Help please! My freezer gets iced at the bottom

[Bailey]

The evaporator is the coil behind the wall in the back of the freezer. Take out the shelves. Look for the screws that hold the cover in place and remove the cover
because it is the only way you can get access to the drain opening. Stick some kind of tube in it and blow it out.You should hear the sound of the air coming out underneath the refrigerator. When I use a turkey baster I fill it up with water and jam it into the hole and give a good squeeze.

[NJ Mom]

OK gentlemen, a response to your suggestions.


We tried hot water in a baster, the steam shot, etc, and still getting ice build up. We even took of the panel in the back (at the bottom, it is about 15" tall and the full width of the unit) and looked for the drain tube.  Can't see anything, because in front of the fan, there is a full sheet of metal at an angle covering everything up.  Afraid to remove the fins inside the freezer, one because they are sharp, and two, there appears to be a thermocoupler there which I am afraid will break (and then I am stuck with buying a new fridge altogether).  And when it rains, it pours, I now have a problem with the dryer.


 Any more suggestions here?  Please?

[NJ Mom]

BTW, we also tried sticking a few pipe cleaners down the drain (from the inside, under the sharp fins).  It doesn't get caught up on anything, and yet overnight the water recollects and starts sheeting up at the bottom.  I am on the verge of tears, very frustrated.

[Bailey]

If you remove the ice in the little collection pan at the bottom of the coil, the put some water in the pan does it run down the hole?

[elgato]

hey is it possble there are getting inthere from the back or thur the drain and when outside air hit the evap coil turn to ice fast i seen that happen before

[Bailey]

When you do this turn off the refrigerator. No sense in trying to cool and melt ice at the same time. Also with it in the house it would be room temperature air on the outside of the box.

[NJ Mom]

When I pour the hot water down the drain, it will drain for a little bit, then it will bubble over the top.  The fridge was off and unplugged, it wasn't cooling anything.  BTW, there is a piece of metal from the coils which goes down into the drain hole, so I cannot stick the turkey baster right over top.  It is a tiny hole (compared to the ones in the YouTube videos) and because of the coil extension down the hole, I could not stick a tube down the hole.  Thant's why I used about 3 or 4 pipe cleaners twisted together.  It is a Frigidaire FRS22ZRG side by side.  I haven't found a YouTube video of my model.  I is about 14 years old.   


Elgato, I do not understand what you mean by the outside air hits the evaporator coil.  Please advise......


Again, at this point the entire bottom of the freezer has a sheet of ice on it.  I am now waiting for it to liquify and drip out of the bottom towards the cabinets.  I have had a towel under the door now for several weeks, it just keeps on happening.


I also vacuumed under the unit, and checked the door seal ( which is fine). 


Please help. And thank you for all of the suggestions.

[Bailey]

The hole has to be partially plugged. You will have to figure out a way to blow it out.

[clindner]

I found the Shark brand Steam Wand is perfect for de icing the drain, evap coil etc.
Cost is about $30.00 US

[elgato]

Ok right where the tubing from the comp goes into the referator thur the back to tthe evap coil insulation or rubber is worn and air is getting thur i see it happan

[elgato]

Now who sell that shark steamer i want one i use the turkey baser but that look good

[Bailey]

Steamers are terrific for use in refrigerators. There is more styrofoam and plastic around the evaporators these days and you have to be careful with the heat gun.
I'm not admitting to anything, I'm just sayin.

[tgoods]

They're good for getting wrinkles out of door gaskets, too.

[elgato]

Please explain on how to get the wrinkel out on the gasket

[NJ Mom]

Ok, I got tired and frustrated, so I finally had to call a professional in.
 
He checked the level on the fridge - it was good.
 
He said the insulation within the fridge has gone bad, and I need to get a new one. He says it will keep cycling every couple of weeks, defrosting and leaking water out, and then will go back to normal, until the frequency increases and the fridge and food are both ruined.  He says it is worsened by the fact that the fridge is only a couple of feet away from the gas stove.
 
BTW, he did not change me for the visit....and he does not own an appliance store.
 
What do you think?  Have you ever heard of such a thing with a side by side fridge from Frigidaire?
 
I priced out a new fridge - anywahere from $1300 to $1500 for a standard brand, before taxes and delivery:(
 
Again, my thanks to all of you in helping me with this problem.