Rain Pan Leaks in a Maytag Model 2256 Refrigerator

About the Rain Pan

• The rain pan is a thin, shallow metal pan that catches water that forms in a refrigerator from condensation or occurs when the appliance automatically defrosts. It’s located near the compressor at the bottom rear of a Maytag refrigerator model 2256. When the refrigerator is working properly, water evaporates once inside the pan as a fan blows warm air over it.

Signs of a Leak

• A leaky rain pan causes water to collect in the back of a Maytag refrigerator. Only if the refrigerator has shifted out of place should you find water underneath the front of the refrigerator, notes Repair Clinic. A leaky rain pan almost always has holes, punctures or cracks that allow water to escape, which you can confirm upon visual inspection of the pan.

Rain Pan Replacement

• Obtain a new rain pan from Maytag directly or from an appliance parts retailer that sells Maytag replacement parts. A pan is held to the refrigerator with an adhesive. Without too much effort, you should be able to lift off the existing pan. Apply a waterproof adhesive to the bottom of the new pan, and put it in the same place the faulty pan was located. If you choose not to apply an adhesive, the pan can shift or rattle.

Considerations

• Occasionally, a rain pan can overflow and leak water onto the kitchen floor. For example, if the tube that dispenses water into the rain pan on your Maytag refrigerator becomes blocked, water can back up into the tube. Once the blockage clears, water can rush out of the tube and possibly flood the pan, giving the appearance that the rain pan is leaking when it’s just overflowing.