Fridge Leaking Water

[JWC86]

10 Year Old Frigidaire.

Few days ago the water dispenser had a continual drip and I noticed the ice maker was doing the same inside.
I turned off the water and ordered a new water control valve.

Yesterday wife calls me, says she heard a dripping noise from the fridge, she pulled out the fridge and there was some water under it, she cleaned it up but it didn't appear to be leaking. When I got home last night I had a look and confirmed it was leaking but wasn't leaking anymore. I pulled off the the water line to confirm there wasn't any water going to the fridge. The only info she had was that it was making noises before and/or after the dripping.

I pulled the fridge out this morning before I left, no water.

Just got a call, says she heard the dripping again and pulled out the fridge and there is some water there, about a plate sized puddle. I had left the back plate off, she can see that its dripping from something up above but it stopped after about 3-5min. She says it's making a noise that sounds like its "working hard", the noise goes away after the dripping stops.

Seems like a odd one to me. The only thing that is kinda making sense would be condensation but I don't know.

Any ideas?

 

[JTK]

Is this a bottom freezer model?

I've had to do the "duck bill" mod to the condensate drip tube to mine to the point It no longer has a duck bill valve on the end of the tube.

Mine would fill the bottom of the freezer with a glacier of ice, completely ice up the evap core and leak onto the floor.

 

[JWC86]

Is this a bottom freezer model?

I've had to do the "duck bill" mod to the condensate drip tube to mine to the point It no longer has a duck bill valve on the end of the tube.

Mine would fill the bottom of the freezer with a glacier of ice, completely ice up the evap core and leak onto the floor.

No, side x side model.

 

[JTK]

No, side x side model.

Can you tell if the condensate drip pan is collecting water?

 

[JWC86]

Can you tell if the condensate drip pan is collecting water?

No but I've been doing some more research and I'm thinking it might just be a blocked defrost drain. That would make sense that it is doing a defrost cycle which is maybe why she hears the noise when the drip happens and also why it only happens sometimes.

 

[factorytuned2012]

Yeah sounds like an issue I had with an old Samsung fridge had to cut the baffles off the condensate tubes

 

[factorytuned2012]

No but I've been doing some more research and I'm thinking it might just be a blocked defrost drain. That would make sense that it is doing a defrost cycle which is maybe why she hears the noise when the drip happens and also why it only happens sometimes.

That may be the culprit

 

[Fitter30]

If you can get to the coil mix some water with some dish detergent teaspoon full or two spray the coil liberally.. That will clean any dirt off it and if condensate happens to be running off the in a odd direction (surface tension) the soap will break it up. Plus it will help clean the drain from mold.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

Good website for buying parts.
ALSO good for suggesting solutions.
https://www.appliancepartspros.com/

I put this Water Alarm behind my frig.
Place it where you were finding the leak and you'll know exactly when it starts leaking.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Basemen...-Water-Alarm-Sump-Accessory-BWD-HWA/100038838

 

[tnt_motorsports]

@JWC86 check your ice maker as well. Our side by side Whirlpool had some worn out gaskets after ~12 years and was leaking into the freezer. Nothing on the floor but what a mess in the freezer. I replaced the ice maker with parts from Amazon and all good now.

 

[alarmguy]

No but I've been doing some more research and I'm thinking it might just be a blocked defrost drain. That would make sense that it is doing a defrost cycle which is maybe why she hears the noise when the drip happens and also why it only happens sometimes.

Yeah, I agree

 

[B6_Dolphin]

On our 20-y/o Whirlpool side-by-side, I had water that was filling up the condensate pan, and it had over-flowed and created a puddle.

Odd... so I checked the condensate drain, and it wasn't blocked. Monitored the condensate pan and it was filling up every couple of days! So I got down and watched for where it was leaking. Turns out it was leaking from a recently-installed OEM water filter - either one of the o-rings was compromised or it had a hairline crack in one of the two molded fittings:

I replaced the filter (again), and now the condensate pan is not over-flowing.

 

[JWC86]

Update: it was a blocked condensate drain hose.
Would have been a simple fix but the sharp bends in the hose meant I had to remove it to clear it out which meant a bunch of disassembly as there was lots of stuff in the way.

Gotta love a $0 fix! Although I think the wife is actually disappointed, I think she was hoping for a new fridge...