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If you’ve experienced having a somewhat smelly kitchen despite your best efforts to keep it clean, you’re not alone. The source of the foul odours could be your fridge.
What many people don’t know about their fridges is that they have a drain hole, which if not cleaned properly, can cause a plethora of unpleasant kitchen smells and affect the performance of your fridge.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll get tips on how to clean the drain hole at the back of your fridge, especially if the drain hole in the fridge is blocked. Let’s get started.
Where Is Your Fridge Drain Hole and What Does It Do?
Usually, the fridge drain hole can be found at the base of the back wall, with ridges leading down towards it to guide beads of moisture. It is usually found as a small opening that is located at the back of your fridge’s freezer compartment, normally behind the salad drawers.
However, the location may vary for different fridges and it’s advisable to consult your fridge’s user manual if you aren’t sure of where it is located.
Normally, when condensation forms in your fridge, the water runs down to the fridge hole into the tray or drain pan at the base. The purpose of this drain hole is to catch the moisture which collects in a fridge, particularly that which builds up on the back wall of the fridge.
If the drain hole becomes blocked, this then causes problems for the rest of your refrigerator.
Many people aren’t aware that their fridge contains a drain hole and live with foul smells in their kitchen without knowing where the source of the issue is. Apart from unpleasant smells, a clogged fridge drain hole can also cause leaks and affect your fridge’s cooling performance.
How to Check if Your Fridge Drain Hole is Blocked: Common Signs
Identifying the problem with your fridge drain hole is quite simple. Here are a few common signs that you’ll require a cleaning of your fridge drain.
- Water pools at the bottom of your fridge: Without an exit point for the water, it tends to pool on your bottom shelf and in your salad box or drawers. This can impact the quality of your foods, making them soggy and potentially helping develop mould at a rapid pace.
- Bad smells, mouldy food and stagnant water: You should also look out for bad smells (like mouldy food or stagnant water) and droplets on the back wall.
- Reduced cooling efficiency: A blocked drain hole can affect your fridge’s cooling cycle. This can then lead to inadequate temperature regulation and compromised cooling performance.
While there is little you can do to prevent your freezer drain hole becoming blocked, as it depends how much food debris is in your fridge at any point, by cleaning your fridge drain hole on a regular basis, you can prevent the debris getting into this hole and blocking it off.
In addition, you may think that a quick wipe might fix the issue over the short term, but you should try unblocking the hole as soon as possible.
How to unblock your fridge drain hole
Unblocking your fridge drain hole is an easy and painless task, putting your refrigerator back in good order once again. Here are a few proven tips on how to clean drain hole at the back of a fridge and how to unblock a fridge drain hole.
Step 1
Switch off your fridge from its power source.
Step 2
Remove all food and drawers from inside the fridge.
Step 3
Mop up all the excess water that has collected in the bottom of your fridge and in the drawer or box at the bottom. Also, remove the drain hole cover if your fridge has one.
Step 4
Once dry, you can clear the debris from the hole. You can do this with either a specific hole clearing tool you get with the fridge, or with a straw, cotton bud or pipe cleaner.
Step 5
Poke whichever implement you are using into the hole, but don’t let go as this will block it further. This should help to clear the hole in a matter of seconds.
Step 6
Once cleaned, replace the cover and switch the fridge back on at the power source.
Step 7
Finally, try to keep your fridge free from debris as much as possible to avoid having to unblock the drain hole continuously.
Still Finding Pools of Water in Your Fridge?
If you’re still wondering why does my fridge fill with water, the problem could be wedged further down the fridge hole. In such cases, you can try pouring some warm water down the hole, mixed with washing up liquid, to flush out any lodged debris there.
When you’re ready, it’s advisable to check and empty the drain tray as you do not want it to overflow. And if this doesn’t help and your fridge fills with water, it’s likely that another part of your fridge could be faulty.
How to Help Water From Pooling
Did you know that there are active steps you can take to prevent water pooling in your fridge? Here are some tips to bear in mind:
- Avoid stacking the items in your fridge too close together. Rather leave space for air to circulate and dry them.
- Regularly wipe the surfaces inside and avoid opening the door too often.
Conclusion
While the steps and process mentioned above may need to be repeated from time to time, you’ll ensure a healthier and better performing fridge.
However, if your fridge is still collecting water and pooling at the bottom or on shelves or your fridge drain hole won’t unblock, you might have a more serious problem.
For any make or model of fridge in need of repair, at Domex we have a team of dedicated engineers who can take care of the issue in no time at all. Simply contact us to book an appointment or call us on 0330 210 2100 to discuss your needs.