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  1. Repair
  2. GE Profile
  3. GE Profile Refrigerator
  4. Symptom Center
  5. Refrigerator leaking water

GE Profile refrigerator leaking water

Common reasons your GE Profile refrigerator is leaking water

The most common reasons your GE Profile refrigerator is leaking water are a clogged defrost drain, cracked dispenser water tubing or a damaged evaporator.

  • 54%

    54% of the time it's the
    Defrost Drain

  • 12%

    12% of the time it's the
    Dispenser Water Tubing

  • 11%

    11% of the time it's the
    Evaporator

  • 23%

    23% of the time it's the
    Something else

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Most common repairs needed to fix a GE Profile refrigerator

Defrost Drain Replacement

When the defrost drain is clogged, frost and ice melting from the evaporator fins during the defrost cycle won’t be able to drain away, causing an overflow of water in the drain pan and leading to water leaking underneath the refrigerator. To prevent potential damage to the floor and refrigerator if leaks are noticed, have a Sears Home Services professional inspect the refrigerator to address and rectify the clogged defrost drain promptly.


Troubleshooting defrost system problems in a refrigerator

Dispenser Water Tubing Replacement

Cracked refrigerator dispenser water tubing will result in water leaking around the dispenser area, leading to puddles or moisture accumulation on the exterior of the refrigerator. This leakage can result in decreased water flow to the dispenser. You might also notice water dripping from the dispenser nozzle or pooling in the dispenser tray. In some cases, a crack in the tubing can introduce contaminants or compromise the water's purity, affecting its taste and odor. Promptly addressing a cracked water tube with a Sears Home Services professional is crucial in preventing possible water damage.

Evaporator Replacement

A damaged refrigerator evaporator causes a decrease in overall cooling performance, leading to elevated temperatures in both the refrigerator and freezer compartments. These higher temperatures can result in food spoilage and less effective preservation of frozen items. Frost or ice buildup on the evaporator coils may hinder their ability to absorb heat efficiently. Excessive condensation inside the refrigerator can lead to leaks. Additionally, a damaged evaporator may cause unusual noises, such as hissing or gurgling sounds, during the refrigeration cycle.

Why is my GE Profile refrigerator leaking water from the bottom?

Here are the most common causes of a GE Profile refrigerator leaking from the bottom:

defrost-drain-tube-image

Clogged or Frozen Defrost Drain

The defrost drain removes water created during the automatic defrost cycle.

Water drips down into the defrost drain tray under the evaporator and then the defrost drain tube carries the water down to the defrost drain pan at the bottom of the refrigerator in the machine compartment. In between automatic defrost cycles, the water in the defrost drain pan evaporates away.

If the defrost drain tube gets clogged or frozen, water overflows the evaporator defrost drain tray and drips inside the fridge or the freezer compartment.

In a top-freezer refrigerator, the leaking water typically winds up at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment under the crisper drawers.

removing-the-evaporator-cover-to-clear-the-defrost-drain-tube

Follow this procedure to clear a clogged or frozen defrost drain:

  • Unplug the refrigerator and remove the evaporator cover panel in the freezer to access the evaporator defrost drain tray. In some top-freezer refrigerators, you’ll need to remove the ice maker before removing the evaporator cover.
  • Melt ice in the evaporator defrost drain tray under the evaporator using warm water and a small funnel or turkey baster. Water may seep from under the refrigerator if water drains down and overflows the drain pan at the bottom of the fridge.
  • If the water doesn’t drain through the defrost drain tube after melting the ice in the defrost drain tray under the evaporator, use a pipe cleaner or straw to unclog the top of the drain tube. Check to see if the drain is clear by pouring some warm water down the tube by again using a small funnel or turkey baster.
  • After clearing the defrost drain, reinstall the evaporator cover panel and plug in the refrigerator power cord to restore electrical power.

