Why is my refrigerator leaking water from underneath?

Discovering a puddle or standing water leaking from underneath the bottom of your residential refrigerator is a frequent issue typically triggered by a blocked defrost drainage path or a plumbing fixture failure. The primary cause is a frozen or debris-choked defrost drain hole inside the freezer; when melting auto-defrost water cannot flow down through the internal drain tube into the lower evaporation pan, it backs up, overflows the internal drain trough, and leaks out onto your kitchen floor. Other common culprits include a cracked plastic evaporation pan sitting above the compressor, a loose water supply line connection for the ice maker, or a loose water filter housing. You can troubleshoot leaks easily by inspecting the floor beneath the unit. You can verify that your corrective action is successful when clearing drain clogs or tightening water lines keeps the floor completely dry.