How to Repair a Refrigerator That Ices Up

Member

By crazycatlady
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (19 Ratings)

All summer, we had problems with our refrigerator. Every few days there would be a layer of ice on the freezer floor, and it would drip down the back of the fridge and collect in the crisper drawers and in the bottom of the fridge. Finally after throwing out another water-filled bowl of food, I called in a repair. Little did I know I could have fixed this for free all by myself.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

First, make sure the water that is freezing is not the result of a faulty ice maker. Shut the ice maker off or turn off the water source just to make sure.
Step 2

Unplug the refrigerator if you can. If you cannot, turn it to the lowest setting.
Step 3

Clean out the freezer and the refrigerator. Put food you want to keep in a cooler to keep it from spoiling. Throw out that hairy bowl of something left over from Thanksgiving.
Step 4

Keep the freezer door open and let the ice melt as much as possible. Remove ice chunks and water the best you can. Once the freezer is completely clear, thoroughly clean it. Clean the refrigerator too.
Step 5

In the back of the freezer, locate the small drain hole. Make sure this drain hole is clear. Remove any food particles if necessary, and pour small amounts of hot water down it until the water flows freely. You should be able to hear it drain.
Step 6

Once the drain is cleared, you can turn the refrigerator back on and stock it back up. A small piece of food or even ice can block this drain and cause your refrigerator and freezer to ice up. During normal operations, water and condensation drain through this hole into a pan underneath the refrigerator. The heat generated by the refrigerator makes the water evaporate.