Ice forming in bottom of Indesit Fridge Freezer

[ipbr21054]

I have a INDESIT fridge freezer which the other day i was unable to pull out the bottom drawer.When i did manage to get it out i could see ice below & that was the issue as to why it was stuck. I removed the ice but after a couple of days its back again.

I read about blocked drain hose but not sure where it is.

Looking at the back of the unit at the bottom i see the condenser if that's its name, stumpy cylinder item which has a plastic tray above it.
The tray is dry & no water in it.
I also see a rubber part which I assume is where water is supposed to drip from into this tray, this is also dry.

In the freezer I have removed all the trays & taken off the back cover to expose the photo shown below.
Please can you advise any steps that i now need to take.
The 2 square windows either side had a lump of ice build up in both.
The is also a length of ice build up in front of the aluminium fins that you can see going side to side
.
Ideally I would switch the unit off but I have nowhere to put the frozen food.

Just some info for you.
I keep a temp gauge in the fridge above & that is showing 7/10 degrees.
The temp knob in the fridge is set to medium.
The food in the freezer is still frozen & not thawing

 

[Alec_t]

You need to find a temporary storage location for the food (friend/neighbour/insulated box?), then switch off the freezer and let all the ice thaw. Bowls of hot water on the freezer shelves can speed up the process. Thoroughly check that drainage to outside the freezer is totally clear of ice before switching back on. Let temperature drop below minus 5C before replacing food.

 

[JohnD]

Is it a Frost Free Freezer?

Dozens of threads about this common problem of clogged ducts.
(See below)

Keep it open until water stops dripping, both inside the cabinet and into the collection dish at the back
(Clean out the dish)

The start of the problem might have been leaving the door open, or having leaky door seals, a blocked drain, or a failed defrost circuit.

The fourth cause is often beyond economic repair.

See if it clogs again within a year. Scrap it if yes.

Unless you have access to another freezer with enough space, put your food in a bin liner, put that in a large cardboard box, put that in a larger cardboard box so there is an air gap, wrap it in a duvet. This will keep it cold for a day or so. Eat the ice cream today.

 

[ipbr21054]

You need to find a temporary storage location for the food (friend/neighbour/insulated box?), then switch off the freezer and let all the ice thaw. Bowls of hot water on the freezer shelves can speed up the process. Thoroughly check that drainage to outside the freezer is totally clear of ice before switching back on. Let temperature drop below minus 5C before replacing food.

With regards drainage to outside the freezer is that the black rubber hose that I assume delivers water to the tray above compressor ?

 

[ipbr21054]

Is it a Frost Free Freezer?

Dozens of threads about this common problem of clogged ducts.
(See below)

Keep it open until water stops dripping, both inside the cabinet and into the collection dish at the back
(Clean out the dish)

The start of the problem might have been leaving the door open, or having leaky door seals, a blocked drain, or a failed defrost circuit.

The fourth cause is often beyond economic repair.

See if it clogs again within a year. Scrap it if yes.

Unless you have access to another freezer with enough space, put your food in a bin liner, put that in a large cardboard box, put that in a larger cardboard box so there is an air gap, wrap it in a duvet. This will keep it cold for a day or so. Eat the ice cream today.

Yes frost free & I did look at other posts. Most advise the issue but I was asking as to where the drainage hole / pipe etc is located just in case I could remove something but sounds like the issue is a build up of ice.

 

[JohnD]

I was asking as to where the drainage hole / pipe etc is located

You might be able to see it when the ice has melted. There is usually a gutter or slope running to a hole, which has a pipe leading to an evaporation dish. This dish is often full of fungus and grime, sometime a frozen pea blocks the outlet.

 

[ipbr21054]

So the slope will be the other side of that rubber hose I see above the tray

 

[JohnD]

I can't see the rubber. I'd expect a gutter under the finned tubes to catch drips.

 

[ipbr21054]

Inside the 2 windows are say 1 1/2 inch of ice.
The 3 arrows blow are ice left to right so maybe under there.

Food now in friends freezer.
Door wide open but adding a bowl of hot water in the freezer to speed things up will the heat go up into the fridge as this wasnt removed just the frozen food.

 

[JohnD]

Cook and eat any meat or fish before it gets to room temperature. Otherwise you will have to throw it away.

Put your thermometer in the fridge so you will see it it warns up.

 

[ipbr21054]

Last night the ice was thawing & i was able to remove it.
I had left the door open until this morning where i then gave it a wipe around.

All drawers refitted & the tray at the back was nearly full of water.
Ive now removed that water & switched it back on.

Now been on 4 hours & will replace food tomorrow.

In the photo behind that white polystyrene piece is the sloping channel you mention with a drain hole say 3/4 inch diameter.

Thanks for the help & advice

 

[foxhole]

A cable tie can be used to clear drain hole as it’s flexible.
Constant freezing at base can also indicated blocked pipework, the lining can deteriorate to the point it blocks up , which is often terminal for fridge due to repair cost .

 

[jj4091]

Cook and eat any meat or fish before it gets to room temperature. Otherwise you will have to throw it away.

Put your thermometer in the fridge so you will see it it warns up.

I rercently read an article that said refreezing things that have thawed out should not be done, is actually a myth and as long as they don't become rancid or obviously go off then refreezing is fine. I have tried it with beef and lamb without any problem.