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Tappan Refrigerator defrost drain clogged

If your refrigerator’s defrost drain is clogged you’ll usually see water pooling in the bottom of the fresh-food section or ice building up around the evaporator drain. The most common causes are a failed evaporator fan motor that lets cold air migrate and freeze the drain, a clogged or frozen defrost drain or drain tube that needs flushing, a missing or damaged drain strap that should conduct heat into the drain, a faulty or mispositioned drain heater that allows refreeze, and, less commonly, a bad main control board that stops the defrost cycle. Start by checking the evaporator fan blade for free rotation and testing the motor for continuity, then try clearing a frozen drain with warm water from a turkey baster and confirming the drain tube trap is clear. If a drain strap or drain heater is broken or out of place replace it. Enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to see the exact replacement drain parts, drain heater, fan motor, or control board that fit your refrigerator so you can get the right part and get the clogged defrost drain fixed.

01 - Tappan 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 - Tappan 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 - Tappan 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 - Tappan 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 - Tappan 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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Less Common

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my defrost drain clogged?
Fridge not cooling but freezer works — could a clogged defrost drain cause that?
How do I clear a frozen defrost drain?
Do I need to replace the main control board if the defrost system is not working?
How do I find the correct replacement part on RepairClinic.com?

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