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Originally Posted by sboku

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

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I have the same problem. What I discovered is the water line is freezing inside the freezer door. If you face the open freezer door it runs up the right inside. I have to use a hair drying and run it up and down the door several minutes to thaw it out. Also if We go away I turn of the water because the water despencer turns the water on all buy itself. I reported it to a GE repairman and his answer was if it happens again just open the door and it will stop. But I hope I'm home when it happens.

Alternatively, you can use dryer on your door to unfreeze water in the pipe.

Just here to update. I taped a piece of insulation to the inside of my freezer a year and a half ago and everything still works well. It cost less than $10 and took about 10 minutes to put together(after I bought the insulation board and the double sided tape)

Not sure what kind of water cooler you have but it might be frozen. Temps in the Refrigerator side on the bottom by the return duct are often colder outside the drawers for produce. This is where most water coolers hide and often they freeze from the air through the return when the evaporator fan isn't running. Then you will loose flow to the dispenser. After Defrosting the Freezers heater comes on the ice blockage melts and the your dispenser becomes - Jesus Christ.

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Originally Posted by applguy

The way to test the water valve is to set a volt/ohm meter to the proper scale and insert the meter leads into the water valve connector plug and see if you have 120vac when the dispenser cradle is depressed (don't disconnect the valve). Make sure the meter lead ends are touching the terminals inside the plug, and you might tape them to hold them there during your test. If you have voltage but no water, you either have a frozen line or water filter somewhere that isn't allowing the water to pass through or you have a bad valve. If you have no voltage, you have an electrical problem elsewhere, such as cradle switch, molex plug at top or bottom FZ door hinge, etc. You can disconnect the plastic lines from the valve by exherting inward force on the tubing, pushing in on the collar around the tubing and pulling out on the tubing. It should come out easily, and make sure to trim (not too much) the end before you push the tubing back into the valve for a good seal. After the tubing is removed, place a bucket under the outlet of the valve and depress the cradle. If water comes through, you have a frozen line somewhere. If it doesn't, you have a bad valve. Because this is an intermittent problem, you will probably have to "catch" it when it isn't working. You can try to draw massive amounts of water through the door to see if it fails, but that is quite an unfair test. I usually recommend that you use it as you normally would, and keep the meter handy. Also make sure both controls are set in a median position. I found one of these last week that the control was set so cold, the filter froze. Let me know how it goes, would you? Thanks.

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I had an old box the other day with a busted water line. The tech before me ordered an ice maker and valve. Both coils tested fine. I replaced the 1/4 inch line and checked for water, but nothing. The dispenser water cooler was frozen like a block and upon pushing the fridge back (which weighed about 10k pounds) the plastic water line sprang a pin hole leak on the 3/8 line. Those valves actually have what appears to be diodes and of course there is no schematic. The fridge is definitely worth keeping the liner is in great shape and exterior has no rust. Its 23 years old and the temps were 4F and 39F. Since the customer already paid for an ice maker, and water valve his bill is around 250.00 bucks. I replaced the ice maker water line. The water cooler line could be coupled I guess and thawed. What's my question. I often wonder why they put the water cooler so close to returns. Maybe there will be a system someday that allows the water cooler to be put on a continues circuit rather than staying still. Flow will help keep it from freezing and allow even colder water. Anyway, I enjoy your posts.

Is that the water shut off valve coming from the wall or is there a valve within the fridge itself?

[email protected]

I had the same problem with the water line frozen up inside the freezer door on my GE side-by-side. I could not get trimmer line pushed through from the dispenser. So, to get some heat into the ice jam, I warmed up the end of a long piece of solder by sticking it in a cup of hot water. After a few cycles of pushing the warm solder into the dispenser, the ice was cleared. Then I flushed out the line with hot water. The dispenser water is now running faster than ever. Clearing the ice block was really easy. Hopefully the hot water flush will give me another three years of flow from the water dispenser.

GE side-by-side fridge, model #GSH25KGREWW, purchased 2004 (by the prior home owner)

Problem: My ice dispenser works fine, but my water dispenser only works in the summers.

Best guess: A water line is freezing somewhere inside the unit.

Fix: A check of GE's WWW-site for known problems revealed nothing, but then I found this site... HOORAY!

