GE Refrigerator Won't Cool - Easy Ideas on how to Fix a Refrigerator Not Cooling

[@shoutatdaniel]

Thank you so much!!!!! You saved me $2000 because my repair guy was charging me $1000 for a repair and I had decided to just buy a new fridge. Then I stumbled on this, which led to replacing the relay (with an $80 part) and we are back in action. Thanks for taking the time. It helps us all!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Wow that's awesome!

[@sunriseboy4837]

Gold!

[@BeverlyMetz]

Was the relay hard to replace? I'm a little intimidated

[@marvinmagruder1067]

They are pretty easy to change

[@FunekaMathengwa]

And the top fun is not rotating

[@scottkelley9418]

Clear, concise, and right to it! No stupid music or long intros...thank you.

[@dinscaavinsca9001]

hate the ones with the stupid music

[@shonshon5122]

😂

[@Flyingjinsu]

No stupid music😅👍🏼

[@vishnudanraj2570]

@@dinscaavinsca9001 what if the music is not Stupid, would it OK

[@alonzowiisdom6796]

​@@vishnudanraj2570😂😂😂😂😂

[@holywobbles8703]

Just wanted to send a major thank you. I got a call from my parents asking if I could help them pick up a new fridge. Their old one(25 years old) was cool but and wasnt freezing. So their instinct was to buy a new one. I watched your video and went over to look at their fridge and pulled off the rear panel to find a rat wedged in the condenser fan preventing any movement of air. Once removed and plugged back in. Fridge ran good as new, saved them about $400.

[@POTheta001]

Holy crap that's gross 🤢

[@israelacevedo2567]

I got a problem with the fan inside the freezer going of and on then stay on and cool but went it get to the level that go of and then on again start going of and on and stay on and of what you think it can be

[@israelacevedo2567]

I try another fan and it do the same thing

[@willb.9225]

Yeah that's definitely grounds for a new fridge that's inhumane

[@E-Kat]

Was the poor rat dead? 😢

[@keithrichards4050]

Hats off to you Ben. Not only are you skilled at fixing these appliances and making beyond professional videos but you also are a small business owner. You embody all of which is great in America. You should be proud of yourself 👍🏻

[@sandreawelch3401]

Ben. You are a lifesaver, my man. This video is so concise, thorough, and easy-to-follow. It cost us less than $30 to fix our refrigerator. I have no idea what made you decide to make this video but I sure am glad you did. It looks like plenty of other people appreciate it as well. I wish you nothing but the best!

[@jaytravel-12]

god puts ever one here for a reason believe that

[@dmills06]

What did you have to replace

[@sheenz4963]

exactly ​@@dmills06

[@louistournas120]

@@jaytravel-12 Every sperm is sacred.

[@patrickkasmir3914]

Dude you are the man!!!! I almost spent over $100 dollars on a condenser fan but after watching your video, found out it was the defrost heater. Thank you 1000 times, would never been able to fix without you..thanks again

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Glad I could help!

[@voyagertwoband]

Thank you for the fine video. Our fridge was working fine then yestertday morning, the fridge door was open ( I think the air inside got so warm it expaneded and pushed the doors open) and it was 74F inside the friidge (we keep our house at 65 in the winter). The freezer was fine (thankfully) Found your video, cleaned the coil, checked the fan and compressor were running. Moved our food over to a cooler, and over the course of a few hours, the fridge temp came down. I cancelled a call to our local applicance repair vendor. You likely saved me a $200 service call, and extended the life of my Fridge. I'll be sure to clean it out every 6 months going forward. Again, thank you so much! Jack

[@numberoneduchess]

Thanks so much Ben. When you are a woman trying to fix something yourself that you can't afford to replace, it helps to have everything spelled out to the letter. I thought I was going to have to buy a new frig, but with your help I got it fixed. It took me a good portion of the day but it is now running like a new one. It just needed a good vacuuming. Thanks again. I am now a new subscriber.

[@E-Kat]

Oh no, don't put yourself down because you're a woman!! My daughter and I we fix every appliance at home. She's fixed our washing machine just by looking the problem up, bought the second hand front panel for 20£ and it works! Many men can be word than women at fixing things; they fix everything by buying new appliances! You're a woman and it doesn't mean that you're less able than a man. Please remember this. All the best. 😊

[@malimag99]

Awesome Video!!! Was able to fix my refrigerator thanks to your instructions and cost me $0. Keep up the good work!!! You're making a difference in peoples life doing what you do.

[@andrewsmith6509]

We need more professionals like this, excellent video

[@sunriseboy4837]

Yep. It's called integrity of the heart...not the pocket😂😂😂

[@ODjuliarso]

Sooo goood!

[@kylerthilmony3054]

Thank you, Ben, for being so clear without all the unnecessary talk! This is probably the best instructional video I’ve seen on KZbin!

[@seanleith5312]

Thank you for your Make America Great Again hat, ware it proudly. You get my respect.

[@jameshol99]

@@seanleith5312 It says "Make Appliances Work again" .

