Kenmore Refrigerator Leaking Water

[TechnicianBrian]

Model #106.68862890, this unit has the freezer on top and has started intermittently leaking water into the refrigerator section. The source of this water is the defrost system located in the freezer section. Each time a frost free refrigerator enters a defrost cycle, the compressor and fans will turn off and a heater will turn on to melt the accumulated frost off the evaporator. This water should run down the drain tube into the condensate pan located behind the bottom access grill. When the drain becomes blocked, the water has no place to go and will freeze when the defrost cycle ends. After several cycles, the ice will be high enough to cause water to overflow into the refrigerator section (or out the freezer door in a side by side) and you will notice water leaking from the refrigerator top and start pooling under the bottom drawers. The solution to the problem is to clear the ice out, defrost the drain, and clear any debris from the drain tube. I do this by taking some 1/4 inch tubing and push it through the drain tube unit whatever caused the blockage falls out the bottom. Don't be surprised if you don't find anything because sometimes the drain just freezes and you don't find the culprit.  Defrosted this unit and now it's draining again so no more leaking water.

106.68862890

[JWWebster]

You use aluminum quarter inch tubing then? or is it copper now?

[TechnicianBrian]

I use some leftover plastic water line because it is flexible enough to make the bends in most refrigerators. And every once in a while, I need to run the tubing up the drain line so I can dislodge the blockage that stuck in one of the bends.  The most common item I have found blocking the drains is frozen corn or peas from a bag that spilled off one of the shelves.  In case you were curious.

[JWWebster]

I find a lot of popcicle wrappers and plastic wrap.