The drain tube in the freezer drawer compartment was clogged --we cleared it---where is the water supposed to go

Question 1

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2answers

Why is water collecting and freezing on the floor of my freezer compartment?

Water collecting and freezing on the floor of your freezer compartment is likely due to a clogged or frozen defrost drain. When the refrigerator goes through a defrost cycle, the melted ice and frost should drain through the defrost drain and into the drip pan underneath the refrigerator. However, if the drain is clogged or frozen, the water will collect on the freezer floor and eventually freeze.
To fix this issue, you will need to clear the defrost drain. Here are the steps to do so:

Unplug the refrigerator to avoid any electrical hazards.
Locate the defrost drain at the back of the freezer compartment. It may be covered with ice or debris, so you may need to remove the freezer drawer and any shelves to access it.
Clear the drain using a turkey baster or a small funnel to pour hot water down the drain. You can also use a pipe cleaner or a wire to remove any clogs.
Once the drain is cleared, you can clean the inside of the freezer with a solution of warm water and baking soda to remove any odors.
Finally, plug the refrigerator back in and allow it to cool down before placing the food back in the freezer.

If you're unsure about performing these steps, or if the issue persists after clearing the drain, it's best to consult a professional appliance repair technician to diagnose and fix the problem.

Feb 16, 2023 • Maytag Refrigerators

tip

Water Leaking Inside Refrigerator

If water leaks inside your refrigerator
(and it WILL, at some point) you can fix
it yourself. My 26 year old fridge was leaking
and I fixed it completely. It is a Kenmore
top freezer, bottom refrigerator model.

In the good old models, one had to defrost the
fridge every few months manually.

In the recent models, the fridge defrosts automatically,
once or twice a day, and the water is supposed to drain
down a long drain tube into a pan located at the bottom of
the fridge. This collected water in the pan evaporates
by the heat under the fridge.

Now the drain tube can get clogged, by food debris and/or
ice. Thus when the water cannot drip through the drain tube
the water drips inside the fridge.

The drain tube is located behind the fridge, which is pretty
easy to take it out and clean. However usually the clog is
not in the long tube but in the connector assembly located
in the backside of the fridge that leads to the long drain tube.

To get to the connector assembly, you need to unscrew and
take out the back panel of the freezer compartment. You would
see the evaporator coil and a tray under the coil where the water
is supposed to drip through. If you find the tray completely frozen
with ice, let it melt off. To speed up melting, you may blow
hot air via a hair dryer. Once the ice is clear, you should see
a drain hole in the middle of the tray. This could be clogged,
which needs to be unclogged.

Next unscrew and open the thermostat control assembly located
in the inside of the back of the refrigerator compartment just above
the light bulb fixture. Once you take the cover off (you will
also have to take the knobs out) you will see a small tray cup about
2" x 2" x 1/2" into which water from the top freezer compartment
drain hole is supposed to drain. Pull out the tray cup, and if clogged,
unclog it, clean it and put it back.

To check if the drain works ok, pour some water on the tray
under the evaporator coil (top freezer compartment) and see if it
immediately drains into the tray located at the bottom of the fridge
at the floor level. If it does, you got it; and you can assemble things
back in the reverse order you took the pieces apart.

Needless to say, use a vacuum cleaner with a long suction tube to clean
out all the collected mess under the fridge. No matter how good
your housekeeping is, the bottom of the fridge will be full of dust.
With lot of patience (I mean lots of it) you should be saving hundreds
of dollars. Attached are some pictures I took. Call me before you dig !

on Mar 01, 2010 • Refrigerators

0helpful

1answer

Ice sheets build up on the bottom of the freezer. Water also seems to be dripping into the refrigerator from the freezer. Not sure what the problem is and looking for help!

Hi and welcome to FixYa, I am Kelly.
First off if you have an ice maker this sheeting of ice is most often caused by the ice maker inlet water valve bypassing water when it supposed to be shut off. You can check for ice in the rubber tube that fills the ice maker. If it is frozen hard with ice most likely you have an inlet water valve failure. The valve is not repairable. The only remedy is to replace it.

