What's going on
On most refrigerators with a dispenser or ice maker, water from the building passes through a filter before it reaches the door or the ice maker. The filter twists or pushes into a housing, and rubber O-rings on the filter make the seal. Depending on the model, the housing sits inside the fresh-food compartment, behind the bottom grille, or in the line behind the fridge. That decides where the leak shows up: drips on a shelf, water in a crisper drawer or a puddle on the floor.
Leaks often start right after a filter change. The filter may be a quarter turn short of locking, an O-ring may have rolled or torn on the way in, or the replacement may not seal the way the original did. Overtightening or forcing a filter can crack the housing or the filter head. Strong pressure surges in a building's pipes can stress an older housing too. Cold water lines can also sweat, which looks like a slow leak but stops when you wipe the area dry and it stays dry.
What you can check in five minutes
- Wipe everything dry, then watch where the first new drop forms.
- Turn off the water supply to the fridge at the valve behind it or under the sink.
- Remove the filter as your manual describes, with a towel underneath, and look at the O-rings. They should be in place, round and not nicked.
- Reinstall the filter until it clicks or stops in the locked position your manual shows. Don't force it past that point.
- Make sure the filter matches the part number your manual lists for your model.
- Look closely at the housing for hairline cracks, especially around the opening.
- Turn the water back on slowly and flush the filter through the dispenser, following your manual.
Rent, own or co-op: who handles it?
If water is spreading or could reach the apartment below, shut off the fridge's supply valve and tell the super right away. In many rentals the tenant handles routine filter changes on a building-owned fridge while the landlord handles repairs, but that depends on your lease and your building's practice, so ask if you aren't sure.
What a technician will look at
- •The filter housing and filter head for cracks
- •The water line connections into and out of the housing
- •The inlet valve behind the fridge
- •Dispenser and ice maker supply tubing
- •Whether water in the cabinet is coming from the filter or from a blocked defrost drain
Andre's field note: Most filter leaks I'm called about come down to a filter that wasn't turned all the way into the lock, and they stop as soon as it seats. A cracked housing is different, because it won't hold however carefully you install the filter. Keep the water off until that part is replaced through refrigerator repair. If the leak started around the same time your ice maker began buzzing, mention both when you call, since they share the same water line.
Still dripping after you reseat the filter? Call ProFix NYC at (929) 699-8358.