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GE Side by Side Refrigerator Repair

Quick Answer

Most GE side-by-side cooling issues stem from a failed defrost heater, a dusty condenser coil, or a malfunctioning evaporator fan motor. If your ice maker stopped working, the water inlet valve or the ice maker module itself is usually the culprit. I often find that a quick coil cleaning or a simple heater swap gets these units back to freezing temps in no time.

GE has built millions of these side-by-sides and honestly they're pretty solid machines. But ignore a defrost failure long enough and you'll end up with a freezer packed in ice and a fridge section that can't get below 50 degrees. I've seen people let it go for weeks, and by the time I show up the evaporator coil is a solid block. Catch it early and you're usually looking at a $20-40 part fix, not a $600 compressor job.

GeRefrigeratorSeverity: moderate
Time to Fix
30–120 min
Difficulty
beginner
Parts Cost
$0 (no parts needed)
Tools Needed
Phillips #2 screwdriver, 1/4 inch nut driver

GE Side by Side Refrigerator Repair

OK so here's the deal with GE side-by-sides. Parts are cheap and widely available, which is a huge win compared to some of the newer brands. A defrost heater runs you about $30. An evaporator fan motor is $40-60. Even a water inlet valve is under $25 at most appliance parts stores. These aren't mystery machines. GE's layout hasn't changed dramatically in 20 years, so if you've fixed one you can basically fix them all.

Common Causes

  • The defrost heater element burns out after years of cycling on and off, usually around the 8-12 year mark, and once it goes the evaporator coil frosts over completely and blocks all airflow to the fridge side.
  • Condenser coils on the back bottom of the unit get packed with pet hair, lint, and dust, and when they're coated like that the compressor overheats and the whole system loses its ability to cool efficiently.
  • The evaporator fan motor bearings wear out and the fan slows down or stops completely, and even though the freezer stays cold you get zero airflow circulating over to the refrigerator compartment.
  • The main control board develops a failed relay or burnt component, usually from a power surge or just age, and when that happens the defrost cycle, compressor cycling, or ice maker operation gets completely scrambled.
  • The defrost drain tube at the bottom of the freezer gets packed with ice or food debris, and melted defrost water has nowhere to go except down into the fresh food section and onto your kitchen floor.
  • The water inlet valve solenoid coil burns out or the screen filter inside it clogs with mineral deposits, and suddenly no water gets to the ice maker or the dispenser.

Symptoms You May Notice

  • The fridge section is sitting at 50-55 degrees even though the freezer is still making ice and feels plenty cold.
  • There's a solid sheet of ice covering the entire back wall of the freezer, sometimes an inch or two thick, basically a glacier.
  • You're hearing a chirping or squealing noise coming from the freezer that gets louder when the compressor kicks on.
  • Water is pooling under the vegetable drawers and you keep finding a puddle on the kitchen floor in front of the unit.
  • The ice maker hasn't dropped a single cube in days even though the water dispenser still works fine.
  • Constant clicking sound every few minutes coming from the back lower section near the compressor.

Can you reset a Ge refrigerator to clear the TROUBLESHOOTING code?

Unplug your GE refrigerator from the wall and leave it unplugged for at least 5 minutes. Longer than most people wait, but it matters because it gives the capacitors on the control board time to fully discharge. Plug it back in and listen for the compressor to kick on within a few minutes. The ice maker may take 24 hours to drop its first batch after a reset. If the issue was a control board glitch from a power surge, this usually clears it completely.

Tools Required for Diagnosis

Phillips #2 screwdriver1/4 inch nut driverDigital multimeter with ohms settingCondenser coil brushShop vacuum or household vacuum with hose attachmentTurkey basterFlat-head screwdriverNeedle-nose pliers

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

ComponentComponent Under Test
Expected Range20–50 ohms
ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my GE refrigerator making a clicking sound?
That clicking every few minutes is almost always the start relay trying to get the compressor going. The start relay is a small cube-shaped part that plugs into the side of the compressor. Pull it out and shake it. If it rattles like a broken maraca, it's dead. They run about $10-15 and it's a 5-minute swap, honestly one of the easiest fixes on any refrigerator. If you replace the relay and the clicking continues, you might be looking at a bad compressor itself, which is a whole different conversation cost-wise.
How do I reset my GE side-by-side refrigerator?
Unplug it from the wall for at least 5 minutes. I know the internet says 30 seconds, but I've had better results with a full 5 minutes, especially when you're trying to clear a control board glitch after a power surge. Plug it back in and give it a full 24 hours before you decide the reset didn't work. The temps won't stabilize right away, especially if the unit was already struggling before you reset it.
Why is my GE ice maker not filling with water?
Three things to check. First, is the shut-off arm inside the ice maker bin in the down position? That little wire arm stops production if it gets stuck up. Second, check your water filter. If it's older than 6 months, just swap it, they're about $40 and a clogged filter kills water flow. Third, test the water inlet valve at the back of the fridge with a multimeter. Each solenoid coil should read around 200-500 ohms. Open circuit means the valve is dead and needs to be replaced.
How often should I clean the coils on my GE fridge?
Every 6 months if you have pets. Once a year if you don't. I know it's annoying to pull the fridge out but I've seen compressors die early specifically because the coils were never cleaned. A compressor replacement runs $400-600 in parts and labor. A coil brush costs $8. Honestly just do it.
Why is there frost on my frozen food?
Door gasket is almost always the answer. Close the door on a dollar bill and try to pull it out. If it slides out real easy, the seal is shot and warm humid air is sneaking in every time the door cycles. Also check if anything inside is pushed up against the door preventing a full seal. A new gasket is around $30-50 depending on the model and it's a straightforward replacement.
My freezer is cold but the fridge isn't cooling. What's wrong?
Classic defrost failure or dead evaporator fan, one of those two. If the back wall of your freezer is coated in ice, it's the defrost system. If the back wall looks clear but you feel no air coming through the vent between the two sections, the evaporator fan motor is dead. Put your hand over that center vent and check. Both are DIY-able repairs and parts are usually under $50. I replaced three evaporator fan motors last week alone, it's one of the most common calls I get on GE side-by-sides.

Models Known to Experience TROUBLESHOOTING Errors

This repair applies to most Ge refrigerators with this error code. Common model numbers include:

GSS25GSHSS, GSE25GSHSS, PSS28KSHSS, GSH25JSDSS, GSL25JFTBS, GSS23GSKSS

MS

Written by

Mike Sullivan

Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 20 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on March 17, 2026