How To Drain Refrigerators In 6 Steps

If you find standing water in your refrigerators, it is likely that the drain has become clogged with food or debris. The appliance must be drained and repaired. The tools and materials you will need are as follows.

Tools and Materials Needed

• Turkey baster
• Bleach
• Baking soda
• ¼ inch flexible tubing

Step 1 – Shut Off the Electrical Supply

Before carrying out any repair work to an electrical appliance, it is essential to shut off the power first. Your refrigerator will contain a capacitor which stores electrical charge, so it is advisable to discharge this to avoid risk of serious shock.

Step 2 – Mop Up the Mess

The standing water will probably be under the refrigerator’s salad tray. If the water has been there a couple of days, it may cause an unpleasant smell. Take this opportunity to mop up any excess water and clean the fridge, so that you start the repair job with a clean surface.

Step 3 – Locate the Drain

The drain could be in the rear wall of the fridge under a filter. In which case, remove the filter and clean it, as it is probably blocked with debris too. If the drain is not in the rear wall, you will find it underneath the salad tray.

Step 4 – Mix Up a Solution

You could be forgiven for thinking that the “tools and materials” list looks more like a recipe than a do-it-yourself instruction. Mix up a solution of either bleach and water or baking soda and water. Using a turkey baster, force the solution down the drain, remembering to have a container ready to catch it when the liquid emerges from the other end! Squirt the solution with as much force as you can.

Step 5 – Try Flexible Tubing

If the solution has not cleared the blockage, the drainage problem needs more serious attention. Accordingly, the next step is to gently poke some ¼ inch flexible tubing down the drain, to force out whatever is causing the obstruction. Take care not to scratch the fridge while you are doing this. The obstruction should pop out of the fridge after this treatment.

Step 6 – Turn the Refrigerator Back On!

Don’t forget to turn the refrigerator back on afterwards, so that any food you are storing can be chilled back down to a suitable temperature as soon as possible.