Help to find the location of freezer drain hole. Water on the floor leaking from the refrigerator. On a side by side fridge, water leaking is usually caused by a clogged defrost drain tube or drain hole.
Refrigerator drain hole location
Most modern refrigerators that have auto defrost use a tube that drains out water. When the defrost cycle in your refrigerator turns on the water drips down into the drain tube and down into the drain pan and evaporates. If this drain tube is clogged or blocked, water can be found leaking under the refrigerator and cause a puddle.
If water is found on the floor under the refrigerator, you can assume the drain tube is clogged. To find out if this is the case, you may find ice under the drawer at the bottom of the freezer. To know for sure, you will find ice under the freezer drawer and a puddle of water under the refrigerator. If both occur, you most likely have a clogged defrost drain tube and or a blocked drain hole.
Where is this drain hole or drain tube located?
On most refrigerators the defrost drain tube and drain hole is located inside the freezer at the bottom back. Look in the freezer near the bottom and locate the drain tube and the drain hole. There may be a panel made from plastic that covers the drain tube and hole. Remove the panel with a screwdriver if applicable. You should now see the drain tube and drain hole. If you cannot find the drain hole, your refrigerator may not have it located in this area. See more info to find the drain hole to stop the water leaking from the refrigerator.
What causes the drain tube to clog and leak?
If anything blocks the drain hole, water cannot flow into the tube and water will leak to the bottom of the refrigerator and cause a puddle on the floor. There may be food particles that have fallen into the drain hole. The drain tube and or drain hole can also freeze. If the drain hole is freezing up, running hot water through it can help to defrost it and let the water run down freely. Inspect to see if the drain hole or the drain tube is clogged or frozen.
How to clear the drain hole in refrigerator?
Remove anything that is blocking the drain hole or the drain tube. You may not be able to tell if the drain hole is internally clogged from a visual inspection. You can use hot water to clear out the drain line that is clogged or blocked. Use a turkey baster full of hot water and direct it into the drain hole. Continue running hot water through the drain hole until you hear water dripping down into the drain pan. The water that drips down into the drain pan should evaporate but if too much water spills down, remove it with a towel or something to absorb it. Once the drain hole is cleared the issue is fixed.
If you do not have access to a turkey baster, you can use compressed air to attempt to clear the drain hole. Clearing the drain hole prevents the water from leaking water on the floor.
What can I use to help unclog the drain hole?
You can use hot water mixed with baking soda to help unclog the drain hole or tube. The drain hole may clog up at times and using a solution of baking soda mixed with water can keep it clean and unclogged. Use 1 tablespoon of baking soda with approx 2 or 3 cups of hot water. Doing this a few times a year can help to stop refrigerator water leaks on the floor.
Refrigerator Troubleshooting: How to Unclog a Defrost Line
This refrigerator drain tube/drain hole location and clearing method can be used on all side by side refrigerators and freezers such as Bosch, Frigidaire, GE, Haier, Hotpoint, Kenmore, KitchenAid, LG, Maytag, Samsung, Toshiba, and Whirlpool.
(Remember all refrigerators are unique and the drain tube may not be located in the area we have suggested, if you cannot find the drain tube or drain hole, we suggest to find your refrigerator manual and search for the location – Refrigerator manuals can be found here)
Do you have questions about locating or clearing a clogged drain hole or drain tube on your refrigerator? Please leave your refrigerator model number with your detailed problem below in the comments and we can help.
Kathleen Graffe,
To locate the drain hole in your GE Refrigerator Model FUF 20DPARWH, you typically don’t need to remove the large panel on the back wall of the fridge.
Locate the Drain Hole: The drain hole is usually found at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment, near the back. It might be hidden or obscured by drawers or shelves, so you’ll need to remove these to get a clear view.
-RR
GE Model FUF 20DPARWH
SN SF 169564
This is a huge self defrost stand alone freezer
Cooling but not freezing food starting to defrost. Took food out and unplugged.
Someone said to vacuum. And check drainage hole? I don’t see a drainage hole? I see a huge panel inside the back wall? Do I have to disconnect that panel to find it?
Pete,
In those types of Maytag model 21MTFA refrigerators, the drain is located at the very back. You may need to open the back part of the fridge to find it or remove the the bottom piece in the freezer to access it.
-RR
Hi, I have a Maytag refrigerator, model 21MTFA. The freezer is on top. My freezer has ice build up on the bottom. I can’t find the drain. Please help me locate it. I assume the ice build up is die to a frozen or clogged drain. Thanks
Jennifer,
Where is the drain hole in my Samsung fridge? The defrost drain can be found inside your freezer behind the back. It’s a tiny hole that’s generally at the bottom of the freezer and may be covered by a plastic or metal panel that you can remove with a screwdriver.
-RR
I can’t find the defrost drain hole in my fridge Samsung SRF801GDLS, can you please help? The bottom of My fridge has ice built up, do you think it caused by the drain hole blockage?
My fridge is knf60x17 I can’t find the drainage hole took panel of but could only see a fan ? It has plastic panel on the back wall
I have an Admiral LTF2112ARW refrigerator and I am having trouble finding the drain hole. (I have water inside the refrigerator at the bottom.). There is a housing in the center at the top inside. It includes controls and the light bulb. At the very back of it I can stick my finger around into a tray like area and it has water in it. If that’s the drain, how do I remove the housing to get in there? – Thanks for you help!
I have a Frigidaire with top freezer. Defrost line seems to be plugged about 5″ down the tube. Tried pipe cleaner and air but still will not drain… Is it possible that it can be frozen 5″ from the freezer or did maybe they pinched the line when they put the cabinet on??
In my lg double door freeze with water dispenser and the ice is getting accumulated at the door in the freezer side
Pls advice
Thomas Ricciardi,
Are you trying to remove the drain plug on your Frigidaire refrigerator because of a water leak in the fridge or freezer?
You can remove the plastic plug if you are troubleshooting a problem, or need it to drain, but always put the plug back on as designed.
However, the plug may be incorporated in the design of that particular refrigerator and the refrigerator is designed to keep the plastic plug in place.
-RR
The drain hole in my Frigidaire refrigerator side by side model FRS3HR35KB is covered by a plastic plug.
Since I don’t know it’s purpose I am hesitant to use too much force to remove it.
Do you know it’s purpose and if removing it will create a problem?
Wondering why Frigidaire refrigerator model ffhs2611lwma leaks only randomly, and when it does there is no water in bottom of freezer.
Beginning to wonder if there is a drain pan under refrigerator and is it accessible behind bottom grill (does it just pull straight off)??
It would make sense then that it only leaks when it automatically defrosts and then comes right out on floor if there was no pan.
Will look for pan 1st then locate somewhere in bottom back of freezer compartment the drain hole and flush with hot baking soda/water/ and a couple drops of Dawn.
I put in model # but can’t find pictures to locate and explain where the pan and drain hole are accessible.
I cannot find the drain hole in my Whirlpool Refrigerator Model WRT1L1TZ YT00.
My freezer is dripping into my refrigerator and refrigerator is not maintaining correct temp.
Can’t find drainage hole in my Whirlpool fridge Model # ET8GTMXKQ00