What this means on these models
A leaking Amana AQU is almost always a blocked defrost drain rather than a burst line. Thirteen model numbers carry this family badge, and the matrix on this page is the list. The tell is whether the water is inside the cabinet or on the floor, and whether it is there constantly or only after the unit has run for a while.
Where the water shows up
- Water pooling under the crisper drawers — The classic blocked defrost drain: melt water backs up inside the liner instead of reaching the drain pan.
- A sheet of ice on the freezer floor — A hard sheet of ice under the bottom freezer basket, built in layers one defrost cycle at a time.
- Water at the front of the floor, usually after a cycle — Melt water overflowing the liner runs forward and out under the door, which is why the puddle appears at the front.
- A steady drip at the back, near the floor — A supply or dispenser line joint weeping, or a drain pan that has cracked or shifted off its seat.
- Damp or buckled flooring under the appliance — Flooring that has darkened or lifted under the cabinet, which dates the leak far earlier than the puddle does.
- NEAR MISS — water only in the drain pan at the back — A wet drain pan is the expected end of the defrost path, not a fault.
Causes, most likely first on the AQU line
- Blocked or frozen defrost drain — Ranked first on the AQU line: the matrix on this page spans enough models to cross more than one production run and the drain path is a narrow tube that carries debris-laden melt water on every defrost cycle, so it silts up and freezes closed on every cabinet of this type.
- Door seal admitting warm humid air — Second, and it often causes the first — the extra humidity a leaking door admits is what overloads the drain in the first place.
- Supply or dispenser line joint weeping — Third because clean pressurised water at the back of the cabinet behaves differently from melt water: it does not stop, which makes it both easy to identify and more urgent than anything above it.
- Cracked or displaced drain pan — Last. It is normally found after the drain has been cleared and the water has not stopped.
What to check first, second, third
- Clear the bottom of the cabinet and find where the water actually collects — Under the crispers is the drain, at the back is the pan or a joint, on the liner is condensation.
- Take the bottom freezer basket out and look at the drain outlet — A hole that is iced over or silted shut is visible, and clearing it is the repair.
- Run a strip of paper round each door seal — A leaking door is what overloads a drain, so clearing one without the other buys a few months.
- Pull the unit out and look at the pan and the supply joints — Last: it needs the appliance moved, and it is the check that matters only if the interior sources come back clean.
Safety first
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel — a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Water and a live appliance do not mix: dry the floor before working, and if water has reached a socket or an extension lead, switch the circuit off at the consumer unit before touching anything. Close the household water valve before breaking any supply joint.
Models in the AQU family
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| AQU1203TRW | amana:refrigerator:aqu |
| AQU1223BRW | amana:refrigerator:aqu |
| AQU1501TRW* | amana:refrigerator:aqu |
| AQU1525AEW | amana:refrigerator:aqu |
| AQU1613TEW | amana:refrigerator:aqu |
| AQU1613TEW* | amana:refrigerator:aqu |
| AQU1626BEW | amana:refrigerator:aqu |
| AQU1627BRW | amana:refrigerator:aqu |
| AQU1824BRW | amana:refrigerator:aqu |
| AQU1827BRW | amana:refrigerator:aqu |
| AQU2003TRW* | amana:refrigerator:aqu |
| AQU2024BRW | amana:refrigerator:aqu |
| AQU2027BRW | amana:refrigerator:aqu |
When to call a technician
Call when the water turns out to be pressurised supply water, when the drain will not clear from the freezer side, or when the floor has started to suffer. On the AQU line the owner side is the drain outlet, the gasket and the drain pan, and everything behind the liner is not.
Other faults covered for this family
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