[@tadjhughes2373]

QQ

[@mikga45]

Great vid, I'm a retired hvac guy and your vid goes over all the important parts. Should be very helpful to many.

[@michaelnowak1011]

Did you reTire to Michelin or Pirellies

[@mikga45]

@@michaelnowak1011 Dunlop 😊

[@shermanlarsen7840]

I was just looking to clean the coils on a 3+ year old whirlpool bottom freezer/refrigerator. I’m glad I watched the whole video. Even if nothing is broken, I will see everything else with a more informed eye. I was repair plumber for 30+ years and learned tons from all of the appliance guys that I would refer. They were always very helpful to me and to my customers!

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

Thanks, Ben. My GE Cafe unit had a bad condenser fan. The condenser coils were impacted with dust and fur (thanks to our two dogs and cats) and this most likely put undue stress on the fan. After cleaning the coils and seeing the problem was not yet solved, I placed a standard "box" fan behind the frig until the replacement fan I ordered came in. The box fan immediately dropped the temperatures back to normal, so it is a great, temporary fix for everyday homeowners.

[@kamoamo9259]

Hi, I found your video after my freezer stopped freezing everything. Thanks to your video I diagnosed the problem correctly (defrost heater), bought a replacement part, put it in, and fixed the problem. I am an handylessman and most projects don't get fixed around our house, but this one did thanks to your clear and succinct video. You now have a new subscriber.

[@michaelmoats7297]

This is one of the best and most in depth instructional videos I've watched ever. Fixed my Whirlpool with this and learned tons.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

I'm glad it helped you on a Whirlpool! The ideas are generally universal for refrigerators, but there are always quirks to each type that make the idea vary slightly.

[@clutchfinesse8886]

@@bensappliancesandjunk my fan has to be replaced but I’m having a hard time finding new fan

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

@@clutchfinesse8886 parts are very scarce right now. You may have to place an order from someone out of stock.

[@dieseldabz7104]

EXACTLY! I'm a 41 year old mechanic among other trades and very good with my hands and tools and catch on quickly, yet have never known alot about household appliances and fixing them. Not out of fear, just lack of knowledge or experience. This video helped tremendously and I even Learned a few things. THANK YOU VERY MUCH 👊

[@andrewfredrick6088]

@@bensappliancesandjunk I'm not here because my fridge is broken or anything. Was just curious what tips you had to offer if I ever did encounter a problem of the sort. Was not disappointed in the slightest. Thank you for teaching me everything I ever wish to know about fridge's in 10 minutes. A+.

[@grahammackenzie8778]

This is what KZbin content is meant to be - thank you!! Terrific breakdown and advice. You have many people's lives better by sharing this.

[@psmith7781]

Thanks Ben! I opened up our garage fridge and the cold beers looked a little sweaty and not as cold as usual. Opened the Freezer door and the few things in there were still frozen, but thawing for sure. Popped off the back cover and blasted it with air to get the dust bunnies out. Checked the fan and it was turning fine, so I broke out the multi meter and tested the pins on the condenser and the run capacitor. Got continuity from pin to pin on the condenser but no continuity on the Cap. $19 on Amazon and I hope to have a few coldies toasting you in the next day or two. You the Man!

[@pnwguy5551]

Thank you, Ben, for going over this in detail as you did. I repair appliances for a living and there are so many on here that speak to fast and expect some of these homeowners to automatically know certain information on repairs to appliance without going it over step by step.

[@armoris66]

I'm a multi skilled builder and this my friend (I feel like I know you already) is hands down one of the best tutorial videos I have EVER watched and I've watched many because of my occupation. Your careful explanation of the process involved in checking the various components combined with beautiful editing are going to help me diagnose the problem with my Whirlpool this weekend. Not based in the US but will try that website if necessary as you may get a kickback. Subscribed 👏🏿👍🏾.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Nice! I am glad it helped. When I started fixing appliances, I realized that the people that made the videos didn't understand how to film well, and the people that could film well didn't fix appliances so I've tried to do well to figure this out to try to be smart on both ends of the spectrum.

[@restockqueens1357]

@@bensappliancesandjunk hey, I have a question, I have a Tfx27pfsbbb refrigerator. But, it haves a old smell too it, I cleaned it with vinegar, soap and water, it did good but still pretty strong. What can it be?

[@dporrasxtremeLS3]

@@bensappliancesandjunk Ben You Are Amazing! Thanks for All your help!

[@CM-tc4ny]

God Bless your entire soul for posting this video Sir!!!! Literally went from freaking out and searching for Black Friday deals on refrigerators (anticipating a HUGE blow to my wallet - after literally replacing the hot water heater and dealing with major flood damage just a week ago) to writing this email with nothing but gratitude in my heart!!! After going on a journey deep into the abyss and finding enough dirt and grime to make Oscar the Grouch ashamed (including a magazine from 2011) I'm so happy to report my refrigerator is operating normally and I could not be more grateful. May the mouse clicks of 1 million new subscribers find their way to your channel Sir!!! I am certainly amongst them!!!! Thank You!!!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Nice! I am so glad this helped you and saved you money!

