You open the fridge to grab some milk, and there’s a puddle of water on the floor right in front of it. Annoying, right? The good news is that in the vast majority of cases, water coming out of the front of a refrigerator (not the back) is caused by one very common and usually easy-to-fix problem: a clogged defrost drain.
Here’s what’s really happening inside your fridge and how to stop the leak for good.
What’s Supposed to Happen (The Normal Cycle)
Modern frost-free refrigerators automatically defrost the cooling coils hidden behind the freezer panel a few times a day. That process creates a small amount of water (melted frost). This water is supposed to:
- Run down a small channel behind the freezer wall
- Flow into a drain hole at the bottom of that channel
- Travel through a thin drain tube that runs down the back of the refrigerator
- Empty into a shallow drain pan (also called the evaporator pan) underneath the fridge, near the compressor
- Evaporate naturally from the heat of the compressor
When everything works correctly, you never see a drop of water.
What Happens When the Drain Gets Clogged
Over time, dust, food particles, mold, and even ice can block that little drain hole or the tube that follows it. When the drain is blocked:
- The defrost water has nowhere to go
- It backs up inside the refrigerator/freezer
- It eventually overflows from the bottom of the freezer or refrigerator compartment
- Gravity pulls it forward, and you end up with water leaking out the front onto your kitchen floor
That’s why the leak almost always appears right under the crisper drawers or at the front edge of the fridge.
How to Confirm It’s the Defrost Drain
Quick checks:
- Water only appears after the fridge has been running a while (especially noticeable in humid weather)
- You see ice buildup on the floor of the freezer or on the back wall
- There’s frost or ice on the evaporator panel inside the freezer
- The drip pan underneath the fridge is bone dry (because water never reaches it)
If any of those sound familiar, you’ve almost certainly found the culprit.
How to Fix a Clogged Defrost Drain (Step-by-Step)
Tools you’ll need:
- Turkey baster or large syringe
- Hot (not boiling) water
- Flexible wire or pipe cleaner (a zip-tie with the end cut at an angle works great)
- Towels
- Optional: ¼-inch plastic tubing and a small funnel
- Unplug the refrigerator (or at least turn off the ice maker if you have one).
- Remove drawers and shelves in the freezer to access the back panel (some models have a small removable panel at the bottom rear of the freezer).
- Locate the drain hole – it’s usually in the center, under the evaporator coils, and looks like a small dimple or funnel.
- Flush with warm water using the turkey baster. If the water backs up and doesn’t drain, you’ve confirmed the clog.
- Clear the clog – gently push the wire/zip-tie into the drain hole and wiggle it to break up debris loose. Then flush again with warm water until it flows freely.
- Sanitize – mix 1 teaspoon of bleach in a cup of water and flush the drain one last time to prevent mold growth.
- Check the drain tube exit at the back/bottom of the fridge. Make sure it’s positioned over the drip pan and not kinked.
- Dry everything, reassemble, and plug the fridge back in.
Most people fix the problem in 15–30 minutes once they know where to look.
Prevention Tips
- Every 6–12 months, flush the drain with warm water and a little bleach as routine maintenance.
- Keep the area behind and under the fridge clean so dust doesn’t get sucked up into the drain line.
- If you live in a very humid climate, consider doing it every 3–4 months.
When It’s NOT the Drain
Very rarely, front leaks can be caused by:
- A cracked or disconnected water line (if you have an ice maker or water dispenser)
- A damaged door gasket letting in humid air, causing excessive frost and overflow
- A failing defrost heater or timer that overproduces water
If flushing the drain doesn’t solve it, or you see water coming from the water filter housing or door dispenser area, it’s time to call a technician.
Bottom Line
99% of the time, water pooling in front of your refrigerator is just a clogged defrost drain doing its best impression of a tiny indoor waterfall. A quick flush usually solves it permanently and saves you a service call.
Check out this video we made on how to clean out the drain.