As recommended here, I just called GE (800/386-1215), explained my problem and that I found this site/thread in which MANY people had complained of the same thing, and that apparently GE is providing a free part (WR49X10173) to repair the problem. The service agent (her name was 'Dorothea', she was very nice and polite, I must say) hemmed and hawed a bit, but after putting me on hold for less than one minute agreed that "as a one time courtesy GE will provide the part at no charge" (the tracking number on my call is 11199287).

So, I expect to get the part soon, and have it installed shortly. Although I'm pleased to have easy access to chilled water again, I'm irritated that I will need to use electricity to heat the line to keep it from freezing... that is a silly and wasteful way to address a design defect!!

-Phil

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Originally Posted by PhillipO

GE side-by-side fridge, model #GSH25KGREWW, purchased 2004 (by the prior home owner)

Problem: My ice dispenser works fine, but my water dispenser only works in the summers.

Best guess: A water line is freezing somewhere inside the unit.

Fix: A check of GE's WWW-site for known problems revealed nothing, but then I found this site... HOORAY!!

As recommended here, I just called GE (800/386-1215), explained my problem and that I found this site/thread in which MANY people had complained of the same thing, and that apparently GE is providing a free part (WR49X10173) to repair the problem. The service agent (her name was 'Dorothea', she was very nice and polite, I must say) hemmed and hawed a bit, but after putting me on hold for less than one minute agreed that "as a one time courtesy GE will provide the part at no charge" (the tracking number on my call is 11199287).

So, I expect to get the part soon, and have it installed shortly. Although I'm pleased to have easy access to chilled water again, I'm irritated that I will need to use electricity to heat the line to keep it from freezing... that is a silly and wasteful way to address a design defect!!!

-Phil

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PHIL,
I had this "water not working" problem with my GE a couple of years ago. I found that despite all the well meant advice, disconnecting the water line going into the door (at the bottom) and checking flow, is the BEST way to determine if your problem is a frozen line in the door. At the time, I called GE and they said they "had never heard any thing about the problem!"... YEAH! RIGHT! This was COW-POOP! (if you know what I mean). (A GE tech recently told me that if by a GE side by side,there is a 90% chance you will eventually have this problem.)
My water failed every couple of months at first; then every week; then every one or two days... IT WAS ANNOYING! I could clear it with any of the recommended fixes (door open for twenty minutes; hot water; styrofoam backing; etc. etc.) They all worked... for a couple of days! UNTIL I unstalled the "part" you mentioned. The "Heater". If you're handy, it will be no problem. If you're not, just go slowly and follow the directions to the letter, keeping in mind that the control panel has to go back on easy, and the wires need to be out of the way of the lever. The only thing missing in my instructions from GE was that the control panel just popped off lifting from the bottom. (I heard they've added to the instructions). My water has not failed since the day I put it in (October, 09). Also, the heater is tiny. The amount of electricity it uses is negligible. It wouldn't even register on an ammeter! Good luck!

Same problem again after takinf the filter off and putting it back on, this time it is solved for good. Took a tuppaware top, plastic, and cut a washer to fit on the filter plug in the refrig, scewed the filter back on and I guess it is so tight now the water flows perfectly. This solution is from the fixya forum:
http://www.fixya.com/support/t1915157-water_dispenser_slow_flow_after_filter

Same problem again after taking the filter off and putting it back on. This time it is solved for good. Maybe this will work if it is not a frozen line.
Took a tuppaware top, plastic, and cut a washer to fit on the filter plug in the refrig, scewed the filter back on and I guess it is so tight now the water flows perfectly. This solution is from the fixya forum: http://www.fixya.com/support/t1915157-water_dispenser_slow_flow_after_filter

Hey I recently have noticed an issue with the whole dispenser unit not working at times. It seems like it is only when the freezer is on defrost mode though. Don't know if it is a glitch in the system when it is on defrost or if it is normal. As far as the freezing waterline issue... I, too had the same problem. I installed the heater on my own... was an easy job if you are somewhat of a handyman. Also beware of the auger system in the cube tray. 2 times now a piece of plastic from one of the augers broke free and went into my glass. It is a clear plastic which makes matters worse. On the 1st time this happened to me, the piece actually got wedged between where it drops and where the motor spins. The motor would still spin but the plastic piece kept on getting shredded into fine pieces and dropping in my glass. They were so small that you could barely see them. I was coughing like crazy for about a week thinking I was sick. But when no other symptoms occurred, I started looking for answers and found the auger system was getting weak over time and breaking. GE is aware of this and that it happ 2 times now to me and sent me a new one both times after complaining to go to Consumer Protection. I went anyhow :)

