My GE Refrigerator Has a Clogged Defrost Drain

Do you constantly find water or ice on the floor in front of your refrigerator? Or maybe water pools in the bottom of your produce drawers. One common cause is a clogged defrost drain. This is true of most refrigerators, including GE models. You can usually fix the issue with some basic troubleshooting methods.

A GE refrigerator leaking water or ice is one obvious sign of a clogged defrost drain. You'll often find it at the bottom of the freezer or refrigerator compartment, and it returns even after you clean it. The water may pool directly under the vegetable compartments in the refrigerator or show up on the kitchen floor in front of the refrigerator.

Frost may also develop under the bottom basket in the refrigerator or on the bottom of the freezer floor. If the GE refrigerator is an automatic defrost model, it may occur specifically after the defrost cycle runs, which is once every 24 hours.

When cleaning a clogged refrigerator drain, the first step is to find the drain itself. The drain may reside in a few different spots in GE refrigerators, including the walls and rear of the unit. Look in the lower back wall of the freezer or on the side. The drain may look like a hole in the side of the freezer or may be covered by a plastic panel that can be removed by taking out the holding screw and lifting off the panel.

Once you find the drain, use a clean damp cloth to wipe away any frost or debris around it. If there's something blocking the drain entrance, clearing this away might be all you need to do to clear the clog. If there's a lot of frost or the obstruction isn't immediately evident, you might need to do a little more work.

A clogged defrost drain can often be cleaned by flushing hot water down the drain until the obstruction clears. If this doesn't work, use a small brush or thin wire to push the obstruction out of the drain. Pour some warm water down the drain to flush it when the obstruction has been cleared, and then wipe the drain dry. If the drain had a panel covering it, replace the panel and the holding screw when finished.

After cleaning the drain, the problem should be resolved. However, if the drain continues to back up or the problems return shortly after cleaning, contact GE for assistance at 877-432-2737.

Once you fix the refrigerator drain clog, some simple steps can help prevent it from happening again. Look inside the refrigerator door frame for a switch labeled "Energy Saving Mode" or something similar. This mode disables the door heaters, which can allow for frost or condensation to build up, including over the drain. Switch the "Energy Saving" mode to "Off."

Some general maintenance steps can also help prevent drain clogs. Inspect the drain on a regular basis for any residue or debris that may create a blockage and clean the drain with a clean, damp cloth to remove any frost or residue. Keep items away from the rear or sides of the unit, and don't block the air vents as this will help maintain proper temperatures and airflow.

If the refrigerator is a manual defrost model, run the defrost on a regular basis to help prevent frost from building up. Check automatic defrost models on a regular basis for frost, and contact GE for assistance if the defrost cycle doesn't seem to be working.