--- title: "Water Collecting Inside the Refrigerator: Causes and Fixes" description: "Water under the crisper drawers, or a sheet of ice in the bottom of the freezer." url: "https://refrigeratorrepair.center/problems/water-leaking-inside/" --- # Water Collecting Inside the Refrigerator Water under the crisper drawers, or a sheet of ice in the bottom of the freezer. ## What it usually means. Water inside the cabinet is defrost meltwater that has not reached its drain. The drain is a small opening at the base of the evaporator, and it blocks with debris or freezes shut. The water then pools at the lowest point it can reach, which is under the crisper drawers on most designs and under the bottom drawer on a French door. The 4 causes, cheapest first Answer these first 01 Is the water under the crisper drawers, or in the bottom of the freezer? 02 Is it liquid, or has it frozen into a sheet? 03 Does it return within a day of being cleared? 04 Is there any frost on the back panel inside the freezer? 05 Has anything been spilled that might have run into the drain? ## Check these before you book. Water inside refrigerator: 5 checks, and none of them costs anything. 01 Empty and lift out the crisper drawers and look at the surface underneath. 02 On a French door model, pull the freezer drawer and look for a sheet of ice. 03 Check the door gasket for gaps. ### Also worth checking - Clear and dry the area and note how long it takes to return. - Look for frost on the back panel inside the freezer. ### How soon does it need a visit? Not urgent, but standing water will spoil produce and eventually finds its way to the floor. ## The causes, cheapest first. 4 things water collecting inside the refrigerator turns out to be, from overloaded or misaligned crisper humidity control to door seal admitting humid air. [The cost guide](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/cost/) 1. 01 no repair ### Overloaded or misaligned crisper humidity control A drawer sealed tight will show condensation that is normal rather than a failure. No repair: check it yourself [See condensation inside the refrigerator](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/problems/condensation-inside/) 2. 02 low ### Blocked defrost drain The cause of most of these calls. Debris or a plug of ice stops meltwater reaching the pan underneath. [Fixed by drains and leaks](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/services/drain-and-leak-repair/) 3. 03 low ### Drain frozen shut Where the drain is not warmed properly it freezes during the cycle and stays blocked afterwards. [Fixed by drains and leaks](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/services/drain-and-leak-repair/) 4. 04 low ### Door seal admitting humid air More humid air than the design expects produces more meltwater than the drain can carry. [Fixed by door, gasket and alignment](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/services/door-gasket-and-alignment/) [See refrigerator door not sealing](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/problems/door-not-sealing/) 5. What it costs ### Every repair on the site's cost scale, side by side Open the cost guide ## What else it could be. Most often confused with refrigerator leaking water on the floor, then frost building up in the refrigerator. [All problems](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/problems/) ### Refrigerator Leaking Water on the Floor 5 causes ### Frost Building Up in the Refrigerator 4 causes ### Condensation Inside the Refrigerator 5 causes ### Refrigerator Door Not Sealing 5 causes ## The makes it happens on. 31 makes on this site; water collecting inside the refrigerator can show up on any of them. Each mark opens that make's own page. [All 31 brands](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/brands/) ## Water Collecting Inside the Refrigerator, where we come out. 9 metros, each with its own page. [All service areas](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/) [Tampa Bay](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/) FL · 31 areas - [Hyde Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/hyde-park/) - [Davis Islands](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/davis-islands/) - [Palma Ceia](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/palma-ceia/) - [Westchase](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/westchase/) - [Carrollwood](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/carrollwood/) - [Belleair](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/belleair/) - [St. Pete Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/st-pete-beach/) - [Palm Harbor](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/tampa-bay/palm-harbor/) [Orlando](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/) FL · 30 areas - [Winter Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/winter-park/) - [Windermere](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/windermere/) - [Dr. Phillips](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/dr-phillips/) - [Bay Hill](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/bay-hill/) - [Lake Nona](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/lake-nona/) - [Heathrow](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/heathrow/) - [Celebration](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/orlando/celebration/) [Miami / South Florida](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/) FL · 47 areas - [Brickell](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/brickell/) - [Coconut Grove](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/coconut-grove/) - [Coral Gables](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/coral-gables/) - [Pinecrest](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/pinecrest/) - [Key Biscayne](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/key-biscayne/) - [Aventura](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/aventura/) - [Sunny Isles Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/sunny-isles-beach/) - [Bal Harbour](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/bal-harbour/) - [Miami Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/miami-beach/) - [Golden Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/golden-beach/) - [Weston](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/weston/) - [Boca Raton](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/boca-raton/) - [Palm Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/south-florida/palm-beach/) [New York Metro](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/) NY · 75 areas - [Upper East Side](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/upper-east-side/) - [Upper West Side](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/upper-west-side/) - [Tribeca](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/tribeca/) - [SoHo](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/soho/) - [Greenwich Village](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/greenwich-village/) - [Battery Park City](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/battery-park-city/) - [Brooklyn Heights](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/brooklyn-heights/) - [Park Slope](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/park-slope/) - [DUMBO](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/dumbo/) - [Forest Hills](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/forest-hills/) - [Great