Why is my ice maker leaking water? (ANSWERED!)

When we invested in a refrigerator with a built-in ice maker, we expected two things: ice on demand and freedom from manually filling up those pesky ice trays. We never thought we’d have to clean up and fix a leaky ice maker.

Although it seems overwhelming, a leaky ice maker is usually a minor issue, which you can resolve yourself with limited repair know-how and a few handy tools. 

In our repair guide, we will give you step-by-step instructions and a handful of tips to fix an ice maker leaking water.

Why is my ice maker leaking water?

If your ice maker is leaking water, your refrigerator most likely isn’t leveled properly. It should be level from front to back and side to side so it can run in optimal condition.

Other possible causes of leaks in an ice maker include loose connections, faulty components, and dirt build-up.

Here are a few simple steps to stop the leak temporarily while you figure out how to troubleshoot the ice maker.

• Turn off the ice maker. Look for the switch in your ice maker and flip it to the OFF position so it stops ice production.

• Shut off the water supply to the refrigerator. Locate the supply valve and turn it off to prevent the ice maker from leaking into your freezer.

Keep reading our guide to learn the different potential causes of leaks in an ice maker. We also provide easy-to-follow instructions to troubleshoot the machine and stop the leak.

Troubleshooting a Leaking Ice Maker

To fix a leaking ice maker, check the water supply line for loose connections and damages. Keep all the hoses and fittings secure, and replace the defective ones.

Make sure the fill valve and cup are aligned so that water doesn’t spill and leak during a cycle. Replace the water filter, if necessary.

Here’s an overview of the most common causes of leaks in an ice maker. Find out what they are and how to fix them.

Causes	Solutions
The water supply line connection is loose or damaged.	• Inspect the water supply line. Look for loose connections or signs of damage.  • Open the user manual to identify all the hoses and fittings connected to the ice maker. • Secure all the hoses and fittings along the supply line. • Remove and replace the defective parts.
The water filter needs replacement.	• Get the correct type of water filter for your refrigerator model. • Open the fridge door and locate the water filter. Refer to your user manual if you aren’t sure of its location. • Gently push the water filter in and rotate it until it comes loose. Then, pull it out of the housing.  • Take your new filter and insert it into the housing. • Rotate the filter to lock it in place. • Wait for the ice maker to run another cycle. Then, check if it leaks.
The fridge isn’t leveled properly.	• Place a carpenter’s level on top of your refrigerator to check if it’s level from front to back and from side to side.  • Locate the leveling legs under your refrigerator.  • Unthread the screws on the base grille, then remove the grille to access the leveling legs. Skip this step if your unit doesn’t have one. • Rotate the leveling legs to adjust the height of the refrigerator.  • Use the carpenter’s level to check if your unit is still tilting. Then, make the necessary adjustments until it is leveled properly. • Reinstall the base grille.
The fill valve and cup are misaligned.	• Unplug the refrigerator’s power cord and turn off the water supply valve. • Open the freezer door and remove the ice bucket. • Turn off the ice maker and disconnect its wire harness using a flathead screwdriver. • Unthread the screw mounting your ice maker using a Phillips screwdriver.Carefully pull out the ice maker from the freezer compartment. • Reinstall the ice maker by aligning it on the rear liner posts. Make sure the fill tube is positioned over the cup. • Insert the spacer between the ice maker and the side liner.  • Thread the screw over the spacer and into the liner by hand. Then, use a Phillips screwdriver to secure it. • Reconnect the wire harness. • Turn on the ice maker and reinstall the ice bucket. • Plug in the fridge’s power cord and turn on the water supply.
The fill cup is damaged.	• Unplug the refrigerator’s power cord and turn off the water supply valve. • Open the freezer door and remove the ice bucket. • Turn off the ice maker and disconnect the harness using a flathead screwdriver. • Unthread the screw mounting your ice maker. Then, carefully pull it out of the freezer. • Remove the damaged fill cup from the ice maker. • Insert the tab on the new fill cup into the bracket until it snaps into place. • Install the ice maker by aligning it on the rear liner posts. Position the fill tube over the cup to prevent leaks. • Insert the spacer between the ice maker and the side liner. Thread the mounting screw to secure the ice maker. • Reconnect the wire harness. • Flip the switch on the ice maker to the ON position. • Reinstall the ice bucket. • Restore power to your refrigerator and turn on the water supply.
The defrost drain is clogged.	• Open the freezer and do a quick visual inspection to confirm that the defrost drain is clogged. • Remove any visible obstructions with a tweezer or by hand, if possible. • Pour hot, not boiling, water over the frozen drain.  • Use a soft cloth to clean up all that water before it freezes and causes another obstruction.
The water inlet valve is faulty.	• Unplug the fridge and shut off the water supply.  • Move your unit to access the back panel. Then, unmount the screws on the back panel and disconnect the water line.  • Unmount the valve and pull it out as far as possible. After, remove the cover box, the wire, and the support bracket. • Remove the locking clamps and disconnect the water lines from the old valve.  • Take the new valve and connect it to the water lines.  • Reconnect the wire, support bracket, and retaining clips. Then, reinstall the cover box. • Mount the valve and reattach the screw to keep it secure. • Reconnect the water line and reinstall the back panel. After, plug in the fridge and turn on the water supply.

