This fix worked perfectly for my GE Monogram refrigerator with bottom drawer freezer. I also used the copper wire down the drain hole tip! The job was pretty easy. Just take your time and remove the back panel and you'll see pretty much exactly what's in the video. It takes a lot of hot water delivered into the drain slot to de-ice the unit. You'll know it when its clear. Thanks again!
Just finished the fix on my Monogram. A few more screws than the Profile but, all in all, a very easy fix. When I removed the back panel of the freezer there was a ton of ice every where. To speed up the process I used a hair dryer. Be careful of the sharp edges on the metal panel. Thanks, Scott, for saving me a few hundred bucks and more aggravation.
Had this problem with a slightly different model of GE fridge. This gave me the confidence to go at it with a screwdriver and I think I fixed it. Thank you so much.
Hello Scott, THANKS! For the great post. My GE Profile model # PYE22KSKSESS refrigerator had a front water leak. I had a clogged drain located at the bottom back of the refrigerator. There is a rubber tubbing connector that's between the drain tube and refrigerator drain that has 2 small slots in the middle of the rubber connector. Probably flow restrictor. Well those two slots were clog. When I removed the drain tube and rubber connector water came rushing out. I took a spare rubber hose and blew up into the refrigerator drain to ensure it was clear to the freezer. Cleaned the two slots reinstalled the the drain tube, back to normal operation. It took 5yrs to clog. I will clean it annually. Once thanks for posting this video, it is greatly appreciated.
This video was super helpful and thanks for posting it. I have a slightly different and newer GE Profile - Model PWE23KSKBSS but the process was pretty much the same. For others with this model - I kept the door on - a bit inconvenient but manageable if you can fit in small places. Also it was very difficult to chip out the ice out from under the silver evaporator out so I used a hairdryer on high to help melt it. Be careful if you do this and make sure to have no contact with water and the hair dryer. On my model there is an aluminum wire running from the heating rod to the drain - maybe a later model fix from GE? But I added a copper wire as well to try and get more heat conductivity. UPDATE - so this did not solve the problem and 3 months later I had the same issue. So, I had a little Quarantine Project and tackled it again. Saturday morning. Three kids running around. One wants to dye her hair. Another wants to cut his hair. Do I want to spend $1,000 on a new refrigerator? No. Do I want to spend $250 on a repair man? No. Perfect time for those projects you've been putting off for three months! Like the leaking refrigerator. Tell Spotify to "Play Bob Dylan" and 4 hours later the problem is solved. See Nahium Chiu's reply below for the problem / solution. I had a block on the drain hose in the back of the fridge. Pull the fridge out from the wall. Unplug it. Take off the back panel. Pull the drain hose out and clean it out. It is a lighter-colored hose and the largest one on the back of the fridge. You can slide the bottom off to the side and take it off. Mine had some junk clogging it. There is a gasket with very small holes and easy to get clogged. This solved the problem and water ran through. I could have turkey basted forever and not made any more progress, and still had it freeze up in a few months again. But you still need to de-ice the tray and inlet as Scott goes through above. I predict if you have read this far and de-ice the tray and inlet and clean out the drain hose you will get 5 more years at least out of your fridge worry-free. Good luck!
Same!!!! I had gunge clogging the u-shaped drain hose at the back… removing it and clearing the passage with a makeshift pipe cleaner type tool… clears the blockage, reassembled and VOILA! … saved money and repair bills !
when I first saw the copper wire with the hook, I thought that was to push or puncture any extra ice still clogged in the tube with the hook to prevent it slipping out of the pliers and not being able to get it out.... I thought that was a great "tip" BUT when you mentioned it was a design for preventing further issues I then considered you a MAINTENANCE GOD! great video.
Thank you so much!!!!! This video was so helpful. I had turn my fridge off for two days because the freezer door was frozen shut. Finally got it open and so much ice...even after 2 days. Thank you so much again!!!
Excellent information and video ! Performed the repair and after removing ice from the drain, i removed the back cover on the fridge. I did find the bottom of the drain hose clogged solid with debris too.. All working fine at this time.. Thanks again !
Another thing you may want to check is the drain hose in the rear. When working on my own refrigerator I disconnected the hose from the gasket, it was clogged with dust and sediment. The water immediately rushed out. This was what created the problem in the first place. Just gotta remind yourself to vacuum the back of your refrigerator once or twice a year. I had spent 2 hours on this not realizing that I had already melted the frost. The water still wasn't flowing due to the clog.
This is a really nice video, but I would try this rear hose first because it is easier and probably the reason the drain froze up in the first place. It is easy to access. Just pull the cardboard cover in the back and you can see the little tube. It just slides off with a little twisting. Mine was clogged at the rubber coupling and also at the part where the tube bends. Once you get it out, if it is white like mine, you can hold it up to the light and see any clogs.
Already knew this but so glad I watched it to the end that copper wire trick is worth it's weight in gold. I've had to take apart my fridge to do this trick maybe 3 or 4 times now and it's happening much more often. Hopefully that trick will help me from having to do it again for a long time. Thanks!!!
