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Condensation in the Fridge: 15 Ways How to Check and Fix It

The build-up of condensation both inside and outside your refrigerator can spell trouble. Problems can range from spoiled or rotten food to water damage to your home.

So, it makes sense to tackle condensation problems head-on before they have a chance to cause any further issues. You and your household can have peace of mind, knowing that your food is being kept safe and that there’s no chance of water building up where it shouldn’t.

Condensation in the Fridge

What causes condensation on the outside of your refrigerator? Humidity, either caused by weather conditions, energy-saving options, or a broken gasket. And condensation on the inside of the unit? Unfortunately, that’s more of a problem and can indicate a mechanical defect or food not being stored correctly. But don’t sweat it; you can fix most of these problems easily and quickly.


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What’s Refrigerator Condensation and What’s Defroster Failure?

If the issue in your refrigerator is simply condensations, you’ll notice water collecting on the inside surfaces. When there’s a lot of condensation, it’ll start to drip and pool. If the problem is left long enough, the unit’s metal parts may show signs of corrosion, and mold can start to develop.

On the other hand, defroster issues will cause any water dripping to be location-specific. Plus, the amount of water you’ll notice will tend to be more significant. If you see water under the refrigerator, it may be a sign that the defroster has stopped working entirely—condensation alone usually won’t produce that much water.

Condensation

What Are the Sources of Condensation?

Some moisture may appear on the refrigerator’s sides caused by warm items transferred to it from your stove. However, the leading cause of condensation will be outside air getting in through a worn gasket on the unit’s door. There are two ways you can check that this is the source of the problem.

One way is to look at the gasket and check whether it’s been blackened by mold. The other is to use the “dollar test,” where you see if you can easily pull a banknote out from between the gasket and refrigerator after placing it in there before closing the door. If there’s little resistance, it means that the seal of your gasket isn’t working correctly.

Fridge Gasket/Door Seal

Problems With Drainage and How to Fix Them

If water is pooling under the refrigerator, you can do a couple of things to fix the problem with minimum fuss.

Check the Drainage Hole

First things first, check the refrigerator’s drainage hole and ensure it’s not blocked. You’ll find the hole at the back and bottom of the refrigerator. The hole works to filter any condensation out into a small pan located at the top of the compressor. The heat generated by the compressor evaporates this water. So, if the drainage hole is blocked, water won’t evaporate and cause pooling.

You can easily clean the drainage hole to ensure you remove any blockages. A cotton bud or pipe cleaner should do the trick.

Check if there’s Ice Build-Up

Another place you can check is the back wall of the refrigerator, where ice can build up. Ice build-up will often happen because the unit has been overfilled, and overfilling will prevent proper air circulation—which helps keep your refrigerator frost-free and running correctly.

Ice Build-Up in Fridge

Ice build-up will usually prevent adequate water drainage from the refrigerator. To fix this, you’ll need to de-ice the appliance. Do this by turning the refrigerator off, allowing the ice to melt.

Now ice-free, check the refrigerator’s drainage hole is clean and clear, then turn it back on. Once the fridge is free from ice, it’s a good idea to check the drainage hole to make sure it’s clear before turning it back on.

Simple Steps to Dealing With Refrigerator Condensation

#1 Wait it Out

Yep, you heard us right; the first step is just to wait and see if the issue corrects itself. So, you can either put your feet up, run some errands, or simply forget about that excess moisture for a while.

Why do nothing? Some condensation build-up inside the home is perfectly normal, is only temporary, and won’t actually pose a threat to your appliances or household. Any minor condensation is likely to go away as quickly as it appeared—usually with a change in the weather.

#2 Check the Refrigerator Door

If giving the condensation a little time to disappear on its own hasn’t worked, the next step is to examine the refrigerator’s door’s seals for any gaps, cracks, or tears. If there are any breaches, the cold air inside the unit won’t be protected from outside temperatures. Look for gaps between the door seals and cabinet; any can be adjusted by gently pulling the seal away from the door with your fingers.

Check the Refrigerator Door

Another way to try and fix doors that aren’t sealing correctly is by gently cleaning them using a cloth (or sponge) and warm water. Take care not to use abrasive cleaning products—you don’t want to risk damaging the seals. However, any loose or cracked seals need further attention, and they should either be repaired or replaced.

