Opening your freezer and finding ice at the bottom can be a frustrating experience. This can lead to users pressing their panic buttons and calling for a professional freezer repairer to come and deal with the issue. It is also surprising to many, especially those experiencing it for the first time.
So, why is ice in the bottom of the freezer? There is ice in the bottom of the freezer because of condensation caused by improperly closing the door. The ice can also result from a clogged drain line causing water to lack a space to escape, hence freezing in the bottom of your freezer.
The same view of why ice is in the bottom of your freezer is held by experts at Bush Refrigeration Company in Camden, New Jersy, who explains that ice will form when the cold freezer environment is exposed to air that is humid and warm such as when the freezer door is not closed properly.
How to remove ice that is in bottom of a Frigidaire Freezer
Removing ice in the bottom of your Frigidaire freezer involves first removing the food and then the lower back panel to expose the ice. This will allow you to clear out the ice. Next, run hot water down the defrost drain hole to defrost it.
If you start noticing ice in the bottom of your Frigidaire freezer, chances are it is blocked, or you failed to close the door properly. Both instances require different approaches when approaching the removal process, with the easiest method being condensation. This is when you fail to close your freezer window, and warm air interacts with chilly air inside your freezer, resulting in water spilling at the bottom of your freezer. The water then freezes, and the result is ice in the bottom of your Frigidaire freezer.
To remove ice formed through the process of condensation, you need to first remove the food from the freezer, then remove the lower back panel and proceed to remove the ice at the bottom of your Frigidaire freezer. I recommend using the Hopkins Subzero ice scrapper from Amazon, click here to see the pricing.
This is a lot different when the resulting cause of the ice at the bottom of your Frigidaire freezer is clogged pipes. During the defrosting process, it is expected that the water will fall into a drain that runs under the unit to a pan, where it evaporates. However, when the drains are clogged, water spills instead, and when the defrosting process repeats enough time, there is enough water to start forming ice at the bottom of your Frigidaire freezer.
In cases where the ice is not at the bottom but is clogged within your Frigidaire refrigerator, Frigidaire recommends removing the ice manually by removing the ice bin and washing it.
To remove ice formed as a result of clogged drainage, you will still need to remove your food and back panel and remove the ice at the bottom of your freezer. You will also be required to pour hot water inside the pipe to defrost it. If the defrost does not unblock the pipes, then an air pressure to blow the drain line or a mini-snake to run down the drain is required to unblock the pipes of your Frigidaire freezer.
Why is there water in the bottom of my freezer
Unfortunately, if your freezer has water in the bottom, it may be as a result of a cracked drain pan, clogged drain holes, door seals not working properly, or your freezer is not on an even ground, which is causing the water to spill to the bottom.
Starting to notice water in the bottom of your freezer can be frustrating. The problem can be caused by a myriad of reasons, including:
- Cracked drain pan: This is a freezer accessory that is found at the bottom of a freezer. When cracked, it can cause water to spill to the bottom of the freezer.
- Freezer not on even ground: If one section of your freezer is tilted abnormally, it can cause water to start spilling. When a freezer is tilted forward, it can also cause the seal not to close properly, resulting in water failing to drain in the drainpipe and spilling to the bottom.
- High moisture food: If you store most of your high moisture food in the freezer, the result can be increased moisture inside resulting in it dripping to the bottom.
- Door seals not tight enough: If the door seals are not tight enough, warm air can enter your freezer, and interact with the cold air inside, resulting in condensation which causes water to spill to the bottom of your freezer.
- Ice maker problems: When the ice maker is damaged, it can also result in water spilling to the bottom of your freezer.
- Clogged drain pipes: Clogged drain pipes can also cause water forming at the bottom of your freezers.
Here is a video outlining why there is a build-up in your freezer
Sheet of ice in the bottom of my Whirlpool freezer
Whirlpool freezer may start forming a sheet of ice at the bottom because you have left its doors open, or there may be malfunctions such as door seals not being tight enough, clogged drainpipes, or ice makers being damaged.
You may start to notice your Whirlpool freezer forming a sheet of ice in the bottom. The sheet of ice starts to form due to the accumulation of water in the bottom, which then freezes to form the ice. Below are some of the reasons why your Whirlpool freezer may start forming sheets of ice in the bottom.
- Your Whirlpool water filter starts to leak: Water filters are used to filter out any remaining contaminants in your water such as lead or rust before we drink. They are installed in almost all modern freezers including Whirlpool freezers. Unfortunately, when they start to leak, water starts dripping down to the bottom, which results in the formation of sheet of ice in Whirlpool freezers
- Whirlpool drain pan leaking: A damaged drain pan can result to water leakage. This water accumulates in the bottom and freezes to form ice.
- Faulty water inlet valve: Water in the dispenser and ice maker is supplied by a freezers water inlet which opens and closes to allow water inside. When the inlet is damaged, the water starts to leak, and can accumulate at the bottom of your Whirlpool freezer to form a sheet of ice.
- Your Whirlpool freezer water line is leaky: Your freezer water line may be damaged due to a damaged water inlet hose, lose hose fitting or faulty water supply, which causes it to start leaking. The leaking water can settle in the bottom and freeze to ice.