I know this was posted five years ago, but it is perfect. I have almost the same freezer as in the video, with a couple of differences: 1) I had to unscrew the door rails and 2) the back panel has a fan with a power connection. However, I think I'm all set now. Thank you very much for your help!
Oh, also, our freezer already had a metal bit hanging from the heating element into the hole (GE must have watched your video!), but ice built up anyway. I suppose it may be a matter of time, or, possibly, the previous owners had the freezer set too high or low. Regardless, I don't have to consider buying a new appliance right now or trying to schedule someone to come in to fix it :D
DO NOT DO THIS FIRST. It is far easier to go to back of the fridge, remove the cardboard cover, then remove the drain tube. Mine was clogged with "stuff" from years of build up. Performing this first is a 5 min job versus the ~hour if you do the above. I would only perform the actions in this video if the freezer continues to build up ice after doing the simple drain remove, inspect, clear clog like I have described. Save your self the disassembly/reassemble time
Hey all, I removed the cardboard panel but don't see the drain tube as you do in this video (which I agree is wonderful). Mine might be newer, any thoughts?
Good advice here - I have a newer model with a metal cover. Behind that, the drain pipe looked fine, but after poking it for a minute there was more water flowing out into the evaporation tray. There was a plug of gunk that was slowing the flow, and after clearing that out I had no more leak issues!
If the drain plug isn't clogged why not just take all the food out..store in coolers, unplug the frig for a day and let it melt on its own? Safe all of the removal time?
Great Video. Helped me a ton. I was able to de-ice and add some copper wire for the fix.. Mine was still so plugged up from gunk, I had to open the back of the fridge up and clean the drain tube out from behind too.
This was the solution for my GE Cafe Series Refrigerator CYE22TSHKSS (2016). Slightly different layout of course, but similar back panel. Bottom drawer comes out with 4 hex screws. Catch area under bottom drawer and the back tray and tube were full of ice. Thanks for the video - helped a lot!
Thanks for the video. Note, basically the same for the GE Cafe series as well. In addition to the freezing of the drain, it was also clogged at the "neck" of the dicharge tube, so I had to open the back and clean out the tube, then the water ran freely. i guess that ended up being the root cause of the freezing.
Great videos, I LOVE that wire brush fix, GE should use that one. I have never had appliances give me so much trouble, I did my hole house in GE. Never again.
Awesome Romano, I’m so glad it worked and saved you time and money😊 I hope you’ll click here to support us by joining our Channel: th-cam.com/channels/7fBqy8806u1r0NpPv_fQ2w.htmljoin You’ll get Live Appliance help when ever you need it.
Great fricken' video... I had my same Fridge torn apart the other day, and removed the ice maker, thinking that was it... it wasn't. So, I'll be doing this process later today. Thank you!!
Thank you so much....looks like your idea with the copper hook took hold. My refrigerator is about 3 1/2 years old and there was already one inside it.
Great video. My question is - what was the reason for the water buildup (which later froze)? It will not freeze now but it will collect again and maybe overflow into the freezer. Did you check the other end if that hose in the back of the freezer? Was it plugged?
I have a similar model but with dual deck freezer. After 8 years of use it started to accumulate ice at the bottom and leak water to the front. If I remove the ice it will build up in 2 days then leak water again. After watching this video I figured by the time I took everything out to get to the defrost drain pipe, the ice in the drain pipe would have thawed anyway. So I unplugged the fridge, transferred everything in the freezer into a cooler box, left the freezer door open for a couple of hours, and it worked! No more ice accumulation for a week already. Let's see how ling it will last before the drain pipe is frozen shut again.
Hello Scott, I have the same model minus the ice maker and obviously the defect. Well, I have followed your instructions, we will watch it for a week and see if the magic works 🙂. Let's see... will revert with an update soon. Thanks so much for sharing...
Good instructional video. I have a later model Cafe, and it is much easier to get to the back. GE have also added the copper wire modification themselves. However, the fridge still has the same problem about once a year. I traced the problem to the plastic hose leading the melted water down into the evaporation tray under the fridge. The hose is designed to limit the flow of water. I guess to avoid the evaporation tray from over filling. This hose is, by design, strangled at the bottom, leading to it clogging up over time. This again leaves water in the hose that freezes, causing the same problem the video demonstrates.
Thanks for posting this video. This matches my GE and has the same issue. The second screw in the middle (3:30) is slipping though. Phillips head is damaged and stuck. Any way to get it out?
I'm having the same issue with my GE Profile. Would unplugging the fridge for 2 days fix the problem? If I do that, what will happen to all the thawed ice/water at the bottom?
I have a GE Profile MODEL: PFSF2MIYGWW -how to get my Drain Tube out to clean - Cannot get it disconnected. Stuck strong "weed wacker" line up tube about 12 inches can feel water. Hoping to do it the easy way, I'M 86
Great video. I did remove drain tube first. It was clogged. I removed clogged with a zip tie and a Phillips screw driver. The top portion which connects the fridge to drain tube was replaced with a automotive hose from advance auto parts. $1.68. Cut out a 1 inch hose and connected both with heavy duty zip ties. Success and thank you! PS. I defrosted the fridge.
