old, the hinges may be weak and out of alignment. And if you tend to overstuff the door bins, it will affect the hinges. In addition, if you recently removed and replaced the door, you may have misaligned it.
So, check the hinges. Old ones will be obvious and you will need to replace them. If they are not aligned, remove the door, properly align it, and fix it back again. In some cases, you may not have to remove the door entirely; you can tighten the hinges while the door is still attached.
Freezer Leaking Blue Liquid – What to Do
The source of the liquid may be condensation that is dripping off from cooper freon tubes. As complex as it sounds, it is not a cause for alarm. It is a normal process, especially if you live in a humid climate. You may want to contact an appliance technician to check the freezer and see if there is any serious issue.
It could also be the insulation inside the walls of the freezer breaking down due to age. When it breaks down, it may get saturated with moisture and flow out from under the freezer. It is usually nothing serious, though you may want to consider investing in a new freezer since this issue comes up in old appliances. You can also insulate visible and moist tubes with blow-in foam.
Freezer Leaking Green Fluid – Quick Answer
If your freezer is leaking green fluid, it may be from the freezer’s suction line. It may be wet, leading to rust appearing on the steel parts inside the cabinet. It may also lead to electrolysis with the copper tubes, hence green moss-like substance on them.
Sometimes, this problem is caused by a separation between the suction line and the capillary tube. The cap tube is the tiny copper tube soldered to a larger tube fixed to the compressor. If the two tubes separate, it may lead to wetness and green fluid. Try using zip ties to join both tubes again, and use insulation around the meeting point.
Otherwise, contact a qualified repair technician or the manufacturer of the freezer for further assistance.
Recap
A leaking freezer is a sign of a serious problem, whether it is leaking water, gas, or some other liquid. Some of the fixes are quick and easy, especially if it is just water. But if the freezer leaking problem is a gas leak, find an immediate solution for health reasons and the protection of your freezer.
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