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If your Keurig is leaking water from the bottom, the water is almost always coming from one of three places: the water reservoir and its seal, the drip tray overflowing, or scale buildup forcing water past an internal seal during the pump cycle. Start by pulling the reservoir and drip tray off and wiping the base dry so you can see exactly where the new water appears. Keurig's own guidance points at descaling first, because it says calcium and scale that build up inside the brewer over time can hinder performance if left unattended (keurig.com/descale).
Find the leak before you buy anything
Do not order parts yet. A leaking Keurig usually gives itself away in about five minutes if you watch it. Unplug the machine, lift off the water reservoir, and dry the whole base with a towel. Then run a water-only brew with no pod and watch the underside.
- Water pools the moment you fill the tank, before brewing: the reservoir itself is cracked, or its bottom valve seal is worn or misaligned. Hold the empty tank over the sink and fill it. If it drips, the tank is the problem.
- Water appears only during or right after a brew: that is the pressurized side. Scale buildup or a tired internal seal is letting water escape while the pump runs. This is the descale case.
- Water shows up under the front, near the mug: the drip tray is full or the exit path is clogged and backing up. Empty the tray and clear the exit needle.
- Water only when the reservoir is overfilled: you are past the max line and it is weeping at the seam. Fill below max and the leak stops.
Leak source, fix, and the part you need
| Where the water is coming from | What to do first | Part if the fix fails |
|---|---|---|
| Reservoir cracked or leaking at rest | Reseat the tank firmly until it clicks, check the bottom valve for stuck grounds | Replacement reservoir |
| Reservoir seal or O-ring worn | Wipe the seal, reseat the tank a few times to spread contact, check for grit | Replacement reservoir with seal |
| Leak during brewing (pressurized) | Run a full descale cycle, then a couple of water-only rinse brews | Descaling solution |
| Water under the mug | Empty and reseat the drip tray, clear the exit needle with a paperclip | Replacement drip tray |
| Overfilled tank weeping | Fill below the max line | None |
Descale it, because scale is the most common cause
On any machine that is more than a year old and leaks during the brew itself, descaling is the first real fix, not a last resort. Hard water minerals collect inside the pump and hose path and eventually force water past seals that were fine when dry. Keurig recommends descaling every 3 to 6 months, or when the descale light comes on for brewers that have one (keurig.com/descale). If you brew heavily or you are on hard water, stay at the shorter end of that range.
Run a full cycle with Keurig descaling solution per the bottle instructions, then run at least two or three water-only brews with a fresh tank to flush it. A machine that leaked mid-brew often stops once the pump path is clear.
If it is the reservoir or the seal
A reservoir that drips when you hold it over the sink is done, and no amount of reseating fixes a cracked tank. Same story if the rubber seal at the base has gone hard or torn. Reseating and wiping the seal is worth a try first, but if water still pools under a full tank at rest, swap it. A fresh Keurig water reservoir ships with the seal, so you fix both at once. Match the part to your exact model before buying, since K-Classic, K-Elite, and K-Supreme tanks are not interchangeable.
For water that shows up under the mug, the culprit is usually the drip tray or a clogged exit needle. Empty and reseat the tray first. If the tray plate is warped or cracked, a replacement Keurig drip tray is a few dollars and clicks right back in.
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FAQ
Why is my Keurig leaking water from the bottom but only when it brews? That is the pressurized side of the machine, and it usually means scale buildup is forcing water past an internal seal. Run a full descale cycle, then two or three water-only rinse brews before you assume a part is broken.
Can I just reseat the water tank instead of replacing it? Try it first. Wipe the seal, check the bottom valve for stuck grounds, and press the tank down until it seats firmly. If water still pools under a full tank sitting at rest, the tank or its seal is cracked and needs replacing.
How often should I descale to prevent leaks? Keurig recommends every 3 to 6 months, or when the descale light comes on. Heavy use or hard water means you descale closer to every 3 months.