If I do not hook up the ice maker will I have this issue? Will be getting an older ge profile from 2007 but no going to use the ice maker. Seems like this issue is not related to the ice maker though. If this is a case flaw wouldn't every Fridge with this design have the same issue? Thx
Couldn't/shouldn't GE do this video since this is a huge design flaw? Scott, this was so helpful. I put water through for about two hours and it never defrosted. I put it back together and the problem was obviously not solved. Any other advise?
Thanks for the video, Scott!!! I have a couple of questions for you,,, On the back side of the rear panel, there are two sections that are insulated. An upper and lower piece.The lower section, near the heating coil, has a thin sheet of foil adhered to it. I take it that it's there to protect the insulation. Well, about half of that foil (right side) was torn away, and frozen in the iceberg,,, that was built up in the drain-tray. I removed the iceberg, and rinsed the drain,,, seemed clear. However, every time I siphened the residual water,,, it seemed to back-fill back up to the port on the drain-tray. So I removed as much water as I could, by siphening with a long, small air line (1/8"). I verified that the water drained properly, using Hot water,,, then drained again. I then addeed 14 guage copper wire, as suggested. And re-assembled the freezer. It appears to be working properly again. Question 1: Is the missing foil a safety issue? Question 2: Where does the water that drains go to, once in the lower tray? Evaporate? Question 3: Why did the water keep refilling to the drain-tray, after I siphened it several times? Thanks again,,, Al
Good questions Al. It goes down to the evaporation pan below the fridge and the fan helps it evaporate. I think it filled up again from more ice melting above it. It should be ok without that foil👍
Thanks! Our GE profile 2008 fridge got clogged up for the first time since purchase at that time. I noticed that there was already an aluminum wire attached to the element and running down the drain. (Never got it fixed that way)
Yep, I know that model. Can you get behind the fridge and remove that lower panel, then pull off the drain tube and clean the gunk that builds up in the rubber grommet at the top of the tube.
Hi Laura, That’s a good idea you can remove that small back panel behind the fridge and that’ll give you access to the drain tube. You can just wiggle the drain tube off and check it for some type of blockage. There may be some ice blocking it above the drain tube that you can try to melt with a blow dryer.
I discovered another cool think with my fridge. Its hole is a little bigger than in this video. What I did was to fill the turkey blaster with hot water, put it in the hole all the way it could go and then squeezed the blaster forcefully using it like a plunger. It forced open the blockage in one thrust and the pipe became clear.
GE Profile model PYE22KSKBSS. About 3 years old. Started leaking. Big sheet of ice in the bottom of the freezer. The drain was clogged. Before taking the fridge apart, remove the bottom back panel, locate the drain tube. Detach it, and see if it is clogged with debris. There is a cone shaped part that diffuses water draining from the freezer. It clogs, the water backs up, then freezes. If you don’t clean this part, you’ll quickly end up with a leaking fridge again.
I would do that with an aluminum piece of wire. Using different metals like that will cause other corrosive problems we see in the electric world. Regardless though. Genius idea!! Absolutely genius!!!
Service many of these drain issues and have been using a portable steamer to clear the ice built up, also many steamers have a 90 degree angle piece that fits neatly down the hole allowing to blow steam down the drain to open it. Also remember to check the drain trap in the rear as they also clog causing this drain issue to return if not cleaned out.
Hello. I have the exact same issue but I left the fridge unplugged for a week thinking that all the built ice will melt but after plugging it back - the water appeared after about a week. Could u think of a reason? Thanks
I had a similar issue with my GE GFRS2KYBC SS and it looks like GE did add this feature to mine... but it still froze up, I am thinking that it was due to some power outages we had and not getting a chance to fully defrost. Kids leaving the door open doesn't help either. Great Video! thanks for the help!
Thanks - great video and easy to follow instruction. I have different model GE bottom freezer: PFSS6PKWBSS. I assume that the root problem is the same - just a different process in getting to the defroster. Do you have a video for that particular model?
My ice maker does not make cubes. The water just freezes in the tray and it also leaks. I've turned off the water and, of course, the leak stopped. What do you suggest?
I’m having this exact same problem I probably would have tackled this but the refrigerator part also will not produce any cold air really so I think it’s about time we just junk it
What I often find is that the real root cause of the plug up is debris in the drain hose that leads to the drip pan. The telltale sign this is the problem is when all the ice is melted and yet injecting more hot water into the drain hole continues to cause a pool-up under the evaporator.
So my drain issue has been solved but now the freezer panel on the back is starting to frost up. Temp is where it should be but I'm fairly certain there should not be frost accumulating on the back panel. The fins on the panel are being choked out by the frost and the freezer makes an annoying low pitched hum. I did a quick clear of the frost with a hair dryer and the noise stopped. Should I replace the thermostat or is time to call the GE repairman? That's the last thing I want to do. Really getting feed up with the GE brand. Everything in our kitchen is GE Monogram and we seem to have nothing but problems with it.
@@ScottTheFixItGuyChannel About a year ago I had a problem with the door not shutting all the way. Frost would accumulate in the front corners of the freezer but not in the back. This time the entire back portion of the freezer was frosting over. I thawed it several times with a hair dryer and the problem resolved itself. Very strange but I'm relieved that the problem is resolved. Thanks!
