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hotjag1's avatar
hotjag1
Explorer II
Dec 02, 2014

What is leaking underneath my refrigerator?

I had a new cooling unit and ice-maker replaced in my Dometic fridge about a year ago.

About 6 months ago, the refer started to slowly drip a brown substance from underneath the front of the unit. At first I thought soy sauce or something else had spilled, but the inside of the refer and freezer is totally clean. This substance is coming from below the refer box at the front of the cabinet that the refer box is built into. The odd thing is that it only seeps out the bottom of the cabinet for a day or two, and then it won't do it for a couple of weeks.

Could it be oil from somewhere? Does the ice-maker or any other part of the refer have oil in it? The substance has a VERY slight smell like oil, but not sure since the smell is very faint.

BTW, the refer cools and works perfectly, and so does the ice-maker.

Any ideas?

6 Replies

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  • hotjag1's avatar
    hotjag1
    Explorer II
    Dec 04, 2014
    From what everyone stated, it does sound like it is the drip tube. I checked the back of the fridge on the outside and the tube looks like it is connected up between the 2 sets of coils. I pulled on the tube and it didn't budge, so I'm assuming it is connected to something.It then runs through a hole in the floor that the refer sits on, and drains to the outside.

    Unfortunately, I can't get my hand up there to be positive that it is connected to the plastic drip trap inside the refer.

    Tomorrow I may try and look behind the plastic trough inside the refer and see if something is cracked.

    Thanks for all the helpful replies.
  • skipnchar's avatar
    skipnchar
    Explorer
    Dec 02, 2014
    Most likely, as already said, it's the "slobber tube" from your fridge which is NOT routed through the service vent. When it's left inside the panel it will drip on the floor and rot out the floor.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Dec 02, 2014
    As there are no moving parts to an absorption fridge there is no oil used.

    Food section has a drip pan under fins which connects to a drain hose that goes down backside of fridge in outside compartment.
    Dometic typically runs that hose to lower vent.

    Norcold typically directs it to a drain pan which usually evaporates the condensation.

    Other than the drain hose/pan.......ice maker water supply or roof vent leaking.

    Inspect outside compartment for evidence/signs of staining etc.
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Dec 02, 2014
    Brown substance... could be worse .. it could be green slime! ;)

    Actually, your hose leading to the outside is leaking or missing, causing your refer to drip down the sides of something. Water droplets then pick up coloring in the surface it touches as it drips (wood, metal, dirt, oil, grease, anything), and picking up the color and depositing on the floor.

    As other stated above, check that hose. More than likely, that's the problem.
  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Dec 02, 2014
    refrig drain hose, but it should be coming out outside,just a guess look in the bottom of the frig for a hole there should be a hose going to the outside open outside frig cover and find it.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Dec 02, 2014
    It might be a drip tray inside the fridge... I have never looked for mine but I suspect it has one and maybe evaporates to a dry state.

    I also have a small drip tube in my outside fridge vent panel that comes from the fridge. I have never seen any water coming from it. Mine has a snap on end cover.

    Looks like this google view of one...


    Roy Ken

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