Whirlpool Upright Freezer - drainage issue?

AWO123

Hi all!
I have a small Whirlpool upright freezer that's about 6 years old (model CV128W) - and it's started doing two things (1) frosting up very fast inside (2) water pooling underneath it on the outside. 

Some internet research suggests this is a drainage problem, and to clear out the drip tray and drip hole - and the user manual even says that in the case of excessive frost to check "Is the defrost water drain correctly positioned?". What the user manual doesn't say is where the drain is, or what 'correctly' would look like.

I have looked all the way round the freezer, inside and out, and I cannot find any obvious drip tray or drip hole. The inside of the freezer compartment is a completely sealed unit, no hole in the base or in the back wall at any height except ones that cooling elements and thermostat wires running through them, and are filled up with some kind of sealant. No removable panels either, except a small plastic screen (which I've removed) which covers the copper pipes you can see in the pictures. Looking on various DIY forums, I've seen people saying "if you have a modern, frost-free freezer than you must have a drain hole somewhere" so I'm finding this really puzzling.




Round the back of the freezer, there is the classic little black domed compressor, and pretty much nothing else - no line that can be unplugged, no tray that can be removed. It does look like some thing has been leaking for a while, since there's a little 'stalactite' build up on one of the tubes going into the compressor, and rust on the metal panel underneath it - but there's no obvious access into that pipe or anything that leads into it.




There a few obviously accessible screws in the back panel, which I've removed - but nothing useful is revealed. One panel removes thumb sized electrical box that looks like the controller for thermostat, and the other set of screws allows the top to be taken off - which just reveals a sealed panel underneath. 


Am I being very dense? Or do I have to suck it up and call out a technician?

Debran

Maybe your freezer is one that doesn't have a drainage system.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/191418/Whirlpool-Upright-Freezer.html?page=9#manual 

I have a Miele fridge freezer and although the fridge section has a drainage channel and hole, the freezer does not.  It says

"This freezer is equipped with a frost free system. The freezer section defrosts automatically.  The moisture generated in the appliance collects on the condenser and is automatically defrosted and dissipated from time to time.  This automatic defrosting system enables the freezer section to remain permanently ice-free.  However, the food stored in the freezer section will not defrost."

I realise that my post does not help you much with your frosting/pooling but perhaps someone more knowlegeable will be able to shed some light on your problem and obviate the need to call someone out to fix things.

EssexExile

It's not a frost free so it won't have a drain hole. It could be a blockage in the system, which will need someone to sort out & could be expensive.

grumbler

AWO123 said:

...it's started doing two things (1) frosting up very fast inside (2) water pooling underneath it on the outside. 

Some internet research suggests this is a drainage problem,

I don't know about (2), but for your fridge if the temperature inside is normal, then the only reasons for (1) can be

• the door not closing correctly
• open wet food inside

Also, air tends to be more humid in summer, So, if you open the door frequently this can be another reason.

grumbler

EssexExile said:

It's not a frost free so it won't have a drain hole. It could be a blockage in the system, which will need someone to sort out & could be expensive.

AFAIK, in such fridges there is no any water in the system to drain.

AWO123

Thanks all - this is very helpful. I knew I could really on the MSE forum!

AWO123

Or, indeed, rely on you!

EssexExile

grumbler said:

EssexExile said:

It's not a frost free so it won't have a drain hole. It could be a blockage in the system, which will need someone to sort out & could be expensive.

AFAIK, in such fridges there is no any water in the system to drain.

I mean a blockage in the gas system, that would cause localised over freezing.

AWO123

@EssexExile You were spot on. Local independent engineer came today - diagnosed it as exactly that problem. The top element isn't circulating gas properly and is causing localised frosting, which in turn is causing the freezer to dry and defrost more and creating the excess water from the (inaccessible) drip pan. Replacement is the only realistic option here.