GE Refrigerator water dispenser intermittently working

sboku · Oct 27, 2005, 10:01 AM

I have a GE side-by-side refridgerator with a ice maker and water dispenser. In the last 3-4 months the water dispenser shuts off intermittently, but comes back to life on its own. I have changed the water filter as well as cleaned the water line, but haven't been able to identify the problem. The ice maker works fine.
Any thoughts?
Thanks

akajbo · Mar 30, 2008, 06:00 AM

I have a GE GSL25JFPA that had the water issue, but is now not making ice either. It started with just water over the past year or so, now it is apparently hitting the ice maker. Anybody else seeing the same issue?

nancycs · Mar 31, 2008, 03:58 AM

Well, my first time at this site. I'll be back again regularly!

My Water was not working ice maker works fine.

I got my blow dryer and turned the fridge to zero and freezer to zero (that's like off, not the temp.) stuck some weed wacker line up the nozzle and started blow drying through the flap where the ice dispenses.

I was getting excited, so I pulled out the veggie drawers and wiggled the 200 feet or so of plastic water line (I presume) and I had that water running in less than 10 minute's time.

Then I spent the next hour scrubbing the fridge, but Hey! I'm a woman...I go above and beyond!

Thanks everyone for all your great advice. By the way it is a GE side by side about 4 years old.

Bless you! My husband had the repair guys out three different techs. They suggested he buy a new door for $500!!!

That's above and beyond whatever he paid for the guys to come out.

Nancy

davette59 · Mar 31, 2008, 04:33 PM

I don't understand why GE sticks their head in the sand and pretends there is no problem instead of standing behind their product. I for one will NEVER purchase another GE appliance. There are too many other manufacturers out there that will support their products.
Any way, I did the blow dryer thing but it got to be a pain in the neck and I also was afraid of melting some of the plastic components. The weed trimmer solution works the best. Just give it a little tug every day or so. One thing I did find out is that the freeze up is worse if you have frozen food close behind the area where the water dispenser is. It makes the time between the freezing much longer if you keep the area behind the dispenser clear so that the air can circulate better at that point.

Apr 3, 2008, 11:14 AM

I bought my GE side by side (GSL25QGPD BS) in October 2004. I began experiencing a slow flow from the water dispenser just after it was installed. The installers blamed it on my home water line. Eventually, the water dispenser stopped working. I found this site a few days ago and detached the line where it enters the freezer door. Sure enough, the water line to the freezer door is fine, but the water freezes inside of the door.

The unit is out of GE's stingy warranty. GE offered free parts to fix the problem if I pay for the labor. The seller/installer will not help.

I wrote a letter to GE and the seller asking them to pay for the labor. We'll see what the response is.

davette59 · Apr 4, 2008, 03:10 PM

Since the GE people don't stand behind their design errors and don't mind loosing customers, I have given this some thought. The weed eater string woks the best but it still freezes up almost every day now. I pull the string in and out a few times and I'm good to go for another day. I moved some of the frozen food from directly behind the door at the water service location and it seems to help. I think it allows more air movement. I am going to try and apply a piece of 3/4" thick styrofoam insulation board to the back of the door to insulate the water lines from the freezer. I will get back after I see if this works.

