The refrigerator is leaking on the back wall, what should I do?

Reasons for the appearance of puddles under the refrigerator

Before taking any measures, you need to establish that the water under the refrigerator appeared precisely because of its breakdown. After all, it may be caused by factors not related to this technique. Perhaps the pipes, boiler or dishwasher are leaking. Or someone just spilled the water.

But it happens that these reasons are excluded, the puddle on the floor is wiped away, but after a while the water collects again. This means that the refrigerator is still leaking. If it freezes properly, there is no water inside, you need to figure out why a puddle may appear and what to do. Most often, you can cope with the problem yourself, but you need to take the advice of professionals.

Refrigerator leaking

Experts identify several reasons why water leaks from refrigerators:

• breakdown of the water container;
• problems with the drainage tube;
• the door does not close tightly.

Freezer doesn't close tightly

If the door is not closed tightly, warm air gets in. This causes the refrigerator to freeze more than usual. A layer of ice freezes on the walls. It thaws and moisture accumulates in the chamber. Excess water drains through the drainage tube and overfills the tank. Therefore, it leaks little by little regularly.

The simplest solution to this problem is to level the refrigerator by adjusting its legs. Or tighten the door hinges. After this, the door should close normally.

Shifting the drain pipe

A common reason why water leaks from under refrigerators is a problem with the drainage drain. This is a tube through which moisture is removed from inside the device. If the refrigerator is moved or used incorrectly, the tube moves and water may leak past the reservoir. The upper end of the tube may also come off; putting it back in place is more difficult, but still possible. You need to move the device away from the wall and put the drainage in place, fixing it in the correct position.

Important!

The tube must run smoothly and should not be bent.

If this is done, and the refrigerator is leaking, you need to carefully inspect the tube. Sometimes it breaks and water leaks through the cracks. In this case, you won’t be able to fix the problem yourself; you need to call a technician to replace the tube.

The water tank is broken

Often the refrigerator leaks from below due to a broken container for collecting water. This problem is easy to detect: it will be dry inside, and water appears only on the floor near the back wall. Moreover, depending on the degree of damage, it can leak a little or leak heavily. The crack can be sealed with a waterproof sealant, but this is a temporary solution. You will need to replace the tank; in some models you cannot do this yourself; it is better to call a specialist.

The water tank is broken

No power at the outlet

The simplest reason is lack of nutrition. There may be a power outage, a faulty socket, or a loose plug. Without power, the refrigerator turns off, the ice melts, liquid accumulates inside and flows.

Finding and eliminating possible breakdowns

If all of the above methods do not bring results and condensation still forms, then the reason is damage to the device mechanism. Without experience in repairing refrigeration equipment, you should not look for and try to fix the breakdown; it is better to entrust this matter to a specialist.

In rare cases, condensation may appear due to improper assembly in production: the refrigerant circulation system touches the drain tube and freezing occurs. A repairman who will separate the parts will help you get rid of water in a refrigerator with a manufacturing defect. If the device is still under warranty, then you should contact an official service center.

Water under vegetable drawers

A small amount of moisture may appear inside the refrigerator on models with a drip defrosting system. Moreover, it flows down the back wall. If there is water under the vegetable drawer, this is not normal. But in many cases, the problem can be fixed on your own. Advice from professionals will help.

Why does water accumulate under the vegetable drawers in refrigerators?

• the drainage hole is clogged;
• The thermostat is broken;
• the compressor burned out;
• There was a freon leak.

Clogged drain hole in the refrigerator compartment

One of the reasons why refrigerators leak is due to obstruction of the drainage hole. During normal operation of the device, moisture flowing down the walls is collected into it. When it's clogged, water will leak down and pool under your fruit and vegetable drawers. The drain is usually clogged with crumbs, food particles or pieces of ice. There are several ways to clean it:

• use a cotton swab to remove the crumbs that have accumulated at the entrance;
• take a syringe and blow out the hole;
• Fill a syringe without a needle with warm water and inject it into it.

The best way to clean the drain is to flush it with warm water under pressure. Do not use knitting needles or other sharp objects for cleaning.

Important!

To avoid this problem, place food away from the walls and check the opening regularly.

Check the drain hole in the refrigerator

Water in the freezer

Water can also accumulate in the freezer compartment of a two-compartment refrigerator. This melts the ice due to the warm air that enters when the door is opened. This happens all the time, but the moisture should drain into the drainage hole. If it becomes clogged, liquid accumulates at the bottom. Water from the freezer may leak out and form a layer of ice around the door. This happens for several reasons:

• due to improper storage, food particles and crumbs get into the hole;
• if during defrosting it is difficult to rinse the freezer compartment;
• Increased water hardness leads to the accumulation of salt deposits.

Attention!

It is unlikely that you will be able to clean the drainage hole yourself; it is located deep, so it is better to call a professional.

Faulty thermostat

If water not only collects inside the refrigerator, but also flows onto the floor, the thermostat may be broken. It is responsible for the timely switching on and off of the compressor and maintaining the desired temperature in the chambers. Only a specialist can fix this breakdown, so you will have to contact a specialist. The refrigerator leaks for this reason if the engine is running constantly or it is too warm inside.

Sealing problems

Sometimes the cause of liquid appearing under the vegetable drawer or on the floor is the door seal. This strip of rubber is necessary to ensure the seal of the device when closed. With improper care or over time, the seal dries out, cracks, and therefore does not fit tightly. The only solution is to replace it. You can buy a rubber seal at any hardware store, and you can easily replace it yourself.