I had the same situation as all the others. The watyer worked fine for about a year and then started freezing up. It gradually froze up every day after the blow dryer, weed eater string etc. I also called GE and was told that they had never heard of this problem. Straight out liars if you ask me. After calling GE several times and with nothing working for more than a few hours,I finally called Lowe's which is where I purchased it. Even though the refrigerator was out of warranty, Lowe's replaced it with a new whirlpool. The whirlpool works perfect. Hooray for Lowe's, they stood behind their sale when GE put their head in the sand.Someone needs to bring a class action suit against these criminals. I will NEVER purchase another GE appliance!! Try going to the store where it was purchased and explain the situation. At least they may decide to stop carying these junky appliances. I hope Lowe's went after GE for their expenses.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PhillipO

GE side-by-side fridge, model #GSH25KGREWW, purchased 2004 (by the prior home owner)

Problem: My ice dispenser works fine, but my water dispenser only works in the summers.

Best guess: A water line is freezing somewhere inside the unit.

Fix: A check of GE's WWW-site for known problems revealed nothing, but then I found this site... HOORAY!!

As recommended here, I just called GE (800/386-1215), explained my problem and that I found this site/thread in which MANY people had complained of the same thing, and that apparently GE is providing a free part (WR49X10173) to repair the problem. The service agent (her name was 'Dorothea', she was very nice and polite, I must say) hemmed and hawed a bit, but after putting me on hold for less than one minute agreed that "as a one time courtesy GE will provide the part at no charge" (the tracking number on my call is 11199287).

So, I expect to get the part soon, and have it installed shortly. Although I'm pleased to have easy access to chilled water again, I'm irritated that I will need to use electricity to heat the line to keep it from freezing... that is a silly and wasteful way to address a design defect!!!

-Phil

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An update:
The part arrived from GE within a few days, and I installed it last week. The installation was reasonably simple and straightforward (others on this thread have described the process and potential glitches quite well - far better than the instructions that came with the part!). Within a few hours water was flowing A-OK, and it has continued to work fine. So, I'm pleased about that.

As far as the cost in concerned...
I'm guessing this unit draws ~5 watts. Considering that it will draw power 24 hours a day, every day, and (including taxes, fees, delivery charges, etc.) I pay 10 cents per KWH, it will cost me ~$5/yr (or ~$100 over the 20 year life of this unit). I'm not too happy about that cost, not to mention the wasted electricity.

I also have a problem with my water line freezing. Based upon the previous responses above, I called GE to request that a water line heater (WR49X10173) be sent to me at no cost. At first the GE agent told me that the only thing they could do was to send a technician out at my expense. I mentioned that I had seen several websites, such as this one, that proved that it was a common problem/defect and that GE had recently sent this part out at no cost to other people with the same problem. Then she told me that the best that they could do was to sell it to me at a discount - $25. When she would not budge from the $25 I asked to speak to a supervisor. I was on hold for a couple of minutes and then a supervisor came on and said that they were shipping me the part for free. Mission accomplished. This website is great. Thanks to all of the prior respondents in this thread.

Just to follow up, GE shipped the part to me - overnight. You could have knocked me over with a feather! Maybe the calls and complaints are having an effect. In any event, God bless the internet and the people who take the time to participate in forums like this one.

My fridge is 7 years old and just froze up for the first time. It froze within 4 inches of the water spout as described by others here. I fixed it quickly by inserting a clean copper wire into the spout until it hit the ice. Then I used a hair dryer to heat the wire while keeping pressure on it to keep it in contact with the ice plug. Copper is a great conductor of heat and very quickly the ice was melted enough for water to flow again.

I have the same problem for more than 2 years with the GSS22WGPC model refrigerator. I had tried to troubleshoot a lot and finally gave up. Now when I came across this excellent website, I thought to call and GE and try.

