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.
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.
Some Side-by-Side Refrigerator models have a defrost drain hole located on the interior back wall of the freezer compartment. It is just up from where the floor slopes up to the back wall, in the center.
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.
Use a hair dryer to thaw all the ice out and locate the drain hole. 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.
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.
If the water line is clogged, it can usually be cleaned out by running vinegar and baking soda through the line. Clogs are likely to occur if there is a flaw in the water line or if the water filter is not updated.
Fridges typically have a condensation drain to manage moisture. If this drain becomes clogged, it can result in water pooling at the bottom of the fridge or even on your kitchen floor.
Apart from unpleasant smells, a clogged fridge drain hole can also cause leaks and affect your fridge's cooling performance.
Water leaking inside your fridge is usually due to excess condensation or a minor blockage. Sometimes, it might be a leaking container or a sign to clean your fridge and water dispenser. Although a minor concern, excess water in the refrigerator can be annoying.
Pull on the drip panel to see if comes out of the fridge.
Look inside the back panel or kick panel to find the drip pan, which should look like a small rectangular tray. Grab the drip pan with both hands and try pulling it out without tipping it over.
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.
Waiting it out is the safest method of defrosting a fridge, but it takes the longest time — anywhere from several hours to more than a day, depending on climate and ice thickness. All you have to do is prop the door open and wait, checking in periodically to clean up water as it collects.
To ensure you achieve clean water lines in the fridge, you must flush them. Using a small funnel, slowly pour two to three cups of distilled white vinegar into the tube that leads to the water dispenser. Let the vinegar sit in the reservoir for five to ten minutes to thoroughly clean the system.
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.
Locate the Drain Tube: Typically, the drain tube is found at the back of the fridge or freezer compartment. Consult your refrigerator's manual if you're unsure.
While most refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers on the market today have automatic defrost controls, some models are available with manual defrost. Automatic defrost refrigerators work by heating the interior refrigerator coils at regular intervals.
That hole is a condensation drain hole. The condensation drips down the wall and drains through that hole. It drips into a catch pan underneath then it evaporates.
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.
On upright models with a defrost drain (Figure 1), remove drain plug on the inside floor of the freezer by pulling straight out. To access external drain tube on models with a base panel, first remove the two screws from the base panel. Locate the drain tube near the left center under the freezer.