24/7 Emergency Service
Preventing Water Damage From Your Refrigerator
4/1/2021 (Permalink)
When your fridge leaks and causes water damage to the floor of your kitchen in Morris County, NJ you need to take immediate action.
Most homeowners in New Jersey don't think twice about the possibility of water damage from their fridge. Unfortunately, when refrigerators leak they can cause water to soak into cabinets, walls and underneath kitchen floors. Even brand new fridges can leak and ruin your kitchen floor. The water damage from a leaking fridge is serious and should be addressed as soon as it's discovered.
So what do you do when your fridge is leaking water onto the floor in your Morris County home? Here we will outline why your fridge is leaking, how to handle water damage from your fridge, how to prevent it from leaking in the first place.
Why Is Your Refrigerator Leaking?
In most cases, homeowners don't realize that their fridge has been leaking until it's already caused considerable water damage. This is because most leaks start small and worsen over time. When you finally discover the problem, you should try and determine what is causing it as soon as possible to prevent further damages.
The most common causes of refrigerators leaking water include:
- Clogged defrost drain
- Damaged defrost drain pan
- Water dispenser
- Ice maker line
- Excess condensation
1. Clogged Defrost Drain
Refrigerators have a great feature where they automatically defrost after a certain period of time. When the defrost cycle starts, excess water drains through hole in the back of the fridge, through the defrost drain tubing, and into the drain pan under the fridge.
This defrost drain line can become clogged with debris and food particles over time. When this happens, the next time the defrost cycle starts, melted water will have nowhere to drain and eventually backup and leak onto the floor under the fridge.
2. Damaged Defrost Drain Pan
It's completely normal for you to see water in the drain pan underneath your fridge. This water only accumulates after the fridge defrosts and completely evaporates before the next cycle.
But, when this pan is cracked, damaged, or removed, it will cause water to spill directly onto the kitchen floor.
3. Water Dispenser
If your fridge has a water dispenser, you're at even higher risk of water damage in your Morris County home's kitchen. The water dispenser can begin to leak because of improper installation, using the incorrect water filter, or even old age.
4. Ice Maker Line
Similar to the defrost drain, ice maker lines can become clogged or damaged which will cause them to leak. Many times, ice maker water supply lines need to be replaced to stop the fridge from leaking.
5. Excess Condensation
When your fridge produces excess condensation, it can slowly cause water damage to your kitchen over an extended period of time. Most times, excess condensation is caused by weak door seals or gaskets which allow warm air to leak into the fridge.
When warm air continuously enters your fridge, it makes it work harder to keep everything cool. When it works harder, higher than normal condensation can form on the coils behind the fridge and leaks on the floor or wall behind it.
What To Do When Your Fridge Leaks
As soon as you find your fridge leaking water, you should take the following steps to help prevent mold growth or further damages to your home in New Jersey.
Clean Up and Contain Water.
Before doing anything else, clean up as much water as you can. You want to prevent as much water as you can from seeping to the kitchen floor, walls, or cabinets. If the fridge is still leaking, put down towels to catch additional water.
Look For The Source of Your Leak.
If possible, pull your fridge away from the wall and try to determine where the leak is coming from. In many cases homeowners can repair what's causing the leak themselves after a quick trip to their local hardware store.
You may need to clean out the defrost drain line, replace your drain pan, simply tighten loose seals or connections, or level off the fridge. If you can't locate the leak or repair it yourself, call a handyman.
Inspect For Signs of Water Damage and Mold Growth.
If your fridge had a slow leak that went unnoticed for an extended amount of time, it's likely that it's caused water damage underneath and behind the fridge. If you were lucky enough to find the leak right when it happened, your work may be done as soon as you clean up and repair the problem. But, in other cases there can be extensive water damage and mold growth in your kitchen.
Inspect the following areas of your home for signs of water or mold damage:
- Behind the fridge
- Underneath the fridge
- Any cabinetry adjacent to the fridge
- The ceiling below where the refrigerator is located
If you find signs of water damage or mold in these areas, you should call a local water damage restoration company in Morris County to inspect your damages and help decide what needs to be done to restore your home.
How To Prevent Your Fridge From Leaking
- Regularly check the area around your fridge for signs of leaks.
- Don't ignore excess condensation forming inside the fridge, as it can be a sign of a larger problem.
- Make sure that the fridge is level.
- Replace water lines which have plastic tubing with steel supply lines.
- Place a water alarm underneath the fridge. These go off when they come in contact with water and are helpful to alert you of leaks in places you can't see.
Need Help With Water Damage From A Leaky Fridge in Morris County, NJ?
When your New Jersey home sustains water damage from your fridge leaking, SERVPRO of Morristown can provide immediate assistance. Our fast response helps to prevent further water damage or mold growth from forming in your home after an appliance leaks.
Our team of damage restoration specialists are highly trained in both water damage restoration and mold remediation. With over 14 years of experience, you can trust that SERVPRO of Morristown can make the damage from a leaking fridge "Like it never even happened."
24/7 Emergency Flood Cleanup and Water Removal
Advanced Drying & Dehumidification Methods
Free Inspection and Estimates
We Handle the Insurance Process For You