A water leak is one of the most common problems you can expect from Samsung refrigerators. Typically, it happens when a fridge is positioned on an unlevel surface, the defrost drain is clogged, or there’s excess humidity inside.
Fortunately, these issues don’t require costly repairs. You can fix them without any professional help.
On the other hand, water leaks caused by component failures require more complicated solutions that may take non-professionals 30 minutes or more to perform. They might be intimidating, but not impossible.
Our guide will help you every step of the way.
Why is my Samsung refrigerator leaking water?
If your Samsung fridge is leaking water, it’s most likely due to uneven flooring, a clogged defrost drain, or excess humidity.
Component failure can also cause leaks. If the water filter, water line, water tank assembly, or water inlet valve are faulty, water can leak directly onto your floors.
How to Fix a Samsung Refrigerator Leaking Water
Minor water leaks in a Samsung refrigerator can be fixed by adjusting its leveling legs, organizing its contents, or unclogging its defrost drain.
However, if you’re dealing with component failure, you’ll have to replace the damaged part to stop the leak.
| Causes | Tools | Solutions |
| Uneven Floors | • Carpenter’s level • Flathead screwdriver • Phillips screwdriver | Access the leveling legs underneath the fridge. Insert a flathead screwdriver onto a notch on the leg, then rotate it to the left to raise the level or to the right to lower it. Use a carpenter’s level to check if your fridge is now level. Make the necessary adjustments to the leveling legs until the fridge is level. |
| Clogged Defrost Drain | • Soap • Hot water • Damp cloth | Unplug the fridge and remove everything inside. Remove the screws on the evaporator cover. Gently pull out the locking tabs and disconnect the wire to remove the cover. Pick up any visible obstructions on the defrost drain. Then, wipe the surface with a damp soapy cloth. Flush out any residual grime with hot soapy water. Leave the doors open overnight. Make sure the fridge is fully dry before closing the doors and plugging the unit back in. |
| Excessive Humidity | N/A | Set the fridge temperature between 1°C and 7°C and the freezer temperature between -15°C and -23°C. Reorganize your fridge’s contents and make sure the air vents aren’t blocked. Before adding fruits and vegetables inside, make sure to wipe them dry. Then, adjust the humidity controls of the crisper drawer to a lower setting to let moisture out. |
| Malfunctioning Water Filter | • Genuine Samsung water filter | Locate the water filter in your fridge. Rotate the old water filter counterclockwise and gently pull it out of its enclosure. Slip the new water filter inside. Then, rotate it clockwise to secure it. |
| Faulty Water Inlet Valve | • Phillips screwdriver12mm wrench • Towel | Unplug the fridge and turn off its water supply. Then, move your unit to access the back panel. Remove the back panel and disconnect the water line. Unmount the valve and take it out as far as possible. After, pull out the cover box, the wire, and the support bracket. Next, take out the tubes on the old valve and connect these to the new valve. Reconnect the wire, support bracket, and retaining clips. Then, reinstall the box cover. Mount the valve and secure it with the screw. Reconnect the water line and reinstall the back panel. |
| Faulty Water Tank Assembly | • Phillips screwdriver • Small flathead screwdriver • Block of wood • Razor blade • Towel | Unplug the fridge and turn off its water supply. Remove the back panel of the fridge and unmount the water valve. Detach the water line from its retaining clip and remove the water valve. Put a towel underneath the valve and disconnect the water line. After, remove the top fridge cover to access the water line. Take out the locking cap and disconnect the second water line. Take out the shelves and bins inside the fridge to access the water tank assembly. Remove the screws mounting the assembly on the wall, and pull it out of the fridge, including both water lines. Turn the panel over, then remove the water heater and the water lines. Reinstall the new water tank assembly. Insert the clear water line into the bottom hole and the white water line into the back hole. Mount the water line assembly on the wall using its screws and return all the shelving. Reattach the water line on top of the fridge and close the top cover. Finally, reconnect the water line on the back panel of the fridge and close it up. |
Uneven Floors
A water leak from your Samsung fridge doesn’t always indicate a serious problem. Sometimes, it can be caused by uneven flooring.
By adjusting the level of your fridge, you can resolve the issue and prevent it from happening again. You can also prevent other problems, such as loud noises, door alignment issues, and shelf alignment issues.
What you’ll need:
- Carpenter’s level
- Flathead screwdriver
- Phillips screwdriver
Solution: To level a Samsung fridge, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Crouch down and locate the leveling feet underneath the fridge.
For Samsung Side-by-Side and Four-Door models, open the doors for easier access to the leveling feet. Depending on your Samsung fridge unit, you might have to remove leg covers to access the leveling feet.
