Regardless of whether your Kenmore refrigerator is new or has been in use for a while, it may develop some basic problems. One of which can be leaking problems. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss the problem of your Kenmore refrigerator leaking and how to fix it.
Note that regardless of where you notice the leak, the solutions discussed in this article apply to them.
Table of Contents
How to Fix Kenmore Refrigerator Leaking Water
Follow the instructions below to fix the problem of your Kenmore refrigerator leaking water.
1. Level the Refrigerator
The first thing to do to stop your refrigerator from leaking water is to check if the appliance is properly leveled. The front edge of your refrigerator is meant to be slightly higher than the back. If this is not the case, your Kenmore refrigerator may begin to leak water on the floor or inside the refrigerator.
To solve this, you simply have to level the refrigerator, fortunately, this is quite easy to do.
How to Level your Kenmore Refrigerator
Follow the steps below to level your Kenmore refrigerator.
Step 1: Check below your refrigerator if it has a grille. If it does, take off the grille so you can have access to the leveling legs underneath.
Step 2: Next, locate the leveling nuts and adjust them to level the fridge. Turning them clockwise will raise the legs. While turning them counterclockwise will lower the legs.
Step 3: Stop adjusting the legs once you feel you have achieved the desired tilt. Finally, use a level to see if the fridge is properly leveled.
2. Check and Replace the Water Tank Assembly if Necessary
Open your refrigerator and locate the water tank assembly. If you are not sure of its location, then check your user’s manual for it.
Once you locate the tank, inspect it for cracks or tear. If any is found then it is possibly the cause of the leak and should be replaced.
How to replace Kenmore Refrigerator Water Tank Assembly
The following are steps to replace the water tank assembly of your Kenmore refrigerator.
Step 1: As with most repairs, the first step is to disconnect the appliance. And also turn off the water supply to the refrigerator.
Step 2: Check your manual for where the water tank is connected. The water tank assembly is often behind a cover held in place by a screw. Next, Unthread the screw and take out the cover to access the water tank assembly.
Step 3: Careful pull out the water tank and remove the tubes that are connected to it. Get the new tank assembly and reconnect the tubes back to it.
Step 4: Finally, put the water tank assembly’s cover back and screw it back on.
3. Unclog the Defrost Drain
Another common reason for water leaks in refrigerators is a clogged defrost drain. The defrost drain transfers melted water produced during the defrost cycle and sends it to the drain pan.
If clogged, the water meant to go through the drain will go back up and spew out of the appliance. To solve this problem, the drain has to be unclogged.
How to Unclog Kenmore Refrigerator Defrost Drain
Do the following to unclog the defrost drain of your Kenmore refrigerator
1. Check your user’s manual for the location of the defrost drain as its location is based on your model.
2. The first thing to do after locating the defrost drain is to clean its entrance, because debris and food particles may be stuck to it. And sometimes, using a damp cloth to clean these off may be all you need to solve the problem.
3. Mix baking soda and warm water and use a turkey baster to flush this mixture down the drain.
4. Stop flushing the mixture down the drain once it is clean. You will know the drain is clean when you hear water dripping down to the drain pan.
4. Check the Drain Pan
The drain pan is what collects the melted water after each defrost cycle. Check the drain pan to see if it is the origin of the leak. If it is, one out of the following reasons is why the drain pan is leaking
i. The drain pan is overflowing
After a defrost cycle, the compressor blows warm air over the drain pan to evaporate the water collected. However, the compressor may fail to do this role if the temperature of the fridge is set too low. Or for some other glitch that may be an indication of a more serious problem.
If the drain pan is overflowing, then it has to be manually emptied. Locate the drain pan at the bottom of the refrigerator and take it out.
Prevent the reoccurrence of this problem by ensuring your refrigerator is set to an ideal temperature. If the drain pan keeps overflowing, then, we advise you get a technician to check it out.
ii. The drain pan is not properly installed
There is a possibility that the drain pan is not properly installed if you had taken it out for cleaning. This problem is especially the case if your Kenmore refrigerator is leaking on the floor.
To solve this problem, take out the drain pan and reinstall it properly.
iii. There is a crack on the drain pan
Inspect the pan for cracks. If any is found then the pan should be replaced as repairing it is not recommended.
5. Check the Water Line
The water line supplies water to the water dispenser and ice maker from the water inlet valve. Check the water line and see if the leak is coming from it. If the water line is the cause of the leak, then it should be replaced.
Watch this video for instructions on how to replace your Kenmore refrigerator water line
Check out these other articles…
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Kitchenaid Refrigerator Leaking [Solved]
How Do I Defrost My Samsung Ice Maker? [Quick Guide]
Viking Refrigerator Leaking [How to Fix]
Bosch Refrigerator Leaking [Quick Fix]
Kenmore Refrigerator Leaking Brown Liquid – Why and What to Do
Your Kenmore refrigerator is leaking brown liquid due to one of the following:
1. The drain pan is dirty and leaking
If the drain pan is dirty and begins to leaking, the liquid will be dark-colored. The pan may be overflowing. In this case, take it out, clean it, and reinstall it.
