Kenmore Elite Refrig/freezer defrost problem

[Sally Ann]

Hello! This is my first post and I'm looking for help so that i can DO IT MYSELF.
RE: Kenmore Elite side-by-side Refrigerator, Model # 106.55606400, 4 years old.
PROBLEM: On the freezer side, the water around the drain hole freezes solid. Eventually there will be a 1/2" thick slab of frozen water on the bottom of the freezer side. On the refrig side, frost builds up on the round dial (Chilled Door Bin Control) and veggies freeze in the veggie bin. Temperature in refrig is about 38-40 degrees.

What I've done so far:
1. Thoroughly vacuumed the coils, which were very dirty inside where it's hard to reach. Fridge seems quieter now.
2. Manually defrosted the freezer only and cleared the drain line. THE DRAIN LINE IS NOT CLOGGED. The same thing happened in the exact same way, a slow buildup of frozen water around the drain pan, until eventually there is a frozen thick puddle of water on the bottom of the freezer.
3. Repeated manual defrost freezer only.
4. Completely emptied the freezer and fridge, and turned off for 12 hours, completely defrosted. Turned unit back on and refrigerator is cooling properly. BUT, it's been 4 days and there is frozen water around the drain hole. Same cycle happening again.

What is the best next step??

Thank you so much for helping.

[woodchuck]

If the water doesn't drain fast enough it will freeze before it can drain. Make sure you blow the drain out with air pressure and rinse it with a water and bleach solution to kill and mold and fungus build up. Pour water in it to see if it drains fast. If not could be kinked etc.

If no problem found maybe Take a bare copper wire and wrap it around a fin near the heater and put the other end a few inches down the drain. The heat convection may prevent it from freezing.

[Sally Ann]

Just finished clearing out the drain line with air compressor & cleaning with bleach . . . no problem found. Will now try wrapping copper wire around fin near heater. By fin, do you mean part of the evaporator?

[woodchuck]

Yes, wrap it around anything that will keep it close to to heater so the heat can transfer.

[Sally Ann]

Wrapped copper wire around fin and put the other end down the drain. That was Monday night. This morning water around (and in) the drain hole is frozen solid! (ugh, again)

I put a thermometer in fridge . . . when i opened the door at 7 am for the first time, the temp was 50 and the Chilled Door Bin Control was defrosted. At 11:30 am the temp is now 37 degrees and the CDBC is frosty. Is this fluctuation/cycle normal?