Why Is Ice Or Frost Build Up In The Freezer?

If you see ice or frost build up in your freezer, then you might have an issue with the drain line or with defrost system of your refrigerator.

Ice forming in the freezer and frost build-up in the freezer has completely different causes.

Ice forming in the freezer related with drain line issue, but frost build-up related with malfunctioned defrost system.

In this article we will we show you the difference between them and how to fix it.

Let’s start with ice forming at the bottom and then continue with frost build-up in the freezer.

Drain line clogged

Unfortunately, there will likely come a time that you find that there is a build-up of ice on the bottom of the freezer.

Since the interior temperature of the freezer section of the refrigerator is supposed to be maintained at or below zero degrees any amount of water that is inside the freezer area will freeze solid at some point.

One of the more likely causes of water entering the freezer is that the drain that is designed to eliminate any of the condensations from the cooling coils has a clogged grommet.

In order to investigate the cause of ice build-up in the freezer is caused by a clogged drain grommet is not an easy or quick process.

Just couple years ago Whirlpool came up with idea to use a different design of the drain system, which is proven to be more reliable.

So don’t use old (original) design on above, use new design (see pic below). You can get this part here.

You will need a couple of tools in order to gain access to the drain for the cooling coil; a screwdriver and ¼” nut driver will do the trick (to see the video how to do it, just scroll down)

A word of caution, you will need to be ready to contort your body into the tight freezer compartment in order to remove many of the screws that are holding the drawer rail system that is inside the freezer compartment.

The first thing you will want to do is unplug the unit and disconnect the water hose from the back of the refrigerator.

Pull the refrigerator away from the wall so that you will be able to get at the back access cover.

To get started you will need to remove the screws that hold the drawer in place using a nut driver.

You will set the door aside and remove the basket from the railing.

Using a screwdriver to pop the two tabs that are holding the wire drawer in the bracket on.

Then remove the two ¼” screws on the end of the bracket on each side and remove wire rack and set it aside.

The next thing that needs to be removed is the ice maker and depending on the model you simply remove all of the screws holding it in place and disconnect the wire and remove it.

Now you need to remove the back access panel to get at the drain.

There is a vent that needs to be removed first and that is held in by a couple of tabs that you pop using a screwdriver.

You will also need to remove the thermistor cover that is also held in by tabs, pop them out of place with a screwdriver and remove it.

Remove the two r screws and remove the back cover.

Once the back cover is removed you see that the drain pain is likely filled with ice and causing the water to leak into the freezer area.

Using a screwdriver to break up the ice and also remove the layer of ice on the bottom of the freezer.

It is now time to replace the drain grommet with a new and larger size one.

To replace it you will need to gain access to the back of the refrigerator and remove the access panel by removing all of the ¼” screws.

Once you have the cover off you will need to reach inside near the middle of the unit for the rubber grommet that is attached to the drain line.

Work the old grommet loose and pull it out since it will be replaced.

The old one will likely be clogged or kind of sticking together which is what prevents the water from flowing easily out the drain.

Pull the new grommet out of the package and pop it back in place.

Once it is back in place you can put the back cover back in place and tighten all of the screws that you removed.

Go back to the front of the refrigerator and put all of the covers back in their place that you removed inside the freezer.

Hook up the ice maker and put the screws back in place.

Slide the drawers back in place and put the screws holding them in the brackets.

Put the basket back in their place that you removed and put the door back on and tighten all of the screws.

Make sure you hook up the water line and plug in the power cord.

If you see ice or frost build up in your freezer, then you might have an issue with the drain line or with defrost system of your refrigerator.

Ice forming in the freezer and frost build-up in the freezer has completely different causes.

Ice forming in the freezer related with drain line issue, but frost build-up related with malfunctioned defrost system.

In this article we will we show you the difference between them and how to fix it.

Let’s start with ice forming at the bottom and then continue with frost build-up in the freezer.

Drain line clogged

Unfortunately, there will likely come a time that you find that there is a build-up of ice on the bottom of the freezer.

Since the interior temperature of the freezer section of the refrigerator is supposed to be maintained at or below zero degrees any amount of water that is inside the freezer area will freeze solid at some point.

One of the more likely causes of water entering the freezer is that the drain that is designed to eliminate any of the condensations from the cooling coils has a clogged grommet.

In order to investigate the cause of ice build-up in the freezer is caused by a clogged drain grommet is not an easy or quick process.

Just couple years ago Whirlpool came up with idea to use a different design of the drain system, which is proven to be more reliable.

So don’t use old (original) design on above, use new design (see pic below). You can get this part here.

You will need a couple of tools in order to gain access to the drain for the cooling coil; a screwdriver and ¼” nut driver will do the trick (to see the video how to do it, just scroll down)

A word of caution, you will need to be ready to contort your body into the tight freezer compartment in order to remove many of the screws that are holding the drawer rail system that is inside the freezer compartment.

The first thing you will want to do is unplug the unit and disconnect the water hose from the back of the refrigerator.

Pull the refrigerator away from the wall so that you will be able to get at the back access cover.

To get started you will need to remove the screws that hold the drawer in place using a nut driver.

You will set the door aside and remove the basket from the railing.

Using a screwdriver to pop the two tabs that are holding the wire drawer in the bracket on.

Then remove the two ¼” screws on the end of the bracket on each side and remove wire rack and set it aside.

The next thing that needs to be removed is the ice maker and depending on the model you simply remove all of the screws holding it in place and disconnect the wire and remove it.

Now you need to remove the back access panel to get at the drain.

There is a vent that needs to be removed first and that is held in by a couple of tabs that you pop using a screwdriver.

You will also need to remove the thermistor cover that is also held in by tabs, pop them out of place with a screwdriver and remove it.

Remove the two r screws and remove the back cover.

Once the back cover is removed you see that the drain pain is likely filled with ice and causing the water to leak into the freezer area.

Using a screwdriver to break up the ice and also remove the layer of ice on the bottom of the freezer.

It is now time to replace the drain grommet with a new and larger size one.

To replace it you will need to gain access to the back of the refrigerator and remove the access panel by removing all of the ¼” screws.

Once you have the cover off you will need to reach inside near the middle of the unit for the rubber grommet that is attached to the drain line.

Work the old grommet loose and pull it out since it will be replaced.

The old one will likely be clogged or kind of sticking together which is what prevents the water from flowing easily out the drain.

Pull the new grommet out of the package and pop it back in place.

Once it is back in place you can put the back cover back in place and tighten all of the screws that you removed.

Go back to the front of the refrigerator and put all of the covers back in their place that you removed inside the freezer.

Hook up the ice maker and put the screws back in place.

Slide the drawers back in place and put the screws holding them in the brackets.

Put the basket back in their place that you removed and put the door back on and tighten all of the screws.

Make sure you hook up the water line and plug in the power cord.