The short answer
On a Brigade counter the usual leak is a blocked condensate drain or a tray that cannot evaporate because the condenser is greased over. Clean both. A damaged gasket produces far more condensate than the drain was sized for. Mark and mop the floor before you diagnose anything.
What you observe
- A puddle in front of or beside the counter — Condensate arriving on the floor instead of in the tray.
- Standing water or ice in the cabinet base — The internal drain is blocked.
- Water at the grille rather than under a door — An overfull or displaced evaporation tray.
- Heavy frost inside and a wet floor together — A gasket fault making more water than the drain can take.
- NEAR MISS - condensation on the outside in a humid kitchen — A surface effect, not a leak.
Causes, most likely first on this brand
- A blocked condensate drain — First. Food debris, grease and mould close the opening, the channel fills and freezes, and the water then leaves the cabinet by whatever route it can find.
- A tray that cannot evaporate its contents — Second, and usually a greased condenser underneath it. The tray depends on condenser heat, so a matted condenser leaves it filling faster than it empties.
- A gasket damaged or not sealing — Third. A torn seal admits humid kitchen air all day, which becomes condensate, which is more than the drain was designed to carry.
- A unit not level after being moved — Fourth. Counters are rolled out to clean behind and pushed back, and one left leaning keeps water in the cabinet or spills the tray.
- A cracked drain channel or a split tube — Last. Uncommon, and the only cause here that is not kitchen maintenance.
Check in this order, and why
- Mark and mop the floor before diagnosing — A puddle in a busy kitchen is the immediate hazard.
- Look for water or ice in the cabinet base — That proves a blocked drain rather than suggesting it.
- Remove the front grille and check the tray — Full or displaced explains water at the grille.
- Test the gaskets on a slip of paper — More humid air in means more condensate to get rid of.
What an owner can safely check
- Mop and mark the area immediately — Water plus a working kitchen is a slip risk before it is a repair.
Tools: mop, wet floor signAbout 10 min
- Defrost the cabinet if the drain is frozen — A frozen drain cannot be cleared while it is ice.
Tools: towelsAbout 180 min
- Flush the drain with warm water — Clear the passage gently with a soft flexible probe, never a sharp tool.
Tools: warm water, soft probeAbout 25 min
- Degrease the condenser and reseat the tray — A clean condenser is what evaporates the water, so it belongs in this job.
Tools: vacuum, degreaserAbout 40 min
- STOP HERE if a clear drain and good gaskets still leak — That points at the channel or the tube.
Before you open anything
Safety
Mark and mop a wet kitchen floor before anything else - it is the immediate hazard. Switch the unit off at its breaker before clearing the drain or cleaning the condenser, since the fan can start at any time while it has power. Condenser fins are sharp - wear gloves. Never clear a drain with a knife, a skewer or stiff wire, and move food to another unit before defrosting this one.
When to call a technician
Call when the drain runs clear, the condenser is clean, the tray is seated, the gaskets drag on paper and water still reaches the floor. That points at a cracked channel or a split tube. Call sooner if the counter is also failing to hold temperature, or if water is reaching a socket or a supply at floor level, because that becomes an electrical matter.
Nearest pages of this class
What this page does not cover
This page covers the Brigade undercounter refrigerated counters, which drain condensate to a tray evaporated by condenser heat. Units plumbed to a floor drain, and walk-in rooms with their own drainage, are a different page. Deliberately absent: drain and tray part identifiers, tube dimensions and cabinet specifications.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
