Fridge freezer leaking water: what our engineers find
These figures come from NAC's own repair records: 287 fridge, freezer and fridge freezer jobs our engineers attended for this fault in the last 12 months. Here is what they found, what fixed it and what it typically cost.
When a fridge or freezer leaks water, the cause our engineers find most often is a blocked defrost drain. As the appliance defrosts itself, the water is meant to run away through a small drain hole at the back and down to a tray underneath, where it dries off. If that hole or the channel behind it gets clogged with bits of food or mould, or freezes over with ice, the water has nowhere to go. It then pools under the salad drawers, drips from a vent or runs out across the floor.
Engineers sometimes find a door seal that has come loose as well, so the door no longer closes properly. Cold air escapes, and the extra damp in the cabinet adds to the water inside.
To put things right, the engineer looks for where the water is gathering and traces it back to the drain. They melt away any ice and clear the blockage along the whole length of the drain, often with steam or warm water, because a blockage can sit further down than you can reach. They then pour water through to check it flows freely to the tray. Where a seal has come away, they refit it and adjust the door so it closes snugly. This is usually sorted on the first visit.
Written by our engineers from these jobs.
- Jobs attended
- 287
- in the last 12 months
- Confirmed repairs
- 198
- This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Fixed at the first appointment
- 78%
- about 4 in 5 of our repairs
- Typical total paid by customers
- £98 to £110
- including parts and VAT, from 193 repairs
What's usually behind it
The causes our engineers found and fixed, as a share of our 198 confirmed repairs for this fault.
-
Blocked defrost drain: about 3 in 4 of our repairs, from 148 jobs.
75%
We only list causes with enough repairs behind them, so the shares won't add up to 100%.
By brand
Brands with enough repairs of their own for this fault to show separately.
Samsung fridge freezer leaking water
91 jobs, 63 confirmed repairs. Customers typically paid £98 to £147 (from 63 repairs). 62% fixed at the first appointment.
This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Blocked defrost drain 65%about 2 in 3 of repairs, from 41 jobs
Why the first-appointment figure differs by brand. Our engineers carry common parts on the van, so those repairs can be finished at the first appointment. Other parts have to be ordered in, and fitting them takes a second visit.
About the price. £98 to £110 is the typical total paid by customers, including parts and VAT: the middle half of what customers paid on 193 of these repairs. Repairs paid for by manufacturers and insurers aren't counted, because that work is charged at contract rates. It's a guide, not a quote. Your engineer confirms a fixed price before any work starts.
Before you check anything yourself
- Switch the fridge freezer off and unplug it, or turn it off at the isolator switch, before you touch anything. Our guide to safely isolating an appliance walks you through it.
- If it involves the mains supply, sealed parts, or you're not confident at any point, stop and book a qualified engineer rather than risk injury or further damage.
Rather leave it to us?
- Fixed-price quote before any work starts
- Same or next-day visits where available
- UK-wide engineer coverage