[haged]

My refrigerator, every once in awhile "freezes" up on the top. I had a repairman out once, and he replaced some things, but it keeps coming back. I took it apart myself this time, and it APPEARS that when it defrosts, the water doesn't drain to the back, like it should and eventually, the fan falls off! I've adjusted the refrigerator levels so that the water would drain (and not freeze up). Any ideas on what the heck is happening or what parts I might order?

Dave

[richappy]

I would take a turkey baster and hot water to clean out the drain. Wrap a 12 gauge copper wire around the defrost heater and down the drain. This will prevent drain freezing.

[haged]

Hi and thanks for responding, but it's not the drain itself -- it's not clogged, the water just doesn't "get to the back'. I've thought about cutting a groove into the plastic, but wasn't sure how this would work.

POSTSCRIPT: I think it was the drain. After taking things all apart and realizing that the problem happens only infrequently, I got vinegar and hot water and poured it down the pipe and it started going through. I suspect a lot of sludge somehow - the problem may have been there for quite some time. I also think the design stinks... the excess goes to the BACK of the refrigerator, almost impossible to get to, and I think depends on the compressor fan to evaporate the excess liquid. I think it was clogged up at the bottom, and when the water would go down, it would take quite awhile for it to accumulate and then eventually inch its way back up to the top of the freezer, then freeze there, and the fan would start getting water/ice on it and come off. I guess I'll see in a few months!