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Gibson Refrigerator defrost drain clogged

When your Gibson refrigerator is dripping inside or water pools on the cabinet floor, a defrost drain clogged with ice is the likely culprit. Start with the most common causes: a failing evaporator fan motor that lets cold air migrate to the drain and freeze, a frozen or blocked defrost drain or tube that needs thawing or flushing, a missing or damaged drain strap that should conduct heat into the drain, a faulty drain heater that allows refreezing, and, less commonly, a bad main control board that stops the defrost cycle. Check the evaporator fan by turning the blade by hand and test the motor windings for continuity; replace the motor if it is noisy, stiff, or open. Clear a clogged defrost drain with warm water from a turkey baster and inspect the drain tube trap and strap. Test heater elements and the rest of the defrost system before replacing the control board. Enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement part for your refrigerator.

01 - Gibson 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 - Gibson 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 - Gibson 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 - Gibson 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 - Gibson 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

Why is my defrost drain clogged and leaking water onto the bottom of the fridge?
My freezer is cold but the fridge is warm. Could a clogged defrost drain or evaporator fan be the cause?
How can I clear a frozen or clogged defrost drain myself?
How do I test whether the evaporator fan motor, drain heater, or control board is bad?
How do I enter my model number or part number on RepairClinic.com to find the right replacement part?

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