- Step 2: Use a flathead screwdriver to adjust the fridge’s leveling feet.
Insert the flathead screwdriver into a notch in the leveling foot. Then, rotate it to the left to raise the fridge or right to lower it.
- Step 3: Use a carpenter’s level to check if the fridge is leveled from left to right and front to back.
When you’re using the carpenter’s level, make sure to place the tool on top of the main unit and not the doors.
If your fridge still isn’t level, repeat step 2. Make the necessary adjustments to keep the fridge leveled.
- Step 4: Reinstall the leg covers (if you removed them).
Clogged Defrost Drain
Dirt and dust can build up in your defrost drain, especially if you don’t clean it every two to three months. When it’s clogged, melted ice water can’t flow into the drain tray.
Instead, it will flow and leak into your fridge compartments.
What you’ll need:
- Soap
- Hot water
- Damp cloth
Solution: To unclog a defrost drain, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Unplug the fridge and unload its contents. Make sure to transfer perishables into coolers to prevent spoilage.
- Step 2: Remove all the shelves and drawers.
- Step 3: Unscrew the evaporator cover from the wall and gently pull out the locking tabs to release it. Then, disconnect the wires to remove the cover.
- Step 4: Remove any visible obstructions in the drain.
- Step 5: Wipe the surface with a soft cloth soaked in soapy water.
- Step 6: Pour hot water into the defrost drain to remove any residual grime.
- Step 7: Reinstall all the wires and screws of the evaporator cover.
- Step 8: Put back the shelves and drawers.
- Step 9: Let the fridge dry before plugging it back in.
Excessive Humidity
During the more humid days, excessive humidity can lead to water leakages from your Samsung fridge.
When excess moisture in the air mixes with cold temperatures, condensation can occur and turn into moisture, filling up the drain pan faster than usual.
Solution: To stabilize the humidity levels in your fridge, adjust its temperature settings and reorganize its contents. Make sure nothing is blocking the air vents.
Here are a few tips to reduce excess moisture in your fridge:
- Dry fruits and vegetables before stocking them inside your fridge.
- Keep the humidity and crisper drawers halfway full to ensure optimal humidity levels and prevent food spoilage.
- Adjust the humidity levels of your crisper drawers to a lower setting to keep moisture out.
- Don’t leave the fridge doors open for too long.
- Don’t open the fridge doors too frequently.
- Keep the fridge temperature between 1°C and 7°C.
- Keep the freezer temperature between -15°C and -23°C.
Damaged Water Filter
There are various reasons why your water filter is causing water leakages. If you installed a non-Samsung filter or the wrong model, water will leak all over your floors.
Lucky for you, it only entails a quick fix. All you have to do is secure a genuine Samsung water filter for your fridge.
There are three types of Samsung water filters. The best way to find an appropriate replacement is to check the one you have.
A round filter is a HAF-CIN model, while a square filter is a HAF-QIN model. On the other hand, older Samsung fridges use a HAF-CUI model.
To authenticate the water filter, look for a serial number and a rib on the filter body. Counterfeits won’t have these on their designs.
What you’ll need:
- Samsung filter
Solution: To replace a water filter, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Open the fridge doors to access the water filter.
The water filter is located between the crisper drawers in Samsung French door models. Depending on your fridge model, it could be somewhere else in the main compartment.
Check your manual to be sure.
- Step 2: Rotate the filter counterclockwise and gently pull it out.
If the water filter isn’t rotating, turn off the water supply and dispense some water into a cup. This should make it easier to pull the filter out of its enclosure.
- Step 3: Insert the new filter and turn the knob clockwise.
Faulty Water Inlet Valve
The water inlet valve controls the flow of water to your Samsung fridge’s icemaker and dispenser. If this component is faulty, water can run non-stop and leak right onto your kitchen floors.
Sometimes, water can also bypass a faulty water inlet valve, causing the ice maker to overflow or the dispenser to drip non-stop.
What you’ll need:
- Phillips screwdriver
- 12 mm wrench
- Towel
Solution: To fix a faulty water inlet valve, follow these steps carefully:
- Step 1: Pull out the fridge to access the back panel.
- Step 2: Unplug the fridge, and turn off its water supply.
- Step 3: Unmount the screws of the back panel using a Phillips screwdriver.
- Step 4: Put a towel under the water valve assembly to soak up water.
- Step 5: Loosen the compression nut using a 12 mm wrench.
- Step 6: Pull the water line out, and slide it up to get it out of the way.
- Step 7: Remove the screw on the mounting bracket, and pull out the valve as far as you can.
