Leaking water is a common problem for whirlpool ice makers. It gets frustrating as it is hard to find the reason behind the leak without proper knowledge. Don’t worry; by spending a few minutes, you can get enough information to find the issue and maybe fix the leak yourself.
Why is my whirlpool ice maker leaking water?
A damaged water inlet valve is the leading reason for the Whirlpool ice maker leaking water. Replacing or fixing the water inlet valve is easy, and possibly you can do it yourself with proper guidance. A damaged or faulty ice maker can also cause the problem.
The Whirlpool refrigerator contains an ice maker machine that helps it maintain the temperature and make ice continuously. A faulty or leaking ice maker is pretty problematic as it disturbs the ice-making process and can even harm other functions of your fridge.
A leaking ice maker can cause big cubes of ice which can potentially harm the cooling process of your fridge. The leaking water can fall into the fridge storage and floor of the room. So how do you find out the problems that cause leaking?
First, let’s talk about the functions and parts of the ice maker, so you find the terms easier in the following part. The ice maker receives water from your home water supply pipe. The water inlet pipe of the ice maker supplies the necessary water to the ice maker machine.
After the ice maker receives sufficient water, the water inlet valve stops, and the ice maker starts making ice. When ice is formed, the machine drops the ice into the fridge, and the cycle begins again. Let’s skip the cooling process as it is complicated and unnecessary in this context.
So, a faulty water supply or a clogged or damaged inlet valve causes the leaking problem most of the time. Here are the common reasons behind the leaking problem.
Faulty water inlet valve:
The water inlet valve supplies water to the ice maker after a freezing cycle completes. The valve is connected with the supply water of your home. If the inlet valve is broken or cracked, the water will leak.
Other things can also happen with the inlet pipe. If the pipe fitting gets loosed, dripping water can fall from your ice maker. The inlet valve pours water into the ice tray of the machine.
If the pipe and trey are displaced and not aligned perfectly, the ice maker can leak a considerable amount of water.
Clogged water inlet valve:
If the water inlet valve gets clogged by ice, it loses the water flow and can fall into other fridge parts. A fully clogged water inlet valve can lead to different sets of problems.
Frozen trey:
After the ice formation, the ice maker drops the ice and starts a new ice-making cycle. If the ice gets stuck in the trey, the function does not work correctly.
Check other parts too:
It is also possible that the ice maker is not causing the problem. Are there other things that can cause water leaks? Check the supply pipe and the temperature of your fridge.
If the refrigerator has a functional problem, ice can melt, and water can leak from your fridge. A broken water supply can also create water leaking problems.
Why is my Whirlpool side-by-side refrigerator leaking water?
Whirlpool side-by-side refrigerator also has an ice maker, and in most cases, a faulty ice maker causes water leakage from the fridge. If the water inlet valve of the ice maker has a hole, crack, or displacement, water can leak from the refrigerator.
It is also possible that the fridge is not working efficiently, so the ice is melting. In that case, you may need a professional to find out the problem.
But most of the time, it is possible to fix the minor problems if you have a little skill, proper knowledge, and tools. We will guide you to the problem finding and repairing process of refrigerator leaking in the following sections.
Note that every Whirlpool refrigerator model is different, so a manual can help you find other parts of the fridge. However, the ice maker machine should be the same and function similarly in most Whirlpool fridges.
How do I stop my ice maker from leaking water?
When you notice your ice maker is leaking water, you should not run like that. Try to find out the problem or turn off the fridge if you don’t have sufficient time. Running a leaking fridge can create further problems.
Here are some tips to stop leaking water from your ice maker.
Find out the problem:
To fix a problem, finding the root is the first step. To find out the problem causing the leak, pay attention to the ice maker for a while. If you are lucky, you can see some water drops falling from the ice maker.
When you notice the water drop, you are halfway to finding out the problem. If you can’t see any water leaking, check the fridge temperature and water supply pipe behind the fridge. If those are okay, you can start checking the ice maker more thoroughly.
The next thing you should check is the ice tray. A huge jam of ice on the trey can cause the leaking problem. In that case, you will have to break the ice gently. Pouring hot water on the ice is a safe and easy way to melt the ice.
If you still can’t find the problem this way, you will have to open the ice maker and check manually for cracks and holes. We will include the detailed process in the following part.
Fix the ice maker:
Once you find out the problem, it becomes easier to fix it. With the help of a flat head screwdriver, you should find and repair simple issues.
Call a professional:
Sometimes, you will not find any clue of leaking. If you fail to find out the problem, just install the ice maker as it was. Sometimes the issue gets fixed just by reinstalling. But if the issue remains, call a professional.
Replace the ice maker:
Ice makers can work fine for very, but it is also possible that they can get broken and can not work anymore. In that situation, you can order a new ice maker from Amazon for around 40$.
How to repair a leaking whirlpool ice maker?
Here are the steps to repair a leaking Whirlpool ice maker.
Uncover the ice maker:
First, uncover the ice maker; sometimes, it will come off quickly, and sometimes you will have to use some force to remove the cover.
Cycle and observe:
If the ice maker is working fine, a wheel should rotate very slowly. You will have to cycle the ice maker and observe it to check for leaks.
Force-start:
Now, you will need a jump wire to force-start the ice maker’s cycle. Insert the wire in the T, H hole in the front panel. When the wheel starts to move, remove the jump wire.
Observe the water supplying process:
Now, observe the water supplying process and check if any water drops during the process.
Check the inlet valve:
If you notice water leakage, You will have to remove the ice maker and check the inlet valve. Disconnect all the wires before removing them, and you will have to open only three screws to remove the ice maker.
Replace the valve:
Check the inlet valve; if it is damaged, you will have to replace the valve. Reverse the process to set up the ice maker if it’s okay.
How do you test a whirlpool icemaker water valve?
A damaged inlet water valve is the most common reason for the Whirlpool ice maker water leakage. Here are some tips for testing a whirlpool water inlet valve.
Check the back part:
Pay a closer look at the behind part of the ice maker. Water usually leaks from the ice maker’s backside if the water inlet valve is damaged, cracked, or not aligned perfectly.
Remove:
You will have to remove the ice maker from the fridge if you find the leakage.
Force start cycle:
If you don’t find water leakage, force-start a cycle using jamp wire and observe the ice maker. If you still don’t see any leakage, the water inlet pipe should be okay, and you don’t need to remove the ice maker to check for cracks.
Replace the valve:
If you can find the leak, check the water valve after removing the ice maker. If you find any cracks or broken parts, replacing the valve should be enough to solve the problem.
Final Thoughts
Clogged, damaged, or displaced water valves and frozen trey are common reasons for water leaking from ice makers. If you have no experience, it is better to leave it on professionals. But if you decide to do something, research well and understand the repairing procedure.