Second reason for ice build up on the bottom of the freezer is a clogged evaporator drain. If you see ice for sure under the evaporator coils then the drain is clogged. You clear the drain by unplugging the unit.. removing the freezer contents and directing an external fan into the freezer compartment for just over 2 hours. While this is happening... open the back of the unit by removing the fiberboard cover and cleaning out both the drip pan and the END of the compartment drain tube. I use a wet or dry Vacuum for this task. When the 2 hours of manual defrosting is completed.. use the exhaust of the vacuum on the very end of the compartment drain tube. This will float out any debris that was in the evaporator drain funnel and make sure that the compartment drain tube is clear. Make sure to clean the condenser coils and fan in the bottom of the unit while your cleaning the drip pan.

After all of the above reassemble the rear fiberboard cover, wipe up any water mess in the freezer compartment and return the unit to normal use.

Since you did not include a model number I am unable to provide you with an exact reference source for the inlet water valve. You can however use the following sites and enter your model number for parts information:

http://www.searspartsdirect.com

http://www.appliancepartspros.com

http://www.repairclinic.com

Thanks for choosing FixYa,
Kelly

Jun 27, 2011 • Whirlpool 21.0 cu. ft. Top Freezer...

2helpful

1answer

Water from defrosting leaks into the bottom of the freezer and freezes into a solid sheet of ice, which I chip out every 1 to 2 weeks. Kenmore bottom freezer refrigerator Model 795.65002400.

Hello,

If water leaks inside your refrigerator
(and it WILL, at some point) you can fix
it yourself.

In the good old models, one had to defrost the
fridge every few months manually.

In the recent models, the fridge defrosts automatically,
once or twice a day, and the water is supposed to drain
down a long drain tube into a pan located at the bottom of
the fridge. This collected water in the pan evaporates
by the heat under the fridge.

Now the drain tube can get clogged, by food debris and/or
ice. Thus when the water cannot drip through the drain tube
the water drips inside the fridge.

The drain tube is located behind the fridge, which is pretty
easy to take it out and clean. However usually the clog is
not in the long tube but in the connector assembly located
in the backside of the fridge that leads to the long drain tube.

To get to the connector assemble, you need to unscrew and
take out the back panel of the freezer compartment. You would
see the evaporator coil and a tray under the coil where the water
is supposed to drip through. If you find the tray completely frozen
with ice, let it melt off. To speed up melting, you may blow
hot air via a hair dryer. Once the ice is clear, you should see
a drain hole in the middle of the tray. This could be clogged,
which needs to be unclogged.

Next unscrew and open the thermostat control assembly located
in the inside of the back of the refrigerator compartment just above
the light bulb fixture. Once you take the take the cover off (you will
also have to take the knobs out) you will see a small tray cup about
2" x 2" x 1/2" into which water from the top freezer compartment
drain hole is supposed to drain. Pull out the tray cup, and if clogged,
unclog it, clean it and put it back.

To check if the drain works ok, pour some water on the tray
under the evaporator coil (top freezer compartment) and see if it
immediately drains into the tray located at the bottom of the fridge
at the floor level. If it does, you got it; and you can assemble things
back in the reverse order you took the pieces apart.

Needless to say, use a vacuum cleaner with a long suction tube to clean
out all the collected mess under the fridge. No matter how good
your housekeeping is, the bottom of the fridge will be full of dust.

Good luck and hope this helps

Aug 01, 2010 • Kenmore 65212 Bottom Freezer Refrigerator

4helpful

1answer

Hi, I have a 2003 Kenmore Coldspot refrigerator. It has started leaking water on the inside from the top(where cold air blows) into the bottom of the fridge. the model # is 106. 73192302. The serial # is...

