August 27, 2010

How To Stop GE Refrigerator Buzzing Noise!

Is there a loud buzzing sound coming from the freezer of your GE refrigerator?   If so, the good news is your fridge is probably not broken.  The bad news is you've just joined a club of thousands of GE refrigerator owners, who've discovered their late-model GE refrigerator has serious design defect! 

Among the many problems likely to plague a recent model GE refrigerator,  one of the worst can be found in the freezer section.  Ever notice that your "frost-free" fridge never really fully defrosts?   The ever-growing permafrost on your frozen food, and the ice stuck to the back of the freezer,  were clues that something wasn't quite right with your GE refrigerator's freezer.

Of course, all freezers accumulate "frost", as moisture in the air condenses and freezes.   That's why frost-free freezers have a heater element that periodically warms the freezer just enough to melt the frost -- but not so much that the food thaws.   It's a tricky balance, yet manufacturers have been building freezers that successfully self-defrost, for well over fifty years.  Including GE, who used to make well-built, quite, and reliable refrigerators.   I know, because my other GE fridge has been running quietly, and defrosting without issue -- for thirty years!   No, that's not a typo.  I bought it when I was five.  ;-)

Unfortunately, things have changed at GE, and not for the better.

That's why, if you have a relatively new GE fridge, you may have noticed frost building up on the frozen food, and on the the freezer walls.   But visible frost is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg:   The really nasty ice is hidden behind the walls, in the the coldest part of the freezer; where the evaporator coil cools the air, and the evaporator fan distributes the chilled air.  Ice buildup on the evaporator coils is especially insidious, because it quietly degrades the evaporator's efficiency.  Ice interferes with the normal air circulation; so the freezer has to work overtime, wasting energy and costing you money.

On the other hand, when ice forms on the evaporator fan, you'll soon know about it:  As ice builds up on the fan blades, the blades begin to vibrate.  That can build into a loud buzzing noise that's impossible to ignore.

Of course, no fan is perfectly balanced; so all fans vibrate, at least to some degree.  That's why GE engineers mounted the fan on a noise-dampening rubber mount.   The rubber helps to isolate the fan from the chassis by allowing the fan to wobble as it rotates, absorbing the vibrational energy.

Ironically, the soft rubber mount could be the reason that GE evaporator fans can get so incredibly loud!

You see, the softer the rubber mount, the more vibration it can absorb.  Up to a point.  Unfortunately, the GE engineers overshot, and made the rubber mount too soft.   Which, isn't a problem as long as the blades are clean, and the fan stays on "low".   But once an ice-laden fan switches to "high", the fan will start wobbling slightly.  If the wobble has just the right frequency, it can push the fan into a loud buzzing harmonic vibration.   That's similar to the way you can push somebody on a swing higher and higher, without much effort, provided you push at exactly the right time to match the fundamental frequency of the swing.

Fortunately, there's nothing wrong with an iced-up GE refrigerator that a good power-outage can't cure!

And that's why the repairmen GE will cheerfully dispatch to your door absolutely LOVE this problem!  All the technician has to do, to "repair" your noisy GE fridge, is unplug it,  open the doors, and then fiddle around "adjusting things",  until the ice on the fan melts.

Then no more noise.  It's a miracle!  Worth every penny.   Pay the man.

By now, I'm sure you're asking yourself  "What can I do about this problem?"

Well, if your GE fridge is still under warranty, you could try DEMANDING a "moisture kit".  That's GE's code for (what I think is) some sort of foam insulation.   I doubt it will work, but it's worth a try.  Especially if GE is paying for it.   Of course, nobody will ever hear about this (or any other) fix from GE, until after your warranty has expired.

Or, you could file a class-action lawsuit against GE.  Some folks in Florida did that, and they got their money back.  All they had to do was promise not to say bad things about GE.  Nice for them, eh? 

Or you can just do what I do:

If the buzzing noise starts in the middle of the night,  just turn up the refrigerator's (not the freezer's) temperature setting, until the fan slows down.  That will stop the buzzing, so you can get some sleep.  Note:  The "coldness" is set by the refrigerator temperature control.  The freezer control just sets the amount of cold air that's routed to the freezer, versus the refrigerator section.

Eventually though, you will need to melt the frost stuck to the fan blades.

