Why Is There Water Inside My Fridge? | Refitec Kenya

By Refitec Kenya | Appliance Repair & Maintenance Experts

Quick Answers at a Glance

If you’ve opened your fridge and found water pooling at the bottom, dripping from shelves, or collecting under the crisper drawers, here’s what’s likely causing it:

If none of the above quick fixes resolve the issue, the problem may require professional diagnosis. Call Refitec Kenya on [your contact number] for fast, affordable fridge repair across Nairobi and beyond.

Why Is There Water Inside My Fridge? A Complete Guide

Finding water inside your refrigerator is one of the most common fridge complaints we receive at Refitec Kenya. While it may seem alarming, it is almost always fixable — and in many cases, you can resolve it yourself without spending a single shilling on a technician. That said, some causes do require professional attention.

In this guide, we walk you through every possible reason your fridge is leaking or collecting water inside, and exactly what to do about each one.

1. Blocked or Clogged Defrost Drain

This is the number one cause of water collecting at the bottom of your fridge.

Modern refrigerators go through an automatic defrost cycle, usually once or twice a day. During this cycle, frost that has built up on the evaporator coils melts into water, which is supposed to flow down through a small drain hole into a drain pan located underneath the fridge. From there, the water evaporates naturally due to the heat from the compressor.

When that drain hole becomes clogged with food particles, ice, or mold, the water has nowhere to go — so it backs up and pools inside the refrigerator, often under the crisper drawers or at the very bottom of the fridge.

How to Fix a Blocked Defrost Drain

What you will need: Warm water, a turkey baster or syringe, a pipe cleaner or thin flexible brush, and a towel.

Step 1 — Locate the drain hole. Empty the fridge and remove the bottom drawers. You will find the drain hole at the back wall of the fridge interior, near the bottom. In some models it is beneath a small plastic cover.

Step 2 — Flush with warm water. Use a turkey baster or syringe to flush warm (not boiling) water directly into the drain hole. This will melt any ice blocking the passage and loosen debris.

Step 3 — Clear the blockage. Insert a pipe cleaner or thin flexible brush into the drain hole and gently work it back and forth to dislodge any food particles or buildup.

Step 4 — Flush again. Repeat the warm water flush until water flows freely through the drain and does not back up.

Step 5 — Check the drain pan. Pull the fridge away from the wall, locate the drain pan at the bottom rear of the unit, and confirm that water is draining into it properly.

Step 6 — Clean and reassemble. Wipe the interior dry, replace the drawers, and return food to the fridge.

If the drain refreezes repeatedly, there may be a fault with the defrost heater or defrost thermostat — in which case, contact Refitec Kenya for a professional diagnosis.

2. Damaged or Dirty Door Seal (Gasket)

The rubber seal that runs around the edge of your fridge door is called a gasket. Its job is to create an airtight seal when the door is closed, keeping warm, humid air from entering the fridge.

When the gasket becomes dirty, torn, warped, or loose, warm air leaks in continuously. This warm air meets the cold surfaces inside the fridge and condenses into water droplets — much the same way a cold glass sweats on a warm day. Over time, this condensation accumulates and drips to the bottom of the fridge.

How to Fix a Faulty Door Seal

Step 1 — Inspect the gasket. Close the door on a piece of paper and pull it out. If the paper slides out easily with no resistance, the seal is not tight enough.

Step 2 — Clean the gasket. Mix warm water with a small amount of dish soap and use a soft cloth to thoroughly clean the gasket, getting into all the folds and grooves. Mold and grime in the gasket are common culprits of a poor seal.

Step 3 — Check for warping or tears. Run your fingers along the entire length of the gasket. If you find cracks, tears, or sections that have pulled away from the door frame, the gasket needs to be replaced.

Step 4 — Attempt to re-seat the gasket. If the gasket has simply pulled loose, you can sometimes push it back into the groove around the door frame with your fingers.

Step 5 — Replace if necessary. If the gasket is damaged beyond cleaning or re-seating, it must be replaced. Refitec Kenya can source and install the correct gasket for your fridge model. Contact us for this service.

3. Refrigerator Is Not Level

This is a simple but frequently overlooked cause of water inside the fridge. Refrigerators are designed to tilt very slightly backward — just enough that the door swings closed on its own due to gravity. If the fridge is tilting forward or to the side, the door may not close completely or may close unevenly, allowing warm air to seep in constantly.

A fridge that is not level also causes water to pool in unintended corners of the interior rather than flowing correctly toward the drain hole.

How to Level Your Refrigerator

Step 1 — Place a spirit level on top of the fridge. Check both front-to-back and side-to-side.

Step 2 — Locate the leveling feet. These are adjustable feet (or rollers with leveling screws) located at the bottom four corners of the fridge. Some models have a grille at the front that you need to remove first to access them.

Step 3 — Adjust the feet. Turn the feet clockwise to raise that corner, or counterclockwise to lower it. Aim for the fridge to be level side-to-side and very slightly higher at the front than at the back (just 5–10mm).

