Water Accumulation in Bottom of Frigidaire Refrigerator

[jaugustine]

Hi,

I bought this Frigidaire refrigerator, model LGHT1837LP4, in 2013.

Recently, I discovered a lot of water (NOTHING SPILLED) in the bottom of the refrigerator. I did not find the cause of this issue via google search or youtube on this particular model.

There are NO drain ports in bottom or rear wall, but there is something at the top, in the middle. I have no clue what this "device" is for?

I am assuming the water is coming from the defrost drain, but I have NO idea how it gets into the refrigerator. Note: I removed the grille at bottom of fridge. There is a drain hose in the bottom of fridge with a tray to catch water, but there is hardly any water in that tray!

Any idea what is happening?

Thank You in advance, John

[trader_4]

Try going to some online parts stores and pulling up a diagram that shows how it's put together.

[retired]

We had a similar problem with our last 15 year old refrig (not Frigdaire). What happened is the drain tube was frozen at the top. You may want to remove the back panel in the freezer section, and look at the drain area and tube . It's probably frozen shut due to failure of the defroster element that is supposed to keep that area ice-free.

We could temporarily fix it with a hair dryer or heat gun. Good luck...............

[gfretwell]

Pull out the bottom freezer basket and you will find a drain hole there. It either has a chunk of food stuck in it or it is frozen up. Sometimes if you remove all of the water with a towel and pour very hot water in there it will open up, maybe with a little help from a hair dryer on the outside but usually you need to go in back and remove the hose., thaw it out, remove any foreign material and reinstall it.

[Oren]

Look on this site with the model umber. Plenty of symptoms, tips, diagrams and videos.

[Bob F]

Often, a really good long defrosting will clear the problem.

[jaugustine]

Hi, There is a "contraption" (NO IDEA what it is for) at the top, in the middle, near the rear wall that might be the source of water getting into the refrigerator? I had a container under it and some water accumulate in it. The top shelf was wet before I put the container. However, there is still a PROBLEM because I still have water at the bottom.

I put a wider container under that "contraption".

I tried to find out via a parts list on the web, what this "contraption" is used for.

Thanks in advance, John

[jaugustine]

<SNIP>

MORE INFO:

I found a YouTube video of someone modifying a similar "contraption" to mine that causes water to drip on top shelf. I assume the water on top shelf in my refrigerator migrates to the bottom.

Also, this "contraption" might be an "automatic defrost control"???

Again, Thanks in advance, John

[gfretwell]

You just need to unclog the drain in the bottom of the freezer. The water will drip out into the tray under the fridge and be boiled off by the condenser coils. That is how it works.

[jaugustine]

I did NOT see a drain in the freezer (after I removed the rack type drawer). John

[gfretwell]

There should be one right at the bottom of that funnel in the bottom of the freezer. It might be plugged solid with ice and look like it is solid plastic.

[Anonymous]

Did you remove the back panel inside the freezer section ? That's where the drain tray and tube are, and where it freezes up. BTDT.

It's item 10 in this parts diagram

or

[gfretwell]

Maybe I missed the model number but on my side by side Whirlpools (2) it is right in the middle of the freezer compartment. No matter what, it will be at the bottom of the sloped floor.

[jaugustine]

<SNIP>

Hi,

, Thinking LOGICALLY, if a drain in the FREEZER was clogged, why isn't the water (becomes ice) collecting in the FREEZER since it CAN NOT drain???

How is the water getting into the refrigerator with a clogged drain in the freezer. Note: The freezer is on top of the refrigerator.

Again, Thanks in advance.

[jaugustine]

<SNIP>

UPDATE:

I think I know what is the cause. The drain hose may be blocked up.

The drain hose is connected in the back of the "contraption" at the top, in center, of the refrige. There is a small gap between the back wall and back of "contraption". I can see the drain hose where it is connected. The water must be backing up into this assembly ("contraption") that holds the defrost timer, etc.

The freezer drain drips into a compartment in this "contraption", and then goes down into the drain hose via an outlet port. Also possible, the port is blocked?

John

[gfretwell]

OK My bad, I assumed side by side since that seems to be the most popular these days. On the Whirl Pools the drain in the bottom of the freezer is over the condenser coils so it stays pretty warm. The thing that lets it freeze is if some little piece of food or something plugs it and lets the water back up into the freezer. On a defrost cycle the water is usually fairly warm compared to 0C. I really have no idea where the drain is on yours but your "contraption" is a good place to start if it is near the bottom of the freezer section. That is where water accumulates as frost Some models may let this water trickle down to the bottom of the fridge compartment tho. Dunno I have had a side by side for 40 years.

[Bob F]

You could try snaking the drain tube with some weed-wacker cord. That's what I used on the sunroof drain of my sienna,

[jaugustine]

NOTE: Freezer is on top of refrigerator

FINAL UPDATE:

I added an extension hose to end of drain hose so I could use compressed air (in an air tank) to "blow out" any blockage in the drain hose plus the drain port where hose is connected to overhead assembly in fridge.

Now it looks like it "worked", because the next day, I see a large area in the drain "pan" (bottom of fridge) that was dusty, is wet.

John