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HomeRepair HelpIkea Refrigerator RepairIkea Refrigerator defrost drain clogged Repair

Ikea Refrigerator defrost drain clogged

If you’re dealing with a defrost drain clogged problem—ice or water pooling in the bottom of the fridge or water overflowing from the drain trough—the most likely causes in order are a faulty evaporator fan motor, a frozen or clogged defrost drain, a missing or damaged drain strap, a bad drain heater, and finally a defective main control board. Start by checking the evaporator fan: try turning the blade by hand and listen for unusual noise, and if it won’t spin or tests open with a multimeter, replace the fan motor. If the fan is fine, clear a frozen defrost drain with warm water from a turkey baster and confirm the drain tube and trap are clear. Inspect for a drain strap or a mispositioned drain heater that should melt ice in the tube, and only consider the main control board after testing the defrost components. If you need parts, enter your refrigerator model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement part for your unit.

01 - Ikea Refrigerator Fan Motor

If the refrigerator's defrost drain is clogged, it's possible the evaporator fan motor is not working. If the evaporator fan is not running, cold air from the evaporator can migrate to the defrost drain causing ice buildup in the drain. To determine if the evaporator fan motor is defective, try turning the fan blade by hand. If the fan blade does not turn freely, replace the fan motor. Additionally, if the motor is unusually noisy, replace it. Finally, if the motor does not run at all, use a multimeter to test the motor windings for continuity. If the windings do not have continuity, replace the evaporator fan motor.
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02 - Clogged or Freezing Defrost Drain

The defrost drain might be clogged or frozen. If the defrost drain is frozen, the water will overflow the drain trough and drip down to the bottom of the compartment. You can use a turkey baster and warm water to help clear out a frozen defrost drain and tube. You should also make sure the drain tube trap is clear by the drain pan.
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03 - Ikea Refrigerator Drain Strap

Some defrost drains are outfitted with a drain strap. The drain strap is a small piece of copper or aluminum that attaches to the defrost heater and extends partway into the defrost drain. When the defrost heater turns on, heat is conducted through the drain strap to melt away any ice that may have accumulated further down in the defrost drain. If the drain strap is not in place, the defrost drain may be more likely to freeze over.
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04 - Ikea Refrigerator Evaporator Fan Motor

If the refrigerator's defrost drain is clogged, it's possible the evaporator fan motor is not working. If the evaporator fan is not running, cold air from the evaporator can migrate to the defrost drain causing ice buildup in the drain. To determine if the evaporator fan motor is defective, try turning the fan blade by hand. If the fan blade does not turn freely, replace the fan motor. Additionally, if the motor is unusually noisy, replace it. Finally, if the motor does not run at all, use a multimeter to test the motor windings for continuity. If the windings do not have continuity, replace the evaporator fan motor.
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05 - Ikea Refrigerator Drain Heater

Some refrigerators are equipped with drain heaters. Drain heaters prevent the water in the drain pan from re-freezing and clogging the defrost drain. If your drain heater is defective or is not in the proper position, the defrost drain might freeze over.
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06 - Ikea Refrigerator Main Control Board

The main control board regulates the power supply to all of the refrigerator components, including the defrost system. If the main control board is defective, it may stop sending voltage to the defrost system which can lead to the defrost drain becoming clogged with ice. Control boards are frequently misdiagnosed—before replacing the main control, first test all of the defrost system components. If none of the defrost system components are defective, consider replacing the control board.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What causes a refrigerator defrost drain to become clogged or freeze?
How do I clear a frozen defrost drain?
How can I tell if the evaporator fan motor is causing the defrost drain to clog?
My freezer is cold but the fridge section is warm; can a clogged defrost drain cause that?
How do I enter my model number or part number on RepairClinic.com to find the right replacement part?

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