HHome Appliance Help
Home › Appliance Help › How to Troubleshoot Water Leaking from the Ceiling or Pooling on the Floor in Your LG Top Freezer Refrigerator

How to Troubleshoot Water Leaking from the Ceiling or Pooling on the

The freezer drain may be blocked by ice, frost, or debris. When this happens, defrost water cannot drain properly and may overflow into the refrigerator compartment. To resolve this, unplug your refrigerator and leave the doors open for at least 24 hours to allow the frost to melt completely.

How to Troubleshoot Water Leaking from the Ceiling or Pooling on the Floor in Your LG Top Freezer Refrigerator LG USA help image
TroubleshootingRefrigerators

What to Check First

  1. Since your refrigerator will be unplugged for an extended period, move any perishable food to a spare refrigerator or cooler.
  2. As the ice melts, water may leak onto the floor. Place dry towels around the base of your refrigerator before starting.
  3. If you are concerned about storing your food safely or are not comfortable performing these steps yourself, contact LG Customer Support for assistance.
  4. The freezer drain may be blocked by ice, frost, or debris. When this happens, defrost water cannot drain properly and may overflow into the refrigerator compartment. To resolve this, unplug your refrigerator and leave the doors open for at least 24 hours to allow the frost to melt completely.
  5. During operation, the refrigerator periodically melts frost that builds up and drains the water into the drain pan. However, if the freezer drain is blocked by ice or debris, the defrost water cannot drain properly. Instead, it may overflow and drip from the ceiling or pool on the floor of the refrigerator compartment. At first, you may not notice any issues other than the leak. However, if left unresolved, ice may block the cold air vents and reduce the cooling performance of your refrigerator.
  6. Follow these steps to completely melt any ice or frost inside your refrigerator.
  7. Move all food from your refrigerator to a spare refrigerator, cooler, or another safe, cool place.
  8. Melted ice may leak onto the floor, so place dry towels around the base of your refrigerator.
  9. Unplug the power cord from the outlet, then fully open the refrigerator and freezer doors.
  10. Leave the doors open for at least 24 hours to let the ice or frost melt naturally. (This may take about one day in the summer and up to three days in the winter.).

Why This Can Happen

Symptoms can have more than one cause, and the correct steps depend on the exact model, installation and operating conditions. Use the checks above to narrow the issue before service.

Safety and Model-Specific Guidance

Stop troubleshooting if you notice burning, electrical damage, unsafe heat, gas odor, refrigerant concerns, or water near electrical components. Follow the official LG USA instructions for your exact model.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I check first for How to Troubleshoot Water Leaking from the Ceiling or Pooling on the Floor in Your LG Top Freezer Refrigerator?

Since your refrigerator will be unplugged for an extended period, move any perishable food to a spare refrigerator or cooler.

When should I stop troubleshooting and contact LG?

Stop if the product shows signs of electrical damage, burning, leaking near electrical components, or if the recommended checks do not resolve the issue. Use LG USA support for model-specific service guidance.

Does this guidance apply to every LG model?

Not always. Controls, error codes and service steps can differ by model. Confirm the exact model number and follow the linked LG USA article for model-specific instructions.

Related LG Products

These model pages are linked because the stored category or exact model matches this Help Library topic.

Buying Guides for This Product Type

Features & valueRefrigerator Features Worth Paying For — Value GuideEfficiency & running costRefrigerator Efficiency, Energy & Running-Cost GuideHousehold use caseRefrigerator Family & High-Use Household GuideFit & installationRefrigerator Fit, Installation & Delivery Planning

Related Help Articles

TroubleshootingHow to Turn Display ON and OFF LG InstaView Refrigerator Audio DescriptionTroubleshootingIce Has Bad Taste - RefrigeratorTroubleshootingHow to Replace the Water Filter in Your LG Refrigerator

Read the Official LG Guide