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Refrigerator not cooling
Brand:GE
Model:CSW25LSWASS
Product:Refrigerator
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Top 6 Reasons Refrigerator Isn’t Cooling?
04:36
Common solutions for: Refrigerator not cooling
01 - Condenser Coils are Dirty
As debris builds up on the condenser coils, usually located under the refrigerator, the appliance will become less efficient and will have to cycle on more often to maintain a cool temperature. If the condenser coils are significantly clogged with debris, the compressor may overheat and shut off prematurely, preventing the appliance from cooling at all. The condenser coils should be cleaned every 6 to 12 months by using a soft bristle brush (or a dedicated condenser coil cleaning brush) to wipe ...off the coils in a circular motion. A vacuum cleaner with a nozzle attachment can also be used for hard-to-reach areas.
Top Solution
02 - Freezer or refrigerator temperature is set too high
Verify the freezer temperature is set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 to -15 Celsius). Verify the refrigerator temperature is set between 34 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 5 Celsius). After resetting the temperature wait 24 hours for the temperature to adjust appropriately.
Top Solution
03 - Condenser Fan Motor
The condenser fan motor draws air though the condenser coils and over the compressor. If the condenser fan motor is not working properly, the refrigerator won’t cool properly. To determine if the fan motor is defective, first check the fan blade for obstructions. Next, try turning the fan motor blade by hand. If the blade does not spin freely, replace the condenser fan motor. If no obstructions are present and the fan blade spins freely, use a multimeter to test the fan motor for continuity. If... the condenser fan motor does not have continuity, replace it.
Genuine Part
Fits your GE Refrigerator
$49.61
1:58
Step-by-Step Condenser Fan Motor Replacement
Technician Verified
Difficulty:
Easy
Top Solution
04 - Evaporator Fan Motor
The evaporator fan motor draws air over the evaporator (cooling) coils and circulates it throughout the refrigerator and freezer compartments. Some refrigerators have more than one evaporator fan motor. On refrigerators with only one evaporator, the evaporator is located in the freezer compartment. If the evaporator fan is not working, it will not circulate the cold air to the refrigerator compartment. If this occurs, the freezer may still get cold, while the refrigerator will not get cold. To d...etermine if the evaporator fan motor is defective, try turning the fan blade by hand. If the fan blade does not turn freely, replace the fan motor. Additionally, if the motor is unusually noisy, replace it. Finally, if the motor does not run at all, use a multimeter to test the motor windings for continuity. If the windings do not have continuity, replace the evaporator fan motor.
Genuine Part
Highly Likely
05 - Door Gasket
A refrigerator door gasket should form an airtight seal around the appliance's frame to keep the cold air in and the warm air out. If the door gasket is twisted or torn, gaps can form that will allow warm air in, resulting in the refrigerator not cooling properly. Inspect the door gasket for any damage and replace with a new one if necessary.
Genuine Part
Easy Fix
Genuine Part
Easy Fix
Highly Likely
06 - Incoming Power Problem
Ensure plug is tightly pushed into a regular electrical outlet and the outlet is supplying power. Using a ground fault outlet for a refrigerator is not recommended. Confirm that no circuit breakers have tripped or fuses have blown.
Highly Likely
07 - Damper Control Assembly
On many refrigerator models, a damper control assembly is used to control the air flow from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment to maintain the appropriate air temperature. If a refrigerator is not cooling properly, it's possible the damper door is stuck closed. Inspect the damper control assembly for any malfunction and replace it with a new one if necessary.
Genuine Part
Highly Likely
08 - Sealed System Problem
If all the refrigeration components seem to be working, but the refrigerator is not cooling properly there may be a restriction or leak in the refrigeration system. To determine this, you will need to remove the evaporator cover and observe the frost pattern on the coil. Note: The compressor, condenser and evaporator fans should all be running, and the condenser coil should be clean and have good air flow. There should be light frost on most of the coil. If the coil has frost or ice buildup in o...nly one section, there is likely a restriction or leak in the system. This repair is expensive (maybe cost prohibitive) and should be diagnosed and repaired by a qualified technician.
Highly Likely
09 - Start Relay
The start relay works in conjunction with the start winding to start the compressor. If the start relay is defective, the compressor may sometimes fail to run or may not run at all. As a result, the refrigerator will not be cold enough. To determine if the start relay is defective, use a multimeter to test it for continuity between the run and start terminal sockets. If the start relay does not have continuity between the run and start terminal sockets, replace it. In addition, if the start rela...y has a burnt odor, replace it.
Genuine Part
Common
10 - Control Board
The control board might be defective. However, this is almost never the cause. Before replacing the control board, test all of more commonly defective parts. If none of the other components are defective, consider replacing the control board.
Genuine Part
Fits your GE Refrigerator
$275.00
2:10
Step-by-Step Control Board Replacement
Technician Verified
Difficulty:
Easy
Common
11 - Power reset
After a power surge or power outage, refrigerator operation could be temporarily affected. Full operation can sometimes be restored through a power reset by either unplugging the appliance's power cord for a few minutes and then plugging it back in or switching off the circuit breaker for the refrigerator then switching it back on.
Common
12 - Defrost Heater Assembly
The defrost heater assembly turns on several times throughout the day to melt away any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the defrost heater assembly is defective, the defrost system will not work, and frost will continue to accumulate on the evaporator coils. This will result in the refrigerator not cooling properly. To determine if the defrost heater is defective, use a multimeter to test it for electrical continuity. If the defrost heater does not have continuity, rep...lace it.
Genuine Part
Fits your GE Refrigerator
$99.96
2:18
Step-by-Step Defrost Heater Assembly Replacement
Technician Verified
Difficulty:
Easy
Less Common
13 - Defrost Thermostat
The defrost thermostat monitors the temperature of the evaporator coils. When the coils drop below a set temperature, the thermostat contacts close to allow power to flow to the defrost heater during the defrost cycle. In the defrost cycle, the defrost heater melts away any frost that may have accumulated on the evaporator coils. If the defrost thermostat is defective, the defrost heater may not activate. This will cause the evaporator coils to frost over resulting in the refrigerator not coolin...g properly. To determine if the defrost thermostat is defective, use a multimeter to test it for electrical continuity. If the defrost thermostat does not have continuity when it reaches the low temperature of its operating range, replace it.
Genuine Part
Less Common
14 - Thermistor
The thermistor monitors the refrigerator temperature and sends the temperature reading to the control board. The control board regulates power to the compressor and evaporator fan based on the thermistor readings. If the thermistor is defective, the compressor and evaporator fan may not run when necessary. As a result, the refrigerator will not be cold enough. To determine if the thermistor is defective, test it with a multimeter. The thermistor resistance should change in conjunction with the r...efrigerator temperature. If the thermistor resistance does not change, or the thermistor does not have continuity, replace the thermistor.
Genuine Part
Fits your GE Refrigerator
$23.73Save $299.42 by Fixing it Yourself
5:57
Step-by-Step Thermistor Replacement
Technician Verified
Difficulty:
Easy
Avg. Repair Time:Under 1 hour
Less Common
15 - Compressor
The compressor is a pump which compresses the refrigerant and circulates the refrigerant through the evaporator and condenser coils. If the compressor is not working, the refrigerator won’t cool. However, this is rarely the case. Before replacing the compressor, first check all of the more commonly defective parts. If you have determined that all of the other components are working properly, check the compressor. Use a multimeter to test the continuity between the electrical pins on the side of ...the compressor. If there is an open circuit, the compressor is likely defective. If the compressor is defective, it must be replaced by a licensed technician.
Genuine Part
Uncommon But Possible