- Clogged defrost drain: Defrost drain is responsible for transporting accumulated water to the drain pan. When it is damaged, this water cannot be transported and ends up at the bottom where it freezes. You can manually follow defrost your drain and remove the accumulated water and ice according to Whirlpool official website, when you start having problems with your defrost drain.
If you notice your Whirlpool freezer forming sheets of ice at the bottom, you need to start looking at the cause. This is because there is a high chance that the water that is flowing to the bottom and freezing is a result of damage to your freezer. If your notice your freezer is damaged, you should contact professional services to help in repairing your freezer. If the water in the bottom was not caused by damage, then it is advised to safely remove the sheet of ice. I also recommend checking out Anti ice freezer mats on Amazon by clicking here.
Table indicating the various problems that people were having with their fridges:
| Specific Fridge Problems Reported | Percentage of Total Responses |
|---|---|
| The fridge is not cool, it is at room temperature | 38% |
| The seal on the fridge door has a bad seal, causing the temperature internally to rise, | 23% |
| Inside of Fridge was making a repetitive sound and then failed to get the adequate temperature. | 15% |
| The ice maker was not working in the fridge | 24% |
Why does my side by side Frigidaire have ice in the bottom of the freezer
You are seeing ice in the bottom of your side-by-side Frigidaire because your drain is blocked. This is diverting water from the drain that runs under the unit to the pan where it is then evaporated, resulting in the formation of ice each time there is defrosting.
Side by side Frigidaire Freezers is some of the most widely used brands of the franchise. They allow users to conveniently store items from top to bottom for easy access. Unfortunately, the side-by-side Frigidaire freezers are also prone to having ice in the bottom.
If you start noticing ice in the bottom of your side-by-side Frigidaire freezer, there is a high chance that your drain is blocked. Normally, during defrosting, water is pushed to the drain, which is located under the unit to a pan, where it is evaporated. However, if the drain is damaged, the water is not able to evaporate and each time your freezer defrosts, a new layer of ice is formed, resulting in ice in the bottom of your freezer.
The problem can also be due to storing food with high moisture. This introduces more moisture inside your freezer, and the extra moisture finds its way to the bottom of your freezer. The result is water accumulating in the bottom and freezing to form ice.
You should also check to confirm that your side-by-side Frigidaire freezer ice maker is working correctly. when damaged or malfunctioning, it can result in ice dripping down the freezer and finding its way to the bottom of the freezer, resulting in ice at the bottom.
Why is there a sheet of ice in the bottom of my Samsung freezer
There is a sheet of ice at the bottom of your Samsung freezer because humid air is interacting with cold air inside your freezer, causing condensation. The air may be finding its way inside due to poor ventilation of your freezer or faulty door seals.
Your Samsung freezer may start forming a sheet of ice in the bottom due to warm humid air finding its way inside the freezer and interacting with cold air, resulting in condensation. The warm humid air inside the freeze is mostly a result of broken door seals and lack of ventilation in your freezer.
The ice can also start forming because of unproperly shut doors of your freezer. This also allows warm and humid air to enter resulting in condensation. Also, you can check to see if your Samsung freezer is in direct contact with sunlight or a nearby heat source. This is because increased heat inside can reduce the freezer’s ability to cool, and result in water dripping down to the bottom, where it freezes.
You may also have placed warm food inside the freezer. This also results in condensation inside your freezer, and ice forming in the bottom. There is also a chance that your icemaker is damaged, resulting in ice not forming properly and water spilling to the bottom. The water then freezes and causes a sheet of ice in the bottom of your Samsung freezer.
How to fix ice buildup at the bottom of your freezer
Fixing buildup at the bottom of your freezer will require you to turn off the freezer, remove the food, then shelves, and disconnect any wire until you can successfully see the ice buildup and then remove it.
Chances are, you have started noticing an ice buildup at the bottom of your freezer. When this happens, it is mostly due to serious damage such as the clogging of drains or defrosting. Below are the steps you should take to fix the ice buildup at the bottom of your freezer.
- Start by turning off your freezer from the electrical wall outlet.
- Remove all the items you have stored in the freezer. It is recommended that you place these items on an insulated container to prevent them from going bad.
- Remove bins, trays and freezer shelves. You will need to squeeze the two sides of the light cover to be able to unhook it from the clips when removing it. Next you will also need to remove the light bulb.
- Ground wire should be disconnected. This includes the one attached to the panel beneath the light bulb.
- Next you will need to remove the screws holding the rear panel to the back of the freezer. This will allow you to be able to remove the panel and expose freezer coils.
- Use a handheld hair dryer across the freezer coils to thaw them. Make sure you aim down to the drain hole in the bottom of the freezer. While using the hair dryer, it is important to wave it back and forth to prevent plastic parts from melting. This step will help melt all the ice that is at the bottom of your refrigerator.
- Next start removing the water and add 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 cups of hot water. Then force the mixture through the drain line in the floor of the freeze with a turkey baster. This process will help drain and thaw any remaining ice.
- Next phase is putting your refrigerator back. Follow the steps provided in this guide step by step in reverse, starting from number 5, until you get to the point where you reconnect the refrigerator.