Accumulation of water under the vegetable tray of the refrigerator is seen in many homes. Often people consider it to be water from vegetables and clean it and that's the end of the matter. But if water is accumulating again and again, it is not right to ignore it as normal.
Actually, there can be many reasons behind this like the drainage system of the fridge, rubber seal of the door, wrong temperature setting or excessive moisture inside. It is a matter of relief that in some cases the problem can be cured at home with a little investigation and cleaning.
1. First check the drain hole of the refrigerator
The most common reason for water accumulation under the vegetable tray can be blockage of the drain hole. There is a small hole at the back inside the fridge, through which the water formed during defrost comes out.
If food particles, dust or ice accumulates in this hole, water starts accumulating inside the refrigerator instead of flowing out and eventually appears at the bottom of the vegetable tray.
After safely switching off the refrigerator, the dirt around the drain hole can be cleaned. Light lukewarm water can help in clearing the path. If there is snow accumulated there, do not try to remove it with a knife or any sharp object.
2. Is there any fault in the rubber seal of the door?
If the refrigerator door is not sealing completely, hot and humid air from outside can continuously get inside. This moisture can turn into water droplets when it comes in contact with a cold surface.
Look carefully at the rubber seal around the door. If it is dirty, loose, torn, or bent out of place, the refrigerator will not close properly.
Try cleaning the seal with mild soap and water. An easy paper test can also be done. Close the door by placing paper between the door and the rubber. If the paper comes out easily without any obstruction, the seal may be weak.
3. Temperature setting can also cause trouble
Too low or too high temperature of the refrigerator can also cause freezing of water or ice. Generally, it is considered appropriate to keep the temperature inside the refrigerator around 4 degrees Celsius.
At very low temperatures, ice can freeze in some parts and later when it melts, water can reach the bottom. On the other hand, extreme temperatures may affect cooling and humidity control.
Therefore, first of all check the temperature setting of the refrigerator.
4. Give up the habit of keeping hot food directly in the fridge
If you put hot food in the refrigerator immediately, it can increase the moisture inside. The steam released from hot food cools down and turns into water droplets.
If this happens repeatedly, condensation inside the refrigerator may increase and water may start accumulating around the vegetable tray.
Let the food cool properly and then cover it and keep it in the refrigerator. Keeping open utensils can also increase moisture inside the refrigerator.
5. Don't overfill the fridge
Storing items in the fridge in such a way that there is no space left for air can affect cooling and air circulation.
It is better to keep enough space between the vegetable tray and the back wall of the refrigerator. Apart from this, avoid keeping items in front of the air vent, so that the cold air can circulate properly throughout the refrigerator.
6. Is the source of water somewhere else?
If your refrigerator has a water dispenser or ice maker, be sure to check the water pipe and its connections.
If there is a minor leakage in any pipe or connection, water can slowly reach inside the refrigerator and accumulate at the bottom. In such a situation, just cleaning the drain hole will not solve the problem.
Therefore it is important to find out from which part the water is actually coming.
7. When to understand that a mechanic is needed?
If water continues to accumulate despite cleaning the drain hole, checking the door seal and adjusting the temperature, there may be a possibility of a technical fault inside the refrigerator.
In such a situation, there may be a problem with the drain system, defrost system, thermostat or water pipeline. Instead of opening it yourself and fixing it, it would be better to get it checked by a qualified technician.
If you see water, don't just wipe it off.
Seeing water once or twice under the vegetable tray of the refrigerator is not always a sign of a major fault. But if this problem is happening again and again, then it is important to find its reason.
First check the drain hole, door rubber seal, temperature setting, air circulation and possible water leakage. If small problems are caught in time, major problems and costly repairs can be avoided.
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