FIXED RTD2100CAL Maytag top / bottom water dripping down into fridge section

[Stargazer]

Model Number

RTD2100CAL

Brand

Maytag

Age

More than 10 years

Hi everyone,

I have an older Maytag top freezer that leaks water down into the fridge section during summer months (now). I tried searching google for the cause and the best I could find was that this fridge's defrost design is flawed by not being hot enough to defrost all of the ice buildup during the warmer months causing what does defrost to overflow causing water to make it's way into the fridge section and drip from the light fixture, because the drain is clogged with ice buildup and would require defrosting assistance I purchased one of those thin aluminum heat probes which are designed to clamp onto the heating rod, now on this unit the defrost heater is enclosed in a glass tube cylinder, if I were to clamp the heat probe to it the glass may crack and or break, although the glass tube does lie in an aluminum U shaped channel which is the length of the evaporator (seen in photo below). Could I get enough heat transference if I clamped it to the aluminum U channel? Should I simply replace the glass heater and U channel with a modern solid metal rod design heater see if it works without the probe? For those unfamiliar with this model design both the evaporator and the drip pan are lying horizontal sandwiched in between the freezer and fridge sections. Photos below show the water damage corrosion behind the moisture switch, I replaced the heater in the photo due to the wire and insulation burning for some reason. Anyone ?

Model# RTD2100CAL
MFG# DH74A

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Jake]

I used to work on many of these from my Days at Montgomery Ward back in the 1990's. The issue is the middle styrofoam below the evaporator coil gets saturated with moisture over many years and has to be replaced for the defrost heater to work properly and do its job.

Unfortunately that middle styrofoam is no longer available.

Jake

 

[Stargazer]

If I were to find new middle styrofoam how many years could be expected out of it?

Are you certain of this? Allow me to provide some more feedback, I work from home and can hear when the defrost cycle is in progress as I hear the water pouring into the evaporator pan on top of the compressor however I don't hear this every day, shouldn't I ? I believe these defrost timers have approximately 8hr defrost cycles? Shouldn't I hear the water pouring onto the pan every 8hrs? I don't believe I've ever replaced the defrost timer, perhaps the timer is sometimes making it through the defrost cycle and sometimes not? or would there not always be enough ice to melt every time? The fridge does run a lot though, more than I feel it should and this has been the case for many years. Thanks Jake

 

[Jake]

Yes, 100% certain. Trust me!

Yes, its usually 8 hr. defrost timers on these.

If I were to find new middle styrofoam how many years could be expected out of it?

Its hard to say but probably about 5 or so more years.

Jake

 

[Stargazer]

Could I remove the middle styrofoam and leave it in the hot sun to completely dry and get another 5yrs out of the current one or would it definitely need to be replaced ?

Thanks again

 

[Jake]

Nope, that won't work. You need a brand new one.

Jake

 

[Stargazer]

K, I'll try that and squeeze a little more use out of this thing, thanks for the feedback!! You've been helpful.

 

[Jake]

Your welcome!

Jake

 

[Stargazer]

Hi Jake,

Thanks for that repair tip, replacement of the styrofoam mullion solved the water dripping problem. I have one more issue with this fridge, mold is forming in between the two door's gaskets on the cabinet surface, I've already replaced the fresh food door gasket which didn't seem to improve the mold issue. Would you know?

Thanks,
Steven

 

[Jake]

replacement of the styrofoam mullion solved the water dripping problem.

Excellent Steve, where did you find it at?

Mold or condensation? Its likely due the moisture switch shorting out in your photo of it in your 1st post.

That's no longer available either: 67363-2

Not much you can do about that, just keep drying it up and wiping it down.

Jake