How Do You Unclog The Drain Hole And Drain Tubes In A Fridge That's Collecting Standing Water?
Refrigerators produce condensation while they're running, so they need to be able to drain it in order to prevent water from pooling in the fridge. Condensation that forms on the inside of the fridge will drip down and exit through the drain hole at the bottom of the fridge, and the condensation that forms on the freezer's cold evaporator coils will exit through the drain tube beneath them.
If either the drain tube or the drain hole in your fridge is clogged, water will begin to pool in your fridge. It may also leak through the fridge door and create a puddle on the floor surrounding your fridge. Thankfully, unclogging your drain tube and drain hole is an easy refrigerator repair that will stop water from leaking out of your fridge. To find out how to remove clogs from your refrigerator's drains, read on.
Removing Clogs From the Drain Tube
Drain tubes most often become clogged with ice, which is caused by condensation freezing in the drain tube before it reaches the drain pan underneath your fridge. In order to unclog your refrigerator's drain tube, you'll need to turn the power off to your fridge and remove the service panel in the back.
The drain tube will be located underneath the evaporator coils. In order to unclog it, pour a mixture of vinegar and warm water down the drain tube to melt the ice and remove any mineral buildup on the sides of the tube. When the drain tube is free of clogs, water will flow easily down it into the drain pan underneath your fridge.
Removing Clogs From the Drain Hole
The drain hole is located at the very bottom of your fridge, and it can become clogged by food that falls down to the floor of your fridge. In order to find the drain hole, remove the crisper drawers at the bottom of your fridge. You can unclog it by pushing a wire brush through it to force the clogs down into the drain pan.
Afterward, you'll need to turn your fridge around and unscrew the drain pan in order to remove the material that was clogging the drain hole — if food was clogging the drain hole, it will start to rot if you leave it in the drain pan, causing your refrigerator to smell awful.
If you still have water pooling in your fridge after making sure the drain hole and drain tube are unclogged, it means that condensation is forming too quickly in your fridge. Condensation collects in the drain pan underneath the fridge, where it will slowly evaporate. If condensation collects in the pan faster than it can evaporate, it will start backing up through the drain hole.
A fridge that's producing too much condensation normally has an air leak. Warm air is entering the fridge and causing significant amounts of condensation to form on the evaporator coils and the walls of the fridge. In order to fix this problem, you'll need to call a refrigerator repair service and have your fridge's seals inspected. Any seals that are frayed or worn will need to be removed and replaced in order to keep warm air out of your fridge and cut down on the amount of condensation inside.
Contact a refrigerator repair service for more information.
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