Evaporator in freezing over then causing water leak

Hi and welcome to FixYa, I am Kelly.

When a refrigerator slows down ice production it is usually the result of poor air-flow through the evaporator coils. The poor air-flow is due to ice build up on the evaporator coils. The ice build up happens because the unit is not defrosting properly or the evaporator fan is not running at full speed.

To answer your question "Can an Ice-maker tube freeze?" Yes, they can and do freeze but when they do freeze that is caused by a defective inlet water valve that is leaking water by when it is supposed to be shut off. It can freeze if some one set the temp control to MAX cold. Additionally when they do freeze and the Ice-maker cycles the plastic hose on the back of the unit pops out of the ice maker tube and each cycle starts porting ice maker fill water on the floor.

This may sound odd.. but. Perform a manual defrost by removing the freezer contents and directing a fan into the freezer compartment for just over 2 hours. (Makes a water mess so do not leave it unattended) The return the unit to normal service and after 8 hours start watching the amount of ice produced. (Should be normal for 2 days!) If after 2 days the ice production slows again you have an automatic defrosting problem that is causing the ice build up on the evaporator coils.

If you need any more assistance please include your complete model number in any future responses.

Thanks for choosing FixYa,
Kelly

your evaporator coil in the rear area behind the freezer back panel is frozen over with ice and the coil can no longer deliver cold air due to ice blocking the air flow from the evaporator fan,remove this rear panel,defrost it with a hair dryer,check the defrost heating coil for continuity,they go bad regularly,if not the heater coil under the evaporator coil,it may be the defrost timer in the refrigerator section of the unit that powers the defrost coil that needs replacement

I am uncertain as to what you mean by "when tray is full"? However, you probably have a clogged drain in the freezer compartment. During the defrost cycle, which usually occurs every eight hours, defrost components (defrost thermostat & heater(s) ) melt the ice that has accumulated on the evaporator coil in the freezer compartment. The water from the melted ice drains through a hole in the freezer compartment (behind the freezer's rear panel) and accumulates in a drain pan below the refrigerator. This water should evaporate over time, whereby you should not have to regularly empty the drain pan. If the drain hole is clogged (usually from algae or other debris, etc.), the water finds another path to flow (which is inside the bottom of your freezer compartment). This water will usually freeze. Water will then flow toward the front of your freezer compartment and out of the door on to the floor when you open the door.

Contact an appliance service company to unclog your freezer drain. Also have them check your defrost components (thermostat & heater(s)).

You have a plugged up defrost drain. There should be a drain hole way in back of the freezer, at the bottom. (it should be behind the panel at the back of the freezer compartment) Use a turkey baster with warm water to flush it out until water runs out the hole into the defrost drain pan under the refrigerator.

I am going to assume you have a defrost condensate blockage in the rear of the freezer and behind the rear panel where the evaporator drains condensate after each defros. Please correct me if I am wrong.
The answer to finding the cause of the leak is where we need to begin. Most start in the freezer section behind the rear panel where the defrost condensate is drained during defrost. Sometimes the drain hole freezes over and the water drains down into the freezer creating a large area of frozen water. Other times i happens as the water leaves the drain in the freezer and follows its path to the pan below your refrigerator to re evaporate into the air inside your home. If leaking inside the fresh food compartment then the cup behind the control panel may be over flowing and leaking down the back wall of the refrigerator and will need to be taken apart and cleaned to allow the water to continue down to the pan below the refrigerator. Sludge and dust or even ice may be blocking this line. Below is a link to a page that may help you resolve and fix this. If you have more questions feel free to let me know. [email protected] Thanks, Sea Breeze
click link below
HOW TO FIX A LEAKING REFRIGERATOR OR FREEZER

If you have more questions or need help feel free to let me know, Thanks, Sea Breeze
[email protected]

http://servicepartstec.blogspot.com/

http://appliancepartsse.blogspot.com

I am going to assume you have a defrost condensate blockage in the rear of the freezer and behind the rear panel where the evaporator dreains condensate after each defros. Please correct me if I am wrong.
The answer to finding the cause of the leak is where we need to begin. Most start in the freezer section behind the rear panel where the defrost condensate is drained during defrost. Sometimes the drain hole freezes over and the water drains down into the freezer creating a large area of frozen water. Other times i happens as the water leaves the drain in the freezer and follows its path to the pan below your refrigerator to re evaporate into the air inside your home. If leaking inside the fresh food compartment then the cup behind the control panel may be over flowing and leaking down the back wall of the refrigerator and will need to be taken apart and cleaned to allow the water to continue down to the pan below the refrigerator. Sludge and dust or even ice may be blocking this line. Below is a link to a page that may help you resolve and fix this. If you have more questions feel free to let me know. [email protected] Thanks, Sea Breeze
click link below
HOW TO FIX A LEAKING REFRIGERATOR OR FREEZER

If you have more questions or need help feel free to let me know, Thanks, Sea Breeze
[email protected]

http://servicepartstec.blogspot.com/

http://appliancepartsse.blogspot.com

I am going to assume you have a defrost condensate blockage in the rear of the freezer and behind the rear panel where the evaporator dreains condensate after each defros. Please correct me if I am wrong.
The answer to finding the cause of the leak is where we need to begin. Most start in the freezer section behind the rear panel where the defrost condensate is drained during defrost. Sometimes the drain hole freezes over and the water drains down into the freezer creating a large area of frozen water. Other times i happens as the water leaves the drain in the freezer and follows its path to the pan below your refrigerator to re evaporate into the air inside your home. If leaking inside the fresh food compartment then the cup behind the control panel may be over flowing and leaking down the back wall of the refrigerator and will need to be taken apart and cleaned to allow the water to continue down to the pan below the refrigerator. Sludge and dust or even ice may be blocking this line. Below is a link to a page that may help you resolve and fix this. If you have more questions feel free to let me know. [email protected] Thanks, Sea Breeze
click link below
HOW TO FIX A LEAKING REFRIGERATOR OR FREEZER

If you have more questions or need help feel free to let me know, Thanks, Sea Breeze
[email protected]

http://servicepartstec.blogspot.com/

http://appliancepartsse.blogspot.com

Hi, It sounds like the defrost drain is plugged. You will need to remove the rear inside panel in the freezer and unp,ug the drain. Once you remove the rear panel, you should see a collestion of ice under the evaporator coil. Locate the drain hole and clear the ice. Flush the drain hole out with hot water to make sure it will drain. You might have to run a wire through the drain or you can flush water through it with a baesting serienge.

I hope this helsp you. Please let me know if I can assist you further.

Vic

Just saw your post, sorry no one answered you. If the ice maker is leaking it has a crack or the dual water control valve is stuck open slightly. Most times it is the defrost drain behind the back panel and at bottom of the evaporator coil. Some drains freeze shut and some become blocked as the make the turns leaving the refrigerator. If you would like more information and photo help please let me know, Thanks, Sea Breeze

HI Mark,
The evaporator drain is blocked causing the defrost water to pool, freeze and then leak onto your floor.
Clear out the freezer, then use a hammer to break up the ice on the floor. Now remove the rear panel. You'll see more ice build up. Don't use the hammer on it! (Too close to the coils for comfort) Use a hair dryer to warm up/melt the ice below the coils.
You'll see the drain hole now. Clear the drain by forcing a solution of water and bleach or water and baking soda into it with a basting syringe. If the solution will not flow through, slide a length of ¼ inch flexible tubing into the drain tube to push the clog through to the drain pan. Remove the tubing after clearing the clog.

SG