Leaking refrigerator, can you guys help me?

[kgouker]

I know, I know, everyone hates DIY, but this probably isn't anything major. I opened the fridge door and heard "drip, drip, drip" and noticed a pool of water on the shelf. I am thinking that there is a clog somewhere, but I really don't know where to start. Luckily, I haven't had to deal with anything like this before. Any ideas for me guys? Thanks in advance!

Krista

[duct beater]

Is the freezer, freezing? If it is check the ice maker.

[kgouker]

Well, I think I found something... I pulled the tray piece (my highly technical term LOL) out of the freezer bottom, and there is ice everywhere. It appears that there is a drain that is clogged there. I'm going to try pouring some boiling water down the drain to unfreeze and unclog it. We will see what happens...

I swear, I always find that I am doing crap like this when I really should be in bed! Why is it that nothing ever goes wrong at 8:00 a.m.?!

Thanks for your response duct beater...

[2hot2coolme]

Call a pro, you might blow yourself up...

[amickracing]

Be ready with a towel when the little pan below over flows lol.

Might be time for a good ole fashioned unplug defrosting/cleaning? I can say that because I never do that either lol.

[kgouker]

I will try not to blow myself up, LMAO. I am using a blow dryer to defrost this plugged up hole, but I promise I will NOT stand in a puddle of water while I'm doing this!

I need to find this little pan thing, because I'm sure it is going to overflow very soon...

I have always thought I was a pretty good housekeeper. What I saw in the freezer after I pulled that tray out made me want to throw up. I would post a picture, but it is way too disgusting... Definitely not for the faint of heart!

[The Penguin]

proberly a pea or some other such stuff blocking the drain
K go ahead post a pic I can assure you we have seen far worse stuff that your fridge

[gruntly]

You're gonna have to go deeper into it...

Start with the doors... ah, yup... that's it, take the doors off ... Then get behind the frig, locate the drain tube at the bottom and blow into it (pics please, so we can see if you're doing it right)

I'm real helpful with this kinda stuff, yup.

In all seriousness now, power's gotta be unplugged. Way too many electrical connections behind the interior parts that may be exposed. Chances are the back or top panel of the freezer compartment (top freezer, not side by side or bottom freezer) must come off to expose the coil/drip pan/fan etc. ... And someone who knows which end of the screwdriver to use should be consulted. No poking away at the shiney lined thingy or the styrofoam with the screwdriver either (Look how soft those fin things are. They flatten down real nice. What's that hissing sound?) Quite often these days the drains and fan shrouds are molded of styrofoam and control condensate removal and air circulation. They require a rather gentle touch. If you lack confidence, let the neighbour do it... It's not his frig anyway, so he won't hesitate.

I have seen many a plugged drain... It might look like ice, but go deeper, you'll find something under it holding the water/ice in the drain.

Break a leg.

[Diceman]

Could be the defrost timer, or sometimes ya gotta just manuuly defrost em and get rid of all that ice, clear the drain real well too.

[kgouker]

Well, I got it all figured out last night... The unit has a freezer in the top, and fridge below. There is a liner in the bottom of the freezer, and when I pulled that out, I saw lots of ice around a drain pan. I used my handy dandy blow dryer to thaw the ice, then I used a coat hanger to loosen whatever was clogging it. What a nice feeling of relief when I saw the water actually draining! Luckily, the drain pan at the bottom of the fridge did not overflow from all of the water, but that was seriously disgusting. I guess it's one of those things you never really thing about cleaning... YIKES!

Gruntly, I am embarrassed to say I never even thought about unplugging the fridge. I'm not usually that dumb about stuff like this. Next time I will be more careful!

Krista

[ice machine undertaker]

Originally posted by kgouker


....I have always thought I was a pretty good housekeeper. What I saw in the freezer after I pulled that tray out made me want to throw up. I would post a picture, but it is way too disgusting... Definitely not for the faint of heart!

As long as it hasn't begun to move under its own power you are probably safe.

[ct2]

As long as it hasn't begun to move under its own power you are probably safe.


I gave her a breif description of the" slime " we have this stuff that forms in the open gear areas of our fillers that looks like a pink jell and I swear I have seen it move all on its own

[ice machine undertaker]

Better pink than green!
Yuck!!