It depends honestly. Sometimes it can be fixed with a simple thaw. Sometimes it can be fixed by pouring hot water down in the drain, and sometimes it can be fixed by blowing a steam gun through it.
Sometimes you have no choice but to remove the back and physically clean the drain/metering device out .
Some manufactures drain tubes have flow reducers. Samsung had a problem with them for a long time. When I say metering device I mean something like a duckbill
I had the exact same issue for months. The drain pan was filled with ice and leaking into the fridge, causing thin sheets of ice to form. If left too long, it would overflow. I finally addressed it by removing the back panel in the freezer and used hot water to melt the ice. Once cleared, I used stiff wire to ensure the drain line was clear. I haven't had any issues since.
I recently saw a video where someone used stranded wire, placing one end a few inches down the drain pipe and wrapping the other end around the heater element. It seemed like a good idea as long as it doesn't melt any plastic, but I didn't need to go that far.
Remove the bottom panel on the back of the fridge and look for a rubber nipple over the drain pan chances are its all gunked up with lint. I usually just remove it but you can clean it up and clip the corners. Now you just need to get rid of the ice. You can remove the baskets and pour hot water down the drain or use a turkey blaster, personally I remove the freezer door, baskets, and back panel but careful with that panel it's a giant razor blade. Now you can use a hair dryer, pour the water where you need it, if you have a Steamer even easier, but careful using a hair dryer it will melt the liner faster than you think. NO CHIPPING AT ANYTHING! ONE SLIP AND IT GETS REALLY EXPENSIVE!
Why does this happen? The drain tube is clogged and frozen up, usually a small plastic tube with a rubber insert that gets brittle and gunk clogs it up.
Either way this is how this process works: [Draining process](https://www.appliancerepair.net/images/39.gif)
Now when it gets clogged up in a top mount fridge specifically; it freezes over and the water overflows into the fridge from freezer to fridge airways, could be something clogging at evaporator or underneath, we'll fix both.
EZ PZ to fix.
Buy or assemble:
* Harbor Freight/ cheapo depo handheld steam cleaner(this helps with anything between house or car cleaning so it's great).
* Drill/impact with phillips and or 1/4" driver
* Bath towels
Now:
1. Pull out fridge, unplug and take back panel off. Find the [drain tube](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/moZ0_yswf70/maxresdefault.jpg) (looks something like that) or where it drains out and make sure to take off any plastic parts and or tube. Clean and if you don't mind a louder drain take that little brittle rubber off or cut a bigger hole in it (if your fridge has it) LEAVE everything off and go to next step.
2. Take everything that's in the way out of your freezer and take off those panels. You probably will have to steam away the ice to get the parts to move without breaking.
3. Stick the steamer hose in that drain pan until it breaks up the ice. Then stick it into the drain hole until you get steam out of the back of the fridge or hear it release.
4. Towel down on top fridge shelf: Steam the ice off ALL the insulation and airways going into your fridge from freezer, steam and break up the ice on fridge bottom.
5. Put it all back together. (Make sure to dry everything in the freezer before putting it back together.)
Your defrost drain sounds clogged
How easy is that to address? My MIL has dealt with that for years, and she refuses to address it. I’m not local, so I can’t help her out with it…
It’s not that usually that difficult to do, especially if you’re handy. It also depends on the type of fridge.
It depends honestly. Sometimes it can be fixed with a simple thaw. Sometimes it can be fixed by pouring hot water down in the drain, and sometimes it can be fixed by blowing a steam gun through it. Sometimes you have no choice but to remove the back and physically clean the drain/metering device out .
Metering device is part of the closed refrigeration system. Either cap tube, or TXV. It will have nothing to do with a clogged drain.
Some manufactures drain tubes have flow reducers. Samsung had a problem with them for a long time. When I say metering device I mean something like a duckbill
I have to agree with what has been said, the defrost drain may be clogged. What fridge do you have? Do you have a model number?
Kenmore 10673854302
I had the exact same issue for months. The drain pan was filled with ice and leaking into the fridge, causing thin sheets of ice to form. If left too long, it would overflow. I finally addressed it by removing the back panel in the freezer and used hot water to melt the ice. Once cleared, I used stiff wire to ensure the drain line was clear. I haven't had any issues since. I recently saw a video where someone used stranded wire, placing one end a few inches down the drain pipe and wrapping the other end around the heater element. It seemed like a good idea as long as it doesn't melt any plastic, but I didn't need to go that far.
Remove the bottom panel on the back of the fridge and look for a rubber nipple over the drain pan chances are its all gunked up with lint. I usually just remove it but you can clean it up and clip the corners. Now you just need to get rid of the ice. You can remove the baskets and pour hot water down the drain or use a turkey blaster, personally I remove the freezer door, baskets, and back panel but careful with that panel it's a giant razor blade. Now you can use a hair dryer, pour the water where you need it, if you have a Steamer even easier, but careful using a hair dryer it will melt the liner faster than you think. NO CHIPPING AT ANYTHING! ONE SLIP AND IT GETS REALLY EXPENSIVE!
That model looks like it is a basic top freezer unit. Where is the ice forming? Is it actually in the freezer?
Why does this happen? The drain tube is clogged and frozen up, usually a small plastic tube with a rubber insert that gets brittle and gunk clogs it up. Either way this is how this process works: [Draining process](https://www.appliancerepair.net/images/39.gif) Now when it gets clogged up in a top mount fridge specifically; it freezes over and the water overflows into the fridge from freezer to fridge airways, could be something clogging at evaporator or underneath, we'll fix both. EZ PZ to fix. Buy or assemble: * Harbor Freight/ cheapo depo handheld steam cleaner(this helps with anything between house or car cleaning so it's great). * Drill/impact with phillips and or 1/4" driver * Bath towels Now: 1. Pull out fridge, unplug and take back panel off. Find the [drain tube](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/moZ0_yswf70/maxresdefault.jpg) (looks something like that) or where it drains out and make sure to take off any plastic parts and or tube. Clean and if you don't mind a louder drain take that little brittle rubber off or cut a bigger hole in it (if your fridge has it) LEAVE everything off and go to next step. 2. Take everything that's in the way out of your freezer and take off those panels. You probably will have to steam away the ice to get the parts to move without breaking. 3. Stick the steamer hose in that drain pan until it breaks up the ice. Then stick it into the drain hole until you get steam out of the back of the fridge or hear it release. 4. Towel down on top fridge shelf: Steam the ice off ALL the insulation and airways going into your fridge from freezer, steam and break up the ice on fridge bottom. 5. Put it all back together. (Make sure to dry everything in the freezer before putting it back together.)