Reduced cooling efficiency: A blocked drain hole can affect your fridge's cooling cycle. This can then lead to inadequate temperature regulation and compromised cooling performance.
A blocked defrost drain can cause water to back up into the fridge, creating a mess and potentially damaging your food. Regularly monitoring and cleaning your clogged fridge drain can help prevent these issues and keep your refrigerator running smoothly.
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.
If vents are blocked, airflow will decrease. Temperature and moisture issues may arise due to blocked vents. Items placed directly in the airflow from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment may freeze. Do not place temperature-sensitive items, such as eggs and liquids, in these areas.
Signs your fridge hole is blocked:
Soggy groceries. Unpleasant smells from a build up of stagnant water and food debris. Water droplets forming on the back wall of the fridge. Reduced cooling efficiency.
When the defrost heater turns on, heat is conducted through the strap to melt any ice that may have accumulated in the drain. If your freezer's defrost drain keeps freezing over, the drain strap may have fallen off or deteriorated. It's also possible your refrigerator model didn't come with a drain strap to begin with.
The Issues of Blocked Vents
The cooling in the fridge compartment may get impacted and it might start freezing up. Moisture build-up is also a common consequence of vent blockage. This is because cooling also dries the air. When the airflow is disrupted due to ice blockage on fridge vents, moisture can build up.
Appliances such as ovens, fridges, freezers and even microwaves all require a sufficient amount of ventilation. This blog is a guide to different types of appliances and ventilation.
A blocked evaporator fan
If ice buildup or other obstructions block the fan, it can't circulate air effectively, leading to cooling issues.
Locate the Drain Hole: The drain hole is typically located at the back of the freezer compartment, near the bottom. It may be covered by a plastic or rubber plug.
Freezer Drain
The defrost drain tube and drain hole are usually found within the freezer at the bottom back. If you are struggling to locate your defrost drain, the best thing to do is look at your manual. If you have concerns about reaching it safely, please have a professional brought in.
Ice will form at the bottom of the freezer compartment if the door is not properly closed and the cool air in the freezer is able to combine with the warm and humid air outside. To avoid the formation of ice please ensure that the cool air circulates in all compartments of your freezer.
A minimum of 200 cm2 of ventilation must be provided at both the top and the bottom of the cabinetry to allow correct airflow. Without the correct amount of ventilation, a cooling appliance cannot run or cool inside properly, longer running times will result and therefore higher energy costs will be incurred.
They may be placed along the surface between the freezer and fridge. They may also be along the back, coming directly from the cooling coil areas. Make certain that these vents are not blocked and there is some space around them for cold air to escape and disperse.
A propane fridge can asphyxiate you if the burner is not getting enough air. Poor combustion can result in carbon monoxide poisoning. The alarming thing about carbon monoxide is that it makes you gradually tired and groggy, and eventually unable to handle the situation, leading to asphyxiation.
Many people aren't aware that their fridge contains a drain hole and live with foul smells in their kitchen without knowing where the source of the issue is. Apart from unpleasant smells, a clogged fridge drain hole can also cause leaks and affect your fridge's cooling performance.
Less reach: You may find that your cold or hot air from the air conditioner or furnace does not get as far as it should when your air vent is blocked. Your home's temperature may feel inconsistent, with hot or cold spots. Stagnating air: With reduced airflow, you will have stagnated air through the home.
Freezer Drain
When food particles or other debris clog the drain hose, ice forms, and eventually, water leaks from the freezer and refrigerator. The defrost drain tube and drain hole are usually found within the freezer at the bottom back.
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.