Check the seal on the refrigerator door

Freon leak

Water can accumulate in the refrigerator and leak out if there is a freon leak. This is the coolant that circulates through the tubes. If a crack occurs, cooling efficiency is reduced. Therefore, the refrigerator gradually defrosts. This also happens due to food crumbs getting into the cooling system. To prevent this problem from leading to equipment breakdown, you need to call a specialist.

Compressor burned out

The most serious breakdown that leads to leakage is a compressor malfunction. The problem can only be fixed at a service center.

Common causes of leaks and ways to solve the problem can be found in the table.

Features of the drip system

One of the reasons why condensation forms in the refrigerator is a clog in the drain hole or its hose. This is indicated by the presence of water in the lower part of the refrigerator, under the vegetable drawers. You can see what it actually looks like in the photo below. The main function of the drainage hose is to remove melt water, therefore, its blockage causes excess liquid to appear inside the chamber.

Water under the vegetable container

This may be caused by debris or dust getting into the drain hose. In this case, an unpleasant aroma of spoiled food will appear in the refrigerator, which has become rotten or has begun to rot in the drainage tube. A blockage can cause the tube to freeze. If this problem is not corrected promptly, it can lead to icing and freezing of the refrigeration evaporator. As a result, the compressor will be in the resting process longer, thereby reducing the cooling capacity of the device.

Another reason for the appearance of fogged drops inside the chamber may be an error in the installation of the refrigerator. In this case, the tightness of the refrigerator door is broken, causing a flow of warm air from the room to enter the chamber.

This will result in excessive operation of the refrigeration engine, which will operate in increased mode for a longer time. In this case, a large amount of condensate will form in the refrigeration unit, which the drainage tubes and tanks simply cannot cope with. Therefore, excess liquid will accumulate inside the refrigerator.

How to solve

In the event of a clogged drainage channel, there are several methods available to each unit owner. One of them:

1. Unplug the device and remove all lower vegetable drawers.
2. Clean the drain hole. For this you need to use a special device (if included in the refrigerator) or a cotton swab. It is also necessary to remove ice, if any.
3. Using a small syringe filled with warm water, you need to flush the drain. To do this, use a syringe to pour water into the hole several times until it is successfully drained into the condensate tank.

The second method involves the following steps:

1. Turn off the refrigerator and defrost it completely.
2. Clean the drain hole as described above, using a syringe with warm water.
3. Clean the drain channel using wire. Cleaning must be done carefully so as not to damage the drainage tube. The operation should be carried out on both sides of the drain. A clear example of cleaning the drain channel is shown in the photo below.

If none of the above methods help, you should call a technician, as this may indicate serious problems in the functioning of the refrigerator.

No Frost

The main reason for the presence of condensation in the chambers of a refrigerator with a No Frost system may be a malfunction of the defrost module in the evaporator. This breakdown is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Almost continuous operation of the compressor;
• Large layer of ice in the freezer section;
• Increased temperature in the refrigerator compartment.

In the event of a functional malfunction of this module, the refrigerating performance of the unit is reduced. These modules can be:

• Defrost sensor or timer;
• Evaporative heating element;
• Fuse.

These parts cannot be repaired. If they fail, they should be replaced.

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

Why do you need to control relative humidity in your refrigerator?

This value shows the percentage of humidity at a particular point in time relative to saturated vapor, that is, the humidity at which dew occurs.

Not only the quality and shelf life of food, but also the cleanliness and performance of the equipment depend on the percentage of humidity in the refrigerator Over-humidification of the air in the refrigerator or freezer leads to the appearance of condensation on the walls.

Possible consequences of condensation:

• corrosion of metal parts, which leads to a reduction in service life;
• damage to electrical connections due to moisture, creating a risk of short circuit and fire;
• fungal overgrowth;
• rapid rotting of fruits and vegetables;
• the appearance of lumps and caking of hygroscopic products;
• excessive ice formation on food in the freezer;
• icing and accumulation of frost on the surfaces of refrigerator evaporators;
• greater wear and tear on equipment due to frequent activation of the automatic defrosting mode;
• increased electricity bills due to increased operation of equipment;
• unsanitary conditions - accumulation of wet dirt on the shelves.

Low humidity worsens the quality of stored food : greens wither, fruits shrivel, meat dehydrates and dries out.

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.

How to measure the humidity level inside a refrigerator

A psychrometer and a hygrometer are used to measure relative humidity.

Psychrometer

The psychrometer has two mercury thermometers located next to each other - dry and wet . Moisture content is determined from tables or formulas using the difference between the readings of these thermometers.

The principle of operation is based on how actively water evaporates from a wet thermometer. The less saturated the air is with moisture, the stronger the evaporation and, accordingly, the lower the humidity.

Psychrometers are highly accurate, but require time and skill to decipher . Therefore, they are usually used in food production.

Hygrometer

A hygrometer measures moisture content using human hair that has been degreased with alcohol . The principle of its operation is based on the fact that hair changes its length when moisture content changes: when humidity decreases, it shortens, when humidity increases, it lengthens.

Hygrometer readings are less accurate : the difference with a psychrometer sometimes reaches 10%. But the readings of this device are easier to interpret - it has a semicircular percentage scale of moisture content with an arrow pointing to the desired number.

Another advantage is that a hygrometer is easier to purchase: it is sold in large online hypermarkets, stores from the “Everything for the Home” series, etc. Therefore, this type of identifier is used in everyday life.

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