GE Refrigerator Not Cooling [Quick Fix]

If you are having a hard time fixing your GE refrigerator that is not cooling, this article will guide you through the ways to easily fix it…

GE Refrigerator Not Cooling After Power Outage – How to Fix

If your GE refrigerator is not cooling after a power outage, check the main control board or motherboard. It could be burnt from the outage.

First, unplug the refrigerator for about 10 minutes and plug it back in. If this doesn’t work, remove the board and check for burns or bad solder joints. If there are burns, you will have to change the board.

Most times, changing the main control board takes care of the cooling problem and any other problem in the refrigerator.

But before you go to the mainboard, check the start relay. It is attached to the side of the compressor. Remove it and shake it. If you hear a rattling sound, the relay is bad. Get a new one and fix it to the compressor.

How to Fix a GE Refrigerator That Is Not Cooling

To fix a GE refrigerator that is not cooling, check the following:

Evaporator Coil

Frosted evaporator coils reduce the flow of cool air in the refrigerator. Open the panel that covers the coils to see how much frost buildup there is. If it is a lot, leave the door of the freezer open. This will help thaw the frost buildup.

But this is only temporary. You will need to find the defrost component – heater, thermistor or thermostat – that is faulty. If you don’t do this, there will be a frost buildup again on the coils.

Fan Motors

Check the evaporator fan and the condenser fan. One is behind the refrigerator while the other is close to the compressor. If anyone of them is not working well, the refrigerator will not cool.

Check to see if their blades are spinning well. If they are not, clean them and check the motors. They should hum if they are working. Change them if they are not powering.

Doors

Be sure the doors are always closed properly. And check the gaskets to be sure they are functioning. Have a professional repairer or GE company change them if they are bad.

Gaskets are the rubber-like strips that seal the doors of the refrigerator. If they are damaged or even dirty, the doors won’t seal properly and the temperature in the refrigerator will rise.

Air Vents

There is a chance the air vents inside the refrigerator are blocked by items. Look inside and check to be sure the vents are free. If they are not, clear every obstacle so there will a free flow of cool air.

Light

If the switch that controls the light inside the refrigerator malfunctions, the light will remain on even when the door is shut. And if the light remains on, it will generate a little heat that will build to reduce the coolness in the unit. Change the switch if it is bad.

This video shows how to repair a GE refrigerator that is not cooling…

GE Fridge Not Cooling But Freezer Is Cold – How to Solve It

Check the following if your GE refrigerator is not cooling but freezer is cold:

Evaporator Fan

If there is a noise from the motor of the fan or the blades are difficult to turn, then the motor is faulty. Test it with a multimeter and if there is no continuity, this will further confirm the fault. Replace it.

The evaporator fan takes cool air over the coils and also helps to keep the refrigerant cool. If it is malfunctioning, the freezer will remain cold but the fridge will be warm.

Evaporator Coils

Frost on the evaporator coils will make them perform poorly. Open the back of the refrigerator and check if the coils have some frost over them. If they do, thaw them with a hairdryer or leave the unit off for some hours to manually defrost.

Condenser Coils

Check to see if the condenser coils are dirty. Vacuum them carefully and clean every dust from them. This will help the fridge cool properly.

Dirty coils won’t cool the refrigerant. And if this happens, the fridge won’t cool even though the freezer will cool.

Thermistor

Check the thermistor with a multimeter to check for continuity. If there is none, you will need to replace it.

If the thermistor is faulty, it will not be able to communicate clear temperature readings to the control board. The board, in turn, will not be able to regulate the evaporator and compressor to produce cold air.

Blocked Vents

Reduce the number of food items and other items in the refrigerator so that the air vents are free. If there are obstructions, airflow will be inhibited, whether the blocked vents are in the fridge or freezer.

Learn how to fix a GE refrigerator with a warm fridge and cold freezer from this video…

Check out these other articles on refrigerators not cooling for other brands…

GE Refrigerator Clicking but Not Cooling – Solutions

Main Control Board

If your GE refrigerator is clicking but not cooling, then the main control board is bad. To be sure, pull the refrigerator out and listen closely to the panel at the back. If the sound is coming from there, you need to replace the board.

A bad control board will affect the cooling ability of the refrigerator. This is because the control board regulates the smooth running of the entire unit. If something goes bad with it, the unit is somehow affected.

Condenser Coil

Another part to check is the condenser coil behind the refrigerator. The clicking sound means the compressor is overloaded because of this.

Check it for dust or grease. Clean it thoroughly to get the compressor working well again. Clean it at least once a year to avoid a repeat of this problem.

Start Relay

The clicking sound could also be as a result of a bad start relay. If the start relay of the compressor is bad, the compressor will find it hard to start. To check the relay, disconnect it from the side of the compressor and shake it. If it rattles, it is faulty and needs to be replaced.

GE Refrigerator Compressor Running but Not Cooling – What to Do

Check the evaporator fan motor, condenser fan motor or the evaporator coils for faults if the compressor is running yet the refrigerator is not cooling.

If the evaporator fan motor is bad, the fan won’t run and cool air won’t circulate in the refrigerator. And if the condenser fan motor is bad, the fan will not run and the compressor will overheat and warm the unit. Additionally, if the evaporator coils have frost over them, they won’t let through enough cool air to circulate in the refrigerator.

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GE Refrigerator Not Cooling – Related FAQs

GE Refrigerator Not Cooling Enough – How to Fix It

Check the condenser fan or the evaporator fan if your GE refrigerator is not cooling enough. The blades could be dirty or stuck. The motors could be faulty and need replacement.

GE Refrigerator Not Cooling but Compressor Is Hot – Fast Fix

The condenser fan is faulty if the compressor is hot and the refrigerator is not cooling. Check it by listening for the hum of the motor. Spin the blades to see if they are stiff. If they are, the motor is bad and needs replacement.

The condenser fan is meant to run while the compressor runs in order to cool it.

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