[@-Eagles]

I, too, am very grateful for your tips. I am now able to identify the culprit (fan).

[@Robert-qo9wk]

⁠hello@bensappliancesandjunk I replaced my relay and overload and my refrigerator started working again but only for a few hours then stopped working again any suggestions

[@CRC-H]

Ben, you're a lifesaver! I was already of the mindset that I needed to replace my fridge, when I came upon your video. You are extremely thorough with your steps and explanations. It was a relief that I was able to fix the problem with our fridge with YOUR guidance and shock the hell out of my husband! It really works even better than before. And just like that, I'm a subscriber! THANK YOU for doing what you do, giving confidence to those of us who are lost in this hands-on world!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Awww I'm so glad this helped you!

[@johnfitbyfaithnet]

Good job!

[@karengoebel3647]

Omg. I feel the same way. You are awesome Ben. You explained soooo well. I’m a woman and by gosh I’m doing everything you say. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@RunninUpThatHillh]

I watch the videos on his channel then explain it to my husband and he fixes it..😂

[@jlamb199]

@@bensappliancesandjunk Hey Ben! I recently watched all of your Kenmore washer videos and as a result was able to fix mine. Of course I subscribed and now I'm back, after years & about 100 videos on how to fix my ice maker. It quits after power outages. Just QUITS. Years ago I replaced the water valve. That fixed it one time. Twice my son fixed it but he moved. I removed the motor housing & I checked for ice blockage. I rotated the cam c.c. on the motor housing. I WOULD have tried jump starting it with the paperclip trick but my model doesn't have the L, V, T, H etc. holes. Only little pins in different areas. I have NOT YET tried TNT but I'm about to. Years of frustration with this thing but I'm no quitter. It's not the ice- it's the POINT. 😂 Do YOU have videos on these blasted things? 😂 Also, my GE old fridge lists SIX different model numbers! Why?? Thanks Ben! Judy, AGAIN. 😎

[@fuzzy34r]

Wow! This is one of the more comprehensive fridge maintenance videos i’ve seen. First time seeing maintenance from the evap coil side of things.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Thanks! I tried to do a video where the most common problems are covered that would help most people with the basics. I did make another one about drainage problems on this fridge, too.

[@elenaibunuku7139]

Thank you so much

[@elenaibunuku7139]

I tried checking the fan and wow it was stocked it's working now

[@wowza3611]

@@bensappliancesandjunk my coils frozen. Freezer is nice and cold but fridge not getting cold air. Does not seem to be a physical blockage between fridge and freezer. Heater tested at 34 ohms, evap fan runs, thermostat is not swollen. How do I test the temp sensor?

[@templerose2471]

I wish I could send you pictures of the mud and dust bunnies that took over the refrigerator that came with my apartment. I’m so glad you made this video. I’ve been without a properly working refrigerator for 2 months. Like a commenter had said it’s hard to get landlords to get you replacements. lol. This is a life saver.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Awww, I am so glad!

[@richjordan9448]

I had a different problem, but the step by step instruction helped me diagnose it. My water guide for the ice maker fell off and the water poured in and froze up the evaporator fan and coils. Once I found it, using your video - it was an easy defrost operation. Saved me a service call - thanks Ben!

[@dceldeen]

Thanks! It was the heater which cost me $16 on amazon including a new temperature sensor. You are really good at presenting how to diagnose and do the fixes. Keep up the good work!

[@totohamo]

You should ask money for this clear explanation! Thank you so much

[@danieldunn7239]

Thanks for the straightforward and easy to follow tips!! I was able to get my freezer going again because of this video. I did a thorough cleaning of the back (was almost as bad as the one you did), took off the back of the freezer compartment and melted the glacier on the coils. Although the defrost unit tested at 20 it seemed to be original equipment and showed wear so I replaced it and the defrost thermostat. So far so good and I even have water dispensing again!! It seems the glacier has been there since I moved in two 1/2 years ago!! Great job!!

[@ScottGodsey]

Thank you my friend! I have to say that I found this video to be an excellent tutorial. You were simple, clear, concise, and thorough in your explanations, making it easy for me to follow along and understand the steps. One thing that stood out to me was how you started by explaining the basic functioning of a refrigerator, which helped me to understand the problem at hand. And then proceeded to take me through the step-by-step process of checking various components of the refrigerator. I appreciated how you used easy-to-understand language throughout the video, avoiding technical jargon that might have made it difficult for me to follow along. You also demonstrated a lot of patience and attention to detail, taking the time to explain each step carefully and answer any questions that I might have had. Overall, I highly recommend this KZbin video to anyone who needs to check a refrigerator that's not cooling correctly. Ben did an excellent job of simplifying a potentially complicated process and making it accessible to viewers of all levels of expertise. I give kudos to Ben for creating such a helpful and informative tutorial!

