An ice maker leak shows up in one of two ways: water on the floor, or a block of ice welded into the ice bin. Both point to a small number of causes, and most are fixable without a technician.
Work through the five causes below, starting with the simplest.
- Cause 1: a loose or cracked water supply line.
- Cause 2: a failed water inlet valve that will not shut off.
- Cause 3: a clogged or frozen fill tube.
- Cause 4: a misadjusted or failed ice maker module.
- Cause 5: a blocked defrost drain that overflows.
On this page
1. The water line
Start at the back of the fridge. The water supply line runs from a valve on the wall to the fridge. Check both ends for a loose fitting, and run your hand along the line for cracks or pinholes. A loose compression fitting is the most common cause of water on the floor.
- Tighten the fittings at both ends, hand-tight plus a quarter turn.
- Check for cracks in the plastic line.
- Look for pinholes where the line bends.
- Replace the line if it is brittle or cracked.
- Check the saddle valve on the wall for leaks.
2. The inlet valve
The water inlet valve opens to fill the ice maker and closes when it is full. If it fails open, water keeps flowing and overflows. This is the most common cause of a solid block of ice in the bin.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Water on floor, ice fine | Supply line or fitting | Tighten or replace line |
| Solid block of ice | Inlet valve stuck open | Replace the valve |
| Ice maker overfills | Valve or module | Test the valve |
| Water in freezer bottom | Defrost drain blocked | Clear the drain |
| Leak only when filling | Fill tube or valve | Check both |
3. The fill tube
The fill tube carries water from the valve into the ice maker. If it is clogged with mineral scale or frozen, water backs up and leaks. Pull the tube and check it is clear, then flush it with warm water.
If the fill tube keeps freezing, the inlet valve is probably letting a trickle of water through when it should be shut. Replace the valve rather than just thawing the tube.
4. The ice maker module
The ice maker module controls the fill cycle. If it is misadjusted, it calls for too much water and overflows. Some modules have a fill adjustment screw; others need replacing. Check the module's fill time against the manufacturer's spec.
- Check the fill adjustment if your model has one.
- Test the module with a multimeter if you have the spec.
- Replace the module if it overfills consistently.
- Check the bail arm is not stuck, which stops the cycle.
- Reset the ice maker by unplugging it for a minute.
5. The defrost drain
If water appears at the bottom of the freezer rather than the floor, the defrost drain is blocked. Meltwater cannot escape and overflows into the freezer. Clear the drain with warm water and a length of tubing.
- Unplug the fridge and empty the freezer.
- Find the drain hole at the back of the freezer floor.
- Flush it with warm water using a turkey baster.
- Clear the blockage with a length of flexible tubing.
- Check the drain pan under the fridge is not cracked.
- Reassemble and test over 24 hours.
An ice maker leak is usually a loose water line, a failed inlet valve or a blocked defrost drain. Check the line first, then the valve, then the drain. A new inlet valve costs $20 to $40 and fixes the most common cause.
Frequently asked questions
Inlet valves
A new inlet valve fixes the most common ice maker leak.