Here are your two options:

1) Speed-defrost: Unplug the fridge, and warm the (empty) freezer with a hair dryer or heat gun (on low). It just takes about 5 minutes.  But you do need to be careful: Even a hair dryer can melt plastic parts!  So keep it moving, and monitor the temperature with your hand.   Not your good hand.  ;-)

2) Ask your grandmother how to manually defrost a refrigerator.  A half-century ago, she had to do this every week or so!  Hard to believe, I know, but that was back when refrigerators weren't the "advanced electronic marvels" GE now sells.  Heh heh.  <grimace>

Now, if your grandmother isn't available to help you manually defrost your GE, here's what you do:  Remove the frozen food and leave the fridge unplugged (with the freezer door open), until the entire back wall of the freezer is warm to the touch.    This may take several hours, but it's easy to do (provided you can store your frozen food elsewhere), and safest for all the plastic parts,  the oh-so-many plastic parts!

Either way, once all the frost build-up is gone, the fan will quiet down.  Plus your fridge will be more efficient,  allowing the compressor to run less often.   That will save energy; and reduce your need for high blood-pressure medication!

Below is a video I made showing how I use a heat gun to carefully "speed-melt" the ice.  The video is also on YouTube at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSbruQKxSq8




Feel free to comment, either here or at the YouTube page.   Maybe we'll end up with a community knowledge base that can help all our fellow sufferers cure their "GE Refrigerator Blues".

And speaking of comments,  reader "Emily" asked a really good question (in the YouTube comments):

Is there anything I can do to help prevent this problem?

Would raising the temperature setting help?  Nope, I've tried that.   In fact, it actually seems to make matter worse, at least it did whenever I've tried that.   I think it's because the frost buildup starts melting more profusely during defrosts, increasing the odds a stray drip will freeze on the fan blades.   I've actually had better luck lowering the temperature, though I can't figure out why that would be.   So it is possible that if you started with a completely defrosted freezer, raising the temperature set point would help.  I have not tried it though.  (Any volunteers feel like testing this strategy for a few months and reporting the results?)

Would keeping the freezer's intake vents (at the bottom rear of the freezer) clear help?   Yes and no.   Yes, keeping them clear will definitely help your fridge be more efficient, and help keep the freezer colder.  So do be careful if you have a lot of frozen food on the bottom of the freezer. Don't let it slide back and block those vents.   But no, keeping the vents clear won't help the frost and buzzing fan problem.    But it's worthwhile anyway to buy or build wire baskets, and position them in front of the vents, so they can't be blocked.  At the very least, you'll end up with a more efficient freezer section.

So, short of buying a non-GE (or Kenmore made by GE), what is the best way to avoid frost build-up and a buzzing freezer fans in a GE refrigerator?  ... drum roll ....

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed!

Refrigerators and air conditioners are also dehumidifiers.  As warm moist air hits the cold evaporator coils, it cools, causing it to drop its moisture as water droplets on the evaporator coils, resulting in chilled dry air.

In air conditioners, the moisture left behind builds up and forms water run-off.  That's why sometimes there's puddle of water under your car when you leave the mall on a hot summer day.   It's not from the radiator, it's from the air conditioner!

In freezers, the moisture becomes frost, and soon there's nothing but cold dry air circulating through the fridge.  In this closed system, no more frost can form, because the air is drier than the Sahara.    But then you go and open the door.   All that nice cold dry air spills out, and warm moist air floods in.  That puts another coat of frost on the coils.   Repeat all day long.  Then the fridge defrosts, and frost drips onto the fan and freezes.  Here come the buzzzzz!

Of course, you have to open the door sometime.  Just be sure to wait until dry weather if you need to open the door.   Well duh.   Didn't you read your GE refrigerator manual?  ;-)

One more thing:  Way back when I was just beginning to realize how crappy recent-vintage GE refrigerators are, one of the umpteenth repair guys causally mentioned this problem occurs most often in temperate beach areas, not in miserably hot humid areas!    If so, I have a theory why that may be:  In areas that often get hot muggy weather, people tend to own, and run, a central (whole-house) air conditioner.   So on hot muggy days, the air in their homes can actually be very dry --- because they're running an air conditioner!

