Most modern fridges have a drain hole that stops condensation pooling at the bottom.
Nowadays, most fridges come with drain holes. But if yours is a few years old, it might not have one. If this is the case, there are things you can do to help prevent water from pooling. Don't stack the items in your fridge too close together – leave space for air to circulate and dry them.
Humidity is generally caused as warm, humid air enters from outside every time you open the door. As the air cools, it dumps more water inside your fridge. Always close the fridge door as quickly as possible after opening it. Leaving the door open allows warm air to enter and increases the possibility of condensation.
On most modern refrigerators the drain tube and hole are usually located inside the refrigerator at the bottom in the back. To protect the hole, there may be a panel made from plastic that can be removed with a screwdriver. Once it is removed you'll be able to see the drain tube and drain hole.
One of the most frustrating yet common issues homeowners encounter is a clogged drain tube in their refrigerator. This problem can lead to water pooling inside the fridge, causing unpleasant odors, food spoilage, and reduced efficiency.
Clogged Defrost Tube
This is the number 1 most common issue in a leak situation. If your fridge has water pooling at the bottom, the defrost tube is your MOST likely suspect. Your defrost tube is what carries the water all the way down to the drain pan where it eventually evaporates.
Excessive humidity can impact the moisture level inside your fridge. During times of excessive humidity, you inadvertently add extra moisture to the interior of your fridge every time you open the door. This buildup eventually condenses and turns into water, which can look a lot like a leak.
Cleaning Defrost Drain Tube
You can flush out the drain hole with a solution made of 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 2 cups of hot tap water. Use a meat/turkey (bulb) baster to squeeze the solution into the drain hole and flush out the drain tube. When clear, you will hear water running down into the drain pan below.
Now here's a problem that can occur: the freezer compartment temperature is ideal for making ice, so if the water dripping off the evaporator coils begins to freeze again before making its way through the defrost drain, the drain hole can freeze over – in other words, ice build-up will block the drain hole.
Most modern fridges have a drain hole that stops condensation pooling at the bottom. It's usually behind the salad or crisper drawer.
Fridge temperature settings are generally numbered from 1 to 5, with 5 being the coldest. A fully stocked fridge may need to be set to a higher setting (around 3 or 4), whereas one with more space is best suited to temperature setting 2 or 3.
Firstly, make sure that your fridge temperature is set within the recommended range. Secondly, avoid overloading your fridge with food, and ensure that there is proper airflow inside the fridge. Lastly, you can also consider using a dehumidifier inside the fridge to reduce humidity levels.
If the doors of the refrigerator are opened frequently or if they are not sealed properly, the warmer air outside will get into the appliance. This condensation then turns into moisture or frost. To avoid this, try not to open the door too often, or leave it open for too long.
Most refrigerator models have the defrost drain on the inside back of your freezer, so finding it shouldn't be too difficult. Once you find the drain, look and see if there is anything blocking the drain, like frozen meals, ice build-up, etc., and if there is, simply move them out of the way to allow proper airflow.
It is just up from where the floor slopes up to the back wall, in the center. In some models it is behind a plastic panel along the back wall which is held in place by a screw. You can remove the screw and panel and the drain hole will be visible.
Most refrigerators are designed to last between 10 and 20 years. If you're having any other problems on this list and the fridge is over ten years old, you'll probably save more money in the long run by simply replacing it. Otherwise, you could sink money into repairs for a fridge already on its way out.
Remove the food and any crisper drawers. Mop up any excess water and remove the drain hole cover if yours has one. Use the unblock tool that came with your fridge (or else a pipe cleaner, straw or cotton bud) to remove the food and debris build-up. Replace the cover and turn your fridge back on.
If the defrost drain tube is clogged with ice or gunk, the water can't drain down the tube. Instead, it collects in a puddle under the crisper drawers. Clearing the drain tube usually fixes the problem. Replace the drain tube if it's damaged or you can't clear a clog.
Pour hot water down the drain hole until it's draining properly again. Once it's draining properly blow compressed air down to make sure it's clear. If you don't have compressed air, use a turkey baster to make sure the drain line is clear and draining properly.
While it is normal to find a small amount of water or ice on the back of your fridge, it is not normal for there to be large amounts of frost/ice build-up inside your appliance. If you are finding that your fridge is densely covered in ice, follow the below steps to try and resolve the issue.
Food particles and other debris can clog the drain hose. Eventually, a blockage will cause melted condensation to leak on the floor. Fix: Grab a turkey baster and flush the drain hole inside of the fridge with a bit of warm water. If the clog doesn't budge, try forcing it through with a pipe cleaner or coat hanger.
Under normal circumstances, this water runs down a drain hole and collects into a tray at the bottom of the appliance, close to the compressor. The heat from the compressor then usually evaporates the water inside the tray. However, if the drain hole is blocked, the water will collect inside the fridge.
However, the drain pan should never overflow with water. Amount of water in the drain pan varies by humidity, temperature, and how much the unit is running. Drain pans can be half-full regularly, which is not an issue. Drain pan condensation evaporates as the unit runs, so it is not necessary to empty it regularly.