Fridge freezer leaking water onto the kitchen floor (all brands)
✅ Safe to check yourself
This is a common, low-risk check most people can do safely. Always unplug the appliance (or isolate power) before touching internal parts.
Quick TipTake a photo of the appliance's model/serial number sticker now — you'll want it if this does end up needing a part or an engineer.
Water pooling underneath or in front of a fridge freezer is one of the most common calls, and almost always traces back to a blocked defrost drain rather than a refrigerant leak, which is a common but usually incorrect first assumption.
What to check first
- Look inside the fridge compartment at the back, usually near the bottom, for a small drain hole — this channels water from the automatic defrost cycle down to an evaporation tray underneath the appliance. Food debris or ice can block this hole over time.
- If accessible, gently clear the drain hole with something soft (a pipe cleaner or cotton bud) and a little warm water — avoid anything sharp that could damage the drain channel.
- Pull the fridge out (carefully, and unplugged) and check the evaporation tray underneath at the back or base isn’t cracked, dislodged, or overfilled from a longstanding blockage.
- Check the door seals aren’t letting in excess warm, moist air, which can increase condensation and defrost water beyond what the drain system normally copes with.
When to call an engineer
If the drain hole and evaporation tray are both clear and correctly positioned but leaking continues, the automatic defrost system (heater, timer, or drain heater tape that stops the hole itself icing over) may have failed — worth a professional diagnosis rather than repeated manual clearing.