Why is my Wine Fridge Leaking Water? [Troubleshooting]

Are you thinking of opening your favorite wine bottle after a long day? Let’s break out the corkscrew – tonight’s the night to unwind!

Your relaxing happy time is ruined as you discover your wine fridges leaks. It’s okay, don’t panic!

Having leaking water is one of the most common causes of your wine cooler breaking down, so why does that happen?

Indeed, it can be a frustrating and potentially damaging problem. There are a few different reasons why this might be happening, such as a clogged drain, a malfunctioning defrost system, or a damaged door seal.

Let’s explore the article further to understand the root cause and effective techniques to handle it.

Troubleshooting: Wine Fridge Leaking Water

Opening Wine Fridge too Often

When it comes to your cooler, do you tend to open it too often? If you’re going to keep coming back for seconds, wait to open the wine fridge, as excess water can build up inside.

You should especially be aware of this if you live in a more humid climate where condensation forms easily.

Can you help with this issue? Of course, there is, and that’s what we’re here for

Here are a few ways to reduce condensation buildup when you open your wine fridge:

The first and easiest step is not to open the wine fridge as often.
The next thing you can do is place a bowl of baking soda in the wine fridge. Is there anything baking soda can’t do? Baking soda is an excellent moisture absorber for wine refrigerators.
Here’s another hack! Adding a silica packet is all it takes. It can absorb up to 40 times its
Weight in moisture. Just a few packs will make a huge difference in your wine fridge.
Packets of calcium chloride work as well. Lastly, consider adding some calcium chloride packets. Since calcium chloride absorbs, you can’t go wrong with this useful product.

Check Seals (Broken, Gaps, or Moisture)

The purpose of a wine fridge is to prevent humidity and moisture from entering and to keep the wine at the ideal temperature. This way, your collection can be kept in ideal conditions so that each bottle can properly age and develop its unique flavors and aromas.

It’s important to double-check the construction of your wine fridge if you are experiencing excessive moisture buildup.

Pay close attention to the wine fridge’s walls, ceiling, floor, and door, especially the door. Additionally, you should check for cracks or worn-out seals in the door, which can cause excessive moisture buildup.

Gaps– Seals can often wiggle out of place due to wear and tear. Simply push the moisture barrier back into place if you find a few gaps around it. These gaps are reason why your wine doesn’t cool in wine fridges.
Cracks or tears. A cracked or torn seal won’t be fixed by pushing it back into place. It is necessary to replace an old moisture barrier.
Add extra moisture barrier layers. There may be air leaks around your wine fridge, causing condensation and leaks. Consider sealing the center strip where the door closes and where the door comes together.

Dirty Seals

In this case, it’s not just about having your seals pressed into place without tears, rips, and splits.

Check the seals to ensure that no waste has accumulated around them.

In addition, too much dirt along the seal will prevent it from attaching properly.

Regularly clean the seals, especially if there are leaks.

Issues with Drainpipe

You should also pay attention to the drainpipe. The wine fridge can leak when the drainpipe is clogged.

You can attempt to clear some clogs yourself before contacting a plumber or the manufacturer by doing the following:

Take the drainpipe out of the wine fridge.
To clear the drainpipe of a clog, use a snake.
Sprinkle baking soda down the drain.
You will need to pour two cups of hot water down the drainpipe.
Make sure the clog has been removed. Attempt again if necessary.

It may be necessary to call a plumber if you cannot clear the clog on your own due to a problem with the drainpipe or if something has become lodged.

Give time to Settle Wine Fridge

A wine fridge will only function well if filled with bottles shortly after it is turned on.

The water could be coming from the wine cooler if you have recently added a lot of new wine bottles or have just turned it on for the first time.

Often, when a large number of bottles of wine are being stored, the wine fridge door will be left open for some time or the internal area will be at room temperature.

As a result, the compressor works hard to reduce the fridge’s temperature and the temperature of the bottles. Condensation and water can form inside the unit if warm air has collected inside.

You can do nothing about this except leave the unit to settle for 24-48 hours and use a towel to remove any moisture. There should be no further water buildup.

Condensation Build Up

In the case of a wine fridge, if the temperature drops inside the cool too long, the air will cool and condense.

Condensation can form inside the door if warm, humid air enters and causes the unit to lower the temperature and start cooling quickly. There is just one explanation: the door is colder than the room, and the air in the room is relatively warm and humid.

When such a situation arises

Keep the wine fridge door shut for a few days to let the internal temperature stabilize after wiping away condensation.

Tip: For freestanding wine fridges, ensure the back, top, and sides are well-ventilated. Ensure the air vents on the wine fridge work and aren’t blocked if it’s built-in.

Overloading the Wine Fridge

You want your wine fridge to be clean. This is the most obvious reason why your cooler is leaking. It’s usually stated in the product specifications or the instructions from the producer what the maximum capacity of the wine fridge is.

Water may form if more bottles are stored than this.

Just unload the fridge if it’s overloaded and leaking

Temperature Resetting

The thermostat may malfunction if the temperature inside your wine fridge frequently changes, causing water to form.

According to this scenario

Using the display interface, reset the wine fridge’s temperature.
Place a thermometer in a cup of water and place it in the wine fridge on the middle shelf and away from any wine bottles.
During the course of 24 hours, check the thermometer’s temperature every hour 3-5 times.
You should contact your wine fridge manufacturer if the temperature still fluctuates and you need help fixing it.

When Should I call the Mechanic?

As a last resort, if none of the above suggestions resolve the leak issue, then you should contact a local refrigeration engineer or the manufacturer’s customer service department.

Conclusion

Despite what it may seem like, there is no need to panic about a leaking wine fridge. It can be easily fixed with simple tools and basic knowledge. Wine fridge leaks usually occur because of too much condensation leaking out, regardless of whether your seals and system have been damaged.

To ensure the longevity of your wine fridge, it is important to regularly inspect the noise from wine fridge or regular ice build ups so to ensure all components are in working order.