[@MiquelangeloMr]

Best advise ever. Just fixed mine for $14.50 and a lot of patience. Thank you

[@franzbibfeldt]

A tip of the hat to you! You did an excellent and thorough job of explaining things. I wouldn't be surprised if some repairmen learned a few things from you. And you did it all without any crappy, third-rate background music blasting out my eardrums! Good job!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

I appreciate it. I intentionally don't use music because of other videos I've seen that have it that are just awful. I do have an intro and outro music I paid for someone to make, but I try to reserve that for only the times that the video is over and the concept has been taught. Thanks!

[@rocker101simmons2]

@@bensappliancesandjunk A

[@johnfitbyfaithnet]

@@bensappliancesandjunk great!

[@terrancepinkney777]

You totally helped avert a disaster today! This video was awesome and I checked everything you checked and the relay switch was bad. I replaced that today and now my fridge is cooling again. Thank you for your time and knowledge!

[@alexishigdon8465]

Ben, you are a very special guy. You have the knowledge and ability to teach and communicate with homeowners like myself to solve refrigerator problems. Your voice is soothing, you are really polite and it looks like you've added subtitles for a foreign country. You just saved me hundreds (probably) of $$ through your very thorough troubleshooting and repair video. Thank you so much. You should be proud of yourself. Alex

[@bobsirapton4978]

Alex; thanks for putting down just about everything I was going to say. Ben; being a senior, you have, as someone above said, made me at ease with your calm, understandable and orderly video. Now, I'm off to try your ideas so wish me luck and continued good luck to you. I'll be sure to come back with the results!!

[@rcinmpls]

Your video saved me $2000 on a new refrigerator that wouldn't be delivered for over 6 weeks. $25 fan with thermostat assembly fixed the problem. Thanks for sharing this, I am sure you have helped out a lot of other people!!!!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Glad I could help

[@mikethomas7138]

This was so great, my fridge stopped cooling but sure had that build up of ice in the back. I went through the steps. Dust on mine matched yours. I was sure it was the thermostat, but after testing that I was sure that it wasn't. I just replaced the defrost heater, watching what you did, and have just turned it back on. I'm hopeful this was the trick. So far I have invested a bit of time and about $24. Thank you for this video

[@screamer2005]

I appreciate your video. I have a 33+ year old GE side by side that always served me well except I had to replace the ice maker once. My problem was the ice maker cube tray was not level and dripped water to the coils below. It took many years, but the coils finally got so iced up the refrigerator side quit cooling. Took the back off the freezer side and everything works great now. No problems. Most people would just scrap it and buy a new one which is designed to last 7 years.

[@mariasarchi4499]

This video saved me stress, time, and money. He is crystal clear and easy to follow 👌🏻 these instructions helped me to fix my refrigerator. Truly appreciated! Thank you.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Glad it helped!

[@scottcrase257]

Best instruction video! Even though I am still going to have to call a repair man, my confidence that the issue is not with the checks you have provided here is very high. While I know I going to pay big bucks, at least it is not for simply replacing the compressor relay or other topic in this vid. Learned a lot! Thank you!

[@TDinHB]

This video should be on GE website. Well photographed, fast forward when warranted, and an excellent explanation of actual repairs a homeowner can do with a spare Saturday morning. Thanks for your time and expertise.

[@victoryfirst2878]

Thank you Sir for showing me how to fix my fridge. This has to be the best video I have seen for a side by side unit. Good day too.

[@caseyberner7529]

This was extremely helpful and well laid out. Saved me thousands of dollars thinking I needed a new refrigerator. Thanks Ben.

[@sandrad4695]

Old refrigerators were easier to clean and lasted forever. My mom has a freezer in her garage that’s 30+ years old and never had any issues with it. Sometimes newer isn’t always better.

[@mikga45]

Older HVAC units were also built better. Normal to see a old Fedders adaptomatic package unit lasting 25 to 30 years. They were less efficient but lasted 3 times longer. If your new Air conditioning unit lasts 7 or 8 years today call yourself lucky. Cheaper components are being used and the metal is of lesser quality today. Even the basic controls such as relays, capacitors and circuit boards use cheaper components in the manufacturing of the controls. Everything use to last at least 10 years. Not anymore. After I retired from HVAC I worked for a home warranty company for around 5 years because my back is shot can no longer lift compressors and heavy A/c units. It is alarming how many calls we received a n Samsung and LG refrigerators and washers and dryers. Going bad and requiring large amounts of money to repair unit only a year or 2 old. Sometimes the repair cost more than the replacement.

[@samsen3965]

Clue: Look at where those were made then, and look at where the new ones are made now. Problem "solved" or in a better said: "Just started"!

[@The.Ghost.of.Tom.Joad.]

Yup. My only problem with the old units is electricity. We inherited a '70s Kenmore from my grandmother, kept it in our garage unplugged unless we needed it. Moved it inside when our fridge went kerblam. That old Kenmore ran like a Sherman tank-good as new. Then our first electric bills with it shocked us, so we purchased a new one, which saves us $250-300/ year in electricity versus our old one, and about $500 if we'd have used my grandmother's.

