Is your Westinghouse refrigerator leaking water inside or underneath the unit? Then read this article. We will discuss the most common reasons this problem occurs and how to fix it. What to do if your Westinghouse refrigerator is leaking black tar is also discussed here.
Westinghouse Refrigerator Leaking – How to Fix
This section discusses the solutions to the most common reasons for a leaking Westinghouse refrigerator. Note that these solutions are explained in very easy-to-follow steps. However, some of the repairs may get complex at some point. In such a case, we advise that you contact a service technician to prevent damaging your unit.
1. Inspect the Water Filter Area
If your refrigerator springs a leak, the first thing to look out for is the origin of the leak. If your Westinghouse fridge is leaking water inside, and your model has its water filter inside the unit then that should be your first checkpoint.
If you confirm that the leak is from the water filter area, then do the following to solve the problem.
i. Replace the Water Filter O-Ring
The o-ring is on top of the filter and ensures that the filter fits snugly against the filter housing. If the ring is missing or worn-out, then the filter will be loose and result in a leak. Therefore, remove the filter and assess the o-ring.
If it is damaged or missing, then the filter o-ring has to be replaced to solve the problem.
ii. Replace the Water Filter
The filter should be replaced if it has been in use for longer than the recommended duration. This is because, over time, the water filter gets clogged up. And the clog will cause the filter to leak. Cleaning the filter is not advisable so do not attempt this.
Finally, if the filter is not the right fit for your unit, it will leak from not staying fit in the housing. So, remove the filter and replace it with one compatible with your refrigerator.
iii. Uninstall and Reinstall the Water Filter
There is always a likelihood of the water filter not being properly installed. Especially if your unit is new as you may be unused to the peculiarity of installing the water filter.
In this case, consult your user’s manual for how to install a Westinghouse refrigerator water filter. And then, uninstall and reinstall the filter properly to solve the problem.
iv. Replace the Water Filter Housing
If the water filter keeps leaking then the filter housing may have a crack. Therefore, take out the filter and inspect the housing. If any damage is found on the housing then it should be removed and replaced.
To remove the old filter housing; first, take out the water filter. And then unthread the screws holding the filter housing in place.
2. Unclog the Drainage Tube
The drainage tube carries condensate water to the drain pan underneath. If your Westinghouse refrigerator is leaking underneath then the tube may be clogged. Food particles, ice, and other debris can clog the tube and cause it to overflow.
If this is the case, simply thawing or unclogging the tube will solve the problem. More often than not, you can unclog the tube without the help of a professional.
How to Unclog Westinghouse Refrigerator Drainage Tube
Do the following to unclog the drainage tube of your Westinghouse refrigerator:
Step 1: Disconnect the appliance from the power supply to ensure safety.
Step 2: Since the location of the drainage tube opening is peculiar to models, you need to locate that of your model. You can use your manual to find out the tube’s opening location.
Or you can also check the most common places which the drainage tube opening is often located. These common places are, under the drawers, the back of the refrigerator of the floor of the freezer.
If you have difficulty locating the tube, we recommend you get the help of a repair technician.
Step 3: Once you locate the tube’s opening, check what is causing the blockage. If it is ice; you may defrost the fridge, this article will show you how to do that.
Or you may set a hairdryer to the lowest degree and melt off the ice.
Step 4: If other debris like food is what is clogging the tube then get a drain cleaning tool. Insert the tool into the drainage hole and remove the clog.
Step 5: Finally, use a turkey baster to flush warm water down the tube and clean it completely. Do this until the tube is clean or until you hear water running into the drain pan.
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Note: If the drainage tube keeps getting iced, then you may have a faulty drain heater. The drain hater has the job of preventing ice buildup in the tube. Therefore, call a service technician to replace the heater.
3. Check the Drain Pan
The drain pan can be the reason your Westinghouse refrigerator is leaking if it is damaged, overflowing or the refrigerator is not properly leveled.
The drain pan is located at the back bottom of the refrigerator, so remove the back access panel and locate the pan. Check to see if the pan is so full it is overflowing, if it is, take it out and empty it.
However, the pan overflowing is abnormal and may be an indication of a more serious problem. This is because the water in the pan is supposed to be automatically evaporated by the compressor. Therefore, consult a repair technician if the pan keeps overflowing.
Take out the pan and inspect it for damages if the pan is not overflowing. The pan should be replaced if you find any crack or leak in it.
Water may spill out of the pan before it gets evaporated if the refrigerator is not properly leveled. Use a carpenter’s level to check the refrigerator. If it is not leveled, then level it to solve the problem.
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How to Level Westinghouse Refrigerator
The following steps will guide you on how to level your Westinghouse refrigerator in minutes:
Step 1: First, take off the grille below as this will make the leveling legs accessible to you. Depending on your model, you may or may not need a screwdriver to remove the grille. Also, some models do not have a grille, so skip this step if yours doesn’t.
Step 2: Now that you can access the legs, use an adjustable wrench to adjust them. Turning it clockwise will raise the legs while turning it anticlockwise will lower them.
Step 3: Adjust the legs until the refrigerator is properly leveled. Now, use a level to ensure you have done it right.
Step 4: Finally, Put the grille back in place.
