How to Troubleshoot a Kenmore Freezer Drain Trough Heater

Disconnect power to your Kenmore unit by unplugging the power cord from the outlet. Pull the unit away from the wall, if necessary, to gain easier access to the freezer. Remove the food from the freezer. Take out the ice cube trays and disconnect the ice maker.

Take off the lower back panel inside the freezer by removing the screws that hold each side of the back panel in place with a Phillips head screwdriver. Set the screws aside and lift the panel up and off to remove it from the freezer. Locate the defrost drain tube, which is connected to the evaporator tray near the coils. Take out the defrost drain tube and clean it with hot, soapy water.

Disconnect and remove the lower evaporator cover, which is metal, to access the drain trough heater underneath the evaporator coils.

Defrost any ice accumulation in the drain trough system with a hair dryer. Move the hair dryer back and forth over the drain trough to circulate the airflow consistently over the area to prevent overheating. Wipe up any melted water once the ice is melted.

Use a can of compressed air to clean out the evaporator coils and the drain trough heater, which can malfunction due to an accumulation of dirt, debris, food or frost.

Wipe the heater dry then reconnect the evaporator cover and drain tube before replacing the back panel and putting back the freezer items. Move the unit back against the wall and plug the power cord into the outlet to restore power to the appliance.