[@tech-centralusa9671]

Sandra D: I can testify in favor of your comment. My Whirlpool Princess model refrigerator/freezer has been in operation since 1986. All I do every couple of years is clean the coils. I did replace the ice maker after 24 years. One thing on the serial number plate of the fridge says it all: MADE IN THE USA.

[@samsen3965]

​@@tech-centralusa9671 Dearly thanks Tech-Central USA. & Never forget: "Be American, Buy American".

[@davidpritchard9829]

I'm in/from the UK and was surprised how clear and informative this was. Keep up the good work.

[@riohenry6382]

It's a friend's refrigerator that’s broken so I’m feeling just fine watching you :)) Thanks for all the great advice

[@annettetuck2477]

Glad I found your information. My GE is 28 yrs old it heated up a year ago in between wall of freezer/fridge, fan had stopped full of dog and people hair. It was gross and I clean behind my fridge regular. Now I noticed freezer isn’t very cold I know everything is clean back there I had my fridge pulled out the other day and took back off to inspect. After watching yr video I will now inspect the freezer inside. Thanks so much my hubby will be stoked if I can fix the fridge again. He calls me Martha MacGyver hahaha I will keep you posted.

[@nightworld1971]

I just wanted to reach out and say thank you, Ben, for the support. 😊 The approach was Awsume, right to the point ! and straightforward guidance for those in need of understanding problems with their fridge 👍. The fact that there was no long dragged out B.S. ( pre- Madonna) stuff, ect - made this simple but factual, educational training. I will follow you, Ben, and subscribe. God is Able ! 😊.

[@hopetofish]

Have a Kitchen Aid refrigerator that stopped cooling. Watched your video and turned out to be the start relay. Bought the part and it is up and running . Great video! Thanks

[@pauljuska]

People like Ben make the world go round. Great, easy to follow, well produced video brother!

[@KnockOut101inc]

Hey, thanks so much! was checking over everything, I found there was no air coming out of the refrigerator vents, and discovered my evaporator fan froze over and wasn't spinning. I honestly didn't know that's how the fridge got its cold air, from the freezer. You taught me a lot! I'm not sure if there is a defrost issue, but after letting it melt, its cooling like a charm!! Saved me a call and repair bill. Thanks.

[@nick123chen]

You are one of the best communicators on KZbin. Thank you for sharing your knowledge so generously!!!

[@sanablana99]

Thank you so much! I cleaned the coils, checked my fan, then restarted the fridge and I think I figured it out!!!

[@johnbyrnes2039]

Just purchased a refrigerator that has seen some better days and cooled the lower half extremely poorly after a 12 hour period. Used the video like a checklist. Finally took the back panel off the freezer and noticed the fan wasn’t spinning when power was applied. A bunch of gunk and dirt seized it from initially spinning. Got it cleaned up and it has improved tremendously! It is still an old fridge (made 2001) but thanks to your video it has some more life left in it. Thanks.

[@thelaueritgroupllc9212]

Ben, what a great video. I followed it thru to the end and then cleaned and cleaned and then tested the defrost heater and it was infinite ohms. It also was not very clean inside. I ordered a new one and will install tomorrow. The whole approach was great, I certainly learned quite a bit. Thank you so much.

[@solaine8950]

Thank you for this video, Ben. I was about to call an "expert" to examine why my fridge and freezer's temperatures kept increasing. They quoted me $250 plus parts. I followed this video step-by-step and found the issue to be the defrost heater. I was able to fix the problem myself for under $30. Now my fridge and freezer are working fine.

[@richardpaquette8352]

Certainly one of the best self help videos on Youetube i've ever seen! We plan on cleaning out the coils, ice, etc every 6 months now. Haven't solved the probelm yet, but ascetained what it isn't!

[@Rioudh]

After watching this, I cleaned the coils on my Frigidaire, and could tell the difference right away. Thanks!

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Glad it helped!

[@jimmysapien9961]

Amen 🙏

[@cynthiaphillips3862]

What a comprehensive, comprehendible video! You explained everything with enough detail, but didn't talk over my newbie head. I appreciate it SO MUCH. From the number of views you've had, I suppose many others do to. Thanks again!

[@mrwonderfullgj]

A very well presented and very instructional video. Showing how to identify the parts and how to obtain them was an added Plus. Thank you not only from me but I'm sure on behalf of many viewers that have seen your videos.

[@StrGzr101]

Ben, you are my favorite people right now. I rent this apartment. The freezer works fine but the fridge does not. You gave me a game plan to assess and maybe rectify. If not, I might be able to identify, thereby offering my landlord specifics, as apposed to "it's banging and only half-works." Thanks, man.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Awww, thanks!

[@StrGzr101]

@@bensappliancesandjunk No charge.