Step 4 — Test the door. Open the door halfway and let go. If it swings gently shut on its own, the tilt is correct.

4. Temperature Set Too Low

Setting your fridge temperature too low (below 1°C) can cause the interior surfaces to frost over excessively. During the defrost cycle, this excess frost produces more meltwater than the drain system can handle, leading to water overflow inside the fridge.

How to Set the Right Fridge Temperature

The ideal refrigerator temperature is between 3°C and 5°C. The freezer compartment should be at -18°C.

Step 1 — Locate the temperature control dial or digital panel. In older models this is a numbered dial (usually 1–5 or 1–7). In modern fridges it is a digital display.

Step 2 — Adjust to the recommended setting. For dial models, the middle setting is usually around 3–4°C. For digital models, set it directly.

Step 3 — Wait 24 hours. After adjusting the temperature, give the fridge a full day to stabilize before checking whether the water problem has resolved.

5. Cracked or Overflowing Drain Pan

As mentioned earlier, water from the defrost cycle flows into a drain pan at the bottom of the fridge, where it evaporates. If the drain pan is cracked, it will leak water onto your floor rather than letting it evaporate. If the fridge is in a very humid environment or the defrost cycle is malfunctioning, the pan can fill up faster than it evaporates and overflow.

How to Check and Address the Drain Pan

Step 1 — Access the drain pan. Pull your fridge away from the wall. The drain pan is usually located at the bottom rear of the unit, sometimes behind a removable panel or grille.

Step 2 — Inspect for cracks. Remove the pan carefully and examine it for cracks, breaks, or signs of overflow staining.

Step 3 — Empty and clean the pan. Even if there are no cracks, a dirty or moldy drain pan can cause bad odors. Wash it with warm soapy water, rinse well, and replace it.

Step 4 — Replace if cracked. A cracked drain pan must be replaced. Contact Refitec Kenya with your fridge’s model number and we will help you source the correct replacement pan.

6. Storing Hot or Warm Food

Placing hot or warm food directly in the fridge introduces moisture-laden warm air into the cold environment. This warm air condenses on the cold interior walls and shelves, creating water droplets. If this is done regularly, it can cause significant moisture buildup inside the fridge.

Best Practice for Storing Food

Allow all cooked food to cool to room temperature (or near room temperature) before placing it in the fridge. This should take no longer than 30–45 minutes. Do not leave food at room temperature for more than 2 hours, however, as bacteria multiply rapidly in that range.

Store food in sealed containers to prevent moisture and odors from spreading inside the fridge.

7. High Humidity and Frequent Door Opening

In Nairobi’s climate — particularly during rainy seasons — ambient humidity can be very high. Every time you open the fridge door, warm, humid air rushes in. If the door is opened very frequently or left open for extended periods, condensation builds up rapidly on interior surfaces and eventually drips to the bottom.

What You Can Do

Minimize the number of times you open the fridge and reduce how long you keep the door open. Know what you want to take out before you open the door. This simple habit makes a noticeable difference, especially in humid weather.

Ensure the fridge is not placed too close to a heat source such as a cooker, oven, or direct sunlight from a window, as this forces the compressor to work harder and increases condensation.

When to Call a Professional

While many of the causes above can be fixed at home, there are situations where you need a qualified fridge technician. Contact Refitec Kenya immediately if:

• Water reappears within a few days of you clearing the defrost drain
• You hear unusual noises from the fridge around the time water appears
• The fridge is not cooling properly alongside the leaking
• You find frost or ice buildup in unusual places inside the fridge
• The defrost cycle seems to be running excessively or not at all
• You are unsure which component is faulty and do not want to risk damaging the appliance

Why Choose Refitec Kenya for Fridge Repairs?

At Refitec Kenya, we specialize in the diagnosis and repair of all major refrigerator brands including Samsung, LG, Ramtons, Bruhm, Von, Hisense, Whirlpool, Miele, Bosch, and more. Our technicians are trained, experienced, and equipped with genuine spare parts.

We offer same-day or next-day service across Nairobi, and we stand by the quality of our repairs with a service warranty.

Call or WhatsApp us today: 0704843613 Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water inside a fridge dangerous? It is not immediately dangerous, but left unaddressed it can encourage mold growth, damage food, cause electrical hazards if water reaches components, and shorten the lifespan of your fridge. Fix it as soon as possible.

How long does it take to fix a blocked defrost drain? Clearing a blocked defrost drain typically takes 20–30 minutes if you have the right tools on hand.

Can I use my fridge while it is leaking water? Yes, in the short term. However, address the problem promptly to avoid food spoilage, mold, and potential damage to your floor or the fridge’s electrical components.

How much does fridge repair cost in Nairobi? Costs vary depending on the fault and the parts required. Contact Refitec Kenya for a free quote and honest assessment.

How often should a fridge be serviced? We recommend a professional fridge service at least once every 12–18 months to keep it running efficiently and catch small problems before they become expensive repairs.

Article published by Refitec Kenya — Your trusted home appliance repair partner in Nairobi.