Fridge is one of the useful household appliances that has made our life easier. It ensures a cold temperature and keeps food fresh for a long time. However, sometimes the fridge may get wet inside.
Though it is normal, sometimes it can be a sign of a technical problem, so you need to pay attention to why it happened.
5 Reasons and solutions for fridge wet inside:
Initially, the fridge can be wet inside if there’s any internal damage or mechanical issues or due to condensation. Moreover, if the thermostat is not correctly set, food particles block the drainage system, hot foods, fruits or liquid are stored without wrapping, the moisture occurs inside.
The top or bottom compartment of the refrigerator may be wet inside for a variety of reasons, including a manual error, a technical problem, improper maintenance, a compressor failure, or any breakage or cracks in any component of the refrigerator.
These factors eventually cause an accumulation of water inside, which makes it difficult to keep food fresh and causes the refrigerator to release unpleasant odors as a result of becoming wet inside.
Another potential cause of wetness in the top or bottom of the refrigerator is the presence of consistently moist foodstuffs, which generate more water within the refrigerator.
The inside of the refrigerator may become wet if the temperature settings for the top and bottom halves are incorrect. Internal drainage system blockages that prevent the passage of evaporated water from the interior of the fridge may also result in inside wetting.
Another fact is that storing food that has not completely cooled or storing a lot of products at once might cause the refrigerator to become humid because it can’t absorb all the warm air at once.
Children who frequently forget to close the refrigerator might also contribute to the inside of the fridge being wet. The reasons and the solutions are briefly discussing below:
Any internal damage or mechanical issues with the refrigerator:
The fridge won’t become cold if any component is broken or not functioning properly, which may cause water to build up within. The refrigerator’s condenser primarily cools warm air.
When the refrigerator’s condenser is damaged, it may not condense the humid air or the compressor, which creates the ideal pressure to maintain the fridge’s temperature.
If either of these components leaks, moisture may build up inside the fridge’s upper and lower compartments.
Solution:
Check for damage to the refrigerator’s condenser or compressor by opening the refrigerator’s rear. Replace the condenser if it has any cracks or other damage, and the compressor must also be replaced if the pressure within is insufficient.
If the thermostat is not correctly set:
When the refrigerator is not set to the right chilling temperature, which results in the inside being moist and making food spoil more quickly.
Solution:
Verify the settings to determine if the temperature is set at the ideal level or not, assuming there are no other problems with the compressor or drainage of the refrigerator.
Reset the temperature if it isn’t and the inside of the refrigerator is becoming moist because it isn’t keeping the food cool. This will prevent the lower and upper components of the refrigerator from becoming wet.
Keeping too many moist foods at once:
Some foods have an excessive amount of moisture, and storing them in the refrigerator might cause the refrigerator to fill with water, making it humid inside.
Children commonly leave refrigerators open, and if this happens frequently, the fridge does not have enough time to maintain a cool environment, resulting in the fridge always being wet.
Solution:
Avoid storing too many foods at once, especially those containing moisture.
Additionally, keep the refrigerator as clean as you can to maintain an airflow path free of obstructions that will keep the inside of the fridge cool, and watch out for kids who could be tempted to open the refrigerator habitually.
Ice or accumulated food particles in the drainage system:
If the drainage system of the top and bottom chamber of the refrigerator is full of ice or any food particles that are entrapped, this can prevent warm water from leaving the refrigerator and result in the interior of the refrigerator becoming wet.
The fridge’s ability to maintain a freezing internal temperature will be compromised if there is a leak or break in the drainage path, and it will also develop moisture.
Solution:
If there is moisture within the refrigerator, the drainage system needs to be kept clean and regularly inspected. If anything gets trapped there, it needs to be removed right away. If the drainage system is damaged or has leaks, it also needs to be repaired.
Environment-related variables:
As a result of failing to maintain equilibrium between the inside and outside air, the fridge’s top or lower compartments may become wet inside.
If there is a change in outside humidity or temperature that prevents it from filtering warm air as effectively.
Solution:
Try to preserve as little food as possible or less moist food during that period to combat the scenario, since the refrigerator cannot make up for the interior warm air with that humid condition while the outside humidity is higher.
Foods have a possibility of spoiling since the fridge can’t properly filter all the air. So, acting wisely and understanding the surrounding situation will help to prevent the wet inside of the fridge compartments.
Is condensation in the fridge normal?
Typically a minimal amount of condensation inside your appliance is normal. In newly installed fridge, it occurs usually. Moisture or water, small ice droplets or a layer of ice can be seen on the rear interior wall of a fridge that is normal.
But frequent or sudden condensation building up inside the fridge can be a serious issue. This can be relatively a common problem but necessary steps should be taken to investigate what happened inside.
Outside condensation can be the sign of disruption of the drainage system while inside condensation can also be a sign of any mechanical problem.
Water formation inside the fridge happens due to warm air from the outside entering inside the fridge or if the evaporator extracts the warmth which results in moisture, water or ice.
It can happen due to humidity, frequent opening the door, improper seal of the gaskets, placing hot food or liquids without wrapping. Though the consequences are harmless or not too big, it will stop as soon as possible.
Due to condensation, the fridge won’t be able to keep food cool and fresh. It may result in bacterial proliferation and mold spore growth to the surfaces and the food as well.
5 Tips to properly use your fridge to prevent condensation:
Little amount of condensation or condensation after installing the appliance for the first time can be normal. But you should be careful about frequent or sudden condensation and need some precautions to stop it. To prevent condensation ensure:
Correct temperature setting:
Incorrect temperature is one of the main reasons that leads to condensation. The temperature shouldn’t be too high or too low; from the user manual make sure the recommended temperature.
Usually the temperature in the fridge should be between under 5° C and not less than 0°C ; the freezer compartment should be -17° to -18°C.
Correct humidity:
The humidity level highly depends on the weather and the location of the fridge. Avoid places from direct sunlight or near the window or in front of an air conditioner or fan. Ensure proper circulation around the location of the fridge.
Carefully place food inside:
Food should be placed in an organized way or it can increase the condensation.
Food should be at room temperature before placing it inside the fridge because hot food can disrupt its inner temperature and the fridge will take longer time to stabilize.
Fruits and liquids release moisture inside, so wrap them while placing inside or use covered storage bins.
Door seal should be airtight:
Gaps, cracks, or tears can be highly responsible to cause the rear wall water forming or icy. Check if the door closes completely or not and if the rubber gasket forms a complete seal.
Any cracks, tears, improper sealing will alarmingly allow warm air and moisture into the compartments that will result in ice on the wall. Moreover, avoid opening the door too frequently and try to close the door as quickly as possible.
Make sure the fridge is in level:
While placing the fridge, make sure it’s in level. Or it may hamper the drainage system. Water won’t be able to flow correctly in the right direction which will result in condensation.
Final thoughts
Due to incorrect thermostat, improper temperature, high humidity, or storing wet food items the fridge gets wet inside. In fact, any crack, tear or improper sealing allows warm air to enter that causes moisture inside the fridge. However, it can be relatively common but lead to food safety problems.