Water at the Bottom of the Fridge or Freezer? Tenant Troubleshooting Guide
If there is water at the bottom of the fridge, inside the fridge, or on the floor near the fridge/freezer, the most common cause is a blocked fridge drain hole. The drain hole is designed to allow condensation and water to drain away. If it becomes blocked by food, packaging, dirt, or ice, the water cannot drain correctly and may collect at the bottom of the fridge.
If the water appears to be coming from the freezer, this may be caused by ice build-up, the freezer needing to be defrosted, or the door not closing correctly. Tenants are responsible for carrying out the basic troubleshooting steps below before a contractor or appliance engineer is booked.
Once the steps have been completed, if the fridge/freezer is still leaking or flooding, please open a maintenance task in the system and upload the required photos. This helps us arrange the correct engineer without unnecessary delays.
Important Safety Notice
- Switch off or unplug the appliance before cleaning or defrosting, where safe to do so.
- Do not use knives, screwdrivers, or sharp objects to remove ice or clear blockages.
- Do not pour boiling water directly into the freezer compartment.
- Do not touch electrical parts or attempt to repair the appliance yourself.
- Use towels to protect the floor from water during cleaning or defrosting.
- If there is a burning smell, electrical issue, damaged cable, or serious leak, stop using the appliance and report the issue immediately.
Video Guide
The video below shows how to clear a blocked fridge drain hole.
If There Is Water at the Bottom of the Fridge
1. Check the drain hole
The drain hole is usually located at the back of the fridge, near the bottom of the inside rear wall. If the drain hole is blocked, water cannot drain away and may collect inside the fridge or leak onto the floor.
2. Remove food and packaging from the area
Move food, packaging, and containers away from the back wall of the fridge. Food or packaging touching the back wall can cause condensation, freezing, or block the drain area.
3. Clear the drain hole carefully
Use a suitable flexible item, such as a fridge drain cleaning tool, pipe cleaner, cotton bud, or flexible cable tie, to gently clear the drain hole. Insert it carefully and move it in and out several times to help remove the blockage.
Do not use sharp objects that could damage the appliance.
4. Clean the bottom of the fridge
Wipe away any standing water from the bottom of the fridge. Clean the surrounding area so that any food residue, dirt, or debris is removed.
5. Check if the water drains correctly
After clearing the drain hole, monitor the fridge to see whether water continues to collect. If the drain hole was blocked, the issue may take a short time to fully clear after cleaning.
If the Water Is Coming From the Freezer
1. Check for ice build-up
If there is ice build-up inside the freezer, the appliance may need to be defrosted. Ice can block drainage channels, stop the door from closing properly, or cause water to leak when it melts.
2. Check the freezer door seal
Make sure the freezer door is closing properly and that no food, drawers, or ice are preventing the door from sealing. A door that does not close properly can cause excess ice and water build-up.
3. Defrost the freezer
If there is ice build-up, switch off or unplug the appliance where safe to do so, place towels around the base, and allow the freezer to defrost naturally. Remove water as it melts and clean the inside of the freezer before switching the appliance back on.
Do not use sharp tools to break or scrape ice, as this can damage the appliance.
4. Refill the freezer correctly
Once the freezer has been defrosted and cleaned, make sure drawers are fitted correctly and food is not blocking the door from closing. Avoid overfilling the freezer, as this can prevent airflow and cause further ice build-up.
Photos and Information Required
If the fridge/freezer is still flooding or leaking after completing the steps above, please open a maintenance task in the system. To help us arrange the correct contractor without delays, please upload:
- A clear photo of the fridge/freezer
- A photo showing where the water is collecting or leaking from
- A photo of the fridge drain hole after it has been cleaned
- A photo showing the inside bottom of the fridge after cleaning
- A photo of any ice build-up inside the freezer, if applicable
- A photo of the freezer after defrosting, if applicable
- A photo of the make and model label, usually found inside the fridge or around the door frame
- Confirmation that the drain hole has been checked and cleaned
- Confirmation that the freezer has been defrosted, if the water is coming from the freezer
- Confirmation that the door seal and drawers have been checked
When to Report the Issue
If the fridge/freezer continues to leak or flood after the drain hole has been cleared, the freezer has been defrosted, and the door seal has been checked, please open a maintenance task. We can then review the information and arrange an appliance engineer where required.
Please note that by submitting a maintenance task, you are confirming that the basic troubleshooting steps above have already been completed. This helps avoid unnecessary contractor visits and allows us to book the correct engineer more quickly.
Possible Contractor Charges
If an appliance engineer attends and the issue is found to have been caused by a blocked drain hole, food or packaging blocking the drain area, excessive ice build-up due to lack of defrosting, an overfilled freezer, or the door not being closed correctly, the call-out charge may be recharged to the tenant.
If the fridge/freezer has a genuine mechanical or electrical fault not caused by tenant use, the landlord will normally be responsible for arranging the repair.
