Refrigerator Repair: Side-By-Side Refrigerator Leaks Water On Floor

• Refrigerator Repair
  One morning, you wake up to find a puddle of water in front of your side-by-side refrigerator.  When you open the freezer door, you notice a thick layer of ice on the bottom.  Is it time to call for refrigerator repair, or can you fix the problem yourself?
  
  First, check that no other area in the freezer is covered in ice.  Excess ice can indicate that your defrost mechanism is not functioning properly, or that there is a back up in your drain line.  A faulty defrost mechanism will require a repairman, but you may be able to remedy a clogged drain line yourself.
  The drain line is usually located to the back of the freezer, near the bottom.  The line clears water and ice as it melts off during the defrost cycle, but that ice can build up make the drain overflow at times.  Carefully chip away the excess ice at the bottom of the freezer, and try to locate the drain.  You can use very warm water and a turkey baster to try and flush out the ice from the drain line, but make sure you have a thick towel handy to catch the excess water that will spill out of the front of the freezer.
  Do not attempt to stick any objects inside the drain line, as you could damage the rubber tubing.  If flushing the line with warm or hot water works, then flush a small amount of bleach diluted with water down the drain line.  This will kill any mold or bacteria that may exist in the line.
  For freezers that continue to have this problem, you can contact the manufacturer for a kit that is designed to alleviate excess ice in the drain line.  The kit contains a copper wire that you insert into the drain line, which heats up the line just enough to prevent further back up.
  If you are unable to clean the drain line with the warm water, then you may want to call a repairman.  Allowing your freezer to overflow onto the floor can damage your flooring, the sub floor underneath, and the seal around your freezer door.  To avoid costly repair and replacement costs, it is best to end the problem quickly.
  
  

  SoBellas Home Services

  1180 Commerce Drive #13921

  Las Cruces, NM 88011

  575-636-2009