#3 Don’t Open the Door Too Often or Leave It Open for Too Long

Try and get in the habit of not opening the refrigerator door too frequently or for too long. If you do, outside warm air will enter the refrigerator, come into contact with the cold air of the interior, and lead to condensation. This is turn, will lead to moisture or even frost. The key is to avoid warm air coming into the refrigerator as much as possible. Also, be smart with how you stack and store your food inside the appliance and ensure that nothing obstructs the doors and causes problems with the doors staying closed.

#4 Consider Using a Dehumidifier

Perhaps you live in a tropical climate. In that case, you’ll be used to living with high levels of humidity. While humans can adjust to the humidity in their environment to a certain extent, refrigerators can’t. Do you live in an area that’s home to a tropical climate? If the air contains a lot of moisture, it can cause condensation in the refrigerator as it finds its way into the cooling compartments.

Using a Dehumidifier

One way to solve the problem caused by the local climate is to use an air conditioner and keep windows closed. That way, humidity levels should be lowered as well as the amount of moisture that ends up in your refrigerator. Another alternative is using a dehumidifier in the kitchen to remove as much atmospheric moisture as possible and keep it away from the refrigerator interior.

#5 Be Mindful of Produce

Be Mindful of Produce

Perhaps you love buying and cooking fresh produce. It’s true that nothing tastes better than farm-fresh fruit and vegetables. However, all that delicious food tends to hold a lot of moisture and placing them in your refrigerator tends to up the moisture level inside your appliance. And you know by now that that spells trouble—condensation! Not only will you experience problems with the unit, but you’ll find that your fruit and veggies will start to spoil quicker.

One solution is not immediately putting your produce in the refrigerator when you get home from the market or grocery store. Let the fruit and vegetables sit out to dry a little. Remember, different foods will need to be out for a little longer than others.

#6 Get the Tilting Right

Tilting the Fridge Correctly

Contrary to popular belief, refrigerators shouldn’t stand level with the floor. In fact, they need to tilt slightly backward to allow the coolant to run correctly and for the door to be able to swing shut automatically in some cases. As a general rule, the back of the unit should be closer to the floor by about ¼ inch to ½ inch than the front.

It’s easy to check that your refrigerator is tilting correctly. Put a spirit level on top of the appliance. Make sure it’s perpendicular to the doors, then check if the angle is in line. If not, you can correct the tilt by:

  1. Removing the kick plate or grille (at the bottom front of the appliance)
  2. Increase (turn counterclockwise using a crescent wrench) or decrease (turn clockwise) the length of the two front legs. Don’t remove them.
  3. Keep checking the spirit level after your adjustments until the angle is corrected.

Note: The fridge should be level side-to-side. If not, the back legs will need to be adjusted. You can do this in the same way as the front legs, pulling the unit away from the wall first.

#7 Ensure the Defrost Drain is Unblocked

The defrost drain is in the freezer compartment at the bottom of the back wall. It’s an opening that lets humid air escape, so any blockages mean potential problems as the condenser coils will have to work harder, and this will lead to dripping water.

Try to keep this hole clear of food or debris, allowing easy flow from it to the ceiling. If you suspect a problem, remove any blockages and wait 24 hours to see if the issue resolves itself. If not, follow these steps:

  1. Empty the freezer, unplug the appliance, and remove the defrost drain cap.
  2. Put warm water down the drain (a turkey baster works well!). The warm water helps to unfreeze clogs. Now, turn the refrigerator back on and use it as normal.
  3. You’ll probably have to empty the drain pan for the next few days. If there’s no extra water, it may indicate that there’s still a blockage. Unplug the unit again, pull it away from the wall, and check the drain line. The drain line goes from the freezer to under the fridge, and you can try to unclog it using a bottle brush or a pipe cleaner manually.

You may find it helpful to refer to your refrigerator’s user manual.

#8 Keep an Eye on Temperatures

Keep an Eye on the Temperature

It’s a good idea to check your refrigerator’s temperature settings on a regular basis, regardless of whether or not you see condensation or not. And if you do see condensation, the unit’s temperature should be one of the first things you take a look at.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration recommends that all refrigerators be kept at 40°F and freezers at 0°F. These temperatures ensure that the risk of bacteria spreading is kept to a minimum, as well as the likelihood of condensation developing.

Use a freestanding appliance thermometer (you can purchase inexpensive ones) to monitor your refrigerator and freezer regularly and adjust the temperature settings accordingly.

