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Refrigerator issues: water under crisper drawers

Refrigerator issues: water under crisper drawers
28 September 2009

Your refrigerator is one of the most important appliances you own, and when you see water running out onto the floor, you might be tempted to call a repair technician or to replace the fridge.  However, you may have a simple, inexpensive fix on your hands.

If you have noticed water running out onto the floor when you open your crisper drawers, you may have a clogged drain entry and / or a clogged drain hose.  Try these steps before calling a repair technician.

Step 1

Unplug the refrigerator and remove all of the food from the freezer.

Step 2

Locate the screws on the back panel of the freezer (there could be up to six phillips head screws).  Remove the back panel to expose the evaporator coils.  If you have an ice maker, you will want to remove that as well so you can easily remove the back panel.

Step 3

Unhook any wires that are preventing easy removal of the back panel--normally these wires are attached with plastic clips that can eaily be taken apart and reconnected.

Step 4

Look under the evaporator coils to find a small drain hole.  Chances are good that this hole is covered with ice.

Step 5

Melt the ice covering the drain hole, using hot water.  This will melt the ice and get your freezer draining properly.  However, this does not always work, so you will have to performa couple of extra steps.

Step 6

Pull the fridge away from the wall and locat the drain hose--usually in the middle of the fridge, just below the freezer.  Remove the hose from the drain nozzle and use a pipe cleaner or other semi-rigid tool to clean the nozzle end.  Do not reattach the hose.

Step 7

Pull the bottom end of the hose from its clip above the drip pan--access this just behind the compressor.

Step 8

Place the end of the hose into a container and pour hot water through the hose to remove any debris.  You may have to repeat this step a few times to fully clean the hose and to see water run freely through the hose.  This can also be done by reattaching the hose to the nozzle and puring water into the drain hole in the back of the freezer; however, it is easier to just pour water through the hose itself.

Step 9

Reattch the hose, in the opposite way in which you unattached it.

Step 10

Replace wiring, ice maker (if needed), back panel, food, and plug.

Keep an eye on the fridge for the next day or so.  If there is any water under the crisper drawers, you will notice it in the first 24 hours.  Remember to always try the easiest solution first; save yourself and your family a lot of money.