Nothing wrong with the freezer, but noticed the fridge is not cold anymore. Turning on/off you can hear the fan, but not cold air.
Regrigerator Help: Fridge Fan Running But Not Cold?
- Thread starter Brookstone
- Start date
I had the same problem last year, it means there's ice buildup thats blocking the airflow.
Simple and cheap to fix if you call a service guy.
You can also do it yourself, unplug the fridge, open up the back where the fan is located and melt the ice thats blocking airflow.
BTW I bet your fridge is a GE, correct?? They are known for this problem.
Buy a Whirlpool instead, they're much better quality
Simple and cheap to fix if you call a service guy.
You can also do it yourself, unplug the fridge, open up the back where the fan is located and melt the ice thats blocking airflow.
BTW I bet your fridge is a GE, correct?? They are known for this problem.
Buy a Whirlpool instead, they're much better quality
The heating coil that prevents the build of ice in your freezer is probably burnt out, the ice has built up and stopped the fan from turning. Like the other poster has suggested, take off the back panel inside your freezer compartment.
Thats possible, but GE fridges can still have ice buildup even when heating coil still works properly
Whirlpool makes everything it seems:
Whirlpool
Kitchen Aid
Maytag
Amana
Inglis
Sears
You name it.
I've had ALLOT of problems with my Kitchen AID washer. ALLOT.
GE owns hotpoint and Moffat and Mcleary. I don't thnk Camco exists persay anymore. I believe they were bought by GE and GE promptly shut down all their Canadian Factories. (Just like Whirlpool shut down all of Maytag's factories.) Sad really.
How old is the fridge. More than 10 years old, recommend you just scrap the fucking thing.
Whirlpool
Kitchen Aid
Maytag
Amana
Inglis
Sears
You name it.
I've had ALLOT of problems with my Kitchen AID washer. ALLOT.
GE owns hotpoint and Moffat and Mcleary. I don't thnk Camco exists persay anymore. I believe they were bought by GE and GE promptly shut down all their Canadian Factories. (Just like Whirlpool shut down all of Maytag's factories.) Sad really.
How old is the fridge. More than 10 years old, recommend you just scrap the fucking thing.
For those of you who scrap them....you'd be surprised how many of them are fixed before they are scrapped by the very guy who told you it was broken and resold at sometimes a 90% profit.The next time the repair guy tells you he'll "take er away and scrap it for 40 bucks"....don't ever think HE's doing YOU the favour.Cheers
I had a "made by Camco" GE fridge that went through the same symptoms that you described. It was 8 years old. I shot it and moved on.
I've been told that manufacturers make fridges to last about 10 years today, their parts are inferior compared to yesteryear, it's not like the old days where they were built like tanks. Take it for what it's worth, but I can see why manufacturers would do that, it's called money.
if it is not the ice biuld up......clean the dust built up
Unplug the fridge first.
You can then take the bottom panel off the back of the fridge. Then take a vacuum cleaner and vacuum the dust build up on the coil ( looks like a small car radiator) that the fan blows the air through for cooling. Also, you can brush the dirt off first before using the vacuum.
It will help your compressor run cooler for easier start ups. End result is the fridge will be cooler.
This may prolong the life of you fridge for a year or two.
Unplug the fridge first.
You can then take the bottom panel off the back of the fridge. Then take a vacuum cleaner and vacuum the dust build up on the coil ( looks like a small car radiator) that the fan blows the air through for cooling. Also, you can brush the dirt off first before using the vacuum.
It will help your compressor run cooler for easier start ups. End result is the fridge will be cooler.
This may prolong the life of you fridge for a year or two.
I had the same issue 2 weeks ago. Just unplug it for 2 hrs. Let the ice melt and plug it back in. Mine is goood as new now 
velvet
X X X
velvet
X X X
Quoted for truth.
Appliance manufacturers have cut quality in order to sell you new appliances every 5 years, never mind 10.
When I was doing my kitchen I met with a cupboard fabricator and he said, "Unless you buy Miele or Boshe, they are all the same and they are all pieces of shit"
I believe him.
I remember my parents buying a new Maytag Washing Machine in perhaps 76 or so. (I sold it with my parents house after they both left for eternity in 2004 - it had never been serviced and still worked fine) That Maytag was a tank alright, but it didn't come cheap back in the mid 70's. I was in Macacies Maytag with my mom when she picked it out and I seem to recall that it cost about 500 and change. That was a good bit of money back then and it was a major purchase for them.
30 plus years later, you can still buy a Maytag top loader for about 600 or so.
Now ask yourself how that is possible.
There is a common part on most fridges that fails... it is the timer for the defrost cycle.
When it fails to activate the defrost cycle every few hours the refridgeration coils frost up in the freezer side, and air cannot blow across the coils to the fridge side.
On a side-by-side fridge, there is a panel on the inside back wall of the freezer side covering the coils, that usually is held by 2 screws. You can remove the panel
and melt the frost with a hair dryer. If the problem comes back after melting the frost off the coils, then the defrost timer part is at fault.
The defrost timer is located on the fridge side behind a panel on the inside top. Again, a couple of screws will get you access to it.
