Refrigerators - Troubleshooting/FAQ

My refrigerator is running, but it is not cool or cool enough

If your doors have been opened frequently

Doors have been opened for long periods of time, or your refrigerator was recently installed, wait 24-48 hours for the refrigerator to completely cool.



Temperature

Your refrigerator should not be placed where temperatures will exceed 110°F or drop below 55°F.



Adding a large amount of food warms the refrigerator

It could take several hours for the refrigerator to return to the normal temperature



If the refrigerator is in Defrost mode

The freezer compartment temperature will be less cold than usual. Wait approximately 20 minutes, and you should be able to feel cold air blowing in the bottom of the compartment.



For your convenience, your temperature controls are preset at the factory to "mid-settings,"

Which should be correct for normal household use. However, the controls may need to be adjusted. If so, adjust the temperature one setting colder and wait 24 hours for the temperature of the refrigerator or freezer and contents to cool. Repeat this procedure until the desired temperature is reached.



Make sure the air vents between the freezer and refrigerator compartments are not blocked

Cold air enters and exits the refrigerator compartment from the freezer compartment through vents near the top shelf and crisper drawer. If the vents are blocked by food items, airflow will decrease, which will cause temperature and moisture problems. Move any item that could be blocking one of the vents.



My refrigerator is too cold (Side by Side models)

To minimize the possibility of electric shock, unplug this appliance from the power supply before attempting any maintenance or cleaning.

Causes of frost accumulation: • High humidity • Heavy door openings • Warm food load • Packages resting against the rear wall • Packages keeping the door open • After correcting these causes, the frost accumulation will go away in a few days. You may need service if the door gaskets are not sealing properly or are torn or split or if the fan in the freezer is not running.



My refrigerator is too cold (Freezer On Top Models)

To minimize the possibility of electric shock, unplug this appliance from the power supply before attempting any maintenance or cleaning.

Causes of frost accumulation: • High humidity • Heavy door openings • Warm food load • Packages resting against the rear wall • Packages keeping the door open • After correcting these causes, the frost accumulation will go away in a few days. You may need service if the door gaskets are not sealing properly or are torn or split or if the fan in the freezer is not running.



My dispenser is not dispensing water, or dispenses water slowly

New installation

Make sure the cradle has been held down 2-3 minutes to allow the reservoir to fill completely. (The reservoir is in refrigerator) This does not apply to top mount models with a water dispenser, because there is no reservoir. Note: It take approximately 7 seconds to fill an 8 ounce glass.



No water

Make sure the water line to refrigerator is turned on. The saddle valve is used to connect the water supply line to the house plumbing and must be fully open for the refrigerator to receive water.



No water from door

• Check the water tank behind the vegetable bins to if it is frozen or cracked. This is hard to do visually, usually a frozen tank will be split and will leak on the fresh food floor. Low food load in the fresh food section can cause the tank to freeze. • The meat pan lever may also be turned to the coldest position and on units that have a low water usage, this will also cause the tank to freeze. You will want to lower the meat drawer setting or use more water from the door. This does not apply to Top Mount water dispenser models, because they do not have a reservoir. Problem requiring service, glass fill time.



Dispenser drips water

If the dispenser drip water constantly, there most likely is a water valve problem, and you should have it checked by a service technician.



Dribble

A dribble as defined as a small amount of water (few drops) that may miss the glass ONLY AFTER USAGE. This is due to a delay in the overall system.



How do I clean my refrigerator?

New installation

Make sure the cradle has been held down 2-3 minutes to allow the reservoir to fill completely. (The reservoir is in refrigerator) This does not apply to top mount models with a water dispenser, because there is no reservoir. Note: It take approximately 7 seconds to fill an 8 ounce glass.



No water

Make sure the water line to refrigerator is turned on. The saddle valve is used to connect the water supply line to the house plumbing and must be fully open for the refrigerator to receive water.



No water from door

• Check the water tank behind the vegetable bins to if it is frozen or cracked. This is hard to do visually, usually a frozen tank will be split and will leak on the fresh food floor. Low food load in the fresh food section can cause the tank to freeze. • The meat pan lever may also be turned to the coldest position and on units that have a low water usage, this will also cause the tank to freeze. You will want to lower the meat drawer setting or use more water from the door. This does not apply to Top Mount water dispenser models, because they do not have a reservoir. Problem requiring service, glass fill time.



Dispenser drips water

If the dispenser drip water constantly, there most likely is a water valve problem, and you should have it checked by a service technician.



Dribble

A dribble as defined as a small amount of water (few drops) that may miss the glass ONLY AFTER USAGE. This is due to a delay in the overall system.



