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Almot's avatar
Almot
Explorer III
Dec 14, 2022

Norcold fridge - clogged drain tube?

Under the fins inside the fridge there is a tray to collect dripping water. There is a hole at the back of the tray, with a flexible tube going to the outside.

Somehow it stopped draining. No water comes out on the outside, the tray got filled with water, then it froze - I tried to keep freezer at 0F as it should, this required the fridge bin to cool down to low 30-ish. Now I'm checking it every day and manually remove pieces of ice from the tray - VERY awkward under the fins.

Tried to run 1/16 wire through the tube from inside - it hits some hard obstacle within a fraction of inch from the entry. Tried to push wire from the outside - same thing, wire stops after approaching more-less the spot where the tube goes into the fridge back wall. Tried to blow the tube by mouth from the outside - nothing, air doesn't go in. The tube terminates outside with a plastic plug and a tiny hole (to stop insects from coming?), removed the plug, no help.

Tray seems to be glued to the "holed" fitting in the fridge wall, or some caulk, can't pull out the tray to inspect the hole.

There were some dust winds in my absence, but to push the dirt all the way up the tube, and to pack it so hard that steel wire can't go through?

Any suggestions or comments on how to clean the passage or remove the tray, are welcome.

Model N611L, if this matters.

13 Replies

  • The tray is not glued in. Possibly try a little WD-40 where it goes into the wall. Mine ices up occasionally and the plug in the end has gotten clogged as well.
    JK
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    The odds are teh "Hared object" is ice.. I'd start with a full defrost and let it sit warm (Door open) for a day beyond that. After that it gets to be work.
  • Maybe an electric heat gun. Be careful don't let it get too hot and melt some of the plastic refrigerator parts.

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