The short answer
A leak on the ARTX refrigerators is usually defrost water that has lost its route out rather than anything under pressure. On these models a blocked drain trough is the first thing this page would have you rule out. The list below ends with the one cause on it that is not owner work.
What you observe on these models
- A pool at the front of the appliance that comes and goes — Water that arrives on a cycle is defrost water.
- Water at the back of the cabinet rather than at the door — The back is the pan and the supply; the door is the drain.
- A steady drip near the filter head — The head is under supply pressure whether the appliance runs or not.
- NEAR MISS — the water is warm or has a smell — That is not appliance condensate; find the source before going further.
Causes, most likely first on this family
- Drain trough behind the evaporator blocked — Clearing it properly means taking the freezer rear panel off, which is where this stops being an owner job on most designs. Ranked first here: the commonest of the four on this family. One design carries every cabinet size in this family, so it holds across the line.
- Water inlet valve or its fitting weeping — A compression fitting that was disturbed and not re-made leaks slowly enough to evaporate for months before it shows. Second, because it produces almost the same complaint from a different part.
- Cabinet tipped forward — Appliances are normally set slightly back of level so the doors close themselves, and losing that is what starts the complaint. Third, because the two above account for most of what arrives with this complaint.
- Condensation in a drawer mistaken for a leak — Opening the slide and drying the drawer settles it within a day. Last on this page: real, but uncommon on these cabinets.
- Body: Because this family is one design at several capacities, the air path is the part that is worked hardest at the top of the ladder — which is what moves airflow causes above installation ones here.
Check in this order, and why
- Note how long the leak stays away after the drain is cleared: a few weeks means the trough, not the tube. — It leads: the ranking puts this cause first, so its check goes first too.
- Dry the valve body and its fittings, then look again a day later for a fresh trail. — It sits here because it rules a cause in rather than out, which saves a step later.
- Set a level on the top of the cabinet, front to back, and correct it with the feet. — Last, because it confirms what the checks above have already narrowed.
Disconnect before you open it up
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel; a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Never bypass a door switch to keep a part running while you look at it. Dry the floor before pulling the appliance out, and keep water away from the electrical parts at the base of the cabinet.
Models in the ARTX family
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| ARTX2014T*** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX2019S*** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX2021T*** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX2314T*** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX2418T* | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX2419S** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX2419S*** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
| ARTX3028P*** | amana:refrigerator:artx |
When to call a technician
Call when the leak returns within weeks of the drain being cleared: that pattern puts the blockage upstream in the trough, behind a panel. Call sooner if the water is arriving from the supply side.
The 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.
