DIY Clogged freezer drain

Name: Jim

Inquiry Type: Appliance repair question

I have approximately 10 year old Amana refrigerator with the freezer on the bottom. For about the last month the recessed area in the bottom of the freezer section has filled with ice. There are times when a small amount of water can be found on the floor that has leaked out of the freezer section. This refrigerator does not have an ice maker and no water lines go to it. I do hear the defrost timer click and the compressor stops when that happens so it does seem to be working. Is there a drain line clogged causing condensation to leak into the freezer section? If so how can this be cleared?

Thanks,

Jim

Comments:

Hi Jim, 

Thanks for your note. What you have is the most common service call on refrigerators. You are correct, there is a plugged drain line. You are going to save over $100 if you do it yourself. If you get into trouble, you can call my son Mark at 734-953-6991. 
Unplug the refrigerator, remove the back wall inside the freezer--defrost all the ice built up in the defrost drain pan--use a turkey baster full of hot water and stick it in the drain hole and blow it through. Do this 3 times and you are back in business.
Regards, 
Joe Gagnon

Consumer Question - Refrigerator

Q: Hi, Joe,

I have an Amana BX22QW bottom mount refrigerator that is 20 years old. It has recently developed some new symptoms as follows:
Cycles more frequently and upon restart sometimes the cooling fan starts but not the compressor. It sounds as though a thermal overload switch clicks accompanied by a blink of kitchen lights. Sometimes several cycles of clicks occur. Does this sound like a repairable problem? Is there a bad starting component going bad, or a bad electrical condenser, etc.? When it runs it sounds normal, no unusual noise, and it maintains freezer and refrigerator temperature very well. Your comments are appreciated.

Thank you,

James

A: Hi James,

Thanks for your note. From your information given me I am going to suggest you purchase a new relay and overload that connects on to the compressor. Not hard for a consumer to do. If you need a service technician to do it please contact me again and I will give you a number to the best refrigeration man around.

Regards,

Joe Gagnon