I just called GE (800/386-1215), explained my problem and that I found this site/thread in which MANY people had complained of the same thing, and that apparently GE is providing a free part (WR49X10173) to repair the problem. The service agent tried to convince me that my model # is not in the recall and I should schedule a service call at my cost. I insisted on speaking to the supervisor. After a brief hold she asked me for the model number and the said that the model number she had earlier is not correct (I doubt that as I had serviced this fridge once earlier). After putting me on another hold, she came back saying they never given that part free for my model before but as a courtesy she will order it one time free for me and she ordered it and said I should receive it in 3-5 business days. Entire call took about 20 minutes.

I liked the clever answers, but I think I found the easiest way.

I turned on the light next to the water dispenser. Just press and hold the button for a few seconds and it stays on all the time.
In about 5 minutes the water was running again, and it hasn't refrozen.

I installed WR49X10173 (and believe me, I am NOT handy), and it hasn't frozen up again. If I can do it, anybody can. Just follow the directions!

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Originally Posted by vonal

My water Dispenser was not working but the ice was fine. I tried the hersey bottle and tubing to defrost the ice blockage but on my model there is a little plastic piece inside and it would not fit. So I just defrosted it. The weed cutter line worked but was a pain, every two hours it would freeze up and I was pulling that darn string. I defrosted it one more time then did this below.

I went to OSH got a sheet of insulation pad (the foil type that helps keep pipes from freezing up in the winter.)
Cut it into two 10"x 10" sheets, then put some heavy duty velcro inside the now dry back part of the freezer. Joined the two sheets up with more velcro and stuck it on back side of the freezer door. IT WORKED!!!! four days now no freeze up. I am a little scared to pull the weed line out, but will do so in a couple more days.

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Its been close to 3 years now and no freeze up.. The original insulation pad with velcro is still working. If you defrost and apply when dry.
This works.. 100%

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To unfreeze the water dispenser line, I rigged up this contraption. Unfroze the line with the freezer door closed in less than 60 seconds and cost me $3.00.

To make it, you will need:
- Thin clear plastic tubing (I bought mine in Home Depot for $3 – it is Power Care Fuel Line 3/32” I.D. by 3/16” O.D. by 2 feet long, and is by the lawn mower & string trimmer accessories section in the store).
- A clean, empty Hershey's Chocolate syrup squeeze bottle
- Some electrical tape

Take the flip cap off the Hershey's bottle, and feed one end of the plastic tubing through the opening in the flip cap on the Hershey's bottle, in the direction heading out of the bottle. It will be a little bit loose fit, so wrap 3-4 turns of electrical tape around the other end of the plastic tubing and pull it into the opening on the underside of the flip cap on the Hershey's bottle, should be snug and leak-proof now.
(You could also use a Heinz ketchup bottle 32 oz – the new one that stands up on the cap – it is a perfect fit for the plastic tubing, no need to tape it up)

Now, fill the Hershey's bottle with hot water, put the cap on, and insert the end of the plastic tubing into the water dispenser outlet on the front of the fridge, keep inserting until it hits the ice plug. On my fridge the ice plug was about 4 inches inside the dispenser tube. Squeeze the bottle gently, and keep a cup or small pot under the water dispenser to catch the drips. Push the plastic tubing further in every 5 seconds or so, and before you know if the ice in the dispenser line is gone. Start to finish for my fridge was about 40 seconds.

Then run the water dispenser for a few minutes to flush it out.

That was the good news. The bad news is the line froze up again in 5 hours, so I did this again and put the trimmer line is as advised above!

Is it worth complaining to GE about this? I am going to anyway, but will they do anything to fix the icing problem without charge?

Thanks,
Mike

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I followed this approach and it worked great. I might clarify that the Power Care Fuel Line is in the lawn mower section of Home Depot, where the trimmer wire is for a permanent approach.
One twist I did on Mike's.. . Rather than emptying out a perfectly good bottle of Hershey's syrup, I drilled a 3/16" hole in the cap of a water bottle and fed the line thu the cap. Water tight and worked beautifully.
Love these clever fixes!
Matt

This is a common problem with GE refrigerators. My waterline froze as well so I purchased the $30 part and fixed it in 15 minutes. I noticed a lot of people having the same issue so I detailed the symptoms, part and fix on by blog. Read about it here.

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Originally Posted by bustedfrige

This is a common problem with GE refrigerators. My waterline froze as well so I purchased the $30 part and fixed it in 15 minutes. I noticed a lot of people having the same issue so I detailed the symptoms, part and fix on by blog. Read about it here.