4. Replace the Water Inlet Valve
The water inlet valve supplies water to all parts of the refrigerator by opening. The valve can become stuck open if it is defective or if the water pressure is too low. This will ultimately result in your Westinghouse refrigerator leaking underneath.
The first thing to do if the leak is traced to the inlet valve is to check the water pressure. You may use a water pressure regulator to do this. The water pressure should be a minimum of 20 psi to ensure the proper operation of the valve.
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If a pressure regulator is not available, then you can do the following to test the water pressure:
i. Switch off the water supply and disconnect the water line from the valve.
ii. Then hold the water line over a bucket and turn the water supply back on.
iii. If the water jets out strongly then the pressure is okay, if the flow is low then the water pressure is low.
Despite the method applied, the water supply line should be checked and replaced if the water pressure is low. If changing the line does not solve the problem then the water source should be changed.
If the water pressure checks out then the inlet valve is defective and should be replaced.
How to Replace Westinghouse Refrigerator Water Inlet Valve
The following steps will guide you on how to replace your Westinghouse refrigerator water inlet valve:
Step 1: Unplug the refrigerator to avoid electrocution and shut off the water supply.
Step 2: Turn the refrigerator from the wall to have full access to the back of the appliance.
Step 3: Disconnect the water line from the valve using an open-end wrench. Next, remove the screws holding the back panel in place and take it off.
Step 4: With the back panel removed, locate the water inlet valve and unthread the screws holding the valve in place. Next, carefully pull out the valve.
Step 5: Now, disconnect the wire harness connected to the valve. You may use a small flat head screwdriver to pop the wire harness out.
Step 6: Disconnect the water line from the valve. The valve should be completely free at this point.
Step 7: Put the new inlet valve in place and reattach the water line to it. Plug the wire harness back to the inlet valve. And thread the screws holding the valve back in place.
Step 8: Put the access panel cover back on. Finally, attach the water line back to the valve using an open-end wrench.
This video is a visual representation of the above set of instructions
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Westinghouse Fridge Water Dispenser Leaking – Why and Solutions
The following are the most common reasons your Westinghouse fridge water dispenser is leaking and how to solve them.
1. Trapped Air in the Water Line
When you replace the water filter, there is a chance of air getting stuck in the water line. When this happens, there will be a pressure build-up in the line that will cause water to overflow it.
The solution to this is to flush the water system and you can do this in these steps:
Step 1: Place a bucket underneath the dispenser.
Step 2: Press and hold on to the dispenser trigger for about 5 seconds. Then release the trigger and repeat after a 5 seconds interval.
Step 3: Keep at this until you have dispensed about 3 gallons of water. This should be enough to flush out the air and solve the problem.
Do this every time you replace your water filter to prevent this problem from happening again.
2. Dispenser Catch Tray is Full
The dispenser has a catch tray that collects the water that drips out of the dispenser before it closes off fully.
Check the tray and if it is full, remove it, empty it, and put it back in place.
3. Loose Water Connection
If the water connection is not properly secured, water will leak out of it. The solution to this is to locate the water connection to the water dispenser and tighten it.
Westinghouse Fridge Ice Maker Leaking – Solutions
Do the solutions in the first section of this article to stop your Westinghouse fridge ice maker from leaking. If the problem persists do the following:
1. Replace the Water Supply Line
The ice maker will leak if the water supply line is broken or has a leak. Check the line and replace the line if it is cracked. Simply remove the line from each end and put another supply line in its place.
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2. Replace the Ice Maker
A part of the ice maker may be faulty, hence the leak. In which case, the ice maker should be replaced to solve the problem.
How to Replace Westinghouse Refrigerator Ice Maker
Follow the steps below to replace your Westinghouse refrigerator ice maker:
Step 1: Disconnect the refrigerator from the power supply to prevent electrocution. Also, turn off the water supply.
Step 2: Open the refrigerator and take out the ice bucket so you have better access to the ice maker. Then, switch off the ice maker by taking the shut-off arm to the off position.
Step 3: Use a ¼ nut driver and unthread the screws holding the ice maker in place.
Step 4: Disconnect the wire harness connected to the ice maker and the refrigerator. The ice maker should be completely free at this point.
Step 5: The new ice maker assembly will not come with a shut-off arm. So, remove the shut-off arm, from the old ice maker. Also, remove the wire harness, press it in and depress the clip to do this.
Step 6: Attach the wire harness and the shut-off arm to the new ice maker.
Step 7: Take the new ice maker to the refrigerator and connect the wire harness to it. Remount the ice maker, and then screw it in place.
Step 8: Test run the ice maker to ensure it is working properly. Finally, put the ice bucket back in place.
Westinghouse Fridge Leaking Black Tar – What to Do
Do the following to fix the problem of your Westinghouse fridge leaking black tar:
1. Check the Drain Pan
The drain pan may be dirty or rusted and leaking. When this is the case, the water leaking out of the pan will be blackish. Locate the pan at the back bottom of your unit and then take it out.
Inspect the pan for damages, if any crack is found, it should be replaced. If the pan is not damaged then it may have gotten dislodged, simply clean it and reinstall it.
2. Call a Service Technician
The leak may be oil and from the compressor. Unfortunately, this is one problem you cannot DIY as the compressor has to be repaired or replaced. However, this repair may be so expensive that getting a new refrigerator may be more cost-effective.
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