The refrigerator is leaking what to do. Why is the refrigerator leaking? Clogged drain hole

The refrigerator is undoubtedly one of the most useful and pleasant household appliances to use, which is not alien even to the most distant inhabitants of the corners of the planet, and today is almost a means of vital necessity. Who doesn’t like being around such a wonderful partner who will not only keep the products in the appropriate condition long time, but it can also serve for many other purposes, both culinary and other areas of activity, because it can also store things that do not tolerate room temperature such as some medicines.

However, no one is immune from the risk of a breakdown or a single failure of this most useful device, regardless of cost and manufacturing warranty. Read on, how the nature of the main breakdowns of the refrigerator is arranged, and what to do to bring it into proper condition.

Everyone may encounter a malfunction of their refrigerator, because equipment tends to break down and malfunction, often regardless of the time of its operation and cost, whether it is the products of well-known manufacturers Atlant, Indesit or Samsung. If, nevertheless, the refrigerator caused trouble and literally leaks or flows, do not panic prematurely. The reason for this phenomenon may lie on the surface, and the presence of a master is not necessary to eliminate it, because in this case you can handle it yourself.

The main symptoms of a malfunction can say a lot, and among them the main ones are distinguished:

The refrigerator leaks only from the outside - the cause of the malfunction lies in external causes, the breakdowns of which can be covered, both in serious and minor interference in the operation of the device, which may be several.
The refrigerator dripped inside and out - here the situations are usually more complicated, and most of them can only be solved with the help of a qualified specialist, due to a malfunction of the main internal details and elements that require certain knowledge and skills to work with.
It only leaks in the interior.

In addition, a significant difference in the breakdown of the refrigerator is a representative with the No Frost system (No Frost), which, since relatively recently, is a novelty and a step forward in production. modern refrigerators. This system is based on the need to defrost a cold friend from time to time and actively contributes to the fact that the owner of the device with this system forgets about these troubles, because he perfectly copes with the task on his own.

At the same time, there are no problems with a puddle in the kitchen and the reproduction of harmful microorganisms.

The mechanism of action of the system with the so-called dry freezing is not so complicated, and consists in the resulting evaporation of the liquid formed in the refrigerator, delivered there by a system of circulating fans and an evaporator. As a rule, its rear wall hides from view, to which special holes for circulating air with moisture are located. After moisture reaches the evaporator, the compressor is turned off and, with the help of a heater, it evaporates.

It is important to understand that delaying a refrigerator leak problem can cause other problems. backfire of a more radical nature, and something needs to be done immediately. More details about the details of breakdowns and repairs, below.

If the refrigerator flows from below: reasons

There can be a lot of reasons for the formation of puddles on the floor right in front of the refrigerator, moreover, both serious internal ones and more loyal external ones. To determine how to act, you should initially establish what is the cause of the breakdown, based on the main signs or symptoms of what is happening.

The most characteristic and common breakdowns, leading to the fact that water from time to time appears on the floor and interferes with a calm life:

The problem with the drain tube is an ordinary breakdown, which consists in the deflection of the drain tube, as a result of which liquid flows out and accumulates below, outside the special reservoir. It is solved by manually inserting the tube into place, having previously pushed the device away (the tube is at the back).
Tank problems are a more serious problem, which is why it requires special attention, and you need to do anything with extreme caution. If it just slightly deviated from its original location, this can be corrected in the same way as the problem with the tube, however, its mechanical damage can only be solved by replacing it with a master.
No Frost system evaporator heater malfunction, resulting in an overflow of a reservoir that was not designed for the amount of liquid in the freezer, resulting in a puddle under the refrigerator. Repaired only by calling the master.

If the drainage (drain) hole (of both the freezer and the refrigeration section) is clogged, as a result of which water cannot be adequately removed from the refrigerator chambers and collects inside the chambers, but accumulates in large quantities- outside from below, then the problem can be solved by independent forces, but this requires certain experience and knowledge, since it is not easy to clean it, because it is located deep in the refrigerator system.

