topic Re: Clogged up inside refrigerator drain in Home

Clogged up inside refrigerator drain

deedledeedeedle — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 17:06:32 GMT

I am seriously thinking about renting again (!)

My refrigerator started leaking down the inside of the unit with not a drop to be found in the outside pan. A hand towel will fully saturate in 24 hours. I u-tubed it and figured out that an onion skin or something got wedged into the drain opening. I followed instructions and flushed hot water down the drain with a turkey baster. That didn't work so then I saw a man used a reamer the diameter of a clothes line and it worked. DOES ANYONE HERE KNOW WHERE I COULD FIND ONE?

My refrigerator is otherwise perfect.

I so appreciate any suggestions from my fellow posters.

dee

Re: Clogged up inside refrigerator drain

flickerbulb — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 17:10:19 GMT

I just bought some skinny brushes that are for cleaning out long, plastic straws.

There is a thick piece of plastic at the end to hold.

Not sure how long the hose is, but maybe use that to loosen the debris and then flush it out.

Re: Clogged up inside refrigerator drain

RedTop — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 17:18:29 GMT

Straighten out a wire coat hanger?

Re: Clogged up inside refrigerator drain

deedledeedeedle — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 17:30:05 GMT

@RedTop:

It not to be flexible like a hose. Think endoscopy flexible! LOL

dee

Re: Clogged up inside refrigerator drain

RedTop — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 17:40:39 GMT

My last refrigerator had a clogged condensate drain, and the water ran out underneath the fridge. Moms refrigerator had the same problem but ran out inside the fridge; she kept a tall plastic container inside to catch the water. When we remodeled the kitchen last year, and moved the refrigerator, my husband used an air compressor to clear the drain from both the inside and outside of the unit. What blew out was funky and slimy.

Re: Clogged up inside refrigerator drain

Buck-i-Nana — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 18:54:28 GMT

@RedTop wrote:
My last refrigerator had a clogged condensate drain, and the water ran out underneath the fridge. Moms refrigerator had the same problem but ran out inside the fridge; she kept a tall plastic container inside to catch the water. When we remodeled the kitchen last year, and moved the refrigerator, my husband used an air compressor to clear the drain from both the inside and outside of the unit. What blew out was funky and slimy.

@RedTop - Oh man, I bought a small air compressor a couple of years ago and it is truly a life saver! Everything from blowing out the dust and debris build up in fan motors, to blowing out my vacuum cleaners and small hoses from various appliances. No danger of accidentally punching a hole in a line.

Re: Clogged up inside refrigerator drain

PinkyPetunia — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 19:04:16 GMT

How about pipe cleaners? They may not be long enough, though. Call an appliance repair service and have them do it if all else fails.

Re: Clogged up inside refrigerator drain

ID2 — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 11:28:06 GMT

After buying all of these at-home fix it gadgets I think it might be more cost efficient to just call a repairman.

Re: Clogged up inside refrigerator drain

CelticCrafter — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 13:17:16 GMT

@ID2 wrote:
After buying all of these at-home fix it gadgets I think it might be more cost efficient to just call a repairman.

Yes and then figure out age vs. cost to repair vs. cost to replace.

Re: Clogged up inside refrigerator drain

gardenman — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 14:06:34 GMT

Aquarium airline tubing is a great alternative for cleaning out smaller diameter tubing. It's pretty small in diameter, but both flexible and rigid at the same time. If it's too rigid a few seconds in warm water will soften it right up. It's readily available in any Walmart and is cheap. Ten feet typically sells for just a couple of dollars. If it hits a blockage anywhere you can try blowing through it to help celar the blockage. (Don't inhale however unless you want a mouthful of whatever's blocking it.) If you have a Shop Vac, you can use that to su*ck the blockage out. You can wrap a wet towel around the end of the suction hose if need be to get a good seal.

Re: Clogged up inside refrigerator drain

SilleeMee — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 14:34:02 GMT

@deedledeedeedle,

After watching a few youtube videos, I heard them mention "clothesline cord" to put down into the drain. hth.

Also, one mentioned NOT to put bleach into the drain.

Re: Clogged up inside refrigerator drain

CAcableGirl2 — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 18:13:48 GMT

At home improvement store "HD" they have what is called a "zip-it bath and sink hair snake" for under $3. It's thin, flexible and has little ridges along the sides to pull out gunk. Maybe this will work for clearing out the drain?

Re: Clogged up inside refrigerator drain

In-x-s — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 02:48:52 GMT

Where an air compressor may be over kill if you don't already own one, possibly one of the cans of compressed air for cleaning electronics would work. they have a flexii tube that would fit down the drain tube.