Home Page > Troubleshooting and Repair > GE Frost-Free Refrigerator > Condensate Drain
Proper Operation
Learn how your appliance is supposed to operate so you can determine if it is malfunctioning.
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Warm humid air entering the freezer section when you open the door collects on the evaporator coils as frost. In a few days this frost buildup would completely fill the evaporator section. The defrost heater melts the frost during the defrost cycle.
The condensate (water) is supposed to collect and run down to the drain in the bottom of the condensate pan. From there it runs down a plastic gutter at the top of the refrigerator section, out the back of the refrigerator and down the external condensate drain line to the condensate pan underneath the refrigerator (see drawing).
The short pipe going out the back of the refrigerator and the black rubber elbow in the back are favorite places for blockage to set in. The condensate will overflow the gutter and run down to the bottom of the refrigerator and eventually out on to the floor. Remove the screw at the end of the gutter and pull the gutter out. Poke a screwdriver or wire in the hole and try to clear it. For stubburn cases it is best to go to the back of the refrigerator and clean the lines after removing the rubber elbow.
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