How to Repair a Clogged Drain in an Amana Refrigerator

The Amana refrigerator defrost drain location spans a route from the freezer through the refrigerator before ultimately reaching a drain pan at the bottom of the appliance. If the drain line becomes clogged, water that normally flows through this drain may accumulate inside your refrigerator. And if this problem is not addressed, water may even pool on the floor beneath your fridge, where it can damage the flooring and subflooring. Before calling a refrigerator repair technician, you can follow a few troubleshooting steps, which may lead to a quick and easy fix.

As part of a freezer's normal operation, it cycles in and out of the defrost mode. This isn't designed to defrost the entire freezer. It's simple to remove the accumulation of ice and frost on the condenser to keep freezer walls frost-free. When the defrost cycle begins, the frozen condensation melts and drips to the freezer floor. The water then flows through a valve, which moves the water to a drain.

If the drain becomes clogged with ice or debris, such as crumbs or even a pea, the melted frost begins to accumulate outside the drain and make its way into the freezer, refrigerator or underneath the fridge. So, if you see your Amana refrigerator leaking water inside the fridge, or if your Amana side-by-side refrigerator leaks water on the floor, a clogged drain may be the culprit.

Some refrigerators are equipped with drain heaters, which keep the water in the defrost drain tube from freezing and clogging the drain, according to Remove and Replace. If your Amana model has a drain heater, but you see water leaking inside the refrigerator, the drain may be malfunctioning or it may not be properly positioned. Installing a new drain heater can quickly resolve this clogged drain problem.

If your drain heater is properly working, the fault may be with a malfunctioning drain strap. This small part extends from the defrost heater to the drain, conducting heat that melts any buildup of ice. Installing a new drain strap may be all you need to fix the clogged drain.

You may be able to clear a clogged or frozen drain line using a turkey baster. Before attempting this project, be sure to unplug your refrigerator.

Fill a turkey baster with hot water and force the water into the drain hole, consulting your user manual for the Amana refrigerator defrost drain location and drain hole. You may have to remove the back panel of your fridge to access the drain components, which is a task you may find easier if you recruit a helper.

Amana is one of the Whirlpool Corporation's appliance brands. Many Whirlpool refrigerators, including Amana fridges, have a problematic valve with a narrow opening. Called a duckbill check valve, this design has a narrow opening that commonly traps debris and ice more easily than other valve designs.

Some refrigerator owners have tried to fix the problem this valve causes by cutting the narrow opening to make a larger opening. But this can cause a secondary issue by letting more warm air into the cold freezer compartment and causing the freezer to work harder.

If your Amana refrigerator model has a duckbill check valve, you may be among many customers who are eligible to receive compensation for the problem this valve has caused. Whirlpool reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with affected customers in July 2019.