Fridge 'drain' full

[illmonkey]

Its happened twice in 3 months. The overflow, at the back where the condensation is meant to drain to is full. It overflows and ends up filling the fruit/veg tray.

The model is Indesit gse160 built in.

I've cleaned it all out, used some tissue to drain the whole, but can see in it or see what else I can do.

I cant see that I'd need to empty a tank or anything stupid. I imagine its creating too much condensation and it can't cope. It's never 'half closed' as it has weight so slams. Its not over full either.

[Eggman]

Thanks - that reminded me that mine had the same problem, so I've just been into the kitchen and poked a bit of wire down the drainage hole to sort it out. You can tell when the blockage has cleared by the sound of water trickling down the pipe into a tray on top of the compressor, which generates heat and causes the water to evaporate.

[illmonkey]

Eggman said:

Thanks - that reminded me that mine had the same problem, so I've just been into the kitchen and poked a bit of wire down the drainage hole to sort it out. You can tell when the blockage has cleared by the sound of water trickling down the pipe into a tray on top of the compressor, which generates heat and causes the water to evaporate.

Time to raid the wardrobe for a wire coat-hanger.

[Dogwatch]

Get a fine rod or screwdriver to poke through the drain hole and clear the blockage. Some fridges have one 'built-in'.
The rush of water ends up in a tray on top of the compressor motor and the theory is that under normal conditions the heat from the motor unit is enough to evaporate the gentle trickle of water. If the water is clean it should be able to cope with a minor gush, however if the water is full of 'gubbins' from the chiller panel the whole thing turns into a warm primaeval soup with a nasty niff. If in a few days there is a smell you can't quite pin down the source of that's the culprit.

Otherwise leave it to sort itself out.

[illmonkey]

Bloody brilliant. Its all gone (it was clear water) to the 'death tray'.

I owe you a beer . The missus will be impressed. I even cleaned it all out, there was over a pint of water in the bottom of the veg tray :S

[Eggman]

Gah! Now you've reminded me about the 3 bottles of beer on the kitchen table!

[Munter]

Reminded me to clean the fridge drain. However I'm out of luck on the beer it appears!

[illmonkey]

I've rewarded my self by popping over the road to stock up

I'd email you one if I could.

Thanks again, saved me taking it out to look at.

[Fatboy]

Dogwatch said:

Get a fine rod or screwdriver to poke through the drain hole and clear the blockage. Some fridges have one 'built-in'.
The rush of water ends up in a tray on top of the compressor motor and the theory is that under normal conditions the heat from the motor unit is enough to evaporate the gentle trickle of water. If the water is clean it should be able to cope with a minor gush, however if the water is full of 'gubbins' from the chiller panel the whole thing turns into a warm primaeval soup with a nasty niff. If in a few days there is a smell you can't quite pin down the source of that's the culprit.

Otherwise leave it to sort itself out.

Spot (and only a spot!) of bleach down the drain hole will prevent that - don't do it regularly or it'll degrade the hose/drip tray, but as a one-off after a blockage like this, it's well worth doing...

[Plotloss]

When the water goes down the drain hole, where does it go?

[Silver Smudger]

Plotloss said:

When the water goes down the drain hole, where does it go?

Eggman said:

You can tell when the blockage has cleared by the sound of water trickling down the pipe into a tray on top of the compressor, which generates heat and causes the water to evaporate.