The refrigerator is leaking inside: causes of breakdowns

The most serious problems with the refrigerator are the causes of a leak inside one of the chambers, and even worse - if a brown or oily liquid appears, which indicates a significant internal malfunction of the device or that the drain hole is seriously clogged.

Among the main reasons for the accumulation of liquid inside the refrigerator are:

An already familiar blockage of the drain hole, the symptoms and solutions for fixing which have already been described above.
An insufficient level of tightness leads, as a rule, to the accumulation of relatively small amounts of water on the extreme surfaces close to the door. It is solved independently by replacing the rubber seal that holds the compartment door closed.
A broken thermostat is a categorical and most serious malfunction.

All problems of internal leakage of the refrigerator must be diagnosed immediately after the first symptoms, since in the future, closing your eyes to what seems to be a trifling problem can lead to serious consequences for the entire appliance.

Because of the thermostat, the compartment literally sweats, from where water appears, and to start which means to say goodbye to the refrigerator in short terms, as it begins to form a large number of water.

corrosive metal coating some important areas of the compartment, the amount of water must be removed. Such an ailment should be treated only by contacting specialists, since an independent initiative risks bringing much more significant negative consequences.

Drain Care

As already defined above, the lion's share of problems arises precisely because of problems with the drainage system of the refrigerator, which occurs due to various reasons, ranging from the simplest inability to cope with the resulting liquid, and ending with the deepest blockage of the drain hole.

The refrigerator drain itself consists of 2 main elements - a drain hole and a drain tube, interconnected and directly adjacent to each other. Also, depending on the model, there may be 2 drainage holes at once - one on the back wall at the bottom, with a tube attached to it, and the second, which serves to drain the freezer, under the back cover of the refrigerator.

Like any drain system, at the refrigerator over time it becomes clogged, and can cause a number of problems. In order to prevent this from happening, it is necessary to carry out periodic preventive maintenance, which will not require incredible efforts, but only 20-30 minutes of time and desire. Excellent folk way slightly clean the drainage hole, when the equipment “cries” - fill a medical rubber bulb warm water and with a sharp pressure, release the stream into the drainage hole in order to eliminate all blockages, and so that for a long time a new puddle does not appear and does not force you to again sound the alarm.

Reasons: why the refrigerator is leaking (video)

In conclusion, we add that in some models a special brush is built in, with which you can perform the cleaning operation. Keep an eye on your household companions and they will serve you well.

Why is a generally serviceable refrigerator leaking, in what cases is it worth calling the master to the house? Modern refrigerators are reliable Appliances designed for decades of trouble-free operation. But even the most advanced models have problems, some of which the owners can easily fix on their own.

The cooling process in refrigerators is provided by a special liquid refrigerant substance (as a rule, freon is used in its role). But in the vast majority of cases, water forms a leak - it accumulates both inside the household appliance and flows into a puddle on the floor. Some of the most common causes of refrigerator leaks include:

damage to the freon circuit - the normal circulation of the refrigerant through it is difficult; in addition to the leak, the operation of the refrigerator as a whole is disrupted;
failure of the evaporator - typical only for No Frost models;
malfunction drainage system- incorrect operation of the drain for liquid condensate;
small mechanical failures, as a result - a violation of the tightness of the internal chambers.

Very often, the malfunctions described above are the result of improper transportation of the refrigerator in a supine position, shaking, etc.

The first case - damage to the freon circuit - will not be considered in detail, since leakage is only a minor syndrome with it, and the owners begin to sound the alarm much earlier. But we will analyze the rest of the reasons separately.

Mechanical failures

Let's start with the simplest - with minor mechanical damage. In these cases big renovation not needed, it will be enough to eliminate the following reasons why the refrigerator is leaking:

wear of the seal on the door - you need to check the integrity of the magnetic suction cup, which ensures tight closure, replace it if necessary;
unevenly installed door - happens when the door is hung on its own; warm air gets inside, condensation is increased; you need to re-hang the door;
loosening door hinges- it often happens if the refrigerator is not level, but skewed to one side; as a result - a large load on the hinges, a violation of the tightness of the refrigeration chambers; the way to fix the problem is to adjust the height of the legs of the household appliance, if there are none, use pads under the legs. ;

Causes of leakage in refrigerators with No Frost

Know Frost is considered by many to be the most advanced system. Its advantage over simpler drip analogues is the absence of the need for manual defrosting, the absence of condensate inside the chambers.