unhappycustomer · Apr 6, 2008, 03:25 PM

I found this site after complete frustration with our GE Profile Refrigerator. We bought it 4+ years ago, and purchased the extended warranty, for at least 3 years. We had technicians come out at least 5 times to fix the dispensing problem with the water from the door. One changed some parts, and it worked for a while, another changed a solonoid?? or something and it worked for a while, each time..parts were ordered or replaced...but end result, it never worked right. We tried leaving the door open, using a blowdryer...nothing fixed the problem. Then recently I began to notice it was getting my vegetable bin food frozen...so I called again for help?
I did not pay for the extended warranty anymore for the last year or so because what was the point..nobody fixes anything and I get to pay them $150 a year for that?? MAIN problem....and everyone needs to hear this one...We bought ours at Sears, so have continued to deal with them for help (!?)
They said they would reimburse for a tech to come out and cover labor and up to $100 for parts, so we tried once again.
This appliance is in a 2nd home, so we go weekends. I called for service 3/28 or so. On 3/31, my daughter-in-law went to the house to borrow something and found the entire downstairs flooded.The tech was set to come on 4/5/08. My husband went up to the home, the Fire Dept had removed all the furniture, and they had a company and the insurance assess damages. All carpet, walls, fireplace tiles, drapery, furniture...everything is out and the place is gutted.
The repairman came anyway...said it was a defective valve that caused the water filter to freeze and flood the house.(he wrote that on his bill!) hmmmm..Sears claims they have no record of ever coming out before that date(5 times!!), but since I have no more warranty, they will do no more than $100 towards parts. They say it has not been a problem before...and I read all the messages about how to fix our own problem...hoses, dryers,...a defect is a defect! I also found a lawsuit pending with GE re: same deal...
Evidently they are quite aware of the issue but are happily selling the product and the warrenty and figure each will just deal with it? I don't even understand how the company can do that. My insurance will cover my house damages...but it is one HUGE mess that did NOT have to happen, and I am tired of hearing the 'party line' of they will only cover $100...geesh...fix the darn problem or replace the appliance. I now have to find all the receipts from trips they said they never made...and I have the numbers, so I can get those. But should we have to do things like this??
I did not realize this was as widespread as it evidently is, and wanted to warn those who are patching and plugging and trying to make-do, to beware of what happened to us! Don't let it happen to you!! No water dispensing...things starting to freeze...watch out!!!

hollscott98 · Apr 9, 2008, 06:31 PM

Same problem here with the water line freezing in a 4-year old GE side by side fridge. Will try the weed whacker line idea. Thanks!!

davette59 · Apr 10, 2008, 03:50 PM

Since my last posting, I have used double sided tape and fastened a piece of "residential foam sheathing insulation" to the back of the freezer door directly behind the water dispenser.
This is a foam insulation board about 3/4 " thick and blue in color. This can be purchased at Lowe's or Home Depot. I have tried the weed eater string, the blow dryer etc. and they only fixed the problem temporarily before it started again. I have had this foam in place for about two weeks and so far the water has not frozen up and the water is dispensing as it should. It doesn't look great when you open the door but I would rather have my water working.
Just to let you know, we have AHS "American Home Shield" homeowner insurance which is supposed to cover all of the house-hold appliances and costs about $50 a month. When I called them about this problem, I was told that the policy didn't cover water service and the wouldn't pay to have someone come out to look at it.
It appears that I have fixed my problem however I suggest that we all boycott GE appliances as well as passing the word about their lack of customer care and not standing behind their product. One person tells ten and each of those ten tell another ten and so on. If dissatisfied customers band together, it is definitely possible to make these big companies squirm. I would be pleased to add my name to any list of dissatisfied customers which we could send to the Better Business Bureau and GE.

drewharding · Apr 30, 2008, 06:48 PM

I just found this link today. I have a gss25wgpd since 2004 I have the problem with the water dispenser line freezing. I thought I found the perfect answer and inserted about 12" of nylon from a weed wacker spool. But now it freezes very quickly and I have to pull out the nylon to get a glass of water. Is that what everyone says is a great answer?

drewharding · May 1, 2008, 06:21 AM

I just went to: GE Contact Us: Voicing a concern about an appliance or an experience with GE

I entered the following comment. I'll post any answer that I might get. Would all of you please do the same?

Please don't tell me that you haven't heard of this issue. There are hundreds of people with this problem. See http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/advice/t-14182.html

The problem is that the insulation on the water dispenser line that runs through the freezer door has broken down. Now the water line freezes often and requires 2 hours of blow-dryer use to defrost same.
Do you stand behind your product or do you choose to hide your head in the sand?



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