I have frost accumulation on my freezer walls or floor

To minimize the possibility of electric shock, unplug this appliance from the power supply before attempting any maintenance or cleaning.

Causes of frost accumulation: • High humidity • Heavy door openings • Warm food load • Packages resting against the rear wall • Packages keeping the door open • After correcting these causes, the frost accumulation will go away in a few days. You may need service if the door gaskets are not sealing properly or are torn or split or if the fan in the freezer is not running.



My refrigerator never shuts off, it runs too much

Check that the dispenser is not locked

Some models have a lock feature that deactivates the dispenser levers and control buttons. The lock button is on the dispenser front cover. This feature prevents unintentional dispensing during cleaning, etc. Press the "Unlock" or "Locked" button to reactivate the dispenser levers and allow dispenser function.



If there has been a recent power outage or the power supply has been off for more than 1 hour

The power outage indicator (on some models) will disable the dispenser function. To use the dispenser, press and hold the Reset button (if applicable) for 3 seconds until you hear the beeps.



Check that ice is not stuck in the ice chute

The ice chute can build up ice flakes over time due to the use of crushed ice. The ice chute is located on the inside of the freezer door and is accessible by removing the ice storage bin. Use only a plastic utensil to remove ice from the ice chute. Do not use anything sharp to remove ice as this may damage the ice chute.



Once large clumps or cubes are removed

Use a warm, wet cloth to wipe the inside of the ice chute. After removing the ice build-up, dry the ice chute by wiping it with a clean, dry cloth to prevent additional ice formation.



Check that ice is not clumping or sticking together in the ice bin

If it is, shake the ice bin to separate the cubes. If the cubes do not separate, empty the ice bin and clean it. Allow 24 hours for the ice bin to refill.



Check that ice is not melted around the auger

The auger is the metal spiral object in the ice bin. If it is, dispose of the ice cubes and clean the ice bin. Do not try to remove the melted ice with a sharp object as this may damage the ice bin. Allow 24 hours for the ice bin to refill. ​



Why is my ice dispenser not working? (Side by side refrigerator)

New installation

Make sure the cradle has been held down 2-3 minutes to allow the reservoir to fill completely. (The reservoir is in refrigerator) This does not apply to top mount models with a water dispenser, because there is no reservoir. Note: It take approximately 7 seconds to fill an 8 ounce glass.



No water

Make sure the water line to refrigerator is turned on. The saddle valve is used to connect the water supply line to the house plumbing and must be fully open for the refrigerator to receive water.



No water from door

• Check the water tank behind the vegetable bins to if it is frozen or cracked. This is hard to do visually, usually a frozen tank will be split and will leak on the fresh food floor. Low food load in the fresh food section can cause the tank to freeze. • The meat pan lever may also be turned to the coldest position and on units that have a low water usage, this will also cause the tank to freeze. You will want to lower the meat drawer setting or use more water from the door. This does not apply to Top Mount water dispenser models, because they do not have a reservoir. Problem requiring service, glass fill time.



Dispenser drips water

If the dispenser drip water constantly, there most likely is a water valve problem, and you should have it checked by a service technician.



Dribble

A dribble as defined as a small amount of water (few drops) that may miss the glass ONLY AFTER USAGE. This is due to a delay in the overall system.



My refrigerator is noisy. What noises are normal?

The normal operation of your refrigerator will cause some sound. The following list contains sounds that are normal.

• A change in fan speed as the refrigerator responds to changes in temperature due to door opening. • A clicking/tic toc noise can be heard when the defrost timer switches on and off. • A click can be heard when the temperature control unit turns the unit on and off. • A boiling, gurgling, or knocking sound can be heard when the unit is running. This is caused by the circulation of refrigerant. • Gurgling sound in the door. This sound can be heard just after the door is closed because of the water in drain tube trap area. It can last several seconds. • A drip may be heard when defrost water is dripping into the pan beneath the refrigerator. • A hum or click can be heard when the icemaker fills with water. This sound may be heard once or multiple times. • The icemaker will make a loud noise when cubes are dropped into the bucket. • Buzzing noises can be heard after getting water from the door dispenser. The noise should not last longer than 7 seconds. • A snapping sound will be heard about 4 seconds after removing a glass from a dispenser. This is the sound of the dispenser chute closing. • A clicking noise may be heard after a power shortage. This stems from the compressor trying to re-start itself. The noise could last for 3 to 5 minutes. • A hissing, sizzling, buzzing, or arching noise may be heard on self-defrost models. This is produced when water drips on defrost heaters.



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