Hello,

In the recent models, the fridge defrosts automatically,
once or twice a day, and the water is supposed to drain
down a long drain tube into a pan located at the bottom of
the fridge. This collected water in the pan evaporates
by the heat under the fridge.

Now the drain tube can get clogged, by food debris and/or
ice. Thus when the water cannot drip through the drain tube
the water drips inside the fridge.

The drain tube is located behind the fridge, which is pretty
easy to take it out and clean. However usually the clog is
not in the long tube but in the connector assembly located
in the backside of the fridge that leads to the long drain tube.

To get to the connector assemble, you need to unscrew and
take out the back panel of the freezer compartment. You would
see the evaporator coil and a tray under the coil where the water
is supposed to drip through. If you find the tray completely frozen
with ice, let it melt off. To speed up melting, you may blow
hot air via a hair dryer. Once the ice is clear, you should see
a drain hole in the middle of the tray. This could be clogged,
which needs to be unclogged.

Next unscrew and open the thermostat control assembly located
in the inside of the back of the refrigerator compartment just above
the light bulb fixture. Once you take the take the cover off (you will
also have to take the knobs out) you will see a small tray cup about
2" x 2" x 1/2" into which water from the top freezer compartment
drain hole is supposed to drain. Pull out the tray cup, and if clogged,
unclog it, clean it and put it back.

To check if the drain works ok, pour some water on the tray
under the evaporator coil (top freezer compartment) and see if it
immediately drains into the tray located at the bottom of the fridge
at the floor level. If it does, you got it; and you can assemble things
back in the reverse order you took the pieces apart.

Needless to say, use a vacuum cleaner with a long suction tube to clean
out all the collected mess under the fridge. No matter how good
your housekeeping is, the bottom of the fridge will be full of dust.

Hope this helpout.......

Jul 29, 2010 • Refrigerators

1helpful

1answer

Water leaking in refrigerator on shelves, drawers, and under draw

common issue.....sounds like a drain clog in the freezer compartment above. remove the freezer rear panel and totally defrost the evaporator area, directly under the evap you see( under all taht ice) a small drain hole that has become frozen over, try defrosting with either a hair dryer( not a heat gun too much heat youl melt everything) or by pouring hot water donw the drain until you get a free flow of water down the tube. after its clear reassemble and you should be fine

Feb 09, 2009 • Estate TT21AKXKQ / TT21AKXKT Top Freezer...

7helpful

1answer

Freezer drain plug

Self defrosting refrigerators as well as freezers all have a defrost drain system. This drain system can become plugged or frozen causing defrost drain water to back up into the refrigerator or freezer compartment. The water may gather under the crisper drawers on top freezer models. On side by side, bottom or stand alone freezers ice will build up in the freezer at the bottom and eventually leak out the door.

Plugged Defrost Drain - Freezer on Top (Water under the crisper drawers)

At the top of the refrigerator next to the temperature controls there usually is a cup-like part that carries the defrost drain water into a tube and out the back of the refrigerator to a defrost drain pan behind the unit. Pull the cup out of the tube and clean the cup with hot water and soap. If there is no cup, pull the refrigerator out away from the wall, go behind it and disconnect the drain tube to clear it. If the drain tube is not accessible from the back or the drain can not be cleared from there the main back panel in the freezer can be removed to access, thaw and flush out the drain under the cooling coil.

Use a turkey baster to flush HOT water into the tube to clear any obstruction. The water squirted into the tube should end up in the defrost drain pan.

If the tube will not clear with hot water try blowing it out with compressed air.

Put the cup back on and make sure it is all the way on or in the tube.

Plugged Defrost Drain - Side By Side, Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator or Stand Alone Freezer

The defrost drain pan is located at the bottom of the freezer compartment behind the back wall of the freezer. On some models, the pan is accessible without removing the back panel and others are not. After you get to the defrost drain pan use a hair dryer to melt the ice from the pan.

Once the ice is removed use a turkey baster to squirt HOT water into the drain hole to clear the drain.