The condensate removal system in such refrigerators is fundamentally different - for this, the design provides for an evaporator in the form of a tube, hidden from view, for example, behind the back wall of the appliance or below, under the freezer.

The fragility of evaporators in refrigerators with the No Frost system is one of their main drawbacks.

If the evaporator malfunctions, the owners cannot find ways to repair the refrigerator on their own. The only alternative is to call the master and complete replacement this structural element.

Drainage failure

This cause of leaks can be both for models with No Frost and for simple drip refrigerators. In this case, puddles can form not only on the floor, but also inside the chambers - it depends on which element of the drainage system is faulty:

cracks in the liquid reservoir - it is in this container that condensate collects before evaporating; if this is the problem, the tank must be removed from under the freezer and replaced with a new one;
the drain hole is clogged - it is located on the back wall in the refrigerator; the main symptom in this case is that a puddle forms inside the refrigerator; in case of clogging of the drainage, the hole must be thoroughly rinsed with a stream of water or cleaned with a cotton swab;
problems with the drain drain pipe - it connects the drain hole and the water tank, or it is broken and leaking, or just moved away; it is not difficult to fix the problem - move the household appliance away from the wall, straighten the tube and check the tightness of the connections.

Condensate tanks are available both in refrigerators with No Frost and in their drip competitors; in case of leaks, the first thing to do is to start looking for the cause of the problem in the drainage system.

A special case is if oil flows from the refrigerator, not water. Lubrication is used in the compressor - the main device of any refrigerator, and at the same time the most fragile. Compressor leaks occur even with a slight shake or transportation of a household appliance in a supine position.

Unfortunately, if the reason for the leak of even a new refrigerator lies in the damage to the compressor, it will not be possible to do without the qualified help of a specialist. But avoiding expensive repairs is not difficult - you need to read the instructions for using the refrigerator in advance and strictly follow it.

One of the most necessary elements household appliances in the house is a refrigerator. It is in any apartment, because today it is almost impossible to live without it. Unfortunately, like any other piece of household appliances, the refrigerator can fail or leak (which is not always the same thing). Yes, it's annoying, but there's nothing wrong with that. Let's see why the refrigerator is leaking and how to deal with it. But first you need to understand how this piece of household appliances generally works.

Refrigerator device

We will not touch on technical issues (heat absorption during compression of the refrigerant), but will describe only the principle of water formation inside the refrigerator. The fact is that most of the products that people put in refrigerator compartment contain a large amount of moisture. Also, when the door is opened, warm, moist air enters. As a result, moisture vapor with a sharp drop in temperature condenses and settles on the walls. Then the condensate (water) flows down the back wall (precisely along the back, since it has the most low temperature, and condensation forms on it). At the bottom of the refrigerating chamber there is a special hole where all this condensate enters. Through it, water is discharged to the outside and enters the evaporator.

The evaporator is a plastic container that is usually mounted on top of the condenser (the motor that drives the refrigerant through the system). The condenser heats up, transfers heat to the evaporator and the water contained in the evaporator gradually evaporates into the room. A similar refrigerator device is true for everyone. modern models. Even old Soviet devices work on the same principle. Nothing has changed since then. Yes, technologies such as No Frost have appeared that prevent the formation of frost in the chambers, but the principle of removing condensate from the chamber and subsequent evaporation of moisture has remained the same and has not changed at all.

Where is the leak from?

