Water under the fridge drawers or ice inside? How to clear the drain and defrost
Water at the bottom of the fridge is almost always a clogged condensate drain. Ice in a No Frost fridge can signal a defrost fault. You can fix the first one yourself in 10 minutes.
- Most common cause
- clogged condensate drain, leaking door seal
- Time
- 10 minutes (drain), a day (defrosting)
- Repair shop
- 110–300 zł (drain), 270–650 zł (defrost system)
Don't scrape ice with a knife or screwdriver. It's easy to puncture the evaporator, and that's an expensive repair. Unplug the fridge before defrosting.
Step by step
Find the drain hole
On the back wall of the fridge compartment, usually above the drawers, there's a small channel with a little hole. Condensation water runs through it to a tray above the compressor.
Clear the drain
Gently poke the hole with a plastic cleaning stick (often supplied with the fridge) or thick fishing line. Then flush it with a little warm water from a syringe.
Keep food away from the back wall
Food touching the back wall freezes to it and blocks the water from draining.
Defrost the fridge
If there's a thick layer of ice in the freezer or on the walls, unplug the fridge, move the food to a cool bag, open the doors and put towels on the floor. Defrosting takes a few hours up to a day.
Check the seals and how the door closes
Warm, humid air getting in through leaky doors is the most common cause of frost. Check the seals, and make sure the fridge tilts slightly backwards.
Watch it after defrosting
If ice comes back in a No Frost fridge after a few weeks, the defrost heater, sensor or control board is to blame. That's a job for a repair shop.
- Ice in a No Frost fridge comes back after defrosting.
- Water leaks out under the fridge, not just inside it.
- The fridge stops cooling after defrosting.
How much does a repair shop charge?
| Clearing the drain at a repair shop | 110–200 zł |
| Replacing the defrost heater | 270–540 zł |
| Replacing the defrost sensor / timer | 200–410 zł |
| Replacing the door seal | 200–520 zł |
Typical prices at independent repair shops in Poland, October 2026. Authorised service centres and big cities can be more expensive.
Repair or buy new?
These repairs are cheap and worth it in almost any fridge. Cleaning the drain regularly (every few months) prevents the problem.
Check if it's worth repairing your fridge
Pick your model and fault. In 2 minutes we show the repair cost, what the device is worth and an honest verdict.
Open the calculator →FAQ
How often should I defrost a fridge without No Frost?
When the frost layer gets thicker than a few millimetres, usually 1–2 times a year.
Can I speed up defrosting with a hair dryer?
Better not. You could melt plastic parts. It's safer to put a bowl of hot water inside.
Why is there water under a fridge with an ice maker?
Often from a leaking hose or inlet valve. Turn off the water valve and call a repair shop.