So let me get this straight, when the freezer is working properly it's SUPPOSED to drain to a tray below the fridge? Are we supposed to be emptying that try periodically??? Thank you.
So, how long after you cleaned out the drain did it freeze back up? Ours was built with the heating rod and it still freezes. Ours was leaking again in about 2 months. I'll be damned if I'm going to do this every two months. Time for a new fridge and I can assure you, it will not be a GE.
Bummed, it started freezing again after doing the turkey Baster thing, a little slower than before, and now my light doesn’t work, o guess I jiggled something loose, the bulb works in another socket, and some things are now freezing in my refrigerator 🙁
If I can transfer my frozen items to another freezer, can I just turn the freezer portion of the GE refrigerator off, leave the freezer door ajar and let it thaw for a day or two.?
The answer is NO, you can’t turn just the freezer part off.... it is what makes the refrigerator cold too. You CAN shut it off if you are going to move your refrigerator items to another refrigerator too.
@@ScottTheFixItGuyChannel @thetjw1968 THANK YOU for asking this! mine is a secondary garage fridge. I was all ready to take it apart, and there's not a lot in it, so...I'm not doing the work LOL. Hopefully everything melts I'm good to go!
Great video. Please include removing rear dust plate and check the drainage tube for debris. Thanks, again.
Great idea 👍
GE should pay YOU for fixing their design defects. You would think GE would have noticed this during their POC! Thank YOU!!!
Yep, just a design flaw
This fix worked perfectly for my GE Monogram refrigerator with bottom drawer freezer. I also used the copper wire down the drain hole tip! The job was pretty easy. Just take your time and remove the back panel and you'll see pretty much exactly what's in the video. It takes a lot of hot water delivered into the drain slot to de-ice the unit. You'll know it when its clear. Thanks again!
Yep,
Nice job😊
Just finished the fix on my Monogram. A few more screws than the Profile but, all in all, a very easy fix. When I removed the back panel of the freezer there was a ton of ice every where. To speed up the process I used a hair dryer. Be careful of the sharp edges on the metal panel. Thanks, Scott, for saving me a few hundred bucks and more aggravation.
Everything I learned about clearing ice from the bottom of a GE profile Freezer was from this video! Much gratitude!
Thanks Randall
Had this problem with a slightly different model of GE fridge. This gave me the confidence to go at it with a screwdriver and I think I fixed it. Thank you so much.
Hello Scott, THANKS! For the great post. My GE Profile model # PYE22KSKSESS refrigerator had a front water leak.
I had a clogged drain located at the bottom back of the refrigerator. There is a rubber tubbing connector that's between the drain tube and refrigerator drain that has 2 small slots in the middle of the rubber connector. Probably flow restrictor. Well those two slots were clog. When I removed the drain tube and rubber connector water came rushing out. I took a spare rubber hose and blew up into the refrigerator drain to ensure it was clear to the freezer.
Cleaned the two slots reinstalled the the drain tube, back to normal operation. It took 5yrs to clog. I will clean it annually. Once thanks for posting this video, it is greatly appreciated.
Our GE model differed slightly, but this was absolutely correct info, which solved the issue! Thanks!
Awesome,
Thanks so much 😊👍
This video was super helpful and thanks for posting it. I have a slightly different and newer GE Profile - Model PWE23KSKBSS but the process was pretty much the same. For others with this model - I kept the door on - a bit inconvenient but manageable if you can fit in small places. Also it was very difficult to chip out the ice out from under the silver evaporator out so I used a hairdryer on high to help melt it. Be careful if you do this and make sure to have no contact with water and the hair dryer. On my model there is an aluminum wire running from the heating rod to the drain - maybe a later model fix from GE? But I added a copper wire as well to try and get more heat conductivity. UPDATE - so this did not solve the problem and 3 months later I had the same issue. So, I had a little Quarantine Project and tackled it again. Saturday morning. Three kids running around. One wants to dye her hair. Another wants to cut his hair. Do I want to spend $1,000 on a new refrigerator? No. Do I want to spend $250 on a repair man? No. Perfect time for those projects you've been putting off for three months! Like the leaking refrigerator. Tell Spotify to "Play Bob Dylan" and 4 hours later the problem is solved. See Nahium Chiu's reply below for the problem / solution. I had a block on the drain hose in the back of the fridge. Pull the fridge out from the wall. Unplug it. Take off the back panel. Pull the drain hose out and clean it out. It is a lighter-colored hose and the largest one on the back of the fridge. You can slide the bottom off to the side and take it off. Mine had some junk clogging it. There is a gasket with very small holes and easy to get clogged. This solved the problem and water ran through. I could have turkey basted forever and not made any more progress, and still had it freeze up in a few months again. But you still need to de-ice the tray and inlet as Scott goes through above. I predict if you have read this far and de-ice the tray and inlet and clean out the drain hose you will get 5 more years at least out of your fridge worry-free. Good luck!
Nice job, Peter.
