What this means on these models
On the Classic refrigerator platform, water on the floor means the defrost drain first and plumbing only after that. On a compact unit the pan holds very little, so anything that raises the water rate overflows it rather than evaporating it. Water inside the cabinet and water on the floor behind it come from different places, so note which you have before you start.
The observable signs on this platform
- Water sitting under the bottom shelf — Lift the drawer out and look for the drain hole at the back of the channel — it is usually visibly plugged.
- Staining behind the cabinet — Look for a damp line on any supply line before blaming the tray.
- A puddle at the rear — Water at the back is a different half of this page and should be traced with the unit pulled out.
- More water in summer — Condensate volume rises with humidity, so a seasonal leak is a drain problem rather than plumbing.
- NEAR MISS — water only in the ice bin — Overfill at the mould freezes in place without ever reaching the floor.
What it usually turns out to be, in order
- Melt water with nowhere to go — On a compact unit the channel catches everything that spills, and the hole at its lowest point is the first thing to close.
- Door seal not closing on the gasket — Where the room is damp, this cause moves up: the wetter the room the faster the ice builds.
- Heavy frost melting all at once — A bulk thaw after a power cut or a holiday floods a path that usually copes, which is why the leak appears once and not again.
What to check first, second, third
- Lift the drawers out and look at the drain channel — Flush it gently with warm water and watch whether it takes — standing water names the fault.
- Check whether the door closes on its seal everywhere — A seal that lets humid air in is a water source in its own right.
- Look at how the unit sits on its feet — Second because it is a two-minute check and it decides whether backed-up water reaches the floor.
Safety first, and it is not optional
Safety
Once a line has been disturbed, check it again the next morning before pushing the cabinet back. A cabinet with water under it slides unpredictably, so clear and dry before pulling it out. Treat the water damage as the first problem and the leak as the second.
Models this refrigerator page covers
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| 3760-917* | classic:refrigerator:? |
When this stops being a DIY job
If the tray is cracked, replacing it means getting under the machine on most of these models. A joint that leaks after being tightened needs replacing rather than retightening.
Other faults covered for this refrigerator group
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