This could explain why GE engineers never noticed this problem:  They tested the refrigerators in cool, dry air conditioned offices!

So if you have central air conditioning,  it's possible your GE refrigerator really can be frost free!   But please, don't run out and buy a GE air conditioner.  I don't want to have to start another blog!

 :-)

Addendum

You have certain legal remedies that GE will certainly NOT tell you about.  For example, in the U.S. the Federal UCC and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act spell out your rights.  And the state you live in may have even greater consumer protection laws.   To get you started, here's a snippet from a Consumer Reports article, which some good information on your rights as a consumer:
What if your refrigerator dies a few months after the manufacturer's warranty expires, and both the store and manufacturer say YOU have to pay to get it fixed? 
The Uniform Commercial Code, fully adopted by most states, stipulates that most new consumer products come not only with an express warranty, but also with a so-called implied warranty of merchantability. That is an automatic, unwritten promise that your purchase will perform as commonly expected, including that it will last a reasonable amount of time given the nature of the item. In most states, implied warranties are in effect for four years, although that doesn't necessarily mean a product must last that long. Implied warranties apply to retailers and manufacturers and may be broader than an express warranty.
If you have a problem with a product that you think is the result of an inherent defect, let the manufacturer or retailer (preferably a supervisor) know that you'll take its failure to resolve your complaint as a breach of the implied warranty. If you don't get satisfaction, you may be able to assert your rights through a credit-card chargeback (see box on facing page). If that doesn't work, send a letter threatening legal action. You might need to file a small-claims-court action or consult a lawyer.
 However, even if you are entitled to a replacement for your current GE refrigerator that has this problem, don't take it unless the design has changed.  Take the cash, and buy something else, something that isn't GE!

Just do some research first, and be sure whatever you buy isn't just as bad.   The disregard of customers satisfaction, in the pursuit of ever increasing profit, is certainly not unique to GE.

 DIY GE Refrigerator Repair 101

Some people have written to me, both here and on YouTube asking me for help on refrigerator problems other than those caused by ice buildup, which can't be solved by defrosting.  And I'm perfectly willing to offer my opinion as to possible solutions.

But I want to make it clear that I'm an amateur scientist, and a professional computer software engineer, but am NOT a professional refrigerator technician.  I do not claim to be an expert in appliance repair.   Hah!  That much should be obvious:  I  recently bought a GE refrigerator!  How stupid is that?  

I am, however, very handy with tools other than hairdryers, because I have been learning to fix broken stuff since I was a kid.   I've learned a lot by fixing things myself, and so can you.  You just need to try!

As long as you don't electrocute yourself, the worst that can happen if you try to fix your fridge yourself and fail,  is that you'll have to hand the "professional" repair person a bag containing all the parts you removed.   More likely, though, you CAN  fix (most problems) for something like $50 instead of $500.

So, where do you start?   

First, check out the 'support' sections of the web site for the manufacturer of your particular appliance.   Look for web sites that sell parts.  A good example is GE Appliance Parts, which has a search box at the bottom of the page.  Enter the model number of your GE fridge, and it will jump to a goldmine of information, such as parts diagrams  and part numbers for every single part of your GE fridge.  The diagrams can give you a good idea of how things are put together, what screws you'll need to remove to replace a faulty component, and whether it's reasonable to repair it yourself.    If so, shop around for the part/s.

If you don't already have them, you'll need to buy a few simple, inexpensive hand tools.  You'll be able to tell from the parts diagram what tools you'll need.  Generally, it's nothing more than various sizes and types of screwdrivers,  hex drivers and/or socket wrenches.   These can be had fairly cheaply, so please DON'T USE PLIERS, unless you are desperate:  Pliers can inflict damage that really complicates a repair.

Then, go for it!  You can do it.  :-)

 (Unless your name is Susan Steinberg; in which case you need to put the screwdriver down, before you hurt somebody!)

123 comments:

  1. Thank you so very much, this solved my problem.

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  2. AnonymousJune 24, 2012

    Thanks for your video tutorial! Great advise. My fridge is back to normal now! Scary noise is gone!

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  3. AnonymousJuly 03, 2012

    Thank you! This was very helpful. :)

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  4. Yup, that did it. Many thanks. You kept me and my wife from calling a repair guy. Thanks!

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  5. Mine made a noise