Thanks so much😊
Same!!!! I had gunge clogging the u-shaped drain hose at the back… removing it and clearing the passage with a makeshift pipe cleaner type tool… clears the blockage, reassembled and VOILA! … saved money and repair bills !
when I first saw the copper wire with the hook, I thought that was to push or puncture any extra ice still clogged in the tube with the hook to prevent it slipping out of the pliers and not being able to get it out.... I thought that was a great "tip" BUT when you mentioned it was a design for preventing further issues I then considered you a MAINTENANCE GOD! great video.
You are too kind,
Thank you😊
Thank you so much!!!!! This video was so helpful. I had turn my fridge off for two days because the freezer door was frozen shut. Finally got it open and so much ice...even after 2 days. Thank you so much again!!!
You’re very welcome😊
Excellent information and video ! Performed the repair and after removing ice from the drain, i removed the back cover on the fridge. I did find the bottom of the drain hose clogged solid with debris too.. All working fine at this time.. Thanks again !
Nice job Mark😊
Another thing you may want to check is the drain hose in the rear. When working on my own refrigerator I disconnected the hose from the gasket, it was clogged with dust and sediment. The water immediately rushed out. This was what created the problem in the first place. Just gotta remind yourself to vacuum the back of your refrigerator once or twice a year. I had spent 2 hours on this not realizing that I had already melted the frost. The water still wasn't flowing due to the clog.
Thanks for the info.😊✨
This is a really nice video, but I would try this rear hose first because it is easier and probably the reason the drain froze up in the first place. It is easy to access. Just pull the cardboard cover in the back and you can see the little tube. It just slides off with a little twisting. Mine was clogged at the rubber coupling and also at the part where the tube bends. Once you get it out, if it is white like mine, you can hold it up to the light and see any clogs.
I found the same condition too ! Thanks.
Already knew this but so glad I watched it to the end that copper wire trick is worth it's weight in gold. I've had to take apart my fridge to do this trick maybe 3 or 4 times now and it's happening much more often. Hopefully that trick will help me from having to do it again for a long time. Thanks!!!
Yep,
That copper wire does the trick👍
Great video. Followed your video and was able to unclog without calling a repairman. Thanks for posting
Awesome,
Thanks so much 😊👍
EXCELLENT video and play by play through the process. Saved me a service call and gave me more perspective into the unit!
Thanks so much Matthew
This worked like a charm! My model was a bit different, but the major idea was spot on. Thank-you.
Awesome,
Thanks so much
Brilliant!!! Will try that tomorrow, but looks like the perfect solution, easy to follow! THANK YOU!!!
Awesome,
Please let us know how it goes.
Thank you,
Mine was just a bit different, but did the job in less than an hour, no stress and I did add the stripped wire, great idea !
Thanks Jonathan 😊
Thanks for the video, followed your instructions and completed the task in a short amount of time.
Excellent 🎉
Thank you for taking the time to create and post this video. Perfect solution.
Awesome😊
Thank you very much. I'm not very handy but I'm gonna make this my project for tomorrow. I greatly appreciate your video.
Awesome,
Please let us know how it goes.
Thanks Scott! You saved me a new fridge much thanks!
I know this was posted five years ago, but it is perfect. I have almost the same freezer as in the video, with a couple of differences: 1) I had to unscrew the door rails and 2) the back panel has a fan with a power connection. However, I think I'm all set now. Thank you very much for your help!
Oh, also, our freezer already had a metal bit hanging from the heating element into the hole (GE must have watched your video!), but ice built up anyway. I suppose it may be a matter of time, or, possibly, the previous owners had the freezer set too high or low. Regardless, I don't have to consider buying a new appliance right now or trying to schedule someone to come in to fix it :D
Nicely done Ryan👍😊
That is very smart to put a copper wire there! Thank you Sir for the wisdom!
Your most welcome Nathan👍
DO NOT DO THIS FIRST. It is far easier to go to back of the fridge, remove the cardboard cover, then remove the drain tube. Mine was clogged with "stuff" from years of build up. Performing this first is a 5 min job versus the ~hour if you do the above. I would only perform the actions in this video if the freezer continues to build up ice after doing the simple drain remove, inspect, clear clog like I have described. Save your self the disassembly/reassemble time
Thanks Jason,
The back approach is the best to start with👍
Hey all, I removed the cardboard panel but don't see the drain tube as you do in this video (which I agree is wonderful). Mine might be newer, any thoughts?
Good advice here - I have a newer model with a metal cover. Behind that, the drain pipe looked fine, but after poking it for a minute there was more water flowing out into the evaporation tray. There was a plug of gunk that was slowing the flow, and after clearing that out I had no more leak issues!
If the drain plug isn't clogged why not just take all the food out..store in coolers, unplug the frig for a day and let it melt on its own? Safe all of the removal time?
If youre here, its probably MOST LIKELY clogged to begin with. Drains small=biofilm clogs easily @brianconnors2227
Thank you for the video!! Followed your directions to remove and replace the evaporator fan. Fridge works like a charm now!!
Thanks for doing this video! It worked perfectly. The copper wire fix is a great idea.
Thanks so much Brian😊
Brilliant. Great video. You save me at least couple of hundred dollars. Thank you
Great Video. Helped me a ton. I was able to de-ice and add some copper wire for the fix.. Mine was still so plugged up from gunk, I had to open the back of the fridge up and clean the drain tube out from behind too.
