What to do if your GE Refrigerator is Leaking Water

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Fred's Appliance
March 8, 2021
Refrigerator Repair

Is your GE refrigerator leaking water? No need to stress. In this article, you will find the most common causes for why this is happening and how you can fix each one. Most of these fixes are very easy to carry out and require no special knowledge.

The guide covers the following GE refrigerator models:

1993LPO

90280JC

90280JD

90280JE

90280JF

90288JC

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Here are the most common causes of your refrigerator leaking water:

Clogged or Frozen Defrost Drain

When the defrost drain in your fridge becomes frozen, it causes the water to overflow from the drain and eventually drip down the fridge and out onto the floor.

To check if this is the cause of your leak, you need to:

  1. Locate the drain – it will be at the bottom of your refrigerator unit.
  2. Examine the drain to determine if it is clogged up or frozen.
  3. If it is blocked up or frozen, then turn your fridge off at the wall and let the ice thaw out. If there are no blockages or it’s not frozen, move on to the next step.
  4. Once thawed out, flush the drain out with hot soapy water to ensure there are no blockages.
  5. Turn your fridge back on at the wall, and then observe over the next 24 hours to see if the problem is solved.

Faulty Water Filter Head

Another possible cause of the problem is a cracked water filter head.

You can check the filter head by:

  1. Locating the water filter head in your refrigerator.
  2. Check the filter head for any cracks or general wear and tear. It’s also a good idea to check the seals to make sure that they are in place and not torn.
  3. If you find any damage, you will need to replace the water filter housing. If there is no damage, move on to the next step.

Damaged Water Inlet Valve

The next component to check to see if it’s the cause of your fridge leaking is the water inlet valve. The function of the water inlet valve is to open up and supply water to the ice maker and dispenser. If the valve gets a crack in it or the fittings become loose, it can cause water to leak.

You can check the water inlet valve by:

  1. Turning your refrigerator off at the wall.
  2. Pull your refrigerator out from the wall so you can access the back of it.
  3. Remove the lower panel and locate the valve.
  4. Inspect the water inlet valve for any signs of cracks, and check if it is properly connected to the water supply pipe.
  5. If there are no cracks and it is secured tightly to the water supply line, it is fine and not the cause of the problem. However, if you do find it damaged, then you’ll need to replace it.
  6. Once replaced, put the lower panel back on the fridge, put the fridge back in its place, and turn it back on.

Faulty Water Tank Assembly

Another possible cause of a leaking refrigerator is a faulty water tank assembly.

You can inspect the tank by:

  1. Turning the refrigerator off at the wall.
  2. Locate the water tank – the location of the tank in each refrigerator depends on the specific model, so check your manual.
  3. Once located check the tank for any evidence of leaks. Keep in mind that in most cases the leak will be coming from a very small hole, so give it a thorough inspection.
  4. If you don’t find any leaks, then move on to the next step. If you do find that it is leaking, it will need to be replaced, as they are very difficult to repair.
  5. Once you have replaced the water tank, you can turn your refrigerator back on.

Faulty Drain Pan

Another possible cause of the leak is the drain pan. If your refrigerator is self-defrosting, it will have a drain pan that works to collect water that melts from the evaporator coils. The water is then evaporated over time by the condenser fan that blows warm air over the pan. If the drain pan gets a crack in it, this will cause a leak to develop.

You can check the drain pan by:

  1. Turning your refrigerator off at the wall and pulling the refrigerator out so you can access the back of it.
  2. Locate the drain pan at the back of your refrigerator – you will probably have to remove the lower back panel of the refrigerator to access it.
  3. Inspect the drain pan for cracks.
  4. If the drain pan is cracked, replace it.

Faulty Water Filter

The final component to check is the water filter. Sometimes they get worn out or don’t get replaced as often as they should. This causes water to leak from the filter.

You can check the water filter by:

  1. Turning your refrigerator off at the wall.
  2. Locate the water filter inside your refrigerator unit.
  3. Remove the filter and then reinstall it to ensure that it fits correctly.
  4. If it doesn’t fit properly, you will need to replace it.
  5. Once replaced, you can turn your refrigerator back on.
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