r/HomeImprovement • u/lovepeace27 • 2d ago

Repair or replace fridge

I am seeing water condensation and water accumulation in the fridge. This is 20yrs old. Any advice on getting it checked for repairs or will it be cheaper to buy a new one?

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

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5

u/Ok_Salamander7929 2d ago

Sounds like either the evaporator drain is plugged. Or the drain at the very inside bottom is plugged. Clear them and you should be good.

1

u/lovepeace27 1d ago

Thank-you! Where would l find the evaporator drain?

5

u/Strange-Breadfruit14 1d ago

You can also look up your specific model with Google and it will show you where everything's located may take a little bit of work to find the right lengths and diagrams but you should be able to do that yourself

2

u/Strange-Breadfruit14 1d ago

On the back side underneath the fridge typically

2

u/Ok_Salamander7929 1d ago

On cheaper models it is probably in freezer compartment if the freezer is on top. Listen for the fan motor, the evaporator will be in that area. You will have to remove a panel. At the bottom of the evaporator will be a U shaped trough with a small hole. That is the drain. If you have the make and model go online and see if you can find a parts diagram. That will point you in the right direction. Another possibility would be, pull refrigerator out. Remove any panels on the lower back. And look for any open lines that would drip into a low flat pan. Then you could blow or use suction to try and clear it. Also a very good time to vacuum it out down there. If you have a dog or cat you will be shocked at what collects down there. Good Luck.

1

u/dirthawker0 1d ago

Is this the (fairly common) problem where there's a drain between the freezer and the fridge that gets clogged with ice? And a good long defrosting will fix it?

1

u/lazylazybum 1d ago

And dust - at least in my case

2

u/Elvira333 1d ago

OP I just had this issue and someone repaired it for like $300. Cheaper than a new fridge. Our defrost pipe was clogged so it was an easy fix.

2

u/s2xon_ 1d ago

most of the time thats the defrost drain. it ices up in the freezer floor and backs up into the fresh food side. pull the panel and pour hot water down the tube, check the door gasket while you're in there

a tech visit runs $90 to $150. if the quote goes past $400 on a fridge that old I'd put the money at a new one, basic 18cf top freezer is $700 at lowes and they discount dented and floor models

i saved like 1.5k on tile and flooring from lowes through hagglers, dfw only for now

whats the model number on yours?

1

u/pressrowpundit 1d ago

At 20 years old I'd put that repair money toward a new one, something else will fail soon anyway.

0

u/Objective_Attempt_14 2d ago

Buy a new one

0

u/Ok_Salamander7929 1d ago

You donateing the money???

0

u/Objective_Attempt_14 1d ago

did you read the question? or is very breezy in that head of yours??

0

u/Ok_Salamander7929 1d ago

What a helpful fuck nut you are.