#9 Check the Frozen Water Supply Line

Refrigerators with ice makers or water dispensers are prone to the water line that feeds them getting frozen or blocked. You can check the water supply line as follows:

  1. Unplug the unit and make sure it’s pulled away from the wall. Find the water supply line (it’ll typically be a flexible clear plastic tube or made of braided metal).
  2. Check the connection points; if it looks like there are any leaks, tighten the points with a crescent wrench. Turn the unit back on, then check again in an hour to see if the line is still leaking.
  3. If it looks like the connection points aren’t the issue, there may be a problem with the water line itself. In that case, you’ll need to shut off the water supply line to the refrigerator, remove the line, and purchase a replacement.

Note: Step 3 should only be carried out if you have experience with plumbing or are confident in your home improvement skills. Failure to correctly replace the water line can result in severe damage and even more problems. Always get the help of a plumbing professional if you have any doubts.

If you don’t mind not using the water and ice dispensers until the line is fixed, you can always use the refrigerator with the water supply connections turned off.

#10 Avoid Over-Packing

Avoid Over-Packing

It’s good to be organized, and meal prepping for the week is one way to stay on top of things. However, all those food containers stacked in your refrigerator can spell trouble for its cooling capacity. Overloading tends to cause condensation, and unwanted water puddles, as your refrigerator will struggle to reach its target temperature.

As the unit’s equilibrium is put off-kilter, no heat transfer occurs. So, the refrigerator items will release heat, and this will be met with the cold air vented by the unit, causing condensation. And as you know, condensation equals a wet refrigerator and ruined food.

To help prevent this problem, don’t stack or overfill your refrigerator with too many containers, particularly rectangular ones. You’ll need to avoid blocking the internal cold air circulation vents, or else certain parts of the unit will be left with inadequate amounts of cold air to regulate the temperature.

#11 Store Food Properly

This point follows on neatly from the last; the proper storage of food is essential if you want to keep a tidy, dry refrigerator. As we’ve mentioned, food and drink emit moisture (and differing amounts), and you’ll need to be smart about how you keep them in your refrigerator. For example, leafy greens contain a high moisture content and will quickly create a wet fridge if you’re not careful.

#12 Position Your Refrigerator Correctly

Position Your Refrigerator Correctly

Most people position their refrigerator right up against a wall. But, you’ve guessed it, that’s not the ideal place to put it.

Refrigerators need the adequate circulation of air around them to remain cool and condensation-free. In order to allow this, keep your refrigerator at least a few inches away from any walls or other obstructions. With enough space for air to circulate, condensation will be able to evaporate quicker.

#13 Check the Drip Pan

The older your refrigerator, the more likely its drip pan is to become faulty. And if that happens, it can cause excessive condensation.

Unfortunately, a qualified refrigerator repair service agent will be needed to resolve any drip pan issues.

#14 Check the Energy-Saving Options

Energy-Saving Options

It’s undoubtedly a good thing that modern-day refrigerators come with smart, energy-efficient settings that help consumers save money while reducing their carbon footprint. But many of these features can, unfortunately, create condensation build-up. So, if you’re finding condensation to be an issue, try temporarily turning off your refrigerator’s energy-saving option to see if the issue resolves.

The energy-saving feature on your refrigerator will usually entail keeping the unit’s anti-sweat heaters off. These heaters help prevent condensation build-up, so you may have to let them run for a while to remove any excess moisture. You can turn the energy-saving option on again when the condensation has gone.

#15 Think About Getting an Upgrade

This is the option to consider when you’ve tried out all the others on our list and are still experiencing refrigerator condensation problems. As with most household appliances, refrigerators will become damaged and worn over time, prone to issues that may cost more to fix than buying a new one.

Structural cracks, motor problems, faulty parts—these are all hazards that come with holding on to old refrigerators. Sometimes investing in a newer model simply makes more sense.

Upgrade Your Fridge

Bottom Line

The good news is that most causes of refrigerator condensation are down to human error. So that means they tend to be easily fixable by even the most inexperienced DIY-er. Go through the points we’ve outlined in this article. You should be able to determine what to look out for and how to fix it relatively simply.

The worst-case scenario is you have to call in a professional or replace your refrigerator altogether. Whatever the case, just ensure that you keep your refrigerator cold and condensation-free.


If you have any questions or comments, please add them below in the comment section. Similarly, please let us know if you spot any mistakes or omissions. Thanks!


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About the author

Hi I’m Alex, founder of HouseholdMe.com and I’d like to say thank you for dropping by. Like most of you, the first thing I look at before buying something online is reviews or buying guides. By reading what other people say will help me gauge whether or not a product is good or not.  I am trying to help people find answers, solve problems, and get inspired.

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