Is Your GE Fridge Leaking? Install a New Drain Tube WR02X11848

Tired of stepping around a puddle in your kitchen due to your GE refrigerator’s water leaks? Say goodbye to water damage and hassle with a straightforward solution: replacing the faulty drain tube. Check out our step-by-step guide and watch the how-to video below to fix your fridge in no time!

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Are you experiencing water leaks or overflowing drain pans in your General Electric (GE) refrigerator? Don’t worry, we have a simple solution for you. By replacing the drain tube, you can easily resolve these drainage issues and prevent any further damage.

The drain tube, a thin plastic part, plays a role in carrying water from the evaporator coil drain pan to the main drain pan beneath the fridge. Over time, these tubes can crack or become disconnected, causing water to gather inside. This can lead to leaks, overflow problems, and even damage to electrical components. Don’t let water damage ruin your appliance – take action and replace that drain tube today! Let’s get started!

Watch here: How to replace refrigerator drain tube

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

Make sure you have all necessary tools and parts on hand before tackling this repair:

• New drain tube kit (GE part # WR02X11848)-Take your model number to AppliancePartsPros.com to locate the correct part for your unit.
• Phillips head screwdriver
• 5/16 inch nut driver
• 1/4 inch nut driver
• Needle nose pliers
• Utility knife or wire cutters
• Zip ties
• Rag or towel

Safety first

Always keep safety first when working on any appliance to avoid personal injury or damage to the appliance or parts. Here are some safety 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 electric shock. 
• If the appliance has recently been used, give it plenty of time to cool down before working on it. 
• 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 appliance parts.
• Keep your workspace free of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
• Never work on internal parts with wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
• Check the user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions related to your appliance or replacement part. 
• Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the appliance or cause personal injury.
• Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts and debris.
• 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.
• Don’t test live voltage with a multimeter if you’re unfamiliar with how to prevent short-circuiting.
• Consider wearing safety glasses and/or a dust mask when working with chemicals, dust or a large amount of debris to prevent irritation or injury.
• If your appliance has any parts that hold water, turn off the water supply at the outlet before beginning repairs. Keep towels ready to catch any residual water in the system when removing parts.

Step 1- Remove the access panel

The drain tube runs from the evaporator housing down through a hole in the bottom rear of the refrigerator cabinet. We need to remove the access panel covering this area first:

1. Use the 5/16 inch nut driver to remove the screws securing the panel to the back of the cabinet. Set them aside in a safe place.
2. Carefully pull off the access panel. Maneuver it to disengage any alignment tabs.
3. Set the panel out of your work area for now.

Step 2- Detach the drain tube

With the access hole exposed, we can now work on detaching the drain tube:

1. Locate where the drain tube runs vertically down from the evaporator housing. There should be a zip tie wrapped around it.
2. Use wire cutters or a utility knife to slice through and remove this zip tie. Discard it.
3. Use the 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the screw holding the water line.
4. Take out the lower screw that holds the water valve on
5. Lift up on the bracket and slide the water valve out of the way
6. Follow the drain tube up to where it connects to the bottom of the cabinet.
7. Pull the drain tube out of the bottom of the cabinet.
8. Maneuver the tube to slide it up and out of the compartment.

Step 3- Install the replacement drain tube

After removing the old part, we can now reverse the steps to install the new replacement drain tube:

1. Put a zip tip around the fitting at the top, don’t tighten it completely until it’s installed. 
2. Carefully insert the end of the new drain tube up through the access hole from below. Feed several inches of it into the cabinet.
3. Make sure the tube opening aligns straight with the drain fitting inside the fridge.
4. Firmly push and twist the drain tube onto the metal fitting to achieve a tight connection. You may need to spray some water or lubricant around the opening first.
5. Tighten the zip tip at the top of the tube.
6. Use wire cutters to trim off the tail end of the zip tie.
7. Place the bottom of the tube in the clip.
8. Wrap a zip tie around the bottom of the drain tube to hold it in place.
9. Use wire cutters to trim off the tail end of the zip tie.

Step 4- Reattach the access panel

With the new drain line securely installed, we can now finish up:

• Replace the access panel using the original screws to hold it in position.
• Restore power to the refrigerator and confirm tubes are draining properly by monitoring or pouring water into the drain pan through the freezer.
• Check under and around the fridge for any leaks over the first few hours.

And that’s it! With the right replacement part and tools, repairing a faulty drain tube is a straightforward DIY job. Just take proper safety precautions, move slowly, and make sure all connections are leak-free.

More information

Thanks for reading! We hope this guide helped you replace the drain tube in your GE 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.

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