Hi I have a 20-year old HotPoint Refrigerator that still works very well. At the rear, bottom, is still a fully-intact drip pan where I keep a large drinking cup to catch the water that comes down the tube. I imagine that the pan is there specifically for this purpose, but I don't know if it's suppose to leak at all. I can't remember how long ago when I first put the cup there, but I'm glad that I did, otherwise, I'm sure the pan would have rusted out by now. Please let me know if there is something amiss. As I said, it has been going on for a long time, I remove the water, replacing it with another empty cup, and it refills itself. It never overflows. I can't say that this is effecting its functioning. Please advise. Thank you.

The drip pan collects water when the freezer goes into a defrost cycle. Most times there is very little water and the water evaporates quickly. When there is a problem with the freezer or the water does not evaporate between defrost cycles, the drip pan fills with water. If the front bottom of your refrigerator has a grille, you access the drip pan from the front. If there is no grille, access the drip pan from the rear.

Instructions
Rear Access

1 Unplug the refrigerator from the wall outlet. Pull the refrigerator away from the wall so that you can access the rear of the refrigerator.

2 Look under the refrigerator with a flashlight and locate the drip pan. Often when people install refrigerators they neglect to pull the packing from around the drip pan. The drip pan may have tape or styrofoam around it.


3 Remove any packing material away from the drip pan and pull the drip pan out from under the refrigerator.

Front Access

4 Pull the grille at the bottom of the refrigerator below the refrigerator door with your fingers. The grille secures to the refrigerator with plastic clips.

5 Remove any debris from the access area and throw the debris in the trash. The coils and fan under the refrigerator attract dust and dirt. Clean out the area with a lint brush if you have one.

6 Pull the drip pan out from under the refrigerator.

Most likely your defrost drain hole is plugged and needs to be cleared out, if you remove the back panel of the freezer you can poor hot water and then soak it up until the hole is clear. It takes many tries, like about 20 with very hot water. Start by disconnecting the power, removing the 2 screws on the bottom of the freezer, pull up the bottom and remove, It may be stuck do to the ice, Remove the 2 screws on the back wall and pull it toward you disconnecting any wires. Under the aluminum radiator looking thing and under the ice there is a drain hole that needs clearing..

In most refrigerators there is a drip pan underneath that captures condensation and allows it to evaporate. Possibly your drip pan is missing or improperly installed so that the condensation is dripping onto the floor. Check your manual, or find one online. Usually you just have to remove the grill from the bottom of the fridge to get access to the drip pan.

The evaporator coils frost up in normal use and every eight hours or so the entire unit shuts down and the defrost heater comes on to melt the frost. This cycle last about 20 minutes. The melted frost drips into a drain pan and through a drain tube to the drain tray under the freezer/refrigerator where it's evaporated by the condenser fan.

Your drain tube may be stopped up with ice at the upper end because it drains too slow because it's stopped up at the lower end in the evaporator pan under the unit at the floor. It can get dust and mold in it. Once you get the ice out at the top a little pressure with a turkey baster will usually clear it out. Flushing it out with hot water and clorox may help. Make sure it drains quick enough to prevent refreezing. . The drain should be located below the evaporator coils on the back of the freezer.

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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

Hi!!!Your drain line is frozen and plugged.Try to remove the cover of the evaporator and you should see a small hole on the base of the evaporator thats yout drain line hole. Blow it away and your problem is gone..Good luckk..Plugged drain line..

the drip pan is built into the bottom and dont come out ,,, check the drain pipe to make sure its still sticking in the pan ,,,, also check the bottom inside of your freezer, drain may be stopped up and causing water to come out front edge of door / larry

There is normally a drain pan under the refrigerator. The defrost water is supposed drain into the pan and be evaporated by air circulation over it. Check and make sure the hose is directed into the pan. You can access the drain hose from the back by removing the lower panel. Don't forget to replace the panel after you finish.

well it didnt get into the compressor area, but it definalty spilled in to evaporatr area, and landed on defrost heater. so yea your smelling boiled spoiled milk!!!mmmmm!!!! you would have to rermove back panel of freezer compartment to fully see the extent of spillage, as far aswhat got under refirig into drain pan, you can problably pull unit forward and remove back panel look into pan for spillage.
compressor would'nt be affected