Our refrigerators are indispensable appliances, keeping food chilled to safe and consistent perfection. But what happens when your GE refrigerator won’t cool properly? Though it’s tempting to panic, there are some simple fixes when your GE refrigerator is not cooling.
Troubleshooting a GE Refrigerator That Won’t Cool As It Should
The good news about a GE refrigerator not cooling is that the reason is often straightforward. We’ll review the 5 most common causes when your GE refrigerator won’t cool appropriately and how they can be fixed.
#1 – Incorrect Temperature Settings
It’s likely something’s off when your GE refrigerator temperature settings are reading a cool temp but the fridge’s interior feels warmer. Fortunately, this problem is often a temperature control discrepancy and not an actual cooling issue. You can consult your owner’s manual to determine the ideal cooling temperature for your refrigerator model and reset the temperature appropriately.
If you don’t have your manual handy, the USDA states that bacterial growth is slowed when food is stored at or below 40° Fahrenheit. With a separate thermometer, measure the temperature of your fridge. If the interior is warmer than what the refrigerator is reading, decrease the fridge’s temperature by a few degrees and wait 24 hours. If the temperature decreases only marginally, continue to lower the temperature until the refrigerator reaches at least 40°F.
#2 – Refrigerator is Overstuffed
We may all be guilty of this at times, but overstuffing is often the culprit when a GE refrigerator won’t cool. This is because too many items can block the air vents in the refrigerator, resulting in an inability to cool. Restricted airflow in between tightly packed items can also limit cooling.
We recommend keeping your refrigerator only ¾ of the way full at any given time. Take care to ensure that the air vents (typically located in the top of the refrigerator compartment) are not blocked.
#3 – Damaged Refrigerator Door Gaskets
The rubber gasket on your refrigerator door keeps a tight seal when the door is closed, trapping cold air inside. A dirty or torn gasket will not allow for proper sealing, allowing cold air to escape and increasing the refrigerator’s internal temperature.
Take a good look at your refrigerator gasket to assess for dirt or damage. While most dirt can be gently scrubbed away with a wet cloth, we suggest replacing a gasket with tears or other damage.
#4 – Dirty Condenser Coils
Your refrigerator coils help maintain the refrigerator’s temperature by releasing heat as refrigerant runs through them. These coils are typically located at the bottom of the refrigerator and can easily get covered in dust. This prohibits them from releasing that heat, causing an increase in your fridge’s temperature.
We recommend that you clean GE refrigerator coils with a vacuum attachment, appliance brush, and facemask (it’s a dusty job) every 6 months. Here’s how to clean refrigerator condenser coils quickly and easily:
- Unplug your refrigerator
- Use your owner’s manual to find the coils on your model
- Remove the grill in front of the coils
- Vacuum the coils with a long, thin hose attachment
- Brush away remaining dust with the appliance brush
- Replace grill in front of coils
- Reconnect refrigerator
#5 – Internal Part Failure
If you still have a GE Profile refrigerator not cooling after following these steps, the problem may be due to c component malfunction. There are multiple parts that work to cool your refrigerator such as the evaporator and compressor fans, thermistor, and start compressor. If any of these parts fail, it will cause temperature issues and should be replaced by a professional.
If an internal part malfunction is the reason your GE refrigerator won’t cool or you have any other concerns, Callahan’s Appliance is happy to help. As the area’s top refrigerator repair service, you can count on fast and reliable service to help you solve the problem!
