How To Replace Whirlpool Fridge Evaporator Drip Pan WP2254574

Tired of puddles forming beneath your refrigerator? A cracked or clogged evaporator drip pan might be the culprit, causing leaks and unpleasant odors in your kitchen. Fear not—our easy-to-follow guide, complete with a helpful how-to video below, will show you exactly how to replace it and keep your fridge leak-free and odorless!

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Noticing water pooling under your Whirlpool, KitchenAid, or Maytag fridge? It could be a cracked or clogged evaporator drip pan (part #WP2254574) causing the mess. This small but important part collects and helps evaporate defrost water—but when it’s damaged, you might end up with leaks or funky smells. Luckily, replacing the drip pan is a pretty straightforward fix. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to swap it out and keep your fridge running clean and dry. Let’s get started!

Watch the repair here: How to replaced evaporator drip pan

The information in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.

Tools and materials needed

For this repair you will need:

• 1/4-in nut driver
• Utility knife
• Putty knife

• Evaporator drip pan: Part # WP2254574– Take your model number to AppliancePartsPros.com to locate the correct part for your unit.

Safety precautions

When working on any appliance, remember to keep safety first. Here are some tips to keep in mind: 

• Always power off and unplug your appliance or switch off the circuit breaker before attempting any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by preventing any risk of injury from electric shock.
• Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts, pinching hazards and debris.
• Take your time and don’t rush while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries.
• Work in a well-lit area so you can clearly see and access the interior parts.
• Clear your workspace of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
• Never work on internal parts with bare wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
• Check your user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions for your part or appliance. 
• Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the appliance or cause injury.
• Wear safety glasses when working with chemicals, dust or cleaning large debris to prevent injury. 
• If the appliance has recently been used, give it plenty of time for any heating parts to cool down before working on it. 
• Take pictures or make a note of wiring terminals or other connections before disconnecting to prevent any problems with reassembly.
• When working with wires, avoid touching any exposed wires or terminals. If you need to touch a wire, use a non-conductive tool or wear insulating gloves to prevent electrical shock.
• Turn off the water supply at the outlet before beginning repairs to any appliance parts that hold water. Have towels ready for any residual water in the system when removing parts. 

Step 1: Remove the rear access panel

1. Remove the panel screws along the outer edge using a 1/4-in nut driver. Set the screws aside in a safe place.
2. Carefully slide the plastic power cord out through the opening to free the panel.
3. Pull off the rear access panel completely and set it aside.

Step 2: Replace the defective drip pan

1. Use a sharp utility knife to cut away any retaining tape holding the drip pan to the evaporator housing. The tape helps keep the pan secure during refrigerator transport.
2. Insert a putty knife into the cutout slot on the old drip pan. Slowly pry up and lift out the pan, dumping out any excess water. Discard the defective pan.
3. Align the replacement evaporator drip pan Part #WP2254574 into position by sliding it into the retaining brackets inside the evaporator compartment.
4. Make sure the back tab fits into the slit opening in the evaporator housing to secure the rear of the pan. This prevents it from sliding forward. No tape is required if you are not moving the refrigerator.

Step 3: Replace the rear refrigerator panel

1. Feed the power cord back into the slot in the access panel and align the panel into position on the rear of the refrigerator.
2. Reinsert and tighten the 1/4-in panel screws with a nut driver to secure the panel back into place.

Step 4: Complete the repair 

1. Plug the refrigerator power cord back into an electrical outlet.
2. Turn the water supply valve back ON.
3. Allow the refrigerator to cool down for 1 hour, then check underneath to confirm no water leaks around the new drip pan. If no leaks, the repair is complete!

More information

Thanks for reading! We hope this article helped you replace the evaporator drip pan in your Whirlpool, KitchenAid or Maytag refrigerator.

If you still need some replacement parts, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. We offer over two million parts and most orders arrive in two business days. If you need some help with finding the right part or placing an order, you can contact our team at 1 (877) 477-7278.

While you’re waiting for your new part to arrive, you can explore our DIY blog and watch thousands of video tutorials on our YouTube channel.

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