Following this video advice, I utilized a 1/8 inch round piece of copper wire instead. Wrapping it around the heat element, using a plyer's to make sure the twist were tight. I then fed a couple of inches down into the outlet. It's been two years and still works.
I tried that too - the issue for me is that it's difficult with wire to make a "snug" connection with the heating element so it gets warm enough to keep the drain tube free of ice. I've tried it and it didn't work for me. This part has a nice firm connection that's much wider and can hopefully transfer more heat.
I want to thank you for this fix. I have 2 of these fridges and while they are excellent at cooling I've had a chronic problem that the drain hole freezes and all the water would pool at the bottom of the fridge. Twice a year I would have to defrost the fridge and freezer so the drain would be unclogged. Instead of the kit I simply used a piece of scrap copper wire to the heating element and into the hole. It's now been 8 months and I've never had water pooling at the bottom of the fridge ever. Thank you so much as this was driving me mad!!!!!!!
Glad to hear that has worked for you! For me, the wire worked temporarily but this part seems like it has a much thicker, more snug connection to transfer more heat and (hopefully) do the trick for me
Thankyou for this. Ive just taken my fridge freezer out and the drain hole in the freezer was completely frozen. There was a heat probe that lokks exactly like the one you installed, but it wasnt in the hole! Will secure it in & hopefully no more issues!
Thanks for this and the preceding video on fixing this icing over problem. I created my own homemade version of that $10 Whirlpool part, made by coiling a piece 12 gauge copper wire to fit down the drain tube and hooking it snugly to the heating rod.
First thing I thought was take the ground out of some 14/2 romex I have and wrap it around the heating element lol. The bad part is, you'll eventually have green streaks in your freezer lol.
So many just say melt the ice as if it won't ice up again, they don't ask how it got iced up in the first place or if it will just happen again eventually. Congratulations on showing a factory fix for this! Thanks! P.S. I'm not suggesting diy solutions but they exist, people do them at their own risk. P.P.S. Some jerry rig a diy version of this but if a factory fix exists why not use it? I know some use a copper wire from scrap of Romex or such but why not use a factory part especially if still under warranty... Copper? The idea is that it's good at heat transfer and won't rust fast like a coat hanger or a nail (not stainless steel) or one could use aluminum I suppose... And again none of that is manufacturer approved as a fix. I imagine they work though, metal transfers heat pretty well and some metals rust less than others... However, I'm not recommending any of that I'm just saying people do it at their own risk.
Out of all the videos I have watched about this problem of the drain hose freezing up, not one video showed that heat probe as a solution. Thank you thank you thank you for showing that! Because I have cleaned out the tube so many times, but I’m wondering still why all of a sudden did it start happening when all the years it never did it before… Is the defroster heat tube not heating up enough? But I will definitely try that heat probe and see if that helps. Again thank you thank you thank you!
Yes, most videos act as if it will not just ice up again and that's dumb, I mean why did it in the first place? If you don't solve that you just did a temporary repair.
Like a short to the point video. Have this issue on our 2009 GE profile. 2 years ago guy cleaned out lower drain but I did not see him remove lower drain and I think he only cleaned the lower end of it. So this year had the EXACT same issue and same guy took a total new approach. As soon as he saw the ice he said you have a pin hole somewhere in the coolant plumbing system. You will need a new box. He then went to the back and said compressor was too hot so it was going bad. A few days later it started icing again. Just do not feel this is the issue as it cools perfectly. Plan on a second teck. and now I know some of what to look for. This guy is super honest, but anyone can make a bad call once in a while. Hard to find a new one in gloss black by anyone.
I just put a 10 gauge copper wire to hook onto the heating element. Hopefully it will transfer the heat to the drain to the drain hole doesn't freeze up. Saw it on another video.
Take the lower back panel off, it should be a fiberboard or cardboard cover with flathead screws, then poke a ziptie through the black tube on the right that curves up into a J shape. A black ball of snot should pop out with some coaxing. Then the water should drain fine, if there is no ice obstruction.
Sam thank you for showing us this fix. I wish you would have provided a LINK for the part! -- Links are very helpful for DIY Videos and fixes. Thanks and best wishes.
At 1:46 he shows the exact packaging for the part. In less time than it took you to leave this comment complaining about his video, you could have paused the video and written down the name of the part (heat probe) and the part number (819043). And quite frankly- if you can’t figure out how to procure the part after being given all the information necessary to get one- then you probably shouldn’t be attempting your own appliance repair as that’s surely above your skill level. See, the thing is- people don’t only watch these types of videos immediately after they’ve been posted. Sometimes they’re watched MANY years later and in that time, links to parts may change, prices change, suppliers change, etc. If he had included a link and 4 years later when you watch the vid you click it and the website no longer exists, or that business closed, or amazon now has it but that wasn’t the provided link, or god forbid Sam had said what he paid for the part and then 4-5 years later when YOU need to buy the part it costs more $$, you’re gonna lose your damned mind. Then you and all the other people who were too lazy to pause the vid and google the part number would be right back here bitching about how he gave false/incorrect/outdated information, or accuse him of lying about the price. Jesus, some of you people are never happy. And yes- people leave these types of comments ALL THE TIME. If you want someone else to do ALL of the work for you, including sourcing parts- than hire an appliance repair person.
