So, I have a GE Profile Stainless Steel Side by Side Refridgerator. It is about 4 years old and has never had a problem to date. my roommate told me the freezer wasn't very cold, so i checked it. the ice was melting and ice cream had already melted. The fridge was still cool/cold, where I wouldn't expect anything to go bad. Unfortunatley, everything in the freezer is thawing/thawed. I made sure that the doors were closed and checked again 8 hours later. Nothing has improved.

What could possibly be wrong with this? Freon? I did un-plug it and re-plug it in. The whole time the freezer wasn't "freezing", the lights and digital displays for temperature were operational. The whole unit seems like it is operational, but the freezer just isn't cold enough.

Help TWW.

11/7/2008 11:55:43 PM

when you plugged it back in, did you hear it turn back on....maybe it tripped the breaker, mine did last weekend, the gf woke me up and was like the fridge isnt running, so I went to the breaker box and flipped it and it came right on....just a guess

11/8/2008 12:25:56 AM

my guess would be that your evaporator for the freezer is covered in ice, and no air can get through

first take off the front grill at the bottom and vacuum all the dust off the condenser coils, then unplug the fridge, and leave the freezer door open for an hour or so to thaw it out, the fridge side should stay cold as long as you leave it closed, then plug it back in and see if it works right

[Edited on November 8, 2008 at 10:17 AM. Reason : either that or a bad thermostat, but not something you could check for]

11/8/2008 10:16:08 AM

is the fan running?

11/8/2008 1:29:03 PM

If so you better catch it.

11/8/2008 2:23:40 PM

you can rule out the fan, compressor, freon, etc. since the fridge is staying cool. make sure it truly is staying cool. look for condensation forming on the side of stuff in the fridge. that would be your first sign that it isn't. a fridge can keep stuff cool for several days before noticing there is a problem whereas the freezer will exhibit signs much sooner.
the first and easiest thing to check is make sure the door seal is still functioning properly. a faulty door seal can cause a huge increase in temperature. to test this open the freezer door, place a dollar bill (or if you are a balla, use a hunderd) halfway inside so when you close the door only half of it will be exposed, close the door on the bill, and try to slide it out. if the bill comes out easily and without resistance the seal is shot. if it comes out with resistance the seal is fine.
i have a feeling ^^ is right on and that's your problem. most freezer/refrigerators only have one compressor and one fan. the knobs inside the fridge that control the temperature for the freezer and fridge control a flap that restricts the amount of air flow to each side. if the air passage is blocked by frozen condensation cool air can't enter the freezer and will cause your food to go bad.
in addition to ^^ suggestion, i'd recommend finding where the air comes from. it's probably at the top in the back. if you know how to unscrew something, try unscrewing and removing the plastic cover. you will then be able to see and feel if any cold air is coming out. if not, take a hair dryer and try to dethaw it.

11/8/2008 2:23:44 PM

or pee on it

11/8/2008 4:04:22 PM

yeah, that works too.

11/8/2008 6:39:50 PM

i had an old kenmore that would do that every few months, the damn defrost drain would freeze, and it eventually backed up and froze the evaporator it saw a couple yeas as a kegerator, and then a bobsled, it may still be down in that creek now

11/8/2008 7:08:36 PM

If yer evaporator is frozen, and it's staying that way all the time, then my guess is that the defrost timer or the actual defrost heating wire done gone bad.

Result...frost builds up on evaporator and builds up and builds up and eventually you get no cooling air passing through.

11/9/2008 12:36:51 AM

thanks for all of your help. the defrost lamp had burnt out and the coils were solidly covered in ice. i did have a repairman come to the house...he said that most GE's (mine is a side by side) have this go out somewhere in the first 3-4 years. I was annoyed that GE's product is made poorly. While the repairman was here, another 5 people called with the same problem from their GE Side by Sides.

Nonetheless, thanks TDub for your help. Everything works great again.

11/9/2008 8:45:45 AM

first to call it, i win

11/9/2008 9:08:30 AM