The water supply line connection is loose or damaged.

The first thing you need to check if your ice maker is leaking is the water supply line.

If you recently moved or maintained the fridge, you probably have a loose connection due to an incorrectly installed hose or fitting. For older fridges, you’re likely dealing with a damaged part due to natural wear and tear, and it may require a replacement.

When you inspect the water supply line, refer to your user manual so you can cover all the hoses and fittings.

Solution: Inspect all the hoses and fittings connected to the ice maker. Look for loose connections or signs of damage on the water supply line.

Secure all the hoses and fittings along the supply line. Remove and replace the defective parts.

The water filter needs replacement.

You must replace your refrigerator’s water filter every 6 months, depending on the hardness of the water in your area and your usage. It helps prevent dirt and debris from contaminating your water. 

If you continue using a worn-out filter, it can cause a machine fault and possibly a leak in your ice maker.

Solution: Get the correct type of water filter for your refrigerator model. To replace a water filter in a refrigerator, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open the refrigerator and locate the water filter. It is usually located inside the main compartment of the fridge, either in the upper corner or between the drawers. 

The location of your water filter will vary per model. Refer to your user manual if you aren’t sure of its location.

• Step 2: Gently push the water filter in and rotate it until it comes loose. Then, pull it out of the housing. 
• Step 3: Get your new filter and insert it into the housing.
• Step 4: Rotate the filter to lock it in place.
• Step 5: Wait for the ice maker to run another cycle. Then, check if it leaks.

The fridge isn’t leveled properly.

Leveling is one of the most important steps in installing a refrigerator. Regardless of the brand, you must level your unit from side to side and front to back to prevent performance issues. 

For example, it can affect ice production and cause your ice maker to leak water everywhere. If your unit has no other issues, adjusting the leveling legs should stop the leak.

What you’ll need:

• Carpenter’s level
• Phillips screwdriver

Solution: To level your refrigerator, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Place a carpenter’s level on top of your refrigerator to determine if it’s level from front to back and from side to side. Identify which side is higher.

• Step 2: Locate the leveling legs under your refrigerator. Most have two leveling legs in front of the unit.

• Step 3: Unthread the screws on the base grille, then remove the grille to access the leveling legs. Skip this step if your unit doesn’t have one.

• Step 4: Rotate the leveling legs on the side that is raised. Depending on the design of the legs, you might need a flathead screwdriver, a wrench, or a hex driver to adjust the height.

We recommend checking the user manual for detailed instructions.

• Step 5: Use the carpenter’s level to check if your unit is still tilting. Then, make the necessary adjustments until it is level from front to back and side to side.

• Step 6: Reinstall the base grille.

The fill valve and cup are misaligned.

Another likely culprit of a leaking ice maker is a misaligned fill valve and cup. 

During the ice production cycle, water flows through the valve and into a cup, which pours the water into the ice tray. Once the mold is full, the ice maker waits for the water to freeze into ice cubes, then ejects it into the storage bin.

If the fill valve and cup are misaligned, water will miss the fill cup and spill all over your ice maker.

What you’ll need:

• Small flathead screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver

Solution: Locate the fill valve and cup in your ice maker. Refer to your user manual to find out their location.

• Step 1: Unplug the refrigerator’s power cord and turn off the water supply valve.
• Step 2: Open the freezer door and remove the ice bucket.
• Step 3: Turn off the ice maker and disconnect its wire harness using a flathead screwdriver.
• Step 4: Unthread the screw mounting your ice maker using a Phillips screwdriver.
• Step 5: Carefully pull out the ice maker from the freezer compartment.
• Step 6: Reinstall the ice maker by aligning it on the rear liner posts. Make sure the fill tube is positioned over the cup.
• Step 7: Insert the spacer between the ice maker and the side liner. 
• Step 8: Thread the screw over the spacer and into the liner by hand. Then, use a Phillips screwdriver to secure it.
• Step 9: Reconnect the wire harness.
• Step 10: Turn on the ice maker.
• Step 11: Reinstall the ice bucket.
• Step 12: Plug in the fridge’s power cord and turn on the water supply.

