My Refrigerator Is Sweating on the Back

Heat and Humidity

• Sweat, or condensation, can form on the back wall of a properly functioning refrigerator if its door does not close all the way. A slightly ajar door allows heat and humidity to seep into the cold refrigerator. The heat and humidity hit the refrigerator's back wall, which is colder than the appliance's front portion, and form a steam that quickly condenses into beads of water. The solution is to open for the door for only short periods of time, check that nothing blocks the door from closing completely and close the door all the way.

Door Gasket

• Closing the refrigerator door all the way will not stop the condensation if the door gasket is worn or damaged. The door gasket is an insulating rubber strip that contacts the body of the refrigerator when the door is closed. It is designed to seal air inside the refrigerator completely from the outside, conserving the appliance's chilled internal environment that preserves foods and drinks. Replacing the door gasket with a new gasket will keep moisture from collecting on the back wall of the refrigerator.

Clog

• A defrost drain hose normally carries water from a refrigerator's evaporator coils to its condensing tray and runs along the outside of the appliance's back wall. If the drain hose is clogged, water in the hose can leak into the refrigerator. Even a slow drip adds excess moisture to the refrigerator's environment that can evaporate and then form condensation on the unit's coolest walls. Unclogging the drain stops the water leakage into the refrigerator and the resulting condensation.

Power-Saver Switch

• Turning off a refrigerator's power-saver switch generally stops moisture from collecting inside the appliance. The power-saver function conserves energy, allowing owners to switch their refrigerator to a low-power mode when the doors are left closed for an extended period of time. The feature may cause a refrigerator to warm up slightly when its power intermittently goes off, especially during hot weather. When the power returns, condensation forms as the cold air meets the warmer air.