Magic Chef Refrigerator defrost drain clogged

If your Magic Chef refrigerator has a defrost drain clogged or frozen, the most likely cause is a failed evaporator fan motor that lets cold air sit around the drain and build ice. Check the evaporator fan by hand for free rotation, listen for unusual noise, and, if it won’t run, test the motor windings with a multimeter; replace the fan motor if it has no continuity. Next most likely is a clogged or frozen defrost drain or tube; try flushing it with warm water from a turkey baster and make sure the drain tube trap and pan are clear. Also inspect for a missing drain strap, which conducts heat from the defrost heater into the drain, and check any drain heater for correct position or operation. A faulty main control board is less common but will stop defrost cycles if it fails, so test the defrost components before replacing the control. Enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement fan motor, drain strap, heater, or control board that fits your refrigerator.

01 - Magic Chef Refrigerator Fan Motor

If the refrigerator's defrost drain is clogged, it's possible the evaporator fan motor is not working. If the evaporator fan is not running, cold air from the evaporator can migrate to the defrost drain causing ice buildup in the drain. To determine if the evaporator fan motor is defective, try turning the fan blade by hand. If the fan blade does not turn freely, replace the fan motor. Additionally, if the motor is unusually noisy, replace it. Finally, if the motor does not run at all, use a multimeter to test the motor windings for continuity. If the windings do not have continuity, replace the evaporator fan motor.

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02 - Clogged or Freezing Defrost Drain

The defrost drain might be clogged or frozen. If the defrost drain is frozen, the water will overflow the drain trough and drip down to the bottom of the compartment. You can use a turkey baster and warm water to help clear out a frozen defrost drain and tube. You should also make sure the drain tube trap is clear by the drain pan.

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03 - Magic Chef Refrigerator Drain Strap

Some defrost drains are outfitted with a drain strap. The drain strap is a small piece of copper or aluminum that attaches to the defrost heater and extends partway into the defrost drain. When the defrost heater turns on, heat is conducted through the drain strap to melt away any ice that may have accumulated further down in the defrost drain. If the drain strap is not in place, the defrost drain may be more likely to freeze over.

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04 - Magic Chef Refrigerator Evaporator Fan Motor

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05 - Magic Chef Refrigerator Drain Heater

Some refrigerators are equipped with drain heaters. Drain heaters prevent the water in the drain pan from re-freezing and clogging the defrost drain. If your drain heater is defective or is not in the proper position, the defrost drain might freeze over.

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06 - Magic Chef Refrigerator Main Control Board

The main control board regulates the power supply to all of the refrigerator components, including the defrost system. If the main control board is defective, it may stop sending voltage to the defrost system which can lead to the defrost drain becoming clogged with ice. Control boards are frequently misdiagnosed—before replacing the main control, first test all of the defrost system components. If none of the defrost system components are defective, consider replacing the control board.

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07 - Magic Chef Refrigerator Temperature Sensor

A temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the evaporator coils. If the coils are below a set temperature, the sensor will alert the defrost control to allow power to flow to the defrost heater during the defrost cycle. In the defrost cycle, the defrost heater melts away any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the temperature sensor is defective, the defrost control will not be alerted to allow voltage to be sent to the defrost heater and the defrost drain may become clogged with ice. The sensor can be tested with a multimeter to determine if it is functioning properly when the air temperature... changes.

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