Good idea👍
This was the solution for my GE Cafe Series Refrigerator CYE22TSHKSS (2016). Slightly different layout of course, but similar back panel. Bottom drawer comes out with 4 hex screws. Catch area under bottom drawer and the back tray and tube were full of ice. Thanks for the video - helped a lot!
The gold is in the last few seconds of this video. the FIX! Nice!!!
Outstanding tutorials- from start to finish! Thank you
Thanks so much Bruce,
I really appreciate that😊
Great video! Couldn't have asked for better directions - saved me a service call for sure!
Excellent,
Thanks Kimberly
Thanks for the video. Note, basically the same for the GE Cafe series as well. In addition to the freezing of the drain, it was also clogged at the "neck" of the dicharge tube, so I had to open the back and clean out the tube, then the water ran freely. i guess that ended up being the root cause of the freezing.
Nice job Bob😊
Love the copper wire fix, brilliant!
Thanks Celia😊😊
Your video is a great help. Thank you. I also use that copper wire trick. Thanks again
Excellent,
That copper wire will help it work a lot longer👍
Great videos, I LOVE that wire brush fix, GE should use that one. I have never had appliances give me so much trouble, I did my hole house in GE. Never again.
Bush fix, not brush.
Yep. GE is expensive garbage.
Great video; thanks for your help!
Awesome Romano, I’m so glad it worked and saved you time and money😊 I hope you’ll click here to support us by joining our Channel: th-cam.com/channels/7fBqy8806u1r0NpPv_fQ2w.htmljoin
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Great fricken' video... I had my same Fridge torn apart the other day, and removed the ice maker, thinking that was it... it wasn't. So, I'll be doing this process later today. Thank you!!
Awesome,
Thank you😊😊😊
This was spot on! Very helpful! Thank you!
You’re most welcome😊👍
Thank you! Your video was so easy to follow and nice & complete. You saved us an expensive repair bill.
Thanks for the video!
What gague copper wire did you use to connect the heating element?
I fixed my leak today. Yay. Thank you so much for this video.
Thanks Christine😊
Thank you so much....looks like your idea with the copper hook took hold. My refrigerator is about 3 1/2 years old and there was already one inside it.
Thanks so much Gene😊👍
Great video. My question is - what was the reason for the water buildup (which later froze)? It will not freeze now but it will collect again and maybe overflow into the freezer. Did you check the other end if that hose in the back of the freezer? Was it plugged?
Yep,
It was a clogged drain hose. Usually clogged with ice. The repeated boiling water should get rid of it👍
I have a similar model but with dual deck freezer. After 8 years of use it started to accumulate ice at the bottom and leak water to the front. If I remove the ice it will build up in 2 days then leak water again. After watching this video I figured by the time I took everything out to get to the defrost drain pipe, the ice in the drain pipe would have thawed anyway. So I unplugged the fridge, transferred everything in the freezer into a cooler box, left the freezer door open for a couple of hours, and it worked! No more ice accumulation for a week already. Let's see how ling it will last before the drain pipe is frozen shut again.
Nice job👍
Hello Scott, I have the same model minus the ice maker and obviously the defect. Well, I have followed your instructions, we will watch it for a week and see if the magic works 🙂. Let's see... will revert with an update soon. Thanks so much for sharing...
And yes, it has been functioning just as good as new. Thanks again, gratitude 🙏
Good instructional video. I have a later model Cafe, and it is much easier to get to the back. GE have also added the copper wire modification themselves. However, the fridge still has the same problem about once a year. I traced the problem to the plastic hose leading the melted water down into the evaporation tray under the fridge. The hose is designed to limit the flow of water. I guess to avoid the evaporation tray from over filling. This hose is, by design, strangled at the bottom, leading to it clogging up over time. This again leaves water in the hose that freezes, causing the same problem the video demonstrates.
Thanks for posting this video. This matches my GE and has the same issue. The second screw in the middle (3:30) is slipping though. Phillips head is damaged and stuck. Any way to get it out?
No problem ,
Just use your drill to drill the head of the screw totally off and then unscrew the post that’s left with vice grips👍
I'm having the same issue with my GE Profile. Would unplugging the fridge for 2 days fix the problem? If I do that, what will happen to all the thawed ice/water at the bottom?
That should work,
Just put some towels in front of the freezer.
I have a GE Profile MODEL: PFSF2MIYGWW -how to get my Drain Tube out to clean - Cannot get it disconnected. Stuck strong "weed wacker" line up tube about 12 inches can feel water. Hoping to do it the easy way, I'M 86
You’re doing great. Can you try to pry it off with a flat head screwdriver?
So grateful to find this video. Thank you!
Great video. I did remove drain tube first. It was clogged. I removed clogged with a zip tie and a Phillips screw driver. The top portion which connects the fridge to drain tube was replaced with a automotive hose from advance auto parts. $1.68. Cut out a 1 inch hose and connected both with heavy duty zip ties. Success and thank you! PS. I defrosted the fridge.
Very impressive Jimmy😊👍
Looks like we will be doing this soon! Thanks for the instructions!
