Welcome to another installment of FIXiT!, Appliance Questions and Answers from the APWagner Appliance Repair Forum. Today’s question is about leaking refrigerators.
Water pooling inside the bottom of refrigerators, usually under the crisper or vegetable drawers, is a common problem most often caused by a blocked drain hole or a crimped/blocked drain tube. The water comes from melting of frost from your refrigerator’s freezer, which is melted during defrost cycles.
The water then flows down a drain system, usually from a hose that takes it outside of the refrigerator, and into a drain/overflow pan. This pan has many names: drain pane, condensing tray, overflow tray, evaporator pan, but they all serve the same function, as place holding place where water from the freezer is caught and held until it evaporates naturally.
Question: A couple of weeks ago my freezer began leaking water out the bottom of the door. I have a 10 year old Maytag Plus Refrigerator. The water drips into the bottom of freezer side and some freezes at the bottom, the rest runs out the door and onto the floor. This happens every 12 hours when it goes thru the defrost mode. Any suggestions? Is there a special part I need for my Maytag Plus Refrigerator?
Answer: A clogged/restricted defrost drain will allow the water to spill out inside and create these problems.
Your first task is to locate the drain tube using the diagrams for your refrigerator. Locate the diagrams for your refrigerator here, by entering your refrigerator’s model number. (Don’t know your refrigerator’s model number? This page tells you where to look on your refrigerator in order to get it!)
Usually the drain tube runs outside the back of the refrigerator. However, some refrigerators makers, like Whirlpool (which also makes Kenmore Brand Refrigerators,) have the drain tube inside the walls of the unit, making it difficult to access.
To fix this, clear the obstruction in the drain tube: here are some good, cheap and easy ways on how you can do this: http://www.applianceaid.com/frig_leaking.html#inside.
Also, the drain pan at the bottom of the refrigerator can overflow, or become cracked, which can lead to water leaking on the floor. Luckily if this happens, you can order a replacement drain pan for your refrigerator.
For more help:
- Free Refrigerator diagrams online by model number
- Whirlpool Refrigerator Parts
- Kenmore Refrigerator Parts
- Maytag Plus Refrigerator Parts
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