The fill cup is damaged.

As mentioned, the fill cup receives water from the fill valve, then funnels it into the ice mold for freezing. Damage to the fill cup will cause the water to leak all over the ice maker.

Once damaged, you can no longer repair the fill cup, but you can replace it yourself. It will be quick and easy, and it should only take a couple of minutes to troubleshoot.

What you’ll need:

• Small flathead screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• New fill cup

Solution: To replace a defective fill cup, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug the refrigerator’s power cord and turn off the water supply valve.
• Step 2: Open the freezer door and remove the ice bucket.
• Step 3: Turn off the ice maker and disconnect the harness using a flathead screwdriver.
• Step 4: Unthread the screw mounting your ice maker using a Phillips screwdriver.
• Step 5: Carefully pull out the ice maker from the freezer compartment.
• Step 6: Remove the damaged fill cup from the ice maker.
• Step 7: Insert the tab on the new fill cup into the bracket until it snaps into place.
• Step 8: Align the ice maker on the rear liner posts. Make sure its fill tube is positioned over the fill cup to prevent further leaks.
• Step 9: Insert the spacer between the ice maker and the side liner.
• Step 10: Thread the mounting screw to secure the ice maker.
• Step 11: Reconnect the wire harness.
• Step 12: Flip the switch on the ice maker to the ON position.
• Step 13: Reinstall the ice bucket.
• Step 14: Restore power to your refrigerator and turn on the water supply.

The defrost drain is clogged.

The defrost drain enables excess water in the refrigerator to flow out without leaving a huge mess. Sometimes, the drain can be clogged by food scraps or ice, causing all sorts of leaks in your unit.

To stop the leak in your ice maker, you must remove any obstructions in the drain. If it happens to be frozen, you have to thaw the ice to clear the clog.

Solution: Open the freezer and do a quick visual inspection to confirm that the defrost drain is clogged. Follow these steps to remove obstructions in the drain.

• Dirt build-up: If your fridge uses a duckbill valve, check it for clogs. Remove any visible obstructions with a tweezer or by hand, if possible.

• Frozen drain: Pour hot, not boiling, water over the frozen drain. Use a soft cloth to clean up all that water before it freezes and causes another obstruction.

After, all you have to do is wait for several hours or a couple of days to determine if the issues recur. If it still does, continue looking for other potential causes of the leak.

The water inlet valve is faulty.

The water inlet valve regulates the supply of water to your ice maker and water dispenser. It stays in a closed position until the control board directs the solenoid to open the valve, allowing enough water to fill the ice tray.

If it is defective, the ice tray can overfill with water and leak all over the freezer. In other instances, it can cut off the supply of water to your ice maker. 

Both cases require a replacement, which you can perform by yourself with a few tools and a new water inlet valve. We’ll walk you through all the steps below.

What you’ll need:

• Towel or any absorbent fabric
• Phillips screwdriver
• 12 mm wrench
• Water inlet valve

Solution: To replace a water inlet valve, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug your fridge, and turn off its water supply.
• Step 2: Pull out your fridge to access the back panel.
• Step 3: Unthread the screws on the back panel using a Phillips screwdriver.
• Step 4: Place a towel under the inlet valve to absorb any leaks when you disconnect the water lines.
• Step 5: Use a 12 mm wrench to remove the compression nut and pull the blue water line out. Then, slide it up the unit to get it out of the way.
• Step 6: Remove the screw on the mounting bracket and dismount the valve.
• Step 7: Pull the old inlet valve out of the unit as far as you can.
• Step 8: Press the locking tabs on the cover box and gently pull it out to remove it. Then, disconnect the electrical plug.
• Step 9: Take out the support bracket securing the water lines to the fridge. 
• Step 10: Unfasten the retaining clip on the tubes and set it aside. 
• Step 11: Pull out the locking clamps on the tubes and detach both of the water line connections from the old valve.
• Step 12: Connect the water lines to the new valve. After. reinstall the locking clamps to keep the water lines secure.
• Step 13: Reconnect the electrical plug and support bracket. Then, reinstall the cover box and retaining clip.
• Step 14: Mount the new valve on the bracket and secure it with the screw.
• Step 15: Connect the blue water line to the new valve, and attach the compression nut.
• Step 16: Replace the screws on the back panel to mount it.
• Step 17: Turn on the water supply, and restore power to your fridge.

---