We have a 10 year old GE refridgerator that has been collecting water almost daily under the crisper drawers. We had a repairman that has checked the drain system from being plugged two times, and it is free. I do notice that no water comes out the drain hose in the back of the unit as it should.
It is a 20.6 cu. ft., model #TBX21JI. We keep the underside cooling grills clean and free of dust.

Jack F. Saunders, December 2004

We have many issues with our ge fridge and has ge no longer operate in the uk it has been near impossible to get hold of someone capable to fix the problem and the company who use to service on the behalf of ge has gone into administration we were given the number of agsrefrigeration they operate in the london area they came out when agreed and found and rectified fault at price quoted excellent service. They did however say that ge parts can be difficult to source. www.agsrefrigeration.co.uk.

Fraser, January 2013

I am having a repeated problem with ice blocking the drain pan. The last time I de-frosted, it seemed that once the ice melted, it drained fine. Two weeks later, same thing. I have a GE Profile, model PTC22. Seems like I need to do the wire trick with the heating element - extending the heat around and into the drain - explained at this website: http://fixitnow.com/wp/2009/05/26/the-permanent-cure-for-repeatedly-freezing-condensate-drains-in-whirlpool-roper-kitchenaid-top-mount-refrigerators/

Sean, September 2011

My previous remedy lasted about two weeks now the water is back. I have one more idea that I found on line. Read on. It seems that the freezer water drain is freezing up and not allowing the water to pass down the drain tube. Hopefully this is the answer. The photos from the website wouldn't transfer. If youo'd like to see the photos check http://fixitnow.com/wp/2009/05/26/the-permanent-cure-for-repeatedly-freezing-condensate-drains-in-whirlpool-roper-kitchenaid-top-mount-refrigerators/

The Permanent Cure for Repeatedly Freezing Condensate Drains in Whirlpool-Roper-Kitchenaid Top-Mount Refrigerators

by Samurai Appliance Repair Man on May 26, 2009

in Refrigerator Repair




The condensate drains in certain models of this refrigerator repeatedly freeze over, causing water to run inside the refrigerator during defrost. If you manually clear the ice and open the drain– which you shouldn’t ever have to do– the problem will just re-appear… unless you apply the Fixite Do kata that ol’ Samurai’s about to ‘splain to ya.

Here’s the inside scoop: As the compressor runs, humidity in the air inside the freezer condenses onto the surface of the evaporator. This frozen water on the evaporator is called condensate. The condensate will continue to build up on the evaporator over time, forming a white, fuzzy layer that periodically needs to be melted off during the automatic defrost cycle. During defrost, the compressor is turned off and a heater under the evaporator is fired up to melt the condensate off. As the condensate melts, it drips into the pan beneath the evaporator. Problem is that, in this particular design fluke, the defrost cycle ends and the compressor starts running again before all the water drains from the pan and, as a result, some of the water gets frozen. Next cycle, a little more gets frozen, and so on until the drain is blocked and the melted water starts backing up during defrost and running into the beer compartment below.

Pop Quiz:

What’s the heater beneath the evaporator called?

Did you answer, “I dunno and I don’t care, just get on with the friggin’ article?” Well, I’m sorry, but that’s not the right answer. The correct answer is “defrost heater.” Thank you, come again!

OK, enough high-level refrigerator quantum theory. Let’s get on with the fun stuff: The Fix! You can click the pics below for the larger view.

Freezer Anatomy and Frozen-Over Condensate Drain Pan

Here you can see Le Probleme and get the layout of the essential freezer anatomy for this repair.

To solve this problem, we’re going to rig a way to get some of that heat from the defrost heater to the drain pan and drain hole. To do this, we’ll employ the heat transfer mode of conduction. We’ll use copper wire to conduct some of that heat from the heaters to the drain pan. Come see…



Installing the Condensate Drain Heating Rig

12 ga. solid core wire is preferred because it’s slightly bigger and conducts heat more efficiently; but 14 ga., as shown here, is OK.

Make the drain heater by wrapping one end of the wire around the heater a few turns, as shown here. The other ends will be fanned out in the drip pan and run into the condensate drain hole two or three inches. Just watch out for the sharp fins on that evaporator; they’ll shred your hands like ground beef before you even knew what happened. OK, it’s not really that bad; I just wanted to talk like a crusty old timer. Would it kill you to humor an old man?




Closeup of the Condensate Drain Heating Rig




The Completed Condensate Drain Modification





Muy domos to Senior Apprentice Appliantologist TMR777 for the beautifully annotated photos of his fine craftsmanship.

cadillac fan, August 2011

My eleven year old GE top freezer was collecting water under the lettuce crispers as well. I had to clean the drain tube more than once, as I'd get no water for a couple of days and then it would start accumulating again. I removed the back panel from the wall of the inside of the freezer. I pushed a turkey baster tube down through the drain hole. I poured hat water mixed with baking soda through. A couple of days later the water was back. I removed the entire tube soaked it in my bathtub and then run more hot water and baking soda down through. I also attached the end nozzle of my electric leaf blower to the tube and blew it out, then ran a wire through. This time I've had no more water. It's been one week! I also blew out the bottom of my frig with the electric leaf blower. YOU'LL NEED TO VACUUM AFTERWARD. You wouldn't believe how well this cleans the dust out!!!! This saved me from buying a new frig. I'm not paying $100.00 for a service call for a frig that old. I'd rather put the money into a new one. Who knows how long it would be before something else bit the dust on it! Hopefully, it will last a few more years.