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Thanks for making this simple for everybody! I put my heater in about 16 months ago and it has not failed yet!
For anyone else who is reading this thread:
Take the time to read back through this thread and you will see that if you have a GE fridge with this "no water" symptom, chances are ALMOST 100% (yes, almost everytime) that your line is freezing in the door! Testing, (with the door CLOSED!) by disconnecting the coupling under the door will quickly confirm it. It seems that people would rather invent new ways to correct this problem than use the fix that is available! I can't understand why they don't want their fridge to work correctly without a MacGyver type fix! Wouldn't they want to not have to insulate the door, build hot water intravenous bottles, be sticking wire up the tube or keeping a hair dryer handy? Since I did mine, I have assisted or worked with 6 friends and relatives to install this heater and not only has it worked every time, but only one person has given in and paid for it! When you call GE, you have to be forceful and sound knowledgeable about the problem and after they "disavow any knowledge of the problem", they will finally give in and send it to you for free! (or in my case, a tech showed up at my door and left it with me to install) Everyone I've spoken to who has installed this "heater fix" and doesn't sock the freezer setting up past 5 or 6, has had a temperature of 0 to -5 degrees in the freezer and NO water problem. I've also put my Amprobe on the wires and have NO discernable current reading! If there actually is a teeny more current being used, it's worth it!
If I've sparked your interest, you can also page back through this thread and find step by step instructions on diagnosing and fixing the problem. Plus, if you have to pay for the heater, the part has now come down in price quite a bit. If you have to install it yourself, read the instructions CAREFULLY and you can do it!
Good luck everybody!

I had the same problem (line freeze) and after reading all of the above, emptied my freezer, turned it off, then used a hair dryer quickly, turned off the freezer, and it worked again. BUT... A FEW HRS LATER AFTER EVERYTHING WAS BACK, I WENT TO GET WATER AND WHEN I TOOK MY GLASS OUT, THE WATER WOULD NOT TURN OFF!!
ANYONE EXPERIENCE THIS?? ANY HINTS?

I had the issue most of you here have posted about. Several days ago the water dispenser just quit working. I went to the store and got a new water filter, but didn't fix it. I googled my model number and found this page. I tried the hair dryer trick. I did it on low, but my wife's hair dryer doesn't have a low heat option just low flow.

Fixed the water part, but now I have 2 new issues. The Ice dispenser flap which used to work just fine now doesn't open or shut very well, sometimes it opens just a touch but that's it. Second issue is that for ice or water it only works if I push in at the top just under the water tube REALLY HARD. That's the only way to engage it now. Used to work pretty well. Not sure how a little heat for a few minutes could break it but something happened. So be careful if you try the hair dryer trick.

[quote=jannys;2639978]i had the same problem (line freeze) and after reading all of the above, emptied my freezer, turned it off, then used a hair dryer quickly, turned off the freezer, and it worked again. But... a few hrs later after everything was back, i went to get water and when i took my glass out, the water would not turn off!!
Problem solved: because i changed the water filter a day or so before that, you must run 2-3 quarts of water through the dispenser before the water will finally stop flowing. The technician told me that after i talked to him again. They should tell you "because there is now air in the lines, when you change your water filter, you will have a problem with water shut off until you run a lot of water through. - i just kep a large jug there and it gradually would stop then start, and finally stop when the dispenser wasn't pushed in.

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Originally Posted by sboku

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

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Did you run 2-3 quarts of water through your water dispenser, as my technician told me you have to do when you change the filter? This worked for me when I had continuous water flow and it wouldn't turn off.

This is very simple to fix. Just take a hairdryer near the door and it will defrost. The problem is likely in the door. Just take a hairblower behind where the water comes out for 5 minutes and you should be able to able to defrost it.

Just wanted to thank everyone for all the information here.

I called GE this morning and, after being transferred to Consumer Relations (1-800-386-1215) and explaining the problem, the very nice CSR told me they are going to send the part to me. I didn't have to complain or threaten them with anything. I wonder if that means they have finally given in to the fact that this information is out there and they have little choice in the matter.

That said my water still isn't flowing. I don't know if the water heater kit is going to fix the problem or just prevent it from happening again. I don't want to take the hair drier to it after reading some of the mishaps above. Maybe I'll go the tube + hot water + squirt bottle route.

Thanks again, all!