Water collects on the bottom shelf and does not drain into the defrost pan. It leaks out on to the floor. If I remove the round plug on the bottom shelf, it then drains into the defrost pan. Should I not use the plug?

It's not unusual for a refrigerator to drip a little water on the floor after you replace the water filter-air trapped in the water dispenser system can make the water dispenser drip enough to overflow the drip tray below the dispenser. You can fix it by streaming a gallon or two of water through the dispenser to eliminate the trapped air.
If water drips on the floor from the back of the refrigerator, a leaking water inlet valve or cracked water system tubing could be the cause. A clogged or cracked defrost drain tube could also cause the leak. Defrost condensate water collects in the drain pan at the bottom of the refrigerator so a cracked or overflowing drain pan can also cause water to drip on the floor behind the refrigerator. Check the drain pan for cracks and clean out any foreign objects that may be inside the drain pan.
Excessive frost caused by a leaking door seal can also cause the defrost drain pan to overflow. Check the door gaskets and replace them if damaged.

The drain pan is usually located closest to the floor - behind the kick space or toe space grill at the bottom of the fridge. Most often the water that collects in it is evaporated by the heat generated by the compressor and airflow from condenser fan located close to the pan.

Make sure the water is coming from the defrost drain hose - not from water sources elsewhere in the fridge (leaking water / melting ice into the fresh food compartment, etc.). If found, take action to correct.

Good luck!

Sounds like you have a clogged drain the water freezes melts during defrost. You have to take the freezer floor out. to clean the drain.

You have to take everything out of the freezer side and remove back panel. There are 2 white hex screws around where the second shelf normally is. Top half (where fan is) comes off first, then bottom half comes off (it may be stuck if coils are frozen, let defrost a little). You will see stainless steel drain pan below coils. Also could be ice maker water supply or water chiller behind lower drawers on refridge side.

Find the drain line from the freezer to the evaporation pan near the motor. Often the line is visible on the back of the fridge. That line is plugged either with food residue or the collection point in the freezer is solid ice. The self defrost feature melts the frost and drains it to the evap pan. If you remove the floor from the freezer area, you will see the collection point. When the line gets plugged with food, no water drains and then freezes to block the line even worse. So, if there is ice at the collection point, remove it somehow, maybe a hair dryer, and then clear the line by blowing compressed air from the bottom of the drain hose through to the collection point.

Find the drain line from the freezer to the evaporation pan near the motor. Often the line is visible on the back of the fridge. That line is plugged either with food residue or the collection point in the freezer is solid ice. The self defrost feature melts the frost and drains it to the evap pan. If you remove the floor from the freezer area, you will see the collection point. When the line gets plugged with food, no water drains and then freezes to block the line even worse. So, if there is ice at the collection point, remove it somehow, maybe a hair dryer, and then clear the line by blowing compressed air from the bottom of the drain hose through to the collection point.

hi August.
Cause: A blocked defrost drain is one of the most common causes of water leakage. This happens when food particles or other debris clogs up the drain hose, which can lead to ice buildup and, eventually, water leaking out of the freezer and refrigerator.
3 common refrigerator problems you can easily fix yourself

The freezer drain hose will drain the defrost water into a drip pan at the bottom of the freezer. When this pan becomes full, it will leak water onto the floor. This is a regular maintenance task whenever the freezer defrosts. Empty the drip pan during the defrost cycle.
How to Fix Water Leaking From the Bottom of Freezer

Why is my fridge leaking water on the floor? If the refrigerator is leaking water it's possible that the refrigerator has a clogged or freezing defrost drain. If the defrost drain freezes the defrost water will overflow the drain and drip down to the bottom of the compartment, If enough water accumulates in the bottom it can run out onto the floor.
SOLVED Water leak in refrigerator Refrigerator

Frozen or Plugged Defrost Drain

On Side By Side Refrigerator


The defrost drain pan is located at the bottom of the freezer compartment behind the back wall of the freezer. On some models the pan is accessible without removing the back panel and others are not.


Once you get to the defrost drain pan use a hair dryer to melt the ice from the pan.


Once the ice is removed use a turkey baster like this one: Turkey Baster http://www.repairclinic.com/SSPartDetail.aspx?PartID=428708&PPStack=1

To squirt hot water into the drain hole to clear the drain.

When the drain is clear you should hear or see the water you are squirting into the hole enter the pan under or behind the refrigerator.


TheRepairGuru ---- www.repairclinic.com

Yes, you are correct, that is a drain. Use a turkey baster with hot (not boiling) water to flush out the drain tube until water will flow out into the drain pan under the refrig. (where the air blown over it will cause it to evaporate)

Buk, there's supposed to be a drain pan under your fridge to catch the water that comes from the drain tube. The water that's coming out is supposed to be there (only, it's supposed to be caught by the drain pan)... it's the water that's made when your fridge defrosts itself. If you plug the tube, the water will back up inside the fridge , puddle up in the bottom and eventually leak out through the door.

You should order a drain pan for it. Here's a link to one online. After you have it in place, you won't have to worry about it anymore. The water that collects there will simply evaporate back into the air.