So, if the refrigerator breaks down, and water accumulates under it, then it is necessary to go through the entire chain of condensate removal and evaporation. There is bound to be a problem somewhere. Note that this is a minor problem that you can solve on your own. At the same time, it is most often not necessary to call the master, since there is no technical breakdown here. Of course, first of all, it is necessary to determine where exactly the water is flowing from: from under the bottom or directly from the chamber. If there is water in the refrigerator compartment, this means that the condensate formed inside does not drain through the drainage system.

Bottom leak

If you do not understand why the refrigerator is flowing from below, then we remind you once again that the drained condensate accumulates on the evaporator - plastic container which is heated by the compressor. A leak from the bottom indicates that this container is overfilled, broken, and crooked. In this case, water can only flow from below, and inside the chambers it will be dry.

In order to understand exactly why the refrigerator is leaking from below, you need to turn it around and inspect the compressor. It is usually located behind the household appliance and is located below. An open container can adjoin it, be installed either from above or back to back (it all depends on the model). Many containers (evaporators) are simply glued to the compressor, and when the adhesive comes off, the evaporators themselves also come off, causing water from the drain hole to simply drip onto the floor. This is where the leak occurs. Also, the evaporator may simply crack, and water will drain through the crack to the floor.

In some cases, water under the refrigerator appears due to the fact that the condensate flowing into the evaporator simply does not have time to evaporate. This is possible if the refrigerator is forgotten to be closed or opened too often. This leads to the entry of a large amount of moisture into the chamber, which then condenses in large volumes. In this case, simply remove the evaporator (if it is removable) and empty it. If it is tightly glued, then you can use a syringe to pump out all the water from it. By the way, an overfilled condensate collection container may indicate a weak heating of the compressor. In turn, this indicates a loss of efficiency of its work. However, in this case, you will definitely notice that the device has become slightly cold, the presence of water on the floor will interest you last.

In any case, the condensate container (evaporator) is the main reason why water flows from under the refrigerator. There can be no other options. Another thing is when the refrigerator leaked inside.

internal leakage

As you already know, condensate accumulates on the back wall of the chamber and then flows through the drain hole into the evaporator. This hole can become clogged, and then water will not be able to pass through it. Consequently, the condensate collection container itself will be empty, and there will simply be nothing to evaporate from there.

If this hole becomes clogged (a parsley leaf can get there, for example), then water will drain into the chamber itself. As a result, there will be a puddle at the very bottom of the refrigerator compartment, which over time will become so large that it will simply go over the edge.

What to do in this case? First of all, you need to find a drainage hole - look for it on the back wall (all products must first be removed). Found? Look visually, is there anything preventing the free flow of water to it? If there is any obstacle, then it must be removed. If everything is clean, then there is a possibility of internal blockage. This means that the entire tube must be cleaned. This can be done with the help of water pressure. You can simply pour water from the kettle there and see if it flows out from behind into the condensate container. Such a flow can move a blockage that could not move the condensate. Still, it flows into the pan in small drops, and not with a powerful pressure.

If it is not possible to break through the blockage with a stream of water, then you can try to eliminate it with a long wire. Most often this helps to solve this problem.

Blockage in the freezer drain

The freezers of modern refrigerators also have holes through which excess water is drained to the evaporator. However, there is a difficulty here, since this hole is located in the body of the device itself, so it will not be possible to clean it in the standard way. In this case, you will have to call the wizard.

Inefficient compressor operation

One of the reasons why the refrigerator is leaking may be a compressor that has served its time and has already lost its former efficiency. This is a device that creates pressure inside the system and drives the refrigerant in a vicious circle. This refrigerant contracts in one area and absorbs heat while expanding in another, which contributes to the release of heat. However, if the compressor is running inefficiently, the pressure in the system will be low. Therefore, the refrigerant will not be able to absorb a large amount of heat and maintain negative temperature in the freezer.

