Whirlpool Refrigerator is Leaking Water Inside? What To Check & How To Fix It? - DIY Appliance Repairs, Home Repair Tips and Tricks (2024)

Leaking water in a Whirlpool refrigerator can cause several different problems. For example, it can lead to a buildup of frost and ice when that trapped water reaches freezing temperatures. So, if that’s happening to your unit, you’ll want to troubleshoot it quickly.

Your Whirlpool refrigerator leaks water from the inside because of a blocked defrost drain. The problem can also happen due to a water filter installed the wrong way or a crack at the water filter head or its housing. Lastly, consider that the water reservoir built into the fridge might be cracked.

In this quick article, you’ll discover why your Whirlpool fridge has water leaking inside. More importantly, you’ll also learn how to fix it yourself without necessarily needing to pay a technician.

Why Is Water Leaking From Inside My Whirlpool Fridge?

Water leaking from inside your Whirlpool fridge is quite common. Thankfully, the reasons for this problem aren’t severe and can be fixed pretty easily.

Here’s why your Whirlpool refrigerator is leaking and what you can do to solve the issue quickly:

Blocked Defrost Drain

The affected part: Your Whirlpool refrigerator compartment has a small drain discreetly hidden somewhere near the back wall. That’s called the defrost drain, and its purpose is to carry any water away safely to the back of the fridge, where it’ll evaporate naturally.

There’s a reason that part is called the defrost drain. At least once or twice a day, your Whirlpool fridge will run a defrost cycle. During that time, any ice or frost buildup will be melted away.

The water from that process needs to go somewhere. So, it flows through the defrost drain to another part of the fridge.

Naturally, any other fluids from spills or leaking containers will also go down the same drain.

What’s wrong with it: One of the most likely reasons your Whirlpool fridge is leaking from the inside is the defrost drain is blocked. Remember: that drain exists so all fluids can safely flow away. So, water will quickly build up inside the compartment if it’s blocked.

The defrost drain is likely blocked by frost and ice. However, food bits and foreign objects can also find their way into the drain and cause a clog.

How to fix it: Firstly, you must empty your refrigerator’s contents to access the defrost drain at the back of the compartment.

Then, you’ll get a better sense of what’s blocking the drain and what you’ll have to do to clear it.

You can pour hot water to melt away any frost and ice buildups. However, you’ll have to use tweezers or similar tools to pull out any foreign objects stuck inside.

Read: How To Clean Condenser Coils On A Whirlpool Refrigerator

Wrongly Installed Water Filter

The affected part: Any water that flows into your Whirlpool refrigerator must go through a water filter. Once that happens, the water can flow directly to the dispenser or ice maker.

Each water filter has specific instructions that you must follow to install it correctly. That way, the filter will be secured correctly, and no water will leak from it.

What’s wrong with it: An incorrectly installed water filter is another reason for water leaking from inside your fridge. Water will leak out from around the filter head when the filter isn’t secured correctly.

That water will quickly accumulate inside your refrigerator compartment and leak out through the appliance’s openings.

How to fix it: Firstly, you’ll want to shut off the water supply to your fridge. That means closing the tap that controls the water line behind the unit.

Then, remove the water filter from your fridge. Pay close attention to any instructions printed directly on the filter or any manuals that came with it.

Next, ensure that you’re placing the filter correctly into place and securing it the right way.

When you install it correctly, the filter head will form a tight seal without any gaps, and no water will leak out.

Never forget that the best water filter for any Whirlpool refrigerator is a genuine replacement that’s compatible with your fridge model. You might be tempted to use a universal water filter or one that’s produced by a third-party manufacturer.

However, those filters aren’t designed with your fridge model in mind. A genuine model is designed specifically for your fridge model and guarantees a perfect fit and excellent performance.

Read: Whirlpool Refrigerator Water From Dispenser Is Not Cold?