Good luck😊
Will unplugging our refrigerator work to do the same thing? We moved all our food to the downstairs refrigerator hoping unplugging will work?
Except we won't have the copper wire in place!!!?
If I do not hook up the ice maker will I have this issue? Will be getting an older ge profile from 2007 but no going to use the ice maker. Seems like this issue is not related to the ice maker though.
If this is a case flaw wouldn't every Fridge with this design have the same issue? Thx
Thank you for this video! I also used a hair dryer to melt the ice.
Good thinking😊
Awesome! I keep getting ice out but it keeps on doing same thing so THANK YOU!! Im going to do this in the next day or so.
Thanks Brandy
Couldn't/shouldn't GE do this video since this is a huge design flaw? Scott, this was so helpful. I put water through for about two hours and it never defrosted. I put it back together and the problem was obviously not solved. Any other advise?
Maybe it is the conversation below, clogged pipe I should look in the back right?
Thanks for the video. Could this have anything to do with slow ice machine production?
Thanks for the video, Scott!!! I have a couple of questions for you,,, On the back side of the rear panel, there are two sections that are insulated. An upper and lower piece.The lower section, near the heating coil, has a thin sheet of foil adhered to it. I take it that it's there to protect the insulation. Well, about half of that foil (right side) was torn away, and frozen in the iceberg,,, that was built up in the drain-tray. I removed the iceberg, and rinsed the drain,,, seemed clear. However, every time I siphened the residual water,,, it seemed to back-fill back up to the port on the drain-tray. So I removed as much water as I could, by siphening with a long, small air line (1/8"). I verified that the water drained properly, using Hot water,,, then drained again. I then addeed 14 guage copper wire, as suggested. And re-assembled the freezer. It appears to be working properly again.
Question 1: Is the missing foil a safety issue?
Question 2: Where does the water that drains go to, once in the lower tray? Evaporate?
Question 3: Why did the water keep refilling to the drain-tray, after I siphened it several times?
Thanks again,,, Al
Good questions Al.
It goes down to the evaporation pan below the fridge and the fan helps it evaporate. I think it filled up again from more ice melting above it. It should be ok without that foil👍
Thanks! Our GE profile 2008 fridge got clogged up for the first time since purchase at that time. I noticed that there was already an aluminum wire attached to the element and running down the drain. (Never got it fixed that way)
Yep, I know that model.
Can you get behind the fridge and remove that lower panel, then pull off the drain tube and clean the gunk that builds up in the rubber grommet at the top of the tube.
Hi Scott, Can I do this repair or process more easily from the back of the fridge? I can access it no problem. Thanks!
Hi Laura,
That’s a good idea you can remove that small back panel behind the fridge and that’ll give you access to the drain tube.
You can just wiggle the drain tube off and check it for some type of blockage.
There may be some ice blocking it above the drain tube that you can try to melt with a blow dryer.
I discovered another cool think with my fridge. Its hole is a little bigger than in this video. What I did was to fill the turkey blaster with hot water, put it in the hole all the way it could go and then squeezed the blaster forcefully using it like a plunger. It forced open the blockage in one thrust and the pipe became clear.
Great idea👍
I showed my husband this video and he’s going to try this fix. What size copper wire should he use?
12 gauge and lower is good👍
@@ScottTheFixItGuyChannel Thanks!
GE Profile model PYE22KSKBSS. About 3 years old. Started leaking. Big sheet of ice in the bottom of the freezer. The drain was clogged. Before taking the fridge apart, remove the bottom back panel, locate the drain tube. Detach it, and see if it is clogged with debris. There is a cone shaped part that diffuses water draining from the freezer. It clogs, the water backs up, then freezes. If you don’t clean this part, you’ll quickly end up with a leaking fridge again.
This looks like just what I need! Can I just turn off the freezer before this repair? Cant access the plug easily
Hi Kathy,
I would turn off the breaker for the fridge.
I would do that with an aluminum piece of wire. Using different metals like that will cause other corrosive problems we see in the electric world. Regardless though. Genius idea!! Absolutely genius!!!
Good thinking 👍
Service many of these drain issues and have been using a portable steamer to clear the ice built up, also many steamers have a 90 degree angle piece that fits neatly down the hole allowing to blow steam down the drain to open it. Also remember to check the drain trap in the rear as they also clog causing this drain issue to return if not cleaned out.
Great idea👍
Thanks!
Hello. I have the exact same issue but I left the fridge unplugged for a week thinking that all the built ice will melt but after plugging it back - the water appeared after about a week. Could u think of a reason? Thanks
That drain tube is still blocked.
Can you get behind the fridge and remove the bottom panel,
Pull off the drain hose and clean that drain tube👍
Did you have to have the fridge off for a period of time in order to reduce the risk of breaking the plastic parts due to being very cold?
Yes,
That’s a great idea👍
A steam cleaner is great for the hole ice melting... Then vacuum it out. Great vid
Thanks, great video!
Thank you😊
I had a similar issue with my GE GFRS2KYBC SS and it looks like GE did add this feature to mine... but it still froze up, I am thinking that it was due to some power outages we had and not getting a chance to fully defrost. Kids leaving the door open doesn't help either.