The ice in the freezer may melt more intensely over time, which may not be immediately noticeable. This will lead to an intense accumulation of condensate in the evaporator, and it may even overflow. As a result, the refrigerator will leak. The reason for this will be just the inefficient operation of the compressor. Without special knowledge, it will not work to repair the compressor on your own. It needs to be sent in for repair. Buying a new one is not always a rational decision, since this element is the most expensive in the entire system, and its price can reach 70-80% of the cost of a new refrigerator.

freon leak

If freon flows out of the system, then the compressor drives air instead. Naturally, air does not have the property of absorbing heat when compressed, so cooling efficiency will drop as the mass of refrigerant in the system decreases. Over time, the cold will not be enough, the ice will begin to melt and drain intensively into the container. It will overflow, resulting in a puddle.

Therefore, water under the refrigerator can be an indicator of a compressor malfunction and freon leakage.

old sealant

The seal on the refrigerator door does not allow air to penetrate inside. It also allows you to keep the cold inside the chamber. If in some place the seal does not fit snugly, then warm air from the room can enter the refrigerator (or freezer) through the hole formed. Since its temperature will be higher, this will lead to the formation of condensate, which is why the back wall of the refrigerator flows. As a result, the condensate formed in large volumes will not have time to evaporate, and this will certainly lead to the formation of puddles on the floor.

In this case, the seal must be checked around the entire perimeter, and if a weak spot can be found, it will have to be replaced. Luckily, it's not expensive, so buying a new one won't hit your pocket too hard. In any case, it will come out cheaper than if it was a compressor malfunction.

brown liquid

By the way, in some cases, brown liquid flows from the refrigerator. Many users complain about this, mistaking dirt for rust. This may mean that the condensate on the road collects various dirt. Rust hinted at Brown color, it cannot be, since there is nothing corny to rust: condensate forms on the plastic walls and flows down the plastic tubes into the container, but they cannot rust.

Conclusion

Now you know why water can leak from the refrigerator. The reasons can be very diverse, so this problem requires a comprehensive diagnosis. To begin with, check the obvious things, and if you find that everything is fine with the collection and evaporation of condensate, then call the wizard. The problem may be in the technical part.

Before you get an answer to the question of why the refrigerator is leaking, you should understand that any household appliances can fail. This fully applies to a device designed to store food or objects in a cool place. In the event that a puddle suddenly appears under the refrigerator, which has served faithfully for many years, do not panic.

The first thing that usually comes to mind is to call the wizard to fix the problem. It is a logical desire, but before that it would not hurt to personally inspect the unit. After all, it is possible that the breakdown is so insignificant that you can deal with it yourself. It is important to immediately determine where water appears and how water flows from the refrigerator: liquid accumulates only at the bottom or appears on the inner walls. After that, you can start troubleshooting.

So, an external inspection of the refrigerator in order to establish what is the reason for the appearance of water on the kitchen floor has been made. At the same time, no moisture was found flowing down the walls either in the refrigerator or in the freezer compartment. It is determined that water is present only under the bottom of the device. It remains to find out what is the reason for this phenomenon.

Here are the factors that can cause water to leak from the refrigerator:

If the refrigerator is leaking, you should not worry about the safety of the food. They won't disappear. The device itself cannot be significantly affected either.

Nevertheless, the cause of the leak will still have to be eliminated, because excess moisture has a negative effect on the condition of the surfaces.

Moisture drips down the inside of the refrigerator

When liquid appears from below, it is advisable to pay attention to the walls inside the refrigerator. In some cases, drops can be seen there. Sometimes they flow down intensely.

The following conditions may be the cause:

No frost system refrigerator leaking

It should not be forgotten that any device, whether it is an Atlant or Samsung refrigerator, may fail. Including units with a know frost system. The only difference is that in such mechanisms, the function of the heater of the evaporative element is violated. A puddle forms under the unit, a thick layer of ice covers the walls of the chambers. With frequent door openings, the melting process proceeds quite actively. Melted ice quickly fills the container. The operation of the know frost system is disrupted, and the unit, for example, the Atlant refrigerator, begins to flow.

Do not be afraid of water accumulated under the device. However, it is necessary to figure out why the refrigerator is leaking.

After all, the appearance of liquid signals that a problem has arisen in the operation of the unit.

It is necessary to take measures to eliminate it as soon as possible.