Cracked Water Filter Head Or Housing

The affected part: The setup of the water filter has two sides. First, you have the filter itself, which is the part that you replace every few months. The second half of that setup is the fridge and its components.

When it comes to the water filter, the fridge’s components are the filter head and the housing.

The filter head is where you attach the filter. Meanwhile, the filter housing is the part that conceals the filter and the filter head.

What’s wrong with it: Although less likely, it’s possible that your fridge’s interior leak is due to a cracked water filter head or its housing. That could happen due to impact from a hard object or during transportation.

Whatever the cause, a crack will lead to water leaking out into your refrigerator compartment. That water will quickly build up inside, causing it to flow to where it doesn’t belong.

How to fix it: Sealing the crack in the filter head or housing will only be a short-term fix. Instead, you should replace the affected part as soon as possible.

Thankfully, you can purchase replacements for these parts pretty quickly. When you get them, carefully remove the existing filter head or housing and discard them.

Then, install the replacement and turn on the fridge’s water supply. If you confirm that there are no leaks, that means you’ve succeeded in fixing the problem.

Read: Why Samsung Refrigerator Ice Maker Freezing Up? – Troubleshooting Guide

Leaking Water Reservoir

The affected part: Earlier, you read how water flows into your Whirlpool refrigerator and through the water filter. Before that water can reach the ice maker or water dispenser, it must first pass through the water reservoir.

The reservoir isn’t a big water tank, as some people would imagine. Instead, it’s a long section of hoses that can store enough for a few cups of water.

As the water stays there, it gets chilled and ready to serve. Then, the water will flow out when the water dispenser is activated.

What’s wrong with it: You can imagine that plenty of water is stored inside the reservoir at any given time. So, water will quickly flow into the fridge’s compartment if a leak forms inside the reservoir.

It’s challenging to pinpoint the reason that leak formed at the dispenser. But whatever the cause, a leaking water reservoir is no longer useful and needs to be dealt with.

How to fix it: You’ll have to replace the water reservoir to fix this problem. Again, this kind of problem is very straightforward to fix but requires a lot of time and effort.

Firstly, you must remove the fridge’s panels to access the water reservoir. Then, you’ll have to detach the water line and remove the existing reservoir.

Once that’s done, you can fit the new reservoir in and reconnect it to the fridge’s water supply.

You can make your job easier by shutting off the fridge’s water supply and draining the water reservoir through the dispenser before you begin.

Read: How To Fix Samsung Refrigerator Fan Noise? – Troubleshooting Guide

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Check out these helpful questions and answers to diagnose your leaking Whirlpool refrigerator:

Where Is The Defrost Drain On My Whirlpool Fridge?

The defrost drain is typically towards the rear and bottom of the compartment. You’ll see that it looks like a hole where water can easily fall into. The exact position of the drain might differ between models, so refer to the user manual to be sure.

Is It Common For Fridges To Leak?

Not all fridge leaks are common for Whirlpool refrigerators. However, leaks caused by clogged defrost drains are somewhat common, as they do not have filters or heating elements there. That means cold water can turn to ice in there, and foreign objects can easily fall inside.

Read: Whirlpool Fridge Troubleshooting Guide

Which Water Filter Is Best For A Whirlpool Refrigerator?

The best water filter is a genuine filter compatible with your particular Whirlpool fridge model. That’s because it’s designed to work with your fridge model in particular. Avoid using universal water filters or those from third-party manufacturers.

Can A Refrigerator Water Line Be Replaced?

Yes, you can replace the water line in your Whirlpool fridge. Be sure to shut off the water supply and drain the water reservoir through the dispenser. That way, you won’t have to deal with water leaks when you detach parts of the water line.

What Happens If I Don’t Change The Water Filter In My Refrigerator?

When you fail to change the water filter in your Whirlpool fridge, it’ll eventually get saturated with impurities. As that becomes increasingly severe, the water flow through the filter will become restricted. Then, no water will flow out from the water dispenser or into the ice maker.