Is Your Refrigerator Floating Away?
Someone wouldn't think that a refrigerator would have the
capacity to ruin an entire kitchen or house depending on the severity of leak
and when it was found. There are a few
ways that the refrigerator can leak and cause water damage.
One source of water leaking could be from the water line
going into your fridge. Are you wondering how this could happen when your
fridge doesn't get much movement?
·
When you pull the fridge out to clean under it- the
line can become pinched or kinked.
·
The nut on the waterline can become loose where it
connects to the valve at the wall.
·
The valve at the wall can have issues causing it to
leak.
·
The line itself could rupture.
Recommendations and preventative problems on how to fix and prevent
this from happening.
·
The copper waterlines that coil up behind your
refrigerator can cause major damage if they become kinked when pushing the
refrigerator back into its space, you can cut off the flow of water or worse
cause a leak.
·
Stainless steel lines are the best alternative as they
are flexible and typically higher quality.
·
Before you make the final connection behind the
refrigerator it is a good idea to flush out the water line into a bucket or
bowl to prevent any sediment that may have gotten into the line from getting
into the refrigerator.
·
Once everything is tight turn on the water supply and
check for leaks. It is a good idea to keep an eye on this and check back in a
few hours or the next day because a really slow leak can take time to show up
especially if there is air in the line.
·
Tightly connect the hose to the valve, avoid over
tightening.
The Drip Pan could be a potential danger if it is cracked or
damaged. Indicated by the water spilling onto the floor. The refrigerator is
regularly dripping water into this pan to prevent water from pooling in the
fridge itself. Evaporation takes care of the water in the drip pan. When you
look under the fridge be sure to pull out the drip pan and inspect it to be
sure if it is damaged or cracked, if so it is recommended that it is replaced
as soon as possible.
If your refrigerator is leaking on the inside as opposed to
onto your floor, you are probably dealing with a clogged defrost drain. The
defrost drain can become clogged with debris or more often it will freeze shut.
Look in your freezer manual and take the proper steps to unclog it.
Timely inspections and maintenance can prevent most leaks and
minimize those that do unfortunately occur.