Following this video advice, I utilized a 1/8 inch round piece of copper wire instead. Wrapping it around the heat element, using a plyer's to make sure the twist were tight. I then fed a couple of inches down into the outlet. It's been two years and still works.
I had a feeling a tight twist, & a not too long wrap of wire would be best! Tks!
I tried that too - the issue for me is that it's difficult with wire to make a "snug" connection with the heating element so it gets warm enough to keep the drain tube free of ice. I've tried it and it didn't work for me. This part has a nice firm connection that's much wider and can hopefully transfer more heat.
@@maxh771 Same for me, copper wire made it easier for me to defrost it manually, but that was all.
It may not melt the plastic fittings
There are plenty of videos out there showing how to clear the drain. Thank you for highlighting the root cause and your solution. Very helpful.
I want to thank you for this fix. I have 2 of these fridges and while they are excellent at cooling I've had a chronic problem that the drain hole freezes and all the water would pool at the bottom of the fridge. Twice a year I would have to defrost the fridge and freezer so the drain would be unclogged. Instead of the kit I simply used a piece of scrap copper wire to the heating element and into the hole. It's now been 8 months and I've never had water pooling at the bottom of the fridge ever. Thank you so much as this was driving me mad!!!!!!!
Nice!
"This is a permanent fix."
(I haven't had to manually defrost the fridge in six years.)🤗🤞
Glad to hear that has worked for you! For me, the wire worked temporarily but this part seems like it has a much thicker, more snug connection to transfer more heat and (hopefully) do the trick for me
Short and to the point. This looks like a great and lasting solution.
Thankyou for this. Ive just taken my fridge freezer out and the drain hole in the freezer was completely frozen. There was a heat probe that lokks exactly like the one you installed, but it wasnt in the hole! Will secure it in & hopefully no more issues!
Thank you you were the only one who gave us the reason on why and how to fix the problem thanks again
Thanks for this and the preceding video on fixing this icing over problem. I created my own homemade version of that $10 Whirlpool part, made by coiling a piece 12 gauge copper wire to fit down the drain tube and hooking it snugly to the heating rod.
First thing I thought was take the ground out of some 14/2 romex I have and wrap it around the heating element lol. The bad part is, you'll eventually have green streaks in your freezer lol.
@@Robmancan1987 you would strip it bare of course. Double up use two wire
I am trying the 12 AWG bare wire tick first. Thanks
@@Alan-xz6yg 5 months on and it's still working nicely. I've had no further icing over problems.
So many just say melt the ice as if it won't ice up again, they don't ask how it got iced up in the first place or if it will just happen again eventually.
Congratulations on showing a factory fix for this!
Thanks!
P.S.
I'm not suggesting diy solutions but they exist, people do them at their own risk.
P.P.S. Some jerry rig a diy version of this but if a factory fix exists why not use it?
I know some use a copper wire from scrap of Romex or such but why not use a factory part especially if still under warranty... Copper? The idea is that it's good at heat transfer and won't rust fast like a coat hanger or a nail (not stainless steel) or one could use aluminum I suppose...
And again none of that is manufacturer approved as a fix.
I imagine they work though, metal transfers heat pretty well and some metals rust less than others...
However,
I'm not recommending any of that I'm just saying people do it at their own risk.
Out of all the videos I have watched about this problem of the drain hose freezing up, not one video showed that heat probe as a solution. Thank you thank you thank you for showing that! Because I have cleaned out the tube so many times, but I’m wondering still why all of a sudden did it start happening when all the years it never did it before… Is the defroster heat tube not heating up enough? But I will definitely try that heat probe and see if that helps. Again thank you thank you thank you!
Yes, most videos act as if it will not just ice up again and that's dumb, I mean why did it in the first place?
If you don't solve that you just did a temporary repair.
Genius, finally a fix for my ice problem, Thanks
Like a short to the point video. Have this issue on our 2009 GE profile. 2 years ago guy cleaned out lower drain but I did not see him remove lower drain and I think he only cleaned the lower end of it. So this year had the EXACT same issue and same guy took a total new approach. As soon as he saw the ice he said you have a pin hole somewhere in the coolant plumbing system. You will need a new box. He then went to the back and said compressor was too hot so it was going bad. A few days later it started icing again. Just do not feel this is the issue as it cools perfectly. Plan on a second teck. and now I know some of what to look for. This guy is super honest, but anyone can make a bad call once in a while. Hard to find a new one in gloss black by anyone.
