How to Drain the Pan Under a Whirlpool Refrigerator

Defrost Pan

• Before the invention of self-defrosting units, refrigerators would develop a thick layer of frost in the freezer section. Periodically, household duties required you to turn off the appliance, remove the food and melt the ice. Self-defrosting refrigerators do this for you, draining the water to a pan under the unit.

Frequency

• When your Whirlpool refrigerator is working properly, the water in the defrost pan evaporates on its on and you don’t need to drain it. However, if your pan starts to overflow and leak, you must drain it. An overflowing defrost pan can indicate a leak in the filtration system or an issue with the unit's defrosting system. You may need to consult a certified Whirlpool repairman.

How to Drain the Pan

• Open the refrigerator door. Pull the base grille off the unit by grabbing it from the top to the bottom. Slide the defrost pan from under the unit. Empty out any water in the pan. Use a sponge or soft cloth along with a mild detergent to wash it. Rinse the pan thoroughly and dry it before putting it back under the unit. Put the base grille back on the unit and close the refrigerator door.

While You’re Down There

• While you have the base grille and defrost pan off of your Whirlpool refrigerator, it’s a good idea to clean the condenser coils under the unit. Cleaning the coils every other month helps the refrigerator operate more efficiently, saving on energy use. Use a vacuum cleaner attachment or a soft dust cloth to clean off the dust that collects on the coils.