Hello:

My 4 or 5 year old GE bottom freezer refridgerator has a problem. Every two or 3 days I need to turn it off and melt the ice forming in the small drain tray just below the fan which forces air up into the fridge. The ice isn't melting in the slot and builds up until the fan blades freezes solid in the ice.
The water is free to run down the slot. When I put the hairdryer to the ice it melts and just runs out freely into the back of the fridge so I know it is not plugged.
I don't understand what is supposed to keep this small drain tray free of ice.
What keeps the water from freezing when the defrost cycle goes on and flowing out of the fridge?
There is a small wire which is curled around the defrost element between the cooling coils and then runs along the tray to the drain hole but it isn't doing anything which I can see. The defrost "bar" is only a small coiled wire in a glass tube.

Can anyone help me with this? I've had two technicians out so far and they are stumped.

Herman

Herman Overdijk, December 2006

When you open up the the frezzer section remove the floor inside of it you can see the coils now. Look for a black knob closet to you this is the heater for the coiles rap a aluimmun wire around this black knob run the other end into the drain hole the heat will run down the alumin wire and keep the drain from frezzing up letting the water out of the defroster pan.

jerry, April 2013

get those techs back tell them to check ur air return FROM refridge its probably blocked with ice (top left of freezer behind evap plate).. ur gasket maybe ripped check that also

jackofalltechs, April 2007