You would think they would just install one of these when they manufacture it.
That 6 cents was considered too much. Better to keep the repairman busy with a $20 part. I can make that with copper or aluminum sheet in 2 minutes.
Thank you, my savior! Let me go and fix me my freezer ❤
Why they don't just have those in the fridges to begin with is beyond me
I know!
I just put a 10 gauge copper wire to hook onto the heating element. Hopefully it will transfer the heat to the drain to the drain hole doesn't freeze up. Saw it on another video.
Take the lower back panel off, it should be a fiberboard or cardboard cover with flathead screws, then poke a ziptie through the black tube on the right that curves up into a J shape. A black ball of snot should pop out with some coaxing. Then the water should drain fine, if there is no ice obstruction.
Whats the name for this part and is it universal? I have a ge fridge with the freezer drawer on the bottom
It's a Heat Probe..It is on the package. 👍
See video.
(heat probe) and the part number (819043).
Sam thank you for showing us this fix. I wish you would have provided a LINK for the part!
-- Links are very helpful for DIY Videos and fixes. Thanks and best wishes.
At 1:46 he shows the exact packaging for the part. In less time than it took you to leave this comment complaining about his video, you could have paused the video and written down the name of the part (heat probe) and the part number (819043). And quite frankly- if you can’t figure out how to procure the part after being given all the information necessary to get one- then you probably shouldn’t be attempting your own appliance repair as that’s surely above your skill level.
See, the thing is- people don’t only watch these types of videos immediately after they’ve been posted. Sometimes they’re watched MANY years later and in that time, links to parts may change, prices change, suppliers change, etc. If he had included a link and 4 years later when you watch the vid you click it and the website no longer exists, or that business closed, or amazon now has it but that wasn’t the provided link, or god forbid Sam had said what he paid for the part and then 4-5 years later when YOU need to buy the part it costs more $$, you’re gonna lose your damned mind. Then you and all the other people who were too lazy to pause the vid and google the part number would be right back here bitching about how he gave false/incorrect/outdated information, or accuse him of lying about the price. Jesus, some of you people are never happy. And yes- people leave these types of comments ALL THE TIME.
If you want someone else to do ALL of the work for you, including sourcing parts- than hire an appliance repair person.
Thank you so much! Where can I get a probe like that for a 20-25 y.o. Kenmore top freezer/refrigerator? Blessings! :)
Use a piece of 12 gauge copper wire if you have it, and make a little loop and that will work also
This will probably work if you can't find yours but no guarantees:
(heat probe) and the part number (819043).
See where he shows it in the video.
@@krishaley5502 Thank you!
@@michaelkulman7095 Thank you!
@@MA-bt8il It's a Whirlpool part but they sell as many brands and I think I got the parts number right but it's in the video as an image.
Good luck.
how do you get the clog out of the drain?
I just used aluminum foil and did three different probes along the heating element with one going down in the drain hole, hope it works
good idea if heavy foil. better with copper foil or sheet. Or copper wire! Simple
Does it have to be a copper wire? I'm going to use a old hanger wire!
the old hanger wire will probably rust
What is the gauge of the wire you use?
3:10 Why does it have to be that way around?
I'm guessing the threads are on one side of it. If the other way around it won't tighten it.
I'm thinking that either way, it will tighten well enough, but the hanging stem won't go straight down vertically into the hole. this>p...q
Where you find the tool?
Thank you for sharing Sam. That was good infomation. God bless.
Good stuff. Glad I found your channel
Super smart idea, thanks!
If the frrezer drain hole is blocked, can this cause issues with icing in your fridge?
Yes
Will it cause the rubber gasket under the pan to melt or cause fire?
no, it just extends the heater enough to thaw the drain hole.
Well done thank you for your help
Thanks!!! Just what I needed
thx ..great idea ...
Judging by the size of that package, you must have bought a lifetime supply.
Good tip..
bad ass dude!
If you don't want to spend $15 you may also be able to do this with a thick piece of copper wire.
See th-cam.com/video/_FqJxMdAi8U/w-d-xo.html
YMMV.
👏 👍
Scrap that nasty fridge! Yuk.
Bloody hell I would throw that out and get a new on, too dirty for me, 🤮
Now, Now, Patricia... not everyone can afford a new fridge once a year.
Yuck!! You need a new fridge...
Done this and now it’s leaking again so here we go again
Make sure there is no debris all the way down. Use the snake to clean up the pipe
How about compressed air? My snake refuses to go down that cold, tiny hole
I’ve seen a guy use a steamer to make sure the ice is melted and another guy use boiling water (make sure you empty out the drain pan).
omg! dirty fridge ! yuck!
Bs mine froze with the heat element