Water leaking from ice maker and re-freezing

Brand:whirlpool
Model Number: GS6NBEXRB01
Main Symptom: water leaking and re-freezing in the freezer
What happens & when:

Error Code (if any):
Parts or tests already tried:
Photos / video link:

Where exactly are you seeing the frozen water in your freezer? Is it at the very bottom of the freezer? Also, do you ever notice water leaking onto the floor in front of the refrigerator?

If so, the most likely cause is a clogged or frozen evaporator drain. When the refrigerator goes through a defrost cycle, the water can’t drain properly, so it overflows into the freezer and refreezes into a sheet of ice.

Here’s how to check and clear the drain:

  1. Disconnect power to the refrigerator by unplugging it or switching off the breaker.

  2. Access the evaporator by removing the freezer shelves, baskets, and the rear interior panel. You’ll see the evaporator coil with a drain trough underneath.

  3. Inspect the drain hole. If it’s covered with ice, the drain is frozen or blocked.

  4. Melt the ice using a hair dryer on a low setting or by carefully pouring hot (not boiling) water into the drain trough until the drain hole is clear.
    Use caution to avoid overheating plastic parts or getting the hair dryer near standing water.

  5. Flush the drain with hot water using a turkey baster or squeeze bottle. The water should flow freely into the drain pan underneath the refrigerator. If it doesn’t, gently clear the drain tube with flexible plastic tubing or a pipe cleaner. Avoid using metal wire, as it can damage the drain tube.

  6. Check the drain outlet behind the lower rear access panel. Make sure the rubber drain valve (duckbill, if equipped) isn’t clogged or stuck closed. Clean or replace it if necessary.

While you have the evaporator cover off, take a quick look at the defrost heater for any obvious damage. If the freezer is otherwise defrosting normally and only the drain is icing over, the heater is usually not the cause.

Once you’ve cleared the drain, pour another cup of hot water through it to make sure it reaches the drain pan below. Then reassemble the freezer and restore power.

On this LG model, recurring drain freeze-ups are commonly caused by food debris in the drain or a restricted drain valve. If the drain freezes again after clearing it, let me know and I can help you check whether this model has the updated drain heat probe or explain how to install one.

Brand:whirlpool
Model Number: GS6NBEXRB01
Main Symptom: water leaking and re-freezing in the freezer
What happens & when:

Error Code (if any):
Parts or tests already tried:
Photos / video link:

Thank you for the reply. There is no water at the bottom of the freezer or outside of it. It is only at the top of the freezer where the ice cube maker is. It’s almost like the ice cubes start to melt but then re-freeze leaving an icicle affect running down from the ice maker. The ice maker makes ice without a problem

Is it possible that the fill valve is allowing a slow drip that is causing the ice? can you send me a picture?

It sounds like the water inlet valve ( Whirlpool WPW10159839 Refrigerator Water Inlet Valve | Genuine OEM Part ) may be leaking internally and allowing water to seep through even when it should be closed.

A simple test is to turn the ice maker off and remove all of the ice from the bin. If new ice forms with the ice maker turned off, that indicates the water inlet valve is leaking by and should be replaced.

Another way to test the valve is to turn the ice maker off, pull the refrigerator out, and disconnect the water line going from the inlet valve to the ice maker. Watch the valve outlet for a few minutes. If water drips from the valve while it is supposed to be closed, the inlet valve is leaking internally and will need to be replaced.

Thank you very much. This is great information. I will test this out

I turned off the ice maker and removed the ice. When I do that there is no more leaking from the ice maker. Only when I turn the ice maker back on is when I see the dripping

Thank you, that is a very helpful test. Since the leaking stops completely when the ice maker is turned off and the ice bin is emptied, we can narrow the problem down to the ice maker water fill system rather than the dispenser.

The most likely causes are:

  1. A water inlet valve that is not closing completely. Even a very small seep past the valve can allow water to slowly drip into the ice maker fill tube between fill cycles. That excess water eventually freezes or overfills the mold, causing the dripping you are seeing. This is the most common cause.

  2. A cracked or partially frozen fill tube. If the fill tube has a split or is restricted with ice, the incoming water can spray or continue to drip instead of flowing cleanly into the ice maker mold.

  3. An ice maker that is overfilling. If the ice maker is commanding the valve to stay open too long, the mold can overflow. This is less common than a leaking inlet valve but is still worth checking.

The next thing I would do is remove the ice maker and inspect the fill tube where it enters the ice maker. Look for ice buildup, cracks, or evidence of water running down the outside of the tube. Then, after the ice maker completes a harvest cycle, watch the fill. The water should flow cleanly into the mold and stop immediately when the fill is complete. If you continue to see drips for several seconds after the fill ends, the water inlet valve is almost certainly leaking internally and should be replaced.