As the defrost happens, rather than draining elsewhere, the water pools in the bottom of the freezer and freezes. After 15 days, there is a sheet of ice big enough to prevent the freezer door from sliding all the way shut.
The real problem is that the drain which carries the defrost water away from the coils (and down to the external pan underneath where it should evaporate) has become plugged with ice (from having left the door open thereby icing up the coils and the drain). The problem you have now is that the normal defrost cycle was not designed to melt the ice plug that is blocking the drain. Solution: You have to either (1) if you're handy, you can remove the plastic panel over the coils in the back of the freezer and melt it out with a hair dryer or hot water -- or (2) unplug the unit, leave the doors open and let it melt out by itself. I don't know how long you'd have to wait for (2) to completely melt the ice plug -- I'm guessing at least 24-36 hours to be sure. I did (1) and it took me about 2 hours to remove the freezer bin and door, remove the main drawer slides, remove the internal drawers and their slides, remove the back inside panel, find the ice plug (lower left side of the drip tray under the evap coils), melt it out with hot water from a baster, verify that the drain was clear, reassemble in reverse order. But it worked. Problem completely solved -- no water since. By the way the drip tray was completely full of ice - right after a defrost cycle had completed -- so this problem will never resolve itself without intervention. Bear in mind, the whole cycle COULD happen again if the drawer is left open again and the excess ice builds up on the coils again. This is a design flaw in the unit itself. However, I read about a clever solution to prevent a new ice plug forming as a result of the open door. Just loop a length of 10-12 gauge bare copper wire around the defrost heater element and insert the other end of the wire in the drain hole. Heat conducted through the wire during defrost will clear any ice plug that may form.
Beat the botto of your freazzer gently with a hammer and scoot it out under the drawer. Then clean it up off the floor with a broom/dustpan and then towels.That is what I do. Works like a charm... until it collects again. it is a quick solution and gets the job done.
I hate this fridge...
I actually do this very thing, but a little differently. 1) Place a towel in front of the fridge, as close as you can get it. 2) Open the freezer door. 3) Pull the lower bin off of the drawer-sliders so that you can get to the ice. 4) Hit the ice really hard with my fist (you could use a meat-tenderizer or soft mallet). 5) Scoop all of the ice onto the towel and then pick up the towel and dispose of it.
...an easier, yet temporary solution for removing the ice sheet. Use a hairdryer and heat up the front edge of the ice. This takes about a minute. Using a dull bladed knife, get under the ice and it lifts out easily I one piece.
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Repairman that just left my home removed a rubber cap that newer refrigerators have on the drain line. Supposedly there to keep air from entering through the drain line. Problem is, they very easily get clogged and don't let the water out which produces the glacier in the bottom of the freezer! Took him all of 3 minutes to pull the frige out, remove the small panel on the back at the bottom of the fridge, remove the cap and put the panel back on. Away he went with a nice service call fee! After you remove the cap, you will have to unplug the fridge and thaw the glacier and mop up the mess to clear the ice in the drain line. Good luck!!
There is a leak around your doors letting in warm air. Check the rubber around your doors to see if it is cracked somewhere. If so replace the seal around your door. If that isn't it check your temperture settings maybe they are to high. Or maybe your refrigerator isn't staying on and kicking off at the right intervals.
This has been happening to me on and off. I was told by phone rep. to slowly pour very warm water into the drain hole inside the freezer. You have to do it 5 or 6 times but it does clear the freeze.
My only problem is, is that it keeps freezing up a few weeks later. I lowered my setting a whole degree but that didn't make a difference. I now check my freezer bottom daily so I can get to it before it gets too bad.
Hello, We have been getting ice build up in the bottom of the freezer after about 1 year with a new Kitchenaid bottom freezer. We have taken off the back panel for the second time and turned everything off for a day to melt the ice build up in the lines. There is a black rubber cap mentioned by Kristen(above posting). We found it at the top of the drain chute. It has a slit in it and was all gunked up. We think this just caused the clog, so we are taking the small black rubber thingie OFF and see if that keeps the drains clear. Do we even need this black drain cap??
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Hi,
very helpful piece this as I have an LG GR-349SQF that collects water in the bottom of the freezer compartment (door closes but the water also leaks to kitchen floor).
have just defrosted what looks like a 10ltr block of ice and based on what I have read here, I shall leave it switched off for 36 hrs to ensure that the drain hole is thawed also. Am hoping this will solve the issue and save me an unnecessary new fridge purchase.
Just one question, the LG is fairly well enclosed inside and on the back - there's not a lot for an amateur to get at. Except a lower panel on the bottom rear that can be unscrewed for access. Does anyone know if there is easy access for me to get at the drain to either use a hair dryer or apply the copper wire solution.
Thanks
Ok I may be really stupid but I have a question. When I take the drawer out of my freezer the bottom is completely covered with ice. Water leaks out onto the floor. But there is no drain hole for the water to drain from, none. What the heck?
Repairman just left my home for this same problem. He says newer refrigerator come from the factory with a little rubber cap on the drain line that is designed to keep air from going into the freezer. Unfortunantly it also keep the water from dripping out into the drain pan and it leaks back into the freezer where it freezes. He took the lower back panel off, removed the cap and was gone in less than 5 minutes. Anyone could have done that!
Dave Mraz
Dave Mraz I had the same problem with ice build-up on the freezer floor and under the condenser in back. I tried the 'fix' with a copper wire from the warmer part of the condenser--it failed totally. I then opened the back of the freezer to look at the drain tube. There was a small piece of plastic just above the strainer in the tube. Removing it fixed the problem. The toughest parts of the fix were removing all the built-up ice and then pulling the refridgerator out of a tight area.
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