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Do Refrigerators Have a Drain? (Quick Answers)

Refrigerators preserve the food by inhibiting bacterial growth on the food. At the freezing point, the bacteria become disabled and their growth is inhibited. It is how the refrigerator works. The mechanism of the refrigerator works by evaporating the water from the food.

Following the below tips and information you can get to know more about the drainage system in the refrigerator if it has one. 

Do refrigerators have a drain?

Refrigerators have a drain. Well, some refrigerators might not have drain pans. The water is removed and collected in the drain pan. The drain pan usually is on the downside of the back. When the smell comes from the refrigerator, the first thing you need to check is the drain pan. 

The refrigerator works by freezing the food. It preserves the food for a long time. Well, the temperature has a great impact on the microbial growth of the food. 

Low temperature can inhibit the growth and metabolism of microbes. Meanwhile, high temperatures destroy the microbes.

The refrigerator uses low temperature and freezes the food. Takes all the moisture from the food. As a result, the water activity of the food is reduced. Consequently results in a reduced microbial activity. The surface of the food would become dehydrated and appear as dull.

The water removed from the food is condensed in the drain pan. That’s why every refrigerator should have a drain pan. Well, almost all refrigerators have a drain for water. 

Yet some refrigerators do not have a drain. It rarely happens. Most of the refrigerators have a drain on the back.

It is right located downward on the backside of the refrigerator. You can pull the drain plate out and remove the water from there. Some refrigerators do not have any drain. In that case, the drain is unremovable. 

Meanwhile, other drains are screwed with the refrigerator and you can pull them out.

When you pull the plate out, you would also find water in it. Sometimes, the water amount on the drain might be more than usual. It actually refers to the problem in the refrigerator as well. You should check the condenser to avoid any problems in the refrigerator. 

Moreover, the smell can also come out of the refrigerator if there is any problem with the drain. Sometimes, the ice can also clog the tap. You need to remove ice to keep the refrigerator functioning. 

The drain is necessary as it collects the water and does not accumulate the water within the refrigerator. 

Where is the defrost drain on a refrigerator?

In most refrigerators the defrost drain is located just at the bottom of the refrigerator. In rare cases, you might find it in some other places. 

Defrost drain drips the water down to the drain. The water is then collected in the drip pan. The drip pan collects all the wastewater from the refrigerator. 

From the drip pan, one can easily remove the water. You would need to remove the screw to move the drip pan. The defrost drain is within the freezer and flows the water to the drain tube. If any problem arises, the water can not move through the pipes. 

Do these refrigerators have drains and where is it?

Most refrigerators contain a drain. A few may not have any drain. More likely to say, the drain plate is not removable. On the other hand, most refrigerators have drains that can be removed. As a result, the water can be removed from the refrigerator when accumulated.

Frigidaire refrigerator:

The frigidaire refrigerator has a drain but it is located inside the refrigerator. You need to work with the refrigerator open in order to fix the refrigerator problems or drainage problems. You can fix it as well. 

The drain is just located closest to the evaporating coils. Mostly below the evaporating coils. The water drains through it and removes water from accumulating within the refrigerator. You can remove the wall and see a small hole which refers to a drain. 

Samsung refrigerator:

Samsung refrigerator also has a draining system. The drain panel on the Samsung refrigerator is placed right beneath the freezer. It is along with the excess door portion of the refrigerator. You can fix it easily if any trouble arises. 

Whirlpool refrigerator:

The drain carries the wastewater of the food product and also the water evaporated while freezing. 

The Whirlpool refrigerator has a removable drain right beneath the freezer. It is placed near the condenser and beneath the grill. You can remove the tray from the freezer. 

Kenmore refrigerator:

The Kenmore refrigerator contains a water drain that is located beneath the freezer. And also the drain is always placed within the freezer. 

The drain plate can be emptied by removing water. The removability property of the drain makes it easier to clean up. 

Maytag refrigerator:

The drain on the Maytag refrigerator is also located beneath the freezer. You can remove the drain or fix it by opening the back panel of the refrigerator. There is also a hole to run hot water through the pipe in case you need to clean it. 

GE refrigerator:

You might be able to remove the drain pan from the GE refrigerator. It is attached to the freezer by a screw, you can take off the screw and fix the drain if it is needed. 

The drain actually appears beneath the freezer. Sometimes, it can also be found on the side of the refrigerator. 

Kitchenaid refrigerator:

In the KitchenAid refrigerator, a water drain panel also exists. Like other refrigerators, the drain panel is also located beneath the freezer. 

Well, there is also a hole for drain pipes. You can flow water, especially hot water through the drain to get the drain cleaned. 

Amana refrigerator:

The drain for water in the Amana refrigerator is located beneath the refrigerator. There is a panel for draining the refrigerator. When the water condenses or flows through the pipe, it reaches the drain.

It is like the water material of the water. You can remove the water from the drain to avoid further problems in the refrigerator. 

Do refrigerators have a drip pan?

Yes, refrigerators have a drip pan. The drip pan is indeed necessary for the refrigerator. The water inside the refrigerator gets evaporated and condensed. The water should have a smooth flow to not have an impact on the food. The water flows through the drain.

After the drain hole, water is collected in the drip pan. The drip pan mainly reserves the wanted water. 

It is the water that causes the smell. If the drip pan is filled, there should have to be draining problems, or the gaskets are not attached properly. You can detect the condition of the refrigerator through the drip pan.

Do I need to clean the refrigerator drain or drip pan? How often to clean? 

Yes, you definitely should clean the refrigerator drain or drip pan. You can do it once every month as well. The refrigerator drain holds the wastewater and drops it into the drip pan. The drip pan usually accumulates water through the drain hole pipe.

The drip pan reserves the wastewater, and after some time the waste can cause a bad smell. You might find a weird odor roaming at your home, especially from the side of the refrigerator. In that case, clean the drip pan immediately. 

The smell is mainly caused when molds are grown or the water has gone too bad. You should try to keep the drip pan clean. As it is bothersome to clean it every day, rather clean the drip pan once a month. Well, most refrigerators come with a removable drip pan.

You can remove the drip pan and throw the water out of it. After cleaning the drip pan, you can put it back in the refrigerator. You would need to remove the screw to pull the panel out. The drip pan is mostly located beneath the freezer and covered by the back panel.

Meanwhile, you should also clean the refrigerator drain pipe. Flow hot water through it to remove clogged dirt. Doing it would help to increase the functionality of the refrigerator. 

Final thoughts:

Overall, the refrigerator contains a drain. Wastewater is removed with the drain. The refrigerator works by evaporating the water from food, there is also a condenser. The wastewater is collected in the drip pan which flows through the drain pipe. Not cleaning the waste can spread a bad smell.