[@stevek.9041]

Thank you for your video. $9.89 for a relay and overload kit. The hardest part of the repair was getting the plastic cover off the compressor connections. You the man!

[@tootrue8230]

Ben you are the absolute best at explaining diagnostic process - extremely thorough, clear and concise. Thank you and wish you all the best!!

[@jasonzinn3205]

I havent had a chance to put these tips to work yet, but really appreciate the easy, straightforward way you explained everything. Lots of times, videos like these make certain assumptions or dont show every little detail needed to get something broken down into components; they just skip from stating the step to showing it completed. This video broke everything down so easily and helpfully. Thank you!!!

[@deejohnson5163]

I am glad you showed such a filthy condensor. It gives me a better understanding from before/after.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

I kind of thought *maybe* it'd have a dirty condenser, because I saw the holes in the cover were pretty bad (I took some off before filming, but never knew what the inside looked. HOLY COW IT WAS BAD. It was actually cooling. it just wasn't cooling very well. Tried to show a proper before and after to give people what it looks like with a simple scrubbing (I think I spent maybe 3min cleaning it?)

[@MasterArmedforces]

@@bensappliancesandjunk I'm having the opposite issue with freezing food inside the refrigerator. I've read in certain places that could be the thermostat, damper, thermistor, etc. I'm not tech savvy enough to figure this out by taking current flow measurements or anything like that, and Im too strapped financially right now to just throw money at the problem, but it is ruining a lot of my food. Is there any kind of Macgyver type of fix that I can do which will help? Something like maybe duct tape up that front vent on the left hand side of the upper shelf where the thermistor sits behind? Or maybe take off the panel to the damper and block off some of that airway from the freezer with some duct tape? Thanks for your help. (GE gss25 xspa bs)

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

@@MasterArmedforces ... Is the fridge in an unheated garage by chance?

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Otherwise, If its too cold in refrigerator portion, I'd get a temp gun to see exactly what temps are. There are 2 situations: Either the freezer is TOO COLD (yes, there's such a thing) and the over-cooling situation is causing too much cold air to migrate into the refrigerator portion (likely due to the cold control telling compressor to run 24/7 causing higher electric bills , OR the dampener is bad, staying open when it needs to be slightly closed) Macgyver fix for cheapest solution would be to dampen the cold output to fridge cabinet more. Older units have physical dampeners (plastic plates that activate via turn nob to reduce flow to fridge). Newer ones are motor-driven, and sadly those are common to die. Let me know which it is and I'm sure something can be whittled down as the culprit

[@MasterArmedforces]

@@bensappliancesandjunk The refrigerator is in the kitchen which is neither heated nor air conditioned. I'm in Central Florida so during the summer the temperature in the room was about 80-83°, and for the past month it has been between 60-70°. The fluctuations in the room temperature have not influenced the freezing conditions inside the refrigerator, it has remained constant. The worst freezing occurs within the middle of the refrigerator, so the top shelf and the bottom drawer don't usually freeze. I bought this refrigerator used back in April and the model of this refrigerator is a GE gss25 xspa bs, I believe it is a 2003 or 2004 model. The temperature controls are digital. In this video you can see a newer model of the same refrigerator that looks exactly the same on the top shelf (you can see it if you scroll forward to the the 01:41 mark), kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHurfIKdaLyHb6M . I'm pretty sure that the thermistor sits behind the small football shaped vent on the left hand side of the top shelf. I was thinking maybe I could cut a square piece of pillow cushion foam (I have some leftover from a project I did a while back) than stick it in the damper hole to block some of the air coming from the freezer? Thanks, I appreciate any help you can give me.

[@maril1379]

Right Ben I don't want to watch because of a problem but thanks for helping me Very much appreciated thumbs up.

[@squidlok]

You are a godsend Ben! Thank you soooo much for your detailed video. Freezer was only freezing bottom half and fridge was also freezing at the bottom. Was told by an appliance store that I should just replace it. That there is a lot of sensors and stuff it could be. When I saw your video and saw the evap fan and I was getting no air out of the top vents I knew that was the culprit. $25 part and we’re back in business. Sooo thankful for people like you that are willing to take the time to help others! God Bless and thanks again!!🙏

[@johnse5]

Ben, you're my hero. It was definitely the Refrigerator Defrost Heater (a pretty easy part to change out, plus now I know how to check Ohm resistance). Apparently this is a common failure on my GE side-by-side and now I know what to look for. Your care in creating these guide videos is much appreciated and it's obvious why there are millions of views. I recommend purchasing the parts through the published link, the same part from GE Appliances was 4x more expensive.

[@amauryarce]

Man!!! THIS IS THE BEST , FRIENDLY, AND SRTAIGTH FORWARD REFRIGERATOR TROUBLESHOOTING VIDEO I EVER SEEN. THANKS BUDDY!.

[@JWinter76]

Saved me. I was about to buy a new fridge, and it was the evap fan. Thanks Ben

[@yolanda5756]

❤❤❤THANK YOU!!! Video is clear and to the point without all the annoying sound effects. My GE is over 20 years old. My fridge side is now freezing the food & the freezer side keeps defrosting, thawing my frozen foods then it refreezes.