Inspect the pan for cracks, if any is found. then the drain should be replaced.
2. The compressor is leaking
Check the leak and if it looks oily then it is most likely from the compressor. If the compressor is leaking, call a repair technician to take a look at it.
Replacing or repairing the compressor may be very expensive while getting a new refrigerator may be more cost-effective.
Kenmore Refrigerator Leaking Water from Water Dispenser – Solution
The most common reason your Kenmore refrigerator is leaking from the water dispenser is trapped air in the water line. This is because, when air is trapped in the water line, the pressure will build up and cause water to drip out of the dispenser.
To stop the leak, the trapped air has to be released. Release the trapped air by doing the following:
i. Place a bowl under the dispenser.
ii. Dispense about 3 gallons of water to force out the trapped air.
Note to always do this after each filter change. This is because the air tends to get trapped in the water line during a filter change. Also, if the water dispenser keeps on leaking, try out the solutions in the section above. You can also read this article for more information on this topic.
Kenmore Water Inlet Valve Leaking – What to Do
The water inlet valve supplies water to the whole refrigerator from the main water supply. To shut off, the inlet valve requires about 20 psi. However, if the psi is below 20, the inlet valve will not close properly.
Also, if the valve is defective, it may stay open and cause water to leak. The water inlet valve has to be replaced in this case.
How to Replace Kenmore Refrigerator Water Inlet Valve
Follow the instructions below to replace the water inlet valve of your Kenmore refrigerator
Step 1: Disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply and turn off the water supply.
Step 2: Adjust the refrigerator so you can have access to the back. Take out the nuts holding the water line in place.
Step 3: With a Philip screwdriver, remove the screws holding the back panel in place. Then take off the back panel.
Step 4: Locate the inlet valve and disconnect the water lines and bracket connected to it.
Take out the blue tube, and then the mounting bracket, and finally the remaining water lines. Now the valve is completely free, take it out.
Step 5: Get the new inlet valve and connect the water lines and bracket to it. Finally, reassemble the refrigerator by doing the steps in reverse.
Kenmore Refrigerator Leaking Water from Ice Maker – Solution
If your Kenmore refrigerator is leaking water from the ice maker then the first place you have to check is the water inlet valve. If the water inlet valve is leaking, the water may come out from the ice maker. In this case, the inlet has to be replaced, the above section contains instructions for how to replace your Kenmore refrigerator inlet valve.
If the water inlet valve is not the cause of the leak, then a part of the ice maker assembly may be faulty. The fill tube is the most common cause of a leaking ice maker. So check and replace that if necessary.
How to Replace Kenmore Refrigerator Ice Maker Fill Tube
To replace the fill tube of your Kenmore refrigerator ice maker, do the following steps:
Step one: Disconnect the refrigerator and shut off the water supply.
Step two: Open the freezer. Use a nut driver to remove the nuts holding the ice maker in place.
Step three: Take out the ice maker to gain access to the fill tube. Take off the extension on the fill tube.
Step four: Detach the water line from the fill tube at the back of the refrigerator.
Step five: Go to the front of the refrigerator and take out the fill tube. Remove the gasket on the tube and place it on the new fill tube.
Step six: Install the fill tube and reassemble your appliance by doing the steps in reverse order.
If the ice maker keeps leaking after this, then some other part of the assembly may be faulty. At this point, we advise that you take out the whole ice maker assembly and replace it with a new one.
Kenmore Side by Side Refrigerator Water Filter Leaking – How to Solve
The following are the most common reasons your Kenmore refrigerator water filter is leaking and how to solve them.
1. The Water Filter Head is Damaged
Remove the water filter and check the head. The seal may be missing or torn. The water filter has to be replaced if this is the case.
2. The Water Filter is not Compatible with Your Refrigerator
Chances are the water filter may not fit properly in the filter housing if it is not made for your refrigerator. Therefore, always ensure you get the right water filter for your refrigerator.
3. The Water Filter was not Properly Installed
If you recently changed your water filter then you may not have installed it properly. Uninstall the filter and reinstall it to fix the leak. Read this article for how to properly install your Kenmore refrigerator water filter.
4. There’s Air Trapped in the Water Line
After each filter change, there is the likelihood of air getting trapped in the water line. Dispense about 3 gallons of water to flush out the air, always ensure to do this after each filter change.
5. The Water Filter Housing has a Crack
Inspect the water filter housing for cracks. And replace the filter housing if you find any crack in it.
How to Replace the Water Filter Housing of a Kenmore Refrigerator
Do the following to replace the water filter housing of your Kenmore refrigerator
1. Disconnect the refrigerator and shut off the water supply.
2. Remove the water filter by turning it counterclockwise.
3. Next, unthread the screws holding the water filter housing in place. And carefully pull out the housing to release its locking tab.
4. Disconnect the water line on the back of the refrigerator with an open-end wrench.
5. Next, disconnect the water line connected to the filter housing.
6. Put the new filter housing and connect the water line to it. Then go to the back of the refrigerator and reconnect the water lines to the valve.
7. Finally, screw the filter housing back on and replace the water filter.
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