HALP!

Our fridge has been leaking lately. The fridge is only as old as the house - built in 2001. We didn't have any problems until recently and haven't changed any settings. Ice has been collecting at the bottom of the freezer and my husband has to literally break it out and water is pooling under the fridge in that corner. Does anybody have any ideas why it is doing that or can you recommend a good repairman? I fear for my hardwood floors!

Thanks!

5/4/2010 2:16:59 PM

Follow the tubing that feeds water into the fridge -- see if you can locate a leak, although it sounds more like an issue with the freezer not cooling down enough, it can't hurt to check. Also, I'd recommend disconnecting the water from the fridge and using some cheapo ice cube trays for now if you are concerned about your floor getting wet/damaged.

One other possible cause could be the water inlet valve where the tubing connects to the ice maker -- its not all that uncommon for these to have problems/leak, and they can generally be replaced on your own without the need for a repairman.

What is the model # of the fridge you guys own if you don't mind me asking?

5/4/2010 2:26:59 PM

I'll get it for you when I get home from work. I am a complete dumbass when it comes to fridges but I will try to check all that out. Thanks so much - do you live in Raleigh? Will cook you dinner if you can fix fridge! And pay you too - whatever! lol

5/4/2010 2:29:59 PM

Just to give you an idea of what an Inlet Valve looks like:

http://www.repairclinic.com/SSPartDetail.aspx?PartID=1018&PPStack=1

They vary slightly depending on the manufacturer and model, but they will all be fairly similar -- usually will cost $30-$70 for a new one. Once you post the model # later I can find the correct one you would need if it is indeed the problem.

As for fixing your fridge, I'll personally have to pass as I don't get out to the Raleigh area all that often, but I'm more than happy to help you troubleshoot through here and can make sure you get set up with the correct parts if you decide to order anything.

5/4/2010 2:36:22 PM

Thanks for the help - I will post it this evening!

5/4/2010 2:39:54 PM

I had a refrigerator that had a little drain thing at the back on the inside that clogged up and I started finding water under the crisper drawers and on the floor. I guess it's a defrost/condensation outlet that leads to a pan over the compressor that gets steamed off. I doubt that's the same as what you have because that fridge was a few years older.

5/4/2010 3:51:59 PM

ugh my fridge is broke again too. remember it broke and i fixed it like a few months ago? what happened was it is a no frost fridge (feezer on top fridge on bottom) and it got all frosty and icey inside the freezer and so it cut off the air flow and the fan froze in place and it started to melt and my fridge wasn't getting any cold air.

but NOW it is freaking ICE COLD in my freezer but my fridge is just lukewarm and humid and gross and it isn't cause of frost buildup.

do you think it could be the fan is broken and not circulating the air down to the fridge? or the temp control is broken?

other ideas?

i'ma have to call someone before i can go grocery shopping for nonfrozen food or it will all go bad.

5/4/2010 4:26:43 PM

Quote :

"We didn't have any problems until recently and haven't changed any settings. Ice has been collecting at the bottom of the freezer and my husband has to literally break it out and water is pooling under the fridge in that corner. Does anybody have any ideas why it is doing that or can you recommend a good repairman? I fear for my hardwood floors!"

I had the same thing on my old fridge. The auto-defrost in the freezer melts the frost on the coils, and that water drips down the freezer to a little drain at the bottom. The drain leads to a pan under the fridge over the compressor. The heat from the compressor evaporates the water.

If the drain gets plugged with ice, it'll get stuck, pool at the bottom and freeze up, until the bottom can't hold any more, the the water finds it's way out and pools up on the floor. The good news for hardwoods is that you're really always gonna have a refrigerator sitting over the spot, so if they get warped a little you won't see it.



If that's the problem:
You gotta take the freezer baskets out, find the drain, and use a turkey baster or something and hot water to defrost it, so the water can drain out. There may be a false wall on the back that yo uhave ot take off as well, usually held on with some screws or something. Check the temp in your freezer and if it's really cold, turn it up a bit and it can help it from happening again.

5/4/2010 4:53:54 PM

^ that is wha ti had to do last time it took FOREVER. but for what it is worth it worked!! so i'd try that first if i were the OP

but then it was fixed

now it is broken again. different problem. an di don't know what it isssssss

[Edited on May 4, 2010 at 5:29 PM. Reason : .]

5/4/2010 5:28:39 PM

^
-Check the temp in each compartment. If the freezer is at about 0 and the fridge is hot, the air distribution might be frosted over.

Find the air supply and air return ducts, where the freezer sends cold air to the fridge, and make sure they are clear.


Otherwise:

-Find the coils (backside or underneath, and clean them.
-check the door seal (apply soapy water to the seal, shut and look for bubbles)

5/4/2010 5:45:27 PM

^^ Yep, drain can get plugged with ice/mold/crud and will eventually fill up. The biggest sign is that the bottom of your freezer is a sheet of ice.

If this is it, take a hair dryer and blow on all the ice and soak it up, and blow it on the water drain (generally in the bottom/back of the freezer). You can melt all the stuff, and often times if it's a side by side, you can unscrew the metal backing from the bottom of the fridge and disconnect the drain pipe and clean it out.


if it's not any of this (or there's no ice on the bottom of the freezer), it's probably the leaking water line as mentioned earlier.

5/4/2010 5:48:19 PM

OMG - you guys are awesome! I am going to check all this out tonight.

Model # Maytag Performa - PSD2145GR

Thanks for all the help!

5/5/2010 8:55:41 AM

If it ends up being the Water Inlet Valve, the one you would want to purchase to replace it is:

http://www.helpfulitem.com/product/61005626/MaytagWhirlpoolRefrigeratorWaterValve61005626.aspx

Just to give you an idea of what connects into the valve:

http://www.youserguide.com/wiki/Whirlpool_PSD2145GRQ_parts-020

And here is the part list for the above diagram:

http://www.youserguide.com/wiki/Whirlpool_PSD2145GRQ_parts-021

The part I linked up top is not the default one that came with the fridge, so the part numbers do not match up, but it is the current replacement you would want to use.

5/5/2010 1:04:09 PM

Michael Dean > William

5/5/2010 1:42:40 PM

Wow! I just want to thank EVERYONE for the help!

Last Thursday, we spent around an hour and a half w/ two hairdryers getting all the ice out of the bottom and then we took out the false wall and the bottom behind that was frozen solid. The drain was completely full of ice.. So we kept using the blow dryers AND we would boil water and pour it on the spot.

It has worked PERFECTLY! We were finding water everyday and the bottom would freeze right up again after my husband knocked out all the ice but it has been perfect! Thanks TWW! You rawk.

5/10/2010 4:16:56 PM