Hello,
I have a Kenmore Elite 53606201 side by side. There was water leaking out of the front of the freezer. I noticed it was collecting down in the bottom of the freezer and eventually spilled over because the drain tube had frozen solid. I cleared all the ice and heated/cleaned the tube and it worked fine. Now it has done it again. Is it possible that the freezer is too cold, causing ice to build up so quickly or could it be something else? Simply a design issue? I have seen some fixes where folks wrap some wire around the defrost heater and run it down the tube to help keep the temp up, but I would like to remedy the cause first if I could.
Thanks!
Craig
Hi.
Please provide the complete model number of the unit.
Simon.
Sure, its 106.53606201
Thanks
Craig
Hi.
Make sure after you defrost the drain that it’s absolutely clean.Pour the hot water into it and then install the drain heater kit 819043
Post the results.
Simon.
Hi Simon,
Thanks for the tip on the drain heater. I worked on the freezer today and got the block cleared and the drain pan all dried out. I tried using a method I had found where you wrap copper wire around the heating element and then put a lead down the drain. I also ran a couple of leads laying in the pan. The freezer has been on for about 5 hours and there is already ice forming in the bottom of the pan. Is there any quick way to tell if the heater itself is working? When I took the cover off of the coils, there was not excessive ice buildup any where, just in the drain pan.
Thanks again.
Hi.
I’d like you to remove the rear panel in the freezer to open the evaporator coils. Do you see any condensation build up on the coils while the fridge is running?Does any moister dripping down in to the tray?
Try to clean the drain tube from the compressor end, best if you can use compressed air (do not get carried away).
Simon.
Hi Simon,
Let me add this to the investigation. I put a remote temp sensor in the freezer today to check the temp (its always seemed too cold). I have it set on 5 degrees at the control panel, but its reading -14. So is it freezing at the bottom because its just too cold?
Thanks for the reply.
HI.
Most likely it’s a different issue. Replace the freezer thermistor
It still not clear to me : did you install the drain heater of any kind ?
Level the fridge side to side and tilt it back just a bit.
Make sure the drain is cleaned from both ends, install if you didn’t the drain heater I’ve listed above.
Post the results.
Simon.
HI Simon,
The drain was completely clear on this latest cleaning. I dumped about 3 cups of boiling water after it was opened up and I could hear it dump right into the pan. I installed my own heater using 12AWG copper wire similar to what was described here:
Permanent fix for frozen drain
(****************.com)
Thanks for the link on the thermistor. Is there any way to check that part to see if its actually broken?
Thanks again!
Hi.
The resistance of the thermistor at 0F - 22774 ohms, 40F - 7008 ohms.
Do you mind to monitor every 2 - 3 hrs ice build up in the drip pan? It’s important to find out if it’s related to defrost cycles (every 8 hrs) or condensation drip.
Simon.
Yes, I’ll keep an eye on it. The freezer is at -21 now. Probably because it has not been open all day. Thanks for the specs on the thermistor. At first glance, there does not appear to be much more ice than what I noted yesterday after it had been running for about 6 hours. Perhaps that was due to condensation, as I dont see how it would have hit a defrost cycle so early.
I recommend you to replace the thermistor.
Simon.
Well, my heater must be trying to work, because my wife just said she opened the freezer and heard a sizzling noise. When I looked back there, I could see the water dripping down from the defrost cycle and hitting the heater wires laying in the pan and sizzling, so it is keeping it open. I just think the freezer is so cold, its trying to freeze before it can get down the tube. Not blocked yet, as I can hear it draining into the pan. I’ll check the thermistor this weekend. If the thermistor is good, did you say the controller board would be the other possible item? Thanks again Simon.
Don’t rush.
Let’s do it step by step.
Simon.
Understood. I went ahead and ordered the thermistor just to have it on hand since it was a cheap enough part. I’ll dig into it once I get the new part and report back.
Where exactly is the thermistor located? Is it near the damper assy in the top left portion of the fridge?
Thanks again!
Hi.
The probe is inside the freezer top, right.
I think the plug is in the refrigerator side, within the damper control proximity.
Simon.
HI Simon,
I received the new part today. I have not yet put it in, but I did research and learned how to put the fridge into diagnostic mode. It has a specific test for the Freezer Compartment thermistor and it says that it passed. That being said, I have had issues with the Ice Accelerator button on the control panel where it will begin randomly beeping on/off all by itself. Sometimes pressing the button a bunch of times will make it stop. When it gets in that mode, none of the other buttons will work (I think the switch is getting stuck in the closed position). I was tempted to pull the board out and try and clean that switch with some electronics cleaner. I also wanted to check its behavior with a meter and see if it is truly getting stuck in the closed position. If it is, I’m half tempted to just unsolder that switch from the board since we never use it. The manual says this button will drop the freezer temp to -10 or so. Could this switch be the cause of my issue? Thanks again. Craig
Hi.
Yes it’s possible very much.
Simon.
Well, I pulled the board, and although I could not really confirm that the switch was bad, I went ahead and pulled it from the board. Operation still seems to be the same with the freezer at -15 or so, and the fridge at 37 (set temp). But at least it has not been beeping at me 
I will go ahead and replace the freezer thermistor even though the test says its okay just as a precaution. If that’s not it, there must be a problem with the board itself. I wish I had the schematic for that circuit card, as its probably just one small component gone bad.
I’ll report back after I replace the thermistor.
Good luck.
Simon.