Cadillac Fan, July 2011

Yes! Thank you to the two of you who said to clean the black drain line on the exterior back of the fridge. I have a GE TBX22PA and was ready to take apart the inside of the freezer, based on advice from other sources. The GE service site says to call a technician (surprise, right?). I cleaned that black drain line, though, and water started coming through it into the pan again. No more pooling at the bottom of the fridge ... at least so far.

Remarker, February 2011

This is why I LOVE the Internet!

You guys spoke of the EXACT refrigerator I have! I followed the instructions, cleaned things all out, reassembled it, and (I hope!) the problem is solved!

Steve, August 2010

I have an old GE TBX22PA fridge in the basement, about 16 years old. It had water under the drawers.
I pulled out the unit and disconected the black drain hose on the back. Then I turned the round trap and pulled it off. I ran it under hot water, through both holes, and got a lot of goop out.I cleaned it up, put the trap back on the main drain and reconnected the black hose. VOILA! - no water. And I didn't have to open up the back or anything like that.
When the trap gets clogged the water backs up and goes down the inside of the fridge and comes out through the seams. It was an easy fix.

Mark Rectenwald, July 2010

They are all right that it's the drain. Some models(my Kitchenaid) your access may be under the floor of the freezer. I took out two screws and lifted the floor panel out. Solid ice in under and around the drain pan.
Used the hair dryer and the a piece of coat hanger to probe the drain hole. Melting everything and sponging out took half an hour. If you get in a hurry and chip at the ice, be careful not to punch a hole in the sub panel like I did with a screwdriver. The drain thawing took another half hour heating the aluminum with the dryer. I found ice and algae( yep, just like Antartica) in the drain ice. I'm going to pull the panel in 30 days and snake the drain. If no obstruction, every 2-3 months. I was not the first owner but I'm sure the 93 year old former owner never cleaned the drain. Good luck with your problem and thanks to the people that posted the solutions. I saved an $85 service call and now know what to do.

Richard, July 2009

I also cleaned out the 'trap' on the back of the fridge.
It was plugged with gunk. Works fine now, no water under drawers.

kathyz723@aol.com, August 2008

I have the GE TBX 22JA. It is about 14 years old. It just started collecting water under the crisper drawers. I read all the above and couldn't find a drain hole on the inside. In this model, there is an external tube running down the back from the bottom of the freezer to the drain pan that sits on top of the heat exchange coils at the bottom. I pulled out the external tube and cleaned it with a bottle brush and hot water and put it back in place. It was partly blocked by black gunk. We will see if that is the cure for this model. If it doesn't work I will repost in a day or two.

Fred Wagner, June 2008

I have that same frozen freezer drain problem and it's a pretty easy fix to take out the bottom of the freezer and clear the drain hole using hot water.
The problem I have is that this keeps happening every 2 weeks or so... then I have to repeat above..
How can I get it to stop freezing up ??

diggler, October 2007

Find the drain hole at the centre of the gutter at the back inside the fridge get an electrical cable tie(bendy) and insert in the hole and push through,water will then drain a away, it drains into a tray on th top of the motor and the motor heat evaporates it.Most makes are different but this works in most cases of self defrosters.

BG, October 2007

Ryan, how do you remove the back panel of the freezer?

Dave, May 2006

My TBX21JI had the same problem. I had to remove the back panel inside the freezer and found that the catch pan was corroded under the freezer coil near where the drain hose connects. It was leaking before it could even get into the hose. I found a very simple fix. Just completely line the drain pan with one piece of tin foil and punch a hole with your finger through the foil into the drain pipe. Fixed my problem totally for the last couple years.

Ryan, March 2006

My fridge was doing same thing and the drain line from freezer compartment to drip pan was frozen. The drain tube opening on your fridge may be located under the floor in the freezer compartment (mine is a whirlpool which is where its at). Will be 2 or 3 screws you will have to take out and the bottom floor in the freezer should come out. Look around for the drain hole. There may be ice formed all around that you will need to break away. If there is, most likely the drain line is frozen. If so, turn off fridge for 2-3 hrs for the line to thaw and once it does water will drip down to the drip pan located below the fridge.

M, August 2005

Please let me know what you find out. I'm having the same problem with my 4 year old Kenmore. I cleaned coils down under, and now it leaks about every 24 hours. Where is the drain plug in Freezer? Thanks!

Shirley, August 2005

I also have the exact same problem with my 12 year old GE TBX22PA fridge, freezer on top. GE advised me that it sounds like a "clogged defrost drain" that is not a consumer-friendly repair (naturally). I am still researching how to try and fix on my own. Maybe with this info, you can get your repair person to come out and try again (before paying). Let me know if you figure it out. Thanks. jeharpers@netscape.net

John Harper, April 2005