Counted from our technicians' notes on 168 GE refrigerator service calls.
Freezer's fine, fridge side is warm
On most GE refrigerators the cold air is made in the freezer, and a fan pushes it over to the fresh food side. When that evaporator fan quits, or the evaporator frosts solid because a defrost heater, thermostat or sensor failed, the freezer can hold temperature while the fridge section creeps up. An air damper stuck shut does the same thing.
Frost, ice, puddles and a fridge that's warm everywhere
Frost on the back wall of the freezer isn't normal in a frost-free unit, according to GE. Check the door gaskets first, and make sure the shelves aren't packed so tight that air can't move. A freezer fan that isn't running, or frost that keeps coming back, means the defrost system needs testing.
Ice trouble starts with temperature. A GE ice maker won't begin a cycle until the mold hits 16 degrees Fahrenheit, so a warm freezer means no ice. After that, look for a clogged water filter or a stuck ejector rake. A failed water valve is the other common cause.
Water on the floor, per GE, comes mainly from a clogged defrost drain. A water valve that leaks or sticks can do it too, and so can supply lines that are loose or split.
When neither section is cold, suspect the compressor, a start component or the control board. That's sealed-system or control work, so it's one for a technician.
What dE, CI and the other GE fridge codes mean
You'll see these on GE models with electronic dispenser controls, normally flashing along with a beep. Not every model shows every code.
| Code | What it usually means |
|---|
| dE | Within the last day, the defrost cycle didn't work the way it should. |
| FF | Freezer temperature is climbing. Look over frozen items to see if anything has started to soften. |
| CC | Fresh food temperature is out of range. Check the controls. |
| CI | The ice maker isn't working right and needs a look. |
| PF | The fridge lost power at some point, from an outage or a tripped circuit. |
| DE (demo) | Demo mode. Lights work but cooling is off. Unplug for a minute or two to get out of it. |
| tC / tF | Not a fault. TurboCool or TurboFreeze is running (it can look like EC or EF). |
Unplugging for a minute or two can clear a code. When it comes back, the fault needs a proper diagnosis.
Worth checking before you book
- Change the water filter every six months.
- Give the cabinet some breathing room, with an inch or more behind it, above it and on each side.
- After you change a setting, wait 24 hours before judging it. GE's normal targets are 37 degrees for fresh food and 0 degrees in the freezer.
- Keep tall containers from crowding the air vents at the rear.
- Check that the doors swing closed without help. GE wants the front sitting a little higher than the back.
Cold garages and empty summer houses
GE's comfortable range for the room is 60 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and outside it cooling can suffer. That's why a second fridge in an unheated Minnesota or Wisconsin garage can let its freezer warm up in winter. In Southwest Florida homes that sit closed all summer, shut off the ice maker water, then purge the dispenser line once you're back.