When the drain is clear you should hear or see the water you are squirting into the hole enter the pan under or behind the refrigerator.

TheRepairGuru ---- www.repairclinic.com

http://www.repairclinic.com/Whirlpool-Refrigerator-Parts

Jan 26, 2009 • Whirlpool ET9FTKXK Top Freezer...

0helpful

1answer

Water collects on shelves in refrig.

sounds like a drain clog in the freezer compartment above. remove the freezer rear panel and totally defrost the evaporator area, directly under the evap you see( under all taht ice) a small drain hole that has become frozen over, try defrosting with either a hair dryer( not a heat gun too much heat youl melt everything) or by pouring hot water donw the drain until you get a free flow of water down the tube. after its clear reassemble and you should be fine

Nov 26, 2008 • Kenmore 18.3 cu. ft. Top Freezer...

0helpful

1answer

Whirlpool has water drip inside fridge

sounds like a drain clog in the freezer compartment above. remove the freezer rear panel and totally defrost the evaporator area, directly under the evap you see( under all taht ice) a small drain hole that has become frozen over, try defrosting with either a hair dryer( not a heat gun too much heat youl melt everything) or by pouring hot water donw the drain until you get a free flow of water down the tube. after its clear reassemble and you should be fine

Oct 25, 2008 • Frigidaire GLRT212ID Top Freezer...

8helpful

3answers

Clogged fridge drain tube

The drain is behind the back panel in the freezer at the bottom. Sounds like it is frozen over which is pretty common. Will need to remove panel and thaw out drain by running hot water down. You can use a putty knife to break up ice first. Make sure you get all ice around the drain above and below the thin aluminum tray at the bottom. After the drain is free don't be alarmed if you get some water on the floor because the drain pan may not hold all of the water you ran down the drain. Not anything you can do to prevent this on this model.

Oct 07, 2007 • Refrigerators

Question 2

Anonymous

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Posted on Aug 29, 2010

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Hi,
There is a pan underneath the frdge that evaporates the water...

heatman101

Testimonial: "Thanks for the very fast response. My friend will no longer be concerned about where the water goes."

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The drain tube in the freezer drawer compartment was clogged --we cleared it---where is the water supposed to go

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Related Questions:

Why is water collecting and freezing on the floor of my freezer compartment?

Water Leaking Inside Refrigerator

Ice sheets build up on the bottom of the freezer. Water also seems to be dripping into the refrigerator from the freezer. Not sure what the problem is and looking for help!

Water from defrosting leaks into the bottom of the freezer and freezes into a solid sheet of ice, which I chip out every 1 to 2 weeks. Kenmore bottom freezer refrigerator Model 795.65002400.

Hi, I have a 2003 Kenmore Coldspot refrigerator. It has started leaking water on the inside from the top(where cold air blows) into the bottom of the fridge. the model # is 106. 73192302. The serial # is...

Water leaking in refrigerator on shelves, drawers, and under draw

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The drain tube in the freezer drawer compartment was clogged --we cleared it---where is the water supposed to go

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Add Your Answer

Attachments: Added items

Related Questions:

Why is water collecting and freezing on the floor of my freezer compartment?

Water Leaking Inside Refrigerator

Ice sheets build up on the bottom of the freezer. Water also seems to be dripping into the refrigerator from the freezer. Not sure what the problem is and looking for help!

Water from defrosting leaks into the bottom of the freezer and freezes into a solid sheet of ice, which I chip out every 1 to 2 weeks. Kenmore bottom freezer refrigerator Model 795.65002400.

Hi, I have a 2003 Kenmore Coldspot refrigerator. It has started leaking water on the inside from the top(where cold air blows) into the bottom of the fridge. the model # is 106. 73192302. The serial # is...

Water leaking in refrigerator on shelves, drawers, and under draw

Freezer drain plug

Water collects on shelves in refrig.

Whirlpool has water drip inside fridge

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