The drain tube goes to a drip pan underneath the Refrigerator. Water created by the self-defrost cycle goes into the drip pan where it is evaporated.
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.
Fresh food compartment defrosting takes place automatically every time the refrigerator turns off. Melted frost water drains from the cooling coil into a trough on the rear wall of the cabinet and then down the corner to a drain tube at the bottom. Water flows into a pan behind the grille where it is evaporated.
Remove the drain plug (if your model has a drain plug). The drain hose, located behind the grille, carries defrosted water from the unit to a pan that collects the water. Sponge up any excess water from the freezer bottom.
During the auto defrosting process, the ice melts and flows as water into the drain tray installed at the bottom back of the refrigerator. This water evaporates due to the ambient temperature and heat of the compressor.
The water generated by the melting ice drains through to the back of the appliance where heat from the compressor will evaporate the water away.
Mechanism. The defrost mechanism in a refrigerator heats the cooling element (evaporator coil) for a short period of time and melts the frost that has formed on it. The resulting water drains through a duct at the back of the unit. Defrosting is controlled by an electric or electronic timer.
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.
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.
Locate the defrost drain, usually at the back of the fridge. Use a mixture of warm water and baking soda to flush out the drain. A small funnel or turkey baster can help direct the mixture into the drain.
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.
If the defrost heater circuit does not have continuity, then defrost heater is faulty. We need to replace the faulty defrost heater.
How often should I defrost my freezer? You should aim to defrost your freezer at least once a year or more frequently if your freezer is prone to ice build-up. You should also defrost your freezer if the ice build-up is more than ¼-inch thick.
Usually, the fridge drain hole can be found at the base of the back wall, with ridges leading down towards it to guide beads of moisture. It is usually found as a small opening that is located at the back of your fridge's freezer compartment, normally behind the salad drawers.
It's leaking water
Cause 1: A blocked defrost drain is one of the most common causes. This happens when food particles or other debris clog up the drain hose, which can lead to ice buildup and, eventually, water leaking out of the freezer and refrigerator.
Learn more. Is there a “correct” temperature for refrigerators and freezers? Yep: A fridge temperature of 37° F will keep fresh food good for as long as possible—with no ice crystals on lettuce or bacteria breeding in raw meats. As for the freezer, a temperature of 0° F will keep foods thoroughly frozen.
If you've noticed water droplets on the walls of fridges, that's condensation. That happens when water vapour in the air comes into contact with a surface that has a lower temperature than “the dew point” of the surrounding air.
The most common cause of a leaky fridge freezer is blocked drain tubes. Before you do anything, take any food out and turn off the appliance. Don't worry, the food won't need to be out for too long, but if you've got an ice chest or a cooler, put any frozen items in there.
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.
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.
Condensation runs down the back of the fridge and collects in the gully sitting at the back of the fridge where the water is then channelled through the drain hole into a container which sits on the compressor, it's then evaporated away.
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.
Usually the fail-safe time is 35-45 minutes. Terminating a defrost cycle by temperature is the most popular method. A temperature control is used as the defrost termination switch.
The interior temperature may rise 10-20° F during the defrost cycle. Do not be alarmed. No thawing of the product will occur. Soon after the cycle is complete, the unit will return to proper temperature.
A malfunctioning defrost timer can lead to the development of ice on the evaporator coils, which will cause poor airflow through them and overheating in the refrigerator section. Incorrect defrost timers will have a timer plunger that only moves partway or doesn't move at all during the defrost cycle.