Refrigerator Draining Problem

[omgirl]

We just filled our water tank and used our fridge for the first time this weekend... by the end of the weekend, we realized we had a pool of water at the bottom and that the water wasn't leaking out.

We can't find a clog (from the finger technique of sticking it in the drain hole and not feeling an obstruction). What else could be the cause of it not draining? How else can we check the drain? Thanks for any help!

 

[Glyn Judson]

Ice box not draining

Omgirl, Try running something like a wire coat hanger down the drain if you think it leads straight enough to the bilge or the sink drain. Or you can try David Auld's grat idea for unsticking such items as yours. Fit the foot pump from your Avon inflatable to the end of the hose and try blowing any lodged obstruction backwards, back into the ice box. Have a shot gun at the ready if it turns out to be alive. ; - ) Good luck, Glyn

 

[ref_123]

Did you check if your foot pump works

Omgirl,

last year I had to replace a foot pump since the old one developed a leak and refused to pump. A replacement one works like a charm and empties the icebox in about 3 to 5 minutes...

Regards,
Stanly

 

[Frank Langer]

Assuming that the boat is new to you, you might check if there is a seacock to open to drain the refrigerator. Our Ericson 30+ has such a seacock, and obviously needs to be open to drain. However, even with that open, our refrigerator drains quite slowly (probably has to do with only a small amount of water draining out vs. water pressure of the water under the boat, but that's only a guess). I have also been told that our seacock should be closed while the refrigerator is in operation to minimize cold air dropping down the hose (warm air rises, cold air falls, right?), to avoid overworking the unit.
Hope that helps--let us know if you get it figured out.
Frank.

 

[chaco]

Not in to your Bilge !

Even as you get the drain unpugged.....it is HEALTHIER to sponge up the
Bacteria Laden water first or connect your drain to a foot pump back
in to the sink plumbing. Releasing refrigerator water in to your bilge
is feeding little critters that you don't want on your boat and will STINK
you out besides Good Luck !

 

[Shadowfax]

Is this boat new to you? Are you aware of the diverters located under the sink that need to be set correctly to drain the two ice boxes?

 

[CaptnNero]

Pay attention please

Omgirl,

If your 32-200 is like our '88 32-200 was then you need to do a couple of things to drain the icebox under the chart table. Under the galley sink there should be a little red block valve that comes from the frig. Open it so it is parallel with its hose. Then you need to turn the T-valve on the seacock that the same hose goes to to the closed (parallel to the hull) position. Ok, now keep you fingers crossed and pump the foot pump that the same hose connects to. It should be the saltwater pump. At this point frig water should started spraying into the sink.

There may also be another block valve coming from the icebox in the galley counter. If so, use a similar procedure. Whatever you do, make sure only one of those block valves is open at a time.

Of course when you are done draining don't forget to undo all of this so the saltwater foot pump works, in case anyone cares.

Now why didn't you think of all that ?

 

[landh5]

Ice box drain

My 88 32-200 has the exact drain system mentioned in the previous thread. However the pump worked awkwardly and didn't seem to pull water from the icebox or if switched from the lake. Upon examination the hose leading from the T connector to the inlet side of the pump was severly crimped. A little re-engineering solved the issue well

Good luck