Not Cooling

• Perhaps the most pressing problem associated with the malfunction of the refrigerator is an inability to cool. This problem is commonly caused by a defrost problem in the evaporator of your refrigerator. If ice forms on the evaporator coils, it can reduce the cooling capacity significantly and make the freezer ice over. The ice will also prevent cool air from making its way to the main compartment where fresh food is kept. This is generally a problem with the defrost timer or thermostat. A repair technician will need to handle these repairs, but manual defrosting will temporarily solve the problem. Simply remove the perishable foods from the refrigerator and freezer, and open the doors of the refrigerator to allow the ice to melt away; however, the problem is likely to return in a week or two.
  
  

Lost Power

• If your refrigerator has completely shut down, the problem likely lies somewhere with the electricity supply to the unit, which can be a simple problem to resolve if the underlying cause is a tripped circuit breaker or if the refrigerator has simply been disconnected from the outlet. There may possibly be damage to the power cord or internal wiring. The outlet itself may also be malfunctioning. A qualified electrician best handles electrical problems.
  
  

Won't Dispense Water

• Many newer models of GE refrigerators dispense drinking water from a slot in the freezer door. If the water dispenser has stopped working, the most likely cause is a frozen supply line inside the door. The line can be accessed from the bottom of the refrigerator. Disconnect the line to see if water comes out of the line. If there is water, the problem is inside the door. Leave the door open for a half hour to thaw the line, and it should return to normal. An old water filter or a bad valve can also cause the problem but is less likely.
  
  

Won't Make Ice

• If your refrigerator has an automatic icemaker that is not working, you can first check the icemaker itself by pouring 4 oz. of water into the cube molds and wait a couple of hours. If the icemaker kicks out the cubes, you know the problem isn't with the mechanics of the icemaker itself, it is with the water supply. Frozen supply lines could cause this. Thaw the lines by leaving the freezer door open for a short time. There could also be ice in the dispenser tank, which will require the thermostat to be turned up so the entire unit will rise above freezing. The tank is typically located behind the crisper drawers in the bottom of the main compartment.