Is your KitchenAid refrigerator clogged? A clogged refrigerator does not function optimally, which may affect its cooling function. This article explains how to fix this problem.
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Defrost Drain in a KitchenAid Refrigerator Clogged – Fixed
If you find that the defrost drain in your KitchenAid refrigerator is clogged, unclogging it is crucial. The drain’s location depends on the KitchenAid refrigerator model, but it is typically at the center of the freezer’s back wall. For some models, you must remove the back panel inside the freezer to access it.
Disconnect the refrigerator from electric power and empty the freezer. Remove every food item and shelves, bins, and racks. You may want to store perishable food items in another freezer or an ice-packed cooler. Clearing the drain may not take too long, but preserving the food is crucial.
Next, locate the drain and inspect it. It usually has ice over it, which is caused by debris clogging the drain tube and preventing water from flowing out. Consequently, the water backs up into the freezer and freezes over time. If there is ice over the drain hole, use a hair dryer to melt it.
Ensure you use medium heat and position the dryer so that the electrical end does not face upwards. Water dripping from the freezer’s ceiling may enter the electrical end, damage the dryer, or cause electrocution.
And if you use medium heat, the thawing process may take longer than usual. Alternatively, pour some hot water over the drain until the ice melts, or soak a cloth in hot water and rub it over the ice until it melts.
Once the ice melts, you can clear the drain tube of debris. Do this by inserting a length of flexible wire or a small screwdriver into it, pushing the dirt out. Keep doing that until the tube is clean. Fill a turkey baster or syringe with hot water and bleach, and squirt it into the hole to clean it thoroughly. Clean it until the water flows free and clear.
Now, remove the drain pan from under the refrigerator and empty it. The pan should be empty, but clearing the drain tube may fill it with water and debris. Therefore, it is important to remove and clean it. Wash it with warm water and mild soap to clean it, and sanitize it with bleach.
Note that not all drain pans are removable. If you cannot remove yours to empty it, mop up the water using wipes or a rag until it is dry. Use the same method to clean it afterward.
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Preventing Future Clogging
One of the primary ways to ensure your refrigerators defrost drain does not clog is to clean the appliance regularly. Over days and weeks of constant use, food crumbs and dirt from around the refrigerator find their way into the drain and clog it. It becomes increasingly difficult for the defrost water to flow out, causing the refrigerator to leak water and have general cooling problems.
Therefore, deep-clean the refrigerator once in two or three months. You can perform a surface cleaning once a week to clear the dirt you see in the immediate environment. Ensure you clean spills and food crumbs immediately after they happen to prevent them from finding their way into the defrost drain.
Keep the freezer temperature at the recommended point, especially if the weather is cold or humid. Cold weather causes the freezer to freeze quicker than usual, and humidity leads to condensation buildup inside the appliance. These are possible causes of the drain freezing, even if nothing clogs the tube.
Arrange and organize your freezer and refrigerator, ensuring that all food items are correctly stored in appropriate containers or bags. Doing this prevents food spills that mess the refrigerator up. However, you may professional assistance if the clogging issue continues after taking all the above steps. Contact the KitchenAid Service Center to schedule service or use an independent technician.
KitchenAid Refrigerator Ice Maker Chute Clogged – What to Do
A clogged ice dispenser chute stops the refrigerator from dispensing ice. If you find the chute is clogged, soak a cloth in warm water, squeeze it, and use it to clean the chute and the bottom of the ice bucket. Doing this should clear ice particles obstructing the chute and delivery area so that ice cubes or crushed ice can dispense from the refrigerator.
Ice can clump in the ice dispenser chute when the humidity is high. As the ice clumps, it covers the dispensing area under the ice bucket and blocks it. While cleaning the ice chute melts the ice and clears the area, it is also crucial to check the chute regularly when the weather is humid. Also, check the ice bucket and ice maker for ice clumps, and break them if applicable.
Another possible cause of ice clogging the chute is irregular ice dispenser use. If you have an ice maker running and making ice without constantly using it, the ice will clump together and form big blocks in the ice bucket. Eventually, the ice chute will become clogged with ice due to melting and freezing in the ice bucket and ice maker.
If that is the case, disconnect the ice maker from the water supply and turn it off. Use it only when you need ice, and turn it off afterward. Alternatively, regularly check the ice bucket, ice maker, and delivery chute to clear ice clumps if you do not want to turn off the machine. Allow the chute to dry completely if you clean it with water so that the residual moisture does not form ice in it and clog it again.
You may also want to check the freezer temperature. If you recently used the fast ice feature or lowered the temperature, it may speed up freezing and cause ice to clog the delivery chute. All you need to do is adjust the temperature to a warmer point, allowing 24 hours between each adjustment. Do this until your freezer is at the perfect temperature to preserve food and make ice without freezing everything.
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