Refrigerator/Freezer Issue

[lund]

I have a side by side frost free refrigerator/freezer. It has been collecting water at the bottom of the freezer. If I understand the design concept correctly, there is a weak heating element on the condenser that comes on in cycles and melts ice on the surface to keep the freezer frost free. That seems to be going on. But the water does not drain into a bottom hole and is coming out the front door. It looks to me like the design has a drain to a pan in the base that should collect water and allow it to evaporate (thereby eliminating need to connect to a drain). I figured maybe that became iced so I thoroughly defrosted all (door water line was frozen too), cleaned out all the dust below etc, and put everything back. Maybe the compressor runs a bit more than I would expect (?) but it came down to temp and seemed ok for a week plus. Then, back to the same thing ... grrr.

What should I look for with this. I cannot see well below but I do not think it is overfilling the drip pan. But that is possible. I guess I could try using a borescope and take a look.

Also this is probably a 15+ year old fridge. Is it correct that they no longer service the compressor system and add new refrigerant like they used to years ago or that they might do with a car. I am guessing if there is a refrigerant leak and it is overrunning that it is toast these days and you just replace the whole thing.

Sorry for my ignorance on this. I do not have a lot of experience with appliance repairs. So I thought I could get some more knowledgeable opinions here vs googling for the usual AI mismash of off target guidance.

 

[BillK]

Our ancient Kenmore does the same think once in a while. There is a drain hose that goes from the top freezer down to the pan in the bottom and that hose gets "gunked" up where there is a rubber fitting in it. Usually once every few years I have to clean it out. Download a parts diagram for your fridge and you should see the hose. FInd it and clean it out Mine goes out the back of the unit and down the outside.

 

[Zugec]

I have a side by side frost free refrigerator/freezer. It has been collecting water at the bottom of the freezer. If I understand the design concept correctly, there is a weak heating element on the condenser that comes on in cycles and melts ice on the surface to keep the freezer frost free. That seems to be going on. But the water does not drain into a bottom hole and is coming out the front door. It looks to me like the design has a drain to a pan in the base that should collect water and allow it to evaporate (thereby eliminating need to connect to a drain). I figured maybe that became iced so I thoroughly defrosted all (door water line was frozen too), cleaned out all the dust below etc, and put everything back. Maybe the compressor runs a bit more than I would expect (?) but it came down to temp and seemed ok for a week plus. Then, back to the same thing ... grrr.

What should I look for with this. I cannot see well below but I do not think it is overfilling the drip pan. But that is possible. I guess I could try using a borescope and take a look.

Also this is probably a 15+ year old fridge. Is it correct that they no longer service the compressor system and add new refrigerant like they used to years ago or that they might do with a car. I am guessing if there is a refrigerant leak and it is overrunning that it is toast these days and you just replace the whole thing.

Sorry for my ignorance on this. I do not have a lot of experience with appliance repairs. So I thought I could get some more knowledgeable opinions here vs googling for the usual AI mismash of off target guidance.

Drain's clogged - melt water can not reach the pan so it pools and leaks. I would clear the drain hole under the evaporator with hot water or a wire. Not a refrigerant issue

 

[lund]

Drain's clogged - melt water can not reach the pan so it pools and leaks. I would clear the drain hole under the evaporator with hot water or a wire. Not a refrigerant issue

Thanks. Will try both the wire and hot water and may see if I can see anything with a borescope. My guess was that is that the passage is freezing up though. I am not sure if temporarily cleaning it up would address that. I was suspecting that something changed in the temp or humidity distribution resulting in ice plugging. I can try adjusting the temp a bit also.

 

[lund]

Our ancient Kenmore does the same think once in a while. There is a drain hose that goes from the top freezer down to the pan in the bottom and that hose gets "gunked" up where there is a rubber fitting in it. Usually once every few years I have to clean it out. Download a parts diagram for your fridge and you should see the hose. FInd it and clean it out Mine goes out the back of the unit and down the outside.

Thanks. This one is a side by side and the drain hole in pretty close to the pan. So it is not the same situation. I will try clearing out the hose. Maybe enough grew in it to plug ... but it has a fairly large diameter opening ... about 1/2" at least at the top.

 

[fitter30]

There's a drain pan behind the kick guard in front under the bottom door. Also a defrost timer will have a knob or screwdriver slot that can turn to advance to defrost or on.

 

[Zugec]

Yeah, they'll freeze up if the drain tube stays damp or the little rubber check valve gets dunked. Cleaning it usually solves it, but if ice keeps forming you can run a bit of weed-whacker line through the tube or even slide in a copper wire down from the heater so it transfers a little heat each defrost cycle. That would keep the passage from icing shut

 

[lund]

There's a drain pan behind the kick guard in front under the bottom door. Also a defrost timer will have a knob or screwdriver slot that can turn to advance to defrost or on.

Thanks. I will clean and adjust the full temp a bit and see if that clears it up. If not, I will next try what you suggest here. This one looks to be computer controlled though. I think it is just the drain gunking up likely enhancing ice build up though since water is first pooling and then freezing. I will also check to see if the door warped or seals were damanged in case it is letting in too much moist air exacerbating ice buildup etc. But I think that part is ok.

 

[lund]

Yeah, they'll freeze up if the drain tube stays damp or the little rubber check valve gets dunked. Cleaning it usually solves it, but if ice keeps forming you can run a bit of weed-whacker line through the tube or even slide in a copper wire down from the heater so it transfers a little heat each defrost cycle. That would keep the passage from icing shut

Thanks. I will try the clean up and adjustments first and if that does not work consider some heat redirection that you suggest. I should have cleaned the line with a small bottle cleaner type brush when I had it open and warmed up. Maybe I will try putting some bathroom type cleaner in the water I use to flush the line to help kill anything growing. That seems the most likely culprit.

 

[Zugec]

Yeah, that's good idea, anything to knock out slime or mold in the line will help keep it clear longer. Just make sure to flush with plenty of hot water after so no cleaner smell drifts into the fridge

 

[larry_g]

I've found that an old speedometer cable is just the right tool to 'snake' the drain tube. Also works on sunroof drains.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[TRWham]

It does sound like a drain blocked by one or more of debris, biological growth or ice. In my experience in commercial refrigeration, that was a common cause of iced evaps and blocked airflow. Some drains will have a heater, or maybe just a rod that conducts heat from the defrost heater, to keep the drain clear. If it is frozen, you will need to do a thorough defrost and clear every last molecule of ice or it will happen again soon.

 

[lund]

I did the drain clean last night using a series of bottle brushes, cleaner, and hot water. I did not see much evidence of deposits from biological growths on the brush. So I suspect it was frost in the drain line and then an ice dam forming over the inlet. Seals on the door seem ok. I tired to adjust the temp down a little in case the set point drifted enough to change the temp distribution near the drain line. I probably need a week or so now to see if it happens again or not. Hopefully it is fixed. If not, I probably need to do something more substantial with the defrost control system and/or a reconfiguration of the heaters. But I will hold off on that for now. Thanks to all for the advice !!

 

[lund]

May be a little premature to declare, but it seems the extra clean out of the short drain tube worked. Functioning normally. Thanks for the advice to all !!

 

[Milton Shaw]

I've found that an old speedometer cable is just the right tool to 'snake' the drain tube. Also works on sunroof drains.

lg
no neat sig line

A liner from a Mig welder is just the right size cut into smaller sections.