Answered by Teddy Pivacek, owner & lead technician at TN Appliance Exchange — repairing appliances since 2012.
Quick answer: An LG refrigerator leaking water usually traces to the ice and water system: in our own LG repair reports, the leaks we fix most are an ice maker spilling water over its side, a dispenser that drips or sprays, and an ice maker that stops cycling so water ends up where it shouldn't. A clogged defrost drain or a loose supply line at the back can also put water on the floor. Where the water shows up tells you which one.
An LG refrigerator leaking water usually traces to the ice and water system: in our own LG repair reports, the leaks we fix most are an ice maker spilling water over its side, a dispenser that drips or sprays, and an ice maker that stops cycling so water ends up where it shouldn't. A clogged defrost drain or a loose supply line at the back can also put water on the floor. Where the water shows up tells you which one.
The known LG issue: On LG refrigerators, the ice maker and the dispenser are the repeat leak sources in our reports: an ice maker spilling over its side and a dispenser that drips or sprays. Check for ice built up around the ice maker and under the dispenser before anything else.
What's actually different about a LG
Ice maker spilling over its side Pro
A worn ice maker, or one that gets water while it is stuck or not level, overflows its mold and drips into the ice bin or down the door. Our technicians have replaced LG ice makers for exactly this.
What you can check: Check for ice built up around the ice maker and its fill tube, and make sure the fridge is level. Turn the ice maker off if it is actively overflowing. Replacing it is a technician job.
Dispenser leaking or spraying Pro
A cracked or broken dispenser part lets water drip or spray out of the door when you use it, or slowly afterward. Our reports include LG dispensers spraying water all over.
What you can check: Look for a puddle right under the dispenser and check that the drip tray isn't cracked. A broken dispenser part inside the door is a technician fix.
Ice maker not cycling Pro
An ice maker that stops cycling can keep calling for water or leave a mold full of water that spills or freezes into a block.
What you can check: If the ice bin has a solid block of ice or the ice maker looks stuck mid-cycle, note it for the technician. The ice maker or its water valve is a technician repair.
Water supply line or inlet valve Moderate
A loose or cracked supply line at the back, or a failing inlet valve, leaks onto the floor, often worse when the ice maker fills.
What you can check: Pull the fridge out, check the supply line and its connection, and snug the fitting. Replace a cracked line. A valve that keeps dripping is a technician fix.
Clogged or frozen defrost drain Moderate
Defrost water can't reach the drain pan, so it backs up into the fresh-food section (water under the crispers) or freezes on the freezer floor.
What you can check: Defrost the freezer, then flush the drain with warm water. If it keeps freezing, the defrost system needs a technician.
Door gasket not sealing Moderate
A torn or loose gasket lets humid air in, which builds frost and ice that later melts and drips. Our reports include an LG freezer gasket that caused heavy frost.
What you can check: Close a dollar bill in the door and pull it out: if it slides out easily, the gasket isn't sealing there. Clean the gasket; replacing it is usually a technician job.
Try this first: If the ice maker is overflowing, turn it off from the panel or its switch and shut the water valve behind the fridge until a technician looks at it. A power reset will not fix a leak.
Get the exact LG part — shipped to your door
With the $50 Quick Check, send a short video and a photo of your LG refrigerator's model number. A real technician confirms the diagnosis and we ship you the exact part with instructions — the $50 is credited toward it. Or we walk you through the fix free.
Water on the floor or pooling under the crisper drawers has a short list of causes, and a couple are things you can safely check yourself. Here's how a technician narrows it down — from the cheapest, most common cause to the ones that need a service call.
Safety first: Unplug the refrigerator before working near the drain or water line, and shut off the water supply if you disconnect the line.
Clogged defrost drain Moderate
This is the #1 cause of water inside the fridge. The drain that carries defrost melt to the pan clogs with ice or gunk, so the water backs up and pools under the crispers or runs out the door.
What you can check: Unplug the fridge, clear the drain hole at the back of the freezer/fresh-food floor, and flush it with warm water and a turkey baster. A recurring clog means a tech should add the factory drain-heater clip.
Leaking water supply line or inlet valve Moderate
The plastic or copper line feeding the dispenser/ice maker can crack or loosen at a fitting, or the inlet valve can seep — showing up as water at the back or under the unit.
What you can check: Pull the fridge out, check the line and the shutoff behind it for drips and kinks, and make sure fittings are snug. A cracked line or a leaking valve is a tech replacement.
Clogged or frozen water filter housing Easy
A poorly seated, cracked, or wrong-model water filter can leak inside the housing, dripping down the inside of the fridge.
What you can check: Reseat the filter or install a fresh correct-model one, and check the head for cracks.
Cracked or overflowing drain pan Moderate
Defrost water lands in a pan under the fridge to evaporate. A cracked pan, or one overwhelmed by a defrost problem, leaves puddles under the unit.
What you can check: With the fridge unplugged and pulled out, inspect the drain pan underneath for cracks or overfilling.
Door not sealing / heavy condensation Easy
A worn door gasket or a door left ajar lets warm humid air in, which condenses and drips — often mistaken for a plumbing leak.
What you can check: Check the gasket for gaps or tears and make sure the door closes flush and level.
Is it worth repairing?
Essentially always repair. Every common cause of a leaking fridge — a defrost drain, a water line, a filter, a gasket — is an inexpensive fix and never a reason to replace the appliance. The important part is diagnosing which one it is so it doesn't keep coming back.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my LG refrigerator leaking water?
An LG refrigerator leaking water usually traces to the ice and water system: in our own LG repair reports, the leaks we fix most are an ice maker spilling water over its side, a dispenser that drips or sprays, and an ice maker that stops cycling so water ends up where it shouldn't. A clogged defrost drain or a loose supply line at the back can also put water on the floor. Where the water shows up tells you which one.
What's the known issue to check first on a LG refrigerator that is leaking water?
On LG refrigerators, the ice maker and the dispenser are the repeat leak sources in our reports: an ice maker spilling over its side and a dispenser that drips or sprays. Check for ice built up around the ice maker and under the dispenser before anything else.
Why is my refrigerator leaking water on the floor?
Water on the floor is usually a leaking water supply line, a cracked or overflowing drain pan, or a clogged defrost drain backing up. Pull the fridge out and check the line and pan behind it first.
Why is there water pooling inside my fridge under the drawers?
Water pooling under the crisper drawers is the classic sign of a clogged defrost drain. Unplugging the fridge and flushing the drain at the back of the freezer floor with warm water clears most cases.
Is a leaking refrigerator worth fixing?
Yes — every common cause is a low-cost repair. The value is in diagnosing it correctly so the leak actually stops. Send us your model number and a quick video and we'll pinpoint it.