The "timer" is just a chip that plugs in.
You can get the part from Reliable Parts (they have a few stores around town) for about $50 and change it yourself.
Sometimes as this part is failing, you may hear a buzzing noise coming from the fridge side top panel every few hours.
Very simple repair and you will save a lot.
When it fails to activate the defrost cycle every few hours the refridgeration coils frost up in the freezer side, and air cannot blow across the coils to the fridge side.
On a side-by-side fridge, there is a panel on the inside back wall of the freezer side covering the coils, that usually is held by 2 screws. You can remove the panel
and melt the frost with a hair dryer. If the problem comes back after melting the frost off the coils, then the defrost timer part is at fault.
The defrost timer is located on the fridge side behind a panel on the inside top. Again, a couple of screws will get you access to it.
The "timer" is just a chip that plugs in.
You can get the part from Reliable Parts (they have a few stores around town) for about $50 and change it yourself.
Sometimes as this part is failing, you may hear a buzzing noise coming from the fridge side top panel every few hours.
Very simple repair and you will save a lot.
Wow didnt expect this many answers thanks guys. Regarding suggestions that it is due to ice buildup. I googled this problem and that suggestion came up as well. So friend and I checked it out Sunday night. Here is the problem. We did and could not see the fan or any parts of the fridge, only for the freezer. Don't know what type of fridge you guys are referring to or if it matters, but my fridge is on top and freezer on the bottom. And yes it is GE. On the back there is an opening on the bottom, we opened it up but everything looked fine, again this is for the freezer. ON the inside, we took of the panel where the lights are, but there are no parts there. Seems if we want to take a look at the fridges fan and other parts, we have to actually take apart the fridge. don't know if that is a wise decision.
Now earlier in the week, I come home 1 night and it was making some kind of noise, wasnt a big deal and it disappeared after a while. But then next or couple nights later, again it was making noise but this time even louder. I had to shut the fridge off for the noise to stop. When I turned it back on, up to 6 would be ok, but any higher than that it would start making the loud noise again. Don't know if that means anything to you guys..
I called a place today and was quoted $45 just for them to come over and check and fridges average $116/160 to fix, also goes for a new fan if needed. The $45 seems too steep for me just for them to check. Pretty sure my parents know someone that does it for cheaper but I would have to wait couple weeks. Not a huge deal as its winter now but if I can fix it, even better. I turned off the fridge for 2 days now. I will try turning it on later see if it makes a difference. If any other suggestion please advise. Wondering if you guys are talking about the fridges that have freezer on top, that is why I am not seeing the fan as you guys suggest?
Now earlier in the week, I come home 1 night and it was making some kind of noise, wasnt a big deal and it disappeared after a while. But then next or couple nights later, again it was making noise but this time even louder. I had to shut the fridge off for the noise to stop. When I turned it back on, up to 6 would be ok, but any higher than that it would start making the loud noise again. Don't know if that means anything to you guys..
I called a place today and was quoted $45 just for them to come over and check and fridges average $116/160 to fix, also goes for a new fan if needed. The $45 seems too steep for me just for them to check. Pretty sure my parents know someone that does it for cheaper but I would have to wait couple weeks. Not a huge deal as its winter now but if I can fix it, even better. I turned off the fridge for 2 days now. I will try turning it on later see if it makes a difference. If any other suggestion please advise. Wondering if you guys are talking about the fridges that have freezer on top, that is why I am not seeing the fan as you guys suggest?
45 is steep? Are you kidding? How long does it take the guy to get to you, do his diagnosis, then get back to the shop?
This place is not too far from me, maybe 10 mins or so. I didnt ask more details, just a price. I know what you are saying about 45, but compared to 20 , ya why not, I believe it's a difference. On top of that , they already quote you that fridges is avg $160 ( i believe that is what I hear, it might be $116) to fix. If I can get it cheaper why not?
Only reason I say I'm not in a hurry is cuz, freezer is fine, and I am by myself, so not much "food" to worry about. In another situation, this would not be an option of course.
I had the same problem with my GE fridge, not once but twice.
The second time I got so fed up with the damn thing I bought a new fridge altogether.
My new fridge is a Whirlpool, I will never ever buy a GE fridge again for as long as I live
The second time I got so fed up with the damn thing I bought a new fridge altogether.
My new fridge is a Whirlpool, I will never ever buy a GE fridge again for as long as I live
BEFORE YOU SPEND A CENT.....PUT THE FOOD IN THE GARAGE ON A COLD NIGHT...and let the whole thing thaw out.
IT IS LIKELY ICE IN A DRAIN LINE..OR AROUND A COIL!...
SOMETIMES CRAP BUILDS UP IN THE DRAIN LINES> AND YOU CAN SEND A WIRE DOWN TO CLEAR IT.
BUT UNPLUG AND THAW BEFORE ANYTHING!!
IT IS LIKELY ICE IN A DRAIN LINE..OR AROUND A COIL!...
SOMETIMES CRAP BUILDS UP IN THE DRAIN LINES> AND YOU CAN SEND A WIRE DOWN TO CLEAR IT.
BUT UNPLUG AND THAW BEFORE ANYTHING!!