Neck](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/great-neck/) - [Southampton](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/southampton/) - [Scarsdale](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/new-york/scarsdale/) [Houston](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/) TX · 36 areas - [River Oaks](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/river-oaks/) - [Memorial](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/memorial/) - [Tanglewood](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/tanglewood/) - [Greater Heights](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/greater-heights/) - [Kingwood](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/kingwood/) - [Bellaire](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/bellaire/) - [Bunker Hill Village](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/bunker-hill-village/) - [Piney Point Village](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/piney-point-village/) - [Hunters Creek Village](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/hunters-creek-village/) - [Sugar Land](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/sugar-land/) - [Cinco Ranch](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/cinco-ranch/) - [The Woodlands](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/the-woodlands/) - [West University](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/houston/west-university/) [Chicago](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/) IL · 50 areas - [Lincoln Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/lincoln-park/) - [Near North Side](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/near-north-side/) - [West Loop / Near West Side](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/west-loop-near-west-side/) - [Wilmette](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/wilmette/) - [Winnetka](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/winnetka/) - [Glencoe](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/glencoe/) - [River Forest](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/river-forest/) - [Oak Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/oak-park/) - [Hinsdale](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/hinsdale/) - [Lake Forest](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/lake-forest/) - [Highland Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/highland-park/) - [Gold Coast](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/gold-coast/) - [Lakeview](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/chicagoland/lakeview/) [Los Angeles](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/) CA · 95 areas - [Beverly Hills](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/beverly-hills/) - [Bel Air](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/bel-air/) - [Holmby Hills](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/holmby-hills/) - [Brentwood](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/brentwood/) - [Pacific Palisades](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/pacific-palisades/) - [Santa Monica](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/santa-monica/) - [Hancock Park](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/hancock-park/) - [Studio City](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/studio-city/) - [Calabasas](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/calabasas/) - [Manhattan Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/manhattan-beach/) - [Palos Verdes Estates](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/palos-verdes-estates/) - [Pasadena](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/pasadena/) - [San Marino](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/san-marino/) - [Malibu](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/los-angeles/malibu/) [San Diego](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/) CA · 31 areas - [La Jolla](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/la-jolla/) - [Carmel Valley](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/carmel-valley/) - [Point Loma](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/point-loma/) - [Del Mar](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/del-mar/) - [Rancho Santa Fe](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/rancho-santa-fe/) - [Coronado](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/coronado/) - [Encinitas](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/encinitas/) - [Solana Beach](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/san-diego/solana-beach/) [San Francisco Bay Area](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/) CA · 74 areas - [Pacific Heights](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/pacific-heights/) - [Presidio Heights](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/presidio-heights/) - [Russian Hill](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/russian-hill/) - [Noe Valley](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/noe-valley/) - [Sea Cliff](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/sea-cliff/) - [Hillsborough](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/hillsborough/) - [Atherton](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/atherton/) - [Woodside](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/woodside/) - [Palo Alto](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/palo-alto/) - [Los Altos Hills](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/los-altos-hills/) - [Tiburon](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/tiburon/) - [Piedmont](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/piedmont/) - [Marina](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/locations/bay-area/marina/) For the heart of your home. ## Questions about water collecting inside the refrigerator. ### Can I clear the drain with warm water? Where the drain opening is reachable, warm water poured slowly through a turkey baster can melt an ice plug, and many owners clear it that way. Keep it warm rather than boiling, since very hot water can crack plastic liners. If the water returns within weeks, the drain is refreezing and needs more than a flush. ### Is food that sat in the water safe? Treat the pooled water as unclean, because it has run across the evaporator and the cabinet floor. Discard produce that has been sitting in it, wash the area with warm soapy water, and dry it before the drawers go back in. ### It started after the refrigerator was moved. Why? A unit that is no longer tilted slightly back can send meltwater forward instead of toward the drain opening, and the drain tube can be knocked away from its pan. Check the unit is level side to side and a little higher at the front than at the back. ### Will the ice sheet in the freezer bottom cause other problems? It can. A growing sheet lifts the drawer or its rails so it no longer closes fully, which lets in more humid air and makes more meltwater. Clearing it early keeps a low-band drain repair from turning into a door and frost problem as well. --- **[Read on the site: Water Collecting Inside the Refrigerator: Causes and Fixes](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/problems/water-leaking-inside/)** **[Book a visit with RefrigeratorRepair.center](https://refrigeratorrepair.center/schedule/)**