Great Video! thanks for the help!
My GE has a door alarm. Hope yours does too! It helps if the kids leave the door open.
Thanks - great video and easy to follow instruction. I have different model GE bottom freezer: PFSS6PKWBSS. I assume that the root problem is the same - just a different process in getting to the defroster. Do you have a video for that particular model?
I don’t think so but it should be similar.
Can the leak and clog and ice cause the fridge to make clicking noise . Like from the fan ?? TY !!
That’s right,
The fan blade hits the ice.
Is it ok to use refrigerator copper coil in place of copper wire? Just wanted to be sure it’s not a fire hazard!
I think that will work,
It is best to use solid thick copper wire since it’s able to conduct heat better.
Can you tell me which model# this is? Thanks, great video!
Could you potentially just unplug the refrigerator for a few days and allow the ice to melt?
You bet,
You can just open the freezer door and put all the food in the fridge along with 2 bags of party ice to keep everything cold.
EASY FIX (with several hours of patient dedication, years of domain knowledge, experience, muscle memory from doing fridge surgery etc)
😂😂😂😂
We have blue sputter on the back of the unit. Just wondering if this would be the same fix?
Hi - it worked. But about a month later it was frozen and leaking again. How do I prevent it from happening again?
Thank You
Wow! Te copper wire part at the end.. Genius!
My ice maker does not make cubes. The water just freezes in the tray and it also leaks. I've turned off the water and, of course, the leak stopped. What do you suggest?
I think the plastic tube that brings water to the ice maker needs to be replaced. Pretty easy to do.
My GE profile freezer looks a little different, no plastic tabs to push to get door off, not sure how to remove rails.
Thanks Kathy,
Maybe I can help, you can get more help here: calendly.com/scottthefixitguy/advice-for-fixing-your-appliance
What was the solution to this?
Using the copper rod was genius
Thanks so much Judah👍😊
I’m having this exact same problem I probably would have tackled this but the refrigerator part also will not produce any cold air really so I think it’s about time we just junk it
There’s ice blocking the flow of cold air from the freezer to the fridge. Just need an old fashion defrost.
Pls help I want to remove handles for samsung double door fridge
Do I have to cut power to the fridge while doing this?
I would,
It’s safer
What I often find is that the real root cause of the plug up is debris in the drain hose that leads to the drip pan. The telltale sign this is the problem is when all the ice is melted and yet injecting more hot water into the drain hole continues to cause a pool-up under the evaporator.
Yep, then it’s good to remove the back panel and remove the drain tube and clean it out.
Would just defrosting (eg unplug for a few hours) clear the ice blockage in the drainage tube
Yep,
Maybe 8 hours with the freezer door open.
So my drain issue has been solved but now the freezer panel on the back is starting to frost up. Temp is where it should be but I'm fairly certain there should not be frost accumulating on the back panel. The fins on the panel are being choked out by the frost and the freezer makes an annoying low pitched hum. I did a quick clear of the frost with a hair dryer and the noise stopped. Should I replace the thermostat or is time to call the GE repairman? That's the last thing I want to do. Really getting feed up with the GE brand. Everything in our kitchen is GE Monogram and we seem to have nothing but problems with it.
I think the freezer door is not closing all the way
@@ScottTheFixItGuyChannel About a year ago I had a problem with the door not shutting all the way. Frost would accumulate in the front corners of the freezer but not in the back. This time the entire back portion of the freezer was frosting over. I thawed it several times with a hair dryer and the problem resolved itself. Very strange but I'm relieved that the problem is resolved. Thanks!
So let me get this straight, when the freezer is working properly it's SUPPOSED to drain to a tray below the fridge? Are we supposed to be emptying that try periodically??? Thank you.
That’s how they work, and then a fan evaporates the water.
Where can I get the copper wire to do the same trick??
The local hardware or Home Depot will have it👍
So, how long after you cleaned out the drain did it freeze back up? Ours was built with the heating rod and it still freezes. Ours was leaking again in about 2 months. I'll be damned if I'm going to do this every two months. Time for a new fridge and I can assure you, it will not be a GE.
Bummed, it started freezing again after doing the turkey Baster thing, a little slower than before, and now my light doesn’t work, o guess I jiggled something loose, the bulb works in another socket, and some things are now freezing in my refrigerator 🙁
If I can transfer my frozen items to another freezer, can I just turn the freezer portion of the GE refrigerator off, leave the freezer door ajar and let it thaw for a day or two.?
Great video by the way. Very thorough in detail.
You bet👍
Thanks very much.
The answer is NO, you can’t turn just the freezer part off.... it is what makes the refrigerator cold too. You CAN shut it off if you are going to move your refrigerator items to another refrigerator too.
Can't you just turn your fridge for 4 or 5 hours to make this melt???
Yep, 8-9 hours with the freezer door open and having it unplugged 👍
@@ScottTheFixItGuyChannel @thetjw1968 THANK YOU for asking this! mine is a secondary garage fridge. I was all ready to take it apart, and there's not a lot in it, so...I'm not doing the work LOL. Hopefully everything melts I'm good to go!