If the evaporator drain tray and defrost drain tube keeps freezing up and overflowing, schedule refrigerator repair service to have a technician diagnose and repair the problem. The tech may need to install a defrost drain tube heater to prevent water from freezing in that area.

frigidaire-freezer-defrost-drain-pan-image

Overflowing or Leaking Defrost Drain Pan

The drain pan at the bottom of the refrigerator in the machine compartment collects water from the evaporator drain pan under evaporator. The defrost drain tube carries the water from the evaporator defrost drain pan to the defrost drain pan.

In between defrost cycles, water in the defrost drain pan should evaporate according to refrigerator design.

If the drain pan cracks, it will leak water onto the floor that will seep out under the refrigerator.

Excessive frost caused by air leaking into the fridge through a bad door seal or other reasons can cause the defrost drain pan to overflow.

Unplug the refrigerator and remove the machine compartment cover. Examine the defrost drain pan and replace it if it’s cracked or damaged.

If the defrost drain pan is full and overflowing, empty the water out of the pan. Replace the refrigerator door seals or fix the cause of warm, moist air leaking into the refrigerator and causing excessive frost.

Here’s a DIY video that shows how to replace the refrigerator door seal on a common type of fridge:

Have a service technician replace the door seal or address the leaking problem if you’re unable to address the issue on your own.

High humidity or frequent door openings can also cause excessive frost leading to an overflowing defrost drain pan. Minimize refrigerator door openings and consider moving the refrigerator indoors if you’re using in a garage or a space that isn’t climate-controlled.

If these expert tips don’t help you resolve a problem with your GE Profile refrigerator leaking water, schedule repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix the fridge.

What to expect when you experience a GE Profile refrigerator leaking water issue

How is the leaking water problem fixed?

Correcting most leaking water problems usually involves replacing the defrost drain, dispenser water tubing or evaporator. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.

Sears Home Services recommendations for a refrigerator that is leaking water

When the refrigerator is leaking water it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of refrigerator failures.

What to look out for with a refrigerator leaking water diagnosis

Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your refrigerator problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.

Troubleshooting a GE Profile Refrigerator Ice Maker Leaking Water

When you find your GE Profile refrigerator ice maker leaking water, check the ice mold to see if water is overflowing. On some GE Profile refrigerators, you can adjust the fill level to prevent the overflow and fix the water leak. Some ice makers have a water fill adjustment screw that you can turn to decrease ice maker water flow. If you don’t see that adjustment on your GE Profile fridge, find the instructions for adjusting ice maker water flow in the owner’s manual and follow those steps to adjust the ice maker fill level.

Another cause of water overflowing the ice mold and leaking water from the ice maker is a leaking water valve. A piece of debris in the water fill valve for the ice maker can cause water to seep into the ice mold constantly. A control problem or defective water fill valve can cause the same problem. It’s best to have a service technician diagnose and repair this type of problem causing your GE Profile refrigerator ice maker leaking water. The technician will check the entire ice maker, the water valve and the control system for the source of the problem causing the leak.

Schedule refrigerator repair service now to have a Sears Home Services technician visit your home and fix your GE Profile refrigerator ice maker leaking water.

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Jake is a great person.

He did a great job, the problem is with the refrigerator.


Nancy V, Meridian, ID

Great job

Robert did a great job and was kind and courteous. He cleaned up everything. I would highly recommend using him.


Karen K, Mount Laurel, NJ

Service appointment

Joe was very professional and knowledgeable technician who quickly found and fixed the problem. I would recommend for service again


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Glossary Terms

A dual ice maker is a feature in some refrigerators that includes two separate ice makers: one in the fridge compartment and another in the freezer section. This setup doubles the appliance's ice-making capacity.

A French-door refrigerator features two doors that open side-by-side on the top section for the refrigerator compartment, with a bottom freezer drawer, combining style, efficiency, and easy access to both refrigerated and frozen goods.

Refrigerant is a chemical compound used in HVAC systems and refrigerators to absorb heat from the environment by cycling through states of evaporation and condensation, enabling the cooling process through its cycle of evaporation and condensation.

R-12 refrigerant, also known as Freon-12, is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compound that was once widely used in air conditioning systems, refrigerators, and aerosol propellants before its phase-out due to environmental concerns.

Additional possible GE Profile refrigerator symptoms you may experience