Sometimes, you may find that your GE refrigerator has cooling issues. We discuss some of the issues and how to fix them in this article.
Table of Contents
GE Refrigerator Has Uneven Cooling – Quick Fix
GE refrigerator cooling issues can show up as uneven cooling. So, if you find that your GE refrigerator is cooling unevenly, do the following:
1. Replace the Temperature Control Thermostat
Find the thermostat in your GE refrigerator model. When you do, turn it from low to high, stopping when you get to the highest point.
As soon as you get to that point, you should hear a click from the unit. If you hear it audibly, the thermostat is working well and is not the problem.
But if you don’t hear it, test it using a multimeter to check for continuity. If there is no continuity, replace the thermostat.
A defective temperature control thermostat is the likeliest cause of uneven cooling or temperature in the refrigerator.
This is because this component has the job of directing the right amount of voltage to the fan motors and compressor.
Now, if it fails, the compressor and fan motors which make up the refrigerant system won’t run. Even if the system runs, one component may not be able to run due to poor voltage supply. As a result, some parts of the unit will be colder than others.
2. Evaporator Fan
Check the fan blades to see if they are rotating smoothly. You will find the fan behind the back wall of the freezer section.
If the blades don’t turn well, it could mean that the fan is malfunctioning. It could also mean the motor is faulty.
Therefore, test the motor to check for continuity. If there is no continuity, replace the fan or the motor.
The evaporator fan can also cause uneven cooling. If it blows only at intervals or weakly, the cool air it spreads may get to only a select section of the refrigerator. This leaves other sections warm or not cold enough.
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GE Refrigerator Overcooling – How to Fix
Take the following steps to fix the problem of a GE refrigerator overcooling:
1. Decrease the Temperature
It is possible that you accidentally bumped the controls of the refrigerator temperature. Therefore, it doesn’t hurt to check the setting, even if you are sure you set it right.
The setting should be C and 5 or 5 and 5 if your model has control knobs. But if your model has digital controls, make sure it is set at 0 degrees and not higher than 8 degrees. This is for the freezer section. The refrigerating section must be between 37 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit.
If your refrigerator temperature settings do not agree with any of these settings, adjust them. If you find it too difficult or confusing, check the manual for the unit.
Now, if the temperature inside the freezer is too low, it will be too cold. The same is true for the refrigerating section. This is applicable whether the two sections have a shared cooling system or separate ones.
2. Rearrange the Content
Move items away from the wall at the back of the refrigerator. You will find that they freeze quickly because that part gets cold due to the fact it sits under the air vents.
Make sure you load enough content into the unit and leave enough space between items for air circulation. If the content is too little, there will be too much cold air and you will find everything too cold.
3. Relocate the Refrigerator
Move the refrigerator away from direct sunlight. And if it is right beside a heat source or even in a poorly ventilated area, change its location.
Now, if you find you cannot relocate it, protect the unit from the heat source. Too much heat can even damage the refrigerator.
If the refrigerator is too close to a heat source or sunlight, it can affect its cooling. This is because the unit will try to make up for the heat from the exterior. As a result, it will keep running and cooling constantly.
4. Troubleshoot the Defrost System
There are different components in the defrost system. Troubleshoot each one to find the one that has failed.
Start with the defrost timer. The timer should advance the unit into the defrost cycle. So if the refrigerator is overcooling, it could mean that it is not defrosting. And a faulty timer is the likeliest reason.
Next, check the defrost heater. If the timer checks out fine, test for continuity from the heater. If there is no continuity, replace the heater.
Then, check the defrost thermostat. If it does not close its contacts so that the heater can turn on, it has failed. Replace it.
Lastly, check the defrost control board. While it is hard for this component to fail, it does happen. But run a test on other parts first before the board.
5. Inspect the Damper
Remove the shelves inside the refrigerating section. Then, take the air duct out of the way. You will find it at the back of the section.
Once you take the air duct out, the damper becomes visible. If it does not move to open and close from time to time, it may be broken or damaged. It could also mean that it has disconnected from the motor that moves it.
If you have an older model, the damper would be behind a cover located on the ceiling of the section, to the left.
The damper opens and closes to allow some of the cold air from the freezer into the refrigerating section. If it becomes stuck open, too much cold air will flow in and cause the refrigerator to become too cold.
6. Clean the Condenser Coils
With a condenser brush or a vacuum cleaner, clean the coils. Ensure you clean them thoroughly and leave no speck of dust around them.
Be sure to clean them as regularly as recommended, usually once or twice every year.
Significantly dirty coils cannot efficiently remove the heat from the refrigerator. As a result of this, you will find the unit trying extra hard to maintain a cold temperature. However, the extra effort only makes it colder than usual.
7. Change the Door Gasket
Use the dollar bill trick to determine if the gasket is weak. Close the door of the refrigerator on any dollar bill and pull on it. You cannot successfully pull it out whole if the gasket is working. So if you do, you know the gasket needs to be replaced.
Ice can also cause the door not to seal tightly. This is especially true if it is a bottom-freezer model. Check to see if there is any buildup. And if you find any, manually defrost the unit to thaw it.
Additionally, the gasket may just be loose. Using a small screwdriver to push it back into place will fix the problem. You don’t have to replace it.
A weak, damaged or loose gasket is one of the main reasons why a refrigerator becomes too cool. Replacing or repairing it usually fixes the problem.
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8. Check the Thermistor
With a multimeter, test the thermistor to check for continuity. While doing this, you should find the resistance of this component changing as the temperature in the unit changes.
Now, if this does not happen, and there is no continuity, replace the thermistor.
The cooling system runs when the control board supplies power to it. But how does it know how much to supply? It does by the temperature reading results from the thermistor.
Therefore, the amount supplied would be inaccurate if the results from the thermistor are wrong. So, the cooling system may run too much, making the unit too cold.
An overcooling refrigerator is another way that a GE refrigerator cooling issues crop up.
GE Fridge Isn’t Cooling – What to Do
If your GE fridge is not cooling, do the following:
- Check the evaporator fan
- Check the door gasket
- Check the evaporator coils
- Check the condenser fan
- Check the internal lights
- Check the air vents
- Check the thermistor
- Check the temperature control thermostat
To learn more about fixing the problem of a GE fridge that isn’t cooling, read this article.
Recap
GE refrigerator cooling issues are quite easy to fix if you know what to do. And following the steps above is a sure guide.
However, if you cannot fix the problem, contact GE Cares to report the issue and request service.
As an alternative, use the chatbox to your right to speak with any of our appliance technicians. They will attend to you immediately; no waiting and no expensive in-house call.
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