- Step 8: Push the sides of the cover box, and pull it down to remove it.
- Step 9: Disconnect the electrical plug, and detach the hoses from the clips.
- Step 10: Remove the support bracket, locking clamps, and the tubes on the valve.
- Step 11: Install the new valve by aligning the tubes and pushing them in. After, reattach the locking clamps to keep them secure.
- Step 12: Reconnect the electrical plug, the support bracket, and the retaining clips on the tubes. Don’t forget to reinstall the cover box.
- Step 13: Mount the valve and secure it with the screw.
- Step 14: Connect the water line to the valve, and reinstall the nut to secure it.
- Step 15: Reinstall the back panel.
- Step 16: Turn on the water supply, and plug in the fridge.
Faulty Water Tank Assembly
A leaking water dispenser often indicates a problem with the water tank assembly. If the assembly has a hole, it will usually leak inside or outside the fridge doors.
What you’ll need:
- Phillips screwdriver
- Small flathead screwdriver
- Block of wood
- Razor blade
- Towel
Solution: To replace a Samsung fridge water tank assembly, disconnect the water lines at the back panel at the top cover of the fridge. Then, remove the water tank assembly behind a panel on the fridge’s inner wall to install a new one.
The first phase of the disassembly process starts at the back panel of the fridge. To disassemble the water tank assembly, follow these steps carefully:
- Step 1: Move the fridge to access the back panel.
- Step 2: Unplug the fridge and turn off its water supply.
- Step 3: Unmount the screws on the back panel using the Phillips screwdriver. Then, lift it and set it aside.
- Step 4: Remove the screw securing the waterline to the back wall of the fridge and pull the bracket off to remove it.
- Step 5: Take off the screw mounting the water valve to the fridge.
- Step 6: Detach the water line from its retaining clip and get the valve off the tab on the fridge cabinet.
- Step 7: Place a towel on the floor to absorb water.
- Step 8: Press to release the locking tabs on the water line. Once free, pull the water line out to disconnect it.
Once the first water line is disconnected at the back panel, start disengaging the second line at the top of the fridge.
- Step 9: Open the fridge doors to remove the upper cover and access the water line inside.
- Step 10: Use a flathead screwdriver to pull out the covers on the door stops.
- Step 11: Unmount the screws on the top fridge cover using a Phillips screwdriver. Then, remove the cover and disconnect its electrical plug.
- Step 12: Use a flathead screwdriver to free the locking cap on the water line.
- Step 13: Disconnect the water line and take the locking cap out.
After disconnecting all water lines, it’s time to disassemble the shelving inside the fridge to gain better access to the water assembly:
- Step 14: Remove all the shelves and drawers.
- Step 15: Unmount the screws securing the water tank assembly to the inner wall.
- Step 16: Unplug the water tank assembly and pull it out of the fridge, including both water lines.
- Step 17: Flip the water tank assembly and remove the screw mounting the water heater.
- Step 18: Remove the water heater and set it aside.
- Step 19: Take out the water lines from the retaining clips. Then, remove the tank from the panel.
Once the old water tank assembly is out, you can install the replacement. Only use a genuine Samsung water tank assembly because counterfeits can often do more harm than good.
To install the new water tank assembly, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Align the tanks and wires of the new assembly in the panel. Make sure the clear water line is positioned at the bottom.
- Step 2: Insert the clear water line into the retaining clip until it snaps into place. Then, insert the white water line into its clip to keep it secure.
- Step 3: Reinstall the water tank heater and its screw.
- Step 4: Insert the clear water line into the hole at the bottom, then install the white water line into the hole at the back.
- Step 5: Plug the wire and reattach the water tank assembly. Don’t forget to reinstall the screws.
- Step 6: Return all the shelves and drawers.
In the next phase of the assembly process, you have to reconnect both water lines, starting with the one on top. If the water lines are too long, trim them down.
- Step 7: Mark the length of the water line that you want to cut off.
- Step 8: Grab a block of wood, place it under the plastic tubing, and use a razor blade to trim the line.
- Step 9: Reinstall the locking cap and reattach the water line to the union. Once it’s attached, push the cap in to secure the connection.
- Step 10: Reconnect the wire and the screws to reinstall the top fridge cover.
- Step 11: Reinstall the door stoppers with the arrows pointing down.
Finally, reconnect the water line at the back of the fridge.
- Step 12: Insert the new water line into the valve and reattach the locking tab to secure it.
- Step 13: Mount the water valve into place and reinstall the screw.
- Step 14: Connect the clamps holding the water lines at the back of the fridge and put in the screw.
- Step 15: Reinstall the back panel.
