Are you still seeing puddles of water in your kitchen yet the dishwasher or kitchen sink are watertight? Well, the problem might be with your refrigerator. A leaking fridge is a notorious culprit for annoying puddles of cold water on your kitchen's floor and can result in severe slip and fall accidents for unsuspecting visitors. Fortunately, such a fridge just gives off uncontaminated water without corrosive elements that can damage your floor. This is because refrigerators use a gaseous coolant that condenses to form the leaking water. The sad part is that a leakage from your refrigerator's bottom is an indication of a problem you need to address. Here is a look at some of the things that may be causing water to leak from the bottom of your refrigerator:
Cracked Drain Pan
Your refrigerator's drain pan may develop some cracks. A blunt force against the refrigerator's drain pan can cause these cracks, especially when you're relocating the fridge or moving from one house to another. Normally, a small amount of water should accumulate in the drain pan, but it shouldn't escape and find its way to the floor. Instead, the water should evaporate before it overflows, thanks to a condenser that blows warm air into the drain pan. If your fridge is leaking from the bottom, inspect the drain pan and have it replaced by a professional if it has any cracks.
Clogged Defrost Drain
The purpose of the defrost drain is to direct water generated in the defrost cycle to the drain pan where it can be disposed of through evaporation. Clogging, which results from the build-up of food particles or ice in the drain, prevents the refrigerator's wastewater from finding its way to the drain pan. The water thus accumulates and leaks towards the floor. In such a case, you should flush your defrost drain with hot water to clear it. You should also use a stiff wire to remove the materials causing the blockage. If you are not sure about the position of the defrost drain on your refrigerator, go through your manufacturer's manual for a pictorial presentation of the parts of your refrigerator.
Faulty Connections to the Ice Maker
The connections supplying water to the ice maker may crack or become loose after prolonged use. Plastic hoses especially tear and crack because of the pressure differences caused by the passage of liquid water and solid ice built up over time. All these fissures act as passage channels for water, which forms small pools at the bottom of the refrigerator. Here, you must call in a professional to replace the damaged connections.