What the Sub-Zero manual doesn't tell you: Part II

Ever since the original problem was diagnosed 8 months ago, I knew what to do when the pool of water appeared on the floor under the freezer.  That drain tube had frozen up yet again. 

So, out came the drawers and the ice got chipped away.  Finally, boiling water cleared out the tube.  Until next time.  It was ok when "next time" was several months away.  But when the problem happened much more frequently than that., like every week or two, I had enough. 

I bit the bullet today and shelled out the $400 bucks to have the heating unit installed on the floor of the refrigerator section.  Sub zero did such a great job designing it...you don't lose an inch of space in the fridge.  Too bad they didn't do such a great job designing the fridge itself .

My 650 is a 2000 model.  I have a 550 that's two years older, also with the freezer on the bottom.  It never had a problem.  It seems clear to me that sub zero used an inferior insulation material between the fridge and freezer on the newer models.  Sub zero sold a defective product and should be offering heater kit installations for free!! 

Would be interested in hearing from others who've had this problem.

What the Sub-Zero manual doesn't tell you

We’ve had a Sub-Zero refrigerator for about 8 years and never had any problems with it. Until recently. I kept finding water drips on the floor and it looked as if it was leaking from the bottom freezer compartment. Thought an ice cube or two had fallen out because it was intermittent. It would be dry for a few days, then leak like crazy, and then stop again. Strange. We cleared out the freezer (needed to do that anyway) and made sure the door seals were clean and tight.
The leaks continued so it was time to call in the professionals. Turns out there’s a condensation drain hose in the fridge behind the vegetable drawer. When he pulled the drawer out, there was the drain and, sure enough, it was clogged with ice. He cleaned it out and poured boiling water to clear the tube all the way through. When the drain was clogged, the condensation had nowhere to go but move out toward the front of the fridge, down the left side door and onto the floor. Once that drain hose was cleared, no more leaks. The tech suggested a periodic cleaning of the drain hose with boiling water to prevent further clogs. The Sub-Zero care manual doesn’t even mention the existence of this drain, much less instruct you to keep it clear.
The tech mentioned that he has seen this problem recur in many Sub-Zeros because, after time, the insulation between the fridge on top and the bottom freezer can disintegrate, allowing the cold air to penetrate the fridge and freeze the condensation in the drain tube. Apparently there’s a heater kit Sub-Zero will sell you to compensate for its crummy insulation but it’s expensive to buy and install. So, for now, I’m sticking with boiling water.
Has anyone out there had this problem too? How have you dealt with it?

Keep things cool

Recently we answered an email from someone asking about why his fridge wasn't staying cold even though he heard it running.

Not long ago I was checking some items in the kitchen and decided to pull the grill off of the top of my subzero refrigerator, just to look inside.  I noticed that the coil was clogged with dust, grime, etc. and I figured this couldn't be a good thing. I vacuumed the coil and it's now running more efficiently than before.  So, even though I'm a fanatic about maintaining my heating and cooling air filters, dust can still make its way around. 

I recommend cleaning around the fridge coils 3 to 4 times each year to keep the appliance running at peak efficiency.  It's an easy thing you can do yourself to reduce your energy costs and keep things cool in your fridge.

 

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