[@Sommers234]

Now that's some clear instruction. Thank you kindly, from someone who barely dares mess around with anything mechanical.

[@FLHunter3006]

Thank you Ben for covering so many different scenarios. Can't wait to get home and check to see what's going on with mine.

[@Greygon313]

Excellent video. Great job Ben! Following your steps, I just replaced my compressor start relay for $30 likely saving over $100! My fridge was a frigidaire.

[@dannyperez1431]

OMG Ben, thank you so much. I was so desperate because my fridge was not cooling enough and I really can't afford a new fridge right now. I followed your instructions and the problem was an extremely dirty vent system and also the coils were dirty. I cleaned them last night and this morning the fridge and freezer part are working great, thank you so much!

[@midwestblondie]

It's very important to keep your appliances at the proper temperatures. Keep the refrigerator temperature at or below 40° F (4° C). The freezer temperature should be 0° F (-18° C). Check temperatures periodically. If the temperatures aren't kept at the proper settings the more chance Listeria, a bacterium that causes foodborne illness, can grow, especially if the refrigerator temperature is above the safe temperature. Thermometers are the best way of knowing these temperatures and are generally inexpensive.

[@ThePerfectOffering]

Thank you brother! My coils were just as dirty as yours and my fan was not spinning at all. A brush, vacuum, oil for the fan, and your video saved my refrigerator!

[@roberthare2251]

Excellent video: clear, to the point, and great instructions for the repairs. After watching your video, I knew my thermostat was bad, and, like you, I decided to replace the heater while I was at it. I fix nearly everything myself, but your video made this job go really well. Thank you.

[@johnfitbyfaithnet]

Agreed

[@shockingblow94]

Thank you for this video, Ben. I have a very similar fridge to the one shown. This video has been invaluable for my troubleshooting of my fridge. Turns out my condenser fan and defrost heater had both gone bad and somehow the fridge was still running and keeping somewhat cool. These two failures on a newer fridge would have probably overloaded and failed the compressor. Mine is all fixed up now with the help of a local parts supplier and it'll probably last years to come.

[@dzavelion]

The one thing you missed is on these ge fridges if the compressor isn't running the first thing you check before checking the starter is the main control board behind the panel on the back of the fridge the one with all of the 1/4 screws. Unplug the power and use needle nose pliers for the plastic pins holding it in place, as well remove the wires. Look at the back of the board. Most of the time their is a relay that burns out and it's very visibly seen when you look behind the board you might even see black on the wall behind it where the relay burnt out. At this point you will need a new board. Do not just solder this connection back, you might get the fridge to temporarily work but you could damage other components and as well the relay will burn out again farely shortly.

[@Izzydarnell10]

L

[@kellymcdonell9687]

So does this mean you need a whole new board?

[@chrisjpritchard]

@@kellymcdonell9687 Probably - you could do a search on google for used boards for that model

[@gregshaffer2970]

I cleaned my coils and my fridge and freezer are working great. Thank you for this awesome video. Yes, I also subscribed. You saved me time and money and also gave me a free education. I am not low maintenance, I am NO maintenance but you proved me wrong! Ben, you are the man!!!

[@cakewhisperer7113]

Dear Ben I’m so grateful to you and how I was able to convince my husband to please let’s try to see if we can fix our double door GE profile that’s at least 16 years old and yesterday I noticed the freezer part is not working. He was ready to go and get a replacement. My kids and I pleaded to please let’s try to fix it after I saw your post. Let me tell you that I don’t know yet if this works but at least we literally did everything you mentioned to check. It’s almost time to check out if it works. But either ways my family and I learns great deal and will post it on KZbin and a link to your post as thank you for such a thorough instructional video:)

[@jordanB472]

Well done video. Specifics are given that are needed for the non-fridge techs like me.

[@edborisinkoff3156]

This is the best video explanation I have ever seen. Continue to help the public out. Thank you.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@paulleblanc4653]

My daughter’s fridge had this same dust problem, easy fix. Good of you showing this simple problem.The old open coil on outside back was easy to clean

[@rickyrickharris4908]

What was the problem you had that cleaning the coils solved?

[@CerealFork27]

Bro I just started an apartment maintenance job and you've definitely covered refrigerators well enough that I feel confident to tackle any of them.

[@brick696]

Thanks for this video, I went step by step and replaced my compressor relay. Now my refrigerator has new life. Great video, thanks again!

[@wanderingsoul2909]

Very good instructional video for DIYers ! I don't know if I could handle testing all the parts but now I have a guide thanks to you ! Thanks !

[@RalloWatches]

Ben, you are the absolute best! This video just saved me time and plenty of money with my fridge. It was super informative and it helped me fix the defroster that was broken. Thank you one million times and I hope you have a blessed day.

[@rickyrickharris4908]

So it was the defroster for you? What issue were you having bc of the defroster

[@RalloWatches]

@@rickyrickharris4908 the backside on the inside of the freezer was frozen over with ice and frost. The entire unit wouldn’t keep temperature. It didn’t go completely hot all at once, but it was slowly getting warmer and warmer everyday. Then it got to the point where everything in the freezer thawed and the fridge was almost 50 degrees

[@gary1739]

Ben, thanks for making this so easy! I narrowed it down to the defrost element or the control board so ordered both for the princely total of $35!! Make Old Jenn Air Refrigerators Great Again!!

[@yjaafar1492]

Thank you very much for this quick fix. Suddenly my fridge stopped cooling and my freezer was just working like fridge. You saved my life.. Appreciate your help.

[@ILoveChanelLynn]

Thank you Ben for your video! Gave me the courage & inspiration to clean my fridge/freezer. Appreciate you & your video!

[@treefrog2452]

That one looks easy mine, a freebie hauled off was "broken down". Took a look there was an inch on fan, compressor, drip pan and two or more under it on the coils. The entire system had dust, dirt and animal hair. Spent two hours plus cleaning, worked well, it hes been in my kitchen for over 20 years now. Man that was a score. Some people, can't fix stupid. I've gotten some good neglected items over the years. I have saved thousands by fixing or cleaning peoples "broken items". Because I just volunteer to haul stuff off.

[@eldhaww8326]

Best video I had ever seen about this topic! Thanks for sharing it and make it so clear and well made ! Bless!!!

[@wadebill1382]

Great video. Clear and concise. Thank you for this. My neighbor's fridge would not cool. I followed your steps as outlined. Had to clean the coils as they looked like the one in your video. First replaced the relay. Still had an issue. Then replaced the defrost heater, temperature sensors, and thermostat. It's been working perfectly. Probably would have struggled immensely without your help. Thank you again.

[@andrettibark]

I'm actually happy to be watching this video. My fridge is fine, I'm just an appliance tech learning Spanish and found a channel that does Spanish voiceovers of your videos. Duolingo isn't gonna teach me the Spanish for "compressor start relay" or "defrost thermostat". I recognized your face and came to memorize the script.

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Nice! I have a few videos that have done really well, so I decided to get them narrarated in Spanish to help people out that may not be native English speakers. I'm slowly getting more videos converted over, but its a slow process because I'm trying to roll 100% of the proceeds of that channel back into new videos at the moment, but also try to pick videos that will do the most good for people that speak Spanish and would have access to the appliances I do on the channel.

[@chantelh6072]

Omg thank you! Myself and my 14 year old son just checked everything and our fan in the freezer isn't turning on. Ordered a new 20$ replacement and fingers crossed the problem is fixed! This video was very detailed and informative! Appreciate the time and information!!

[@_danila5185]

Did it work?? 😊

[@nancywadlington8017]

he explains everything so well. Thank you!

[@drummercdavidson]

This was a very helpful video that allowed me to fix my fridge. Had to replace the evaporator fan motor but all is well now. Thank you very much for posting this tutorial.

[@rickyrickharris4908]

What exactly was happening bc of this fan. What was the issue and did it fix the problem?

[@chandreshmaheshwari3241]

I came here with the problem of freezer cooling but not enough - and loved your video. It is so very well made - clear photograpy, good instructions in simple language and the best part is, you have moved from simple solutions/problems to more complicated or technical ones (or else one can decide to stop the video less than half way thru seeing the complicated stuff.) I cannot personally do some of the things in this video, but with help from my son, might be able to do them (except checking with multimeter etc.) I realized my fan is not spinning whether the unit is switched on or off - it has become really tight to rotate. Any advice on that?

[@johnsonfernandes3918]

Thank you Ben for such a helpful video. My 13 year old Maytag fridge stop cooling . I called local repair places no one was available to come for a week. I saw your video changed the relay and cleaned the coils and the fridge is cooling down again. I might still have a technician have a look as the compressor gets hot to touch so not sure if Iam missing something. You definitely helped me and many people like me . You have a special gift to explain things in simple easy to understand manner . Many Thanks Ben !

[@JohnThomas-lq5qp]

Ben did not recognize you without the Maytag hat and away from a washing machine or dryer. Thanks for all your great vids.Purcahsed an energy saving Amana 20 cubic foot refrigerator almost 50 years ago. Freezer never kept ice cream fairly frozen during the summer unless I had the central AC on. Had a very knowledgeable tech look it over. He blew the charge and had a fancy container that measured the exact amount of refrigerant. Tink he added a 1/4 ounce to account for small amount lost when removing hose. Was still the same. He thought they cut corners and installed an slightly undersised compressor. Even during the winter with house at 68 degrees only time compressor shut off was during twice or four times a day defrost. Replaced the defrost timer twice & defrost heater once during the 21 years we owned it .

[@steveb.6267]

One of the best videos on this subject I’ve seen so far. Good work Ben. 👍

[@bensappliancesandjunk]

Wow, thanks!