GE Refrigerator I have a GE side by side refrigerator. Though the thermostat controls to both freezer and fridge are set to normal, everything is freezing in the refrigerator. The latter is due to a lot of ice building on the thermostat controls. Each time I use the hair dryer to melt the ice, it builds back up again. Why is the ice forming and how do I resolve it?

Hi, this problem is going to be with the running thermostat (cold Control). It has gone bad and stays open which in turn will keep the compressor running continually and will cause the fridge to get colder and freeze food. It can normally be located in the control panel inside the fridge (it is the control that has wires, the other is the damper). Locate the thermostat and replace it. If you have any other questions or concerns please feel free to comment again. Good Luck!! Mike

Start lowering down temperature, you may need to defrost fridge overnight.

How to check everything
http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/refrigerator/refrigerator.php


The fridge gets its cold air from the freezer through a vent(damper) between the freezer and fridge.The fan in the freezer blows air through it. There is a flap you adjust with the fridge temp. control. Make sure it's opening and closing when you adjust the fridge temp.


If the evaporator coils behind the back panel of the freezer are icing up because of auto defrost failure that will stop the circulation of cold air and eventually affect the freezer too.

check defrost timer, defrost heater, defrost thermostat. In most newer models the timer has been replaced by an electronic control board. If the heater and thermostat are ok it’ll be the control.

You can turn the defrost timer till it clicks and everything shuts down. The heater should now come on. If it does, replace the timer. If it doesn't, check the heater and defrost thermostat. Turn the timer again till everything starts back up to end the defrost cycle.

How to check everything
http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/refrigerator/refrigerator.php


The fridge gets its cold air from the freezer through a vent(damper) between the freezer and fridge.The fan in the freezer blows air through it. There is a flap you adjust with the fridge temp. control. Make sure it's opening and closing when you adjust the fridge temp

..
If the evaporator coils behind the back panel of the freezer are icing up because of auto defrost failure that will stop the circulation of cold air and eventually affect the freezer too.

check defrost timer, defrost heater, defrost thermostat. In most newer models the timer has been replaced by an electronic control board. If the heater and thermostat are ok it’ll be the control.

You can turn the defrost timer till it clicks and everything shuts down. The heater should now come on. If it does, replace the timer. If it doesn't, check the heater and defrost thermostat. Turn the timer again till everything starts back up to end the defrost cycle.

The fridge gets its cold air from the freezer through a vent(damper) between the freezer and fridge.The fan in the freezer blows air through it. There is a flap you adjust with the fridge temp. control. Make sure it's opening and closing when you adjust the fridge temp ..
If the evaporator coils behind the back panel of the freezer are icing up because of auto defrost failure that will stop the circulation of cold air and eventually affect the freezer too.

check defrost timer, defrost heater, defrost thermostat. In most newer models the timer has been replaced by an electronic control board. If the heater and thermostat are ok it’ll be the control.
How to check everything
http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/refrigerator/refrigerator.php

The fridge gets its cold air from the freezer through a vent between the freezer and fridge.The fan in the freezer blows air through it. There is a flap you adjust with the fridge temp. control. Make sure it's opening and closing when you adjust the fridge temp ..

Hi, Change the controls back to normal settings. Make sure the freezer is getting 0 to 5 above. If the freezer is getting cold enough, try and turn the cold control to 1 and see if the refrigerator shuts off. It sounds like the cold control in not working properly and will need to be replaced. NOTE: The freezer temp has to be right temp or the fresh food side will not work proper.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can assist you further.

Vic

Work on the fridge problem first and the freezer may be fixed by that.

1/Thermostats lose sensitivity over time. The thermostat or sensor may be defective.
or
2/ You have lost some of your refrigerant and it is undercharged. It does evaporate very slowly but a pinhole would lose it in minutes.

Do not continue to run it or your compressor may overheat and fail. The sides of the fridge are probably quite warm from this happening already.

Check out partselect.com. need to replace defrost timer and defrost thermostat. good luck.

Low on freon/refrigerant maybe.