Openai/69237ac6-14b0-8008-a221-f6a18f92046b

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gpt-5-1

User: Hey y'all, fridge is leaking from it feels like everywhere.

Hey y'all, fridge is leaking from it feels like everywhere. I was trying to find any of the causes and found this popped open. Obviously broken, but would it cause all the water pooling inside the fridge and onto the floor. As I write this I feel like it's gotta be that piece, could someone point me in the right direction to find it and get it quickly?

Fridge is a whirlpool fridge wrx735sdbm00

Assistant: Good catch.

Good catch. Yep — that broken piece is probably related to your leak, and there are a few likely culprits. Here’s what to check, what might be going wrong, and what parts you can order to fix it.

What’s Probably Going On

1. Clogged or Damaged Defrost Drain - In Whirlpool refrigerators, a super common cause of water pooling inside (or leaking out) is the defrost drain. Melt water from the evaporator should flow through a drain hole and into a tube, then go down to a drain pan underneath the fridge. Whirlpool - If that drain is clogged (food debris, ice, etc.), the water backs up and floods inside. Whirlpool - On your model (WRX735SDBM00), parts like the drain tube are known to fail or crack. Appliance Parts Pros - According to Whirlpool’s own troubleshooting, when the defrost drain backs up, you’ll often see water building up inside and sometimes leaking out around the door or bottom. Whirlpool - You can locate the drain by removing crisper drawers or freezer back panel. AppliancesFirst
2. Overflowing Drain Pan / Crack in the Pan - Underneath the fridge there's a drip/evaporation pan that catches defrost water. Appliance Parts Pros - If that pan is cracked or warped, water won’t stay there — it can leak out. Appliance Parts Pros - Several folks with the same model have reported that problem: > “I wake up … to find a puddle … I find the pan under the fridge is overflowing … small fan can't keep up …” > Reddit > +1
3. Water Line / Ice Maker Issues - There’s a possibility that a misaligned water line or a leak in the inlet valve / fill cup of the ice maker is causing excess water. Whirlpool - Some users say their ice maker’s funnel freezes up, backing water into places it shouldn’t. Reddit

Parts to Order / Replace

Here are some replacement parts that are commonly used for this kind of leak in your model. (Yes, fridge repair is part plumbing.)

!Drain Tube W10619951 Drain Tube W10619951$16.70•Walmart - Seller + others!Evaporator Drain Pan W11457241 Evaporator Drain Pan W11457241$49.99•iFixit + others!Drain Pan / Defrost Drain Pan W10633582 Drain Pan / Defrost Drain Pan W10633582$42.21•Sears PartsDirect!Drain Pump Assembly W11539855 Drain Pump Assembly W11539855$347.99•iFixit!Drain Tube Kit W10309238 \(or alt\) Drain Tube Kit W10309238 (or alt)$26.93•Walmart - Seller!Alternate Drain Tube W10646247 Alternate Drain Tube W10646247$15.90•Sears PartsDirect!Defrost Drain Tray / Trough Defrost Drain Tray / Trough$31.43•D&L Parts Company!Defrost Drain Tube Kit \(RP\-style\) Defrost Drain Tube Kit (RP-style)$24.33•Walmart - TREND KART Here are a few to highlight:

• Whirlpool Drain Tube W10619951 — This is the OEM defrost drain tube. If yours is cracked or broken, this is likely the part you need.
• Whirlpool Evaporator Drain Pan Kit W11457241 — This replaces the pan under the fridge that catches meltwater.
• Whirlpool Defrost Drain Pan W10633582 — Another OEM pan option.
• Whirlpool Drain Pump Assembly W11539855 — If the water isn’t moving well on its own (or if you suspect the old pump is bad), this is the electric option.
• Drain Tube Kit W10309238 — A complete kit that may make replacement cleaner / easier.

What to Do (Step-by-Step)

1. Pull the Fridge Out - Turn off power. - Unplug (safest). - Move the unit out so you can access the back / underside.
2. Inspect the Drain Hole - Open the freezer / fridge, remove drawers to get to the back wall. Appliance Update - Look for a drain hole/trough. - Check if there’s ice or gunk blocking it.
3. Clear the Clog - Use warm water in a turkey baster, or a piece of soft tubing, to flush it. (Many guides suggest this.) Sears Home Services - If the tube itself (the piece you saw broken) is damaged, remove it and install a new one.
4. Inspect the Drain Pan - From the back or bottom, check for cracks or damage in the pan. - If cracked / damaged — swap in the new pan you ordered.
5. Run a Test - After replacing / clearing, plug the fridge back in. - Pour a little warm water into the drain hole / trough to simulate a defrost drain cycle. - Watch the pan under the fridge to make sure the water goes there and doesn’t overflow.
6. Monitor for Future Issues - If the drain was freezing or clogging frequently, you might need to check every few months. - Make sure the fridge is level (if it's tilted, water might pool weirdly).

My Verdict (Nerd Mentor Mode)

• Yes — that broken piece can absolutely cause the kind of leak you're describing.
• It’s very likely the defrost drain tube is either clogged, cracked, or both.
• Replacing the tube + possibly the drain pan should fix it if that’s the only issue.
• Do the physical inspection first (clog, hole, pan), then order the parts before replacing, unless you're already sure that piece is bad.

If you like, I can look up exact parts for your fridge serial/model (WRX735SDBM00) from reliable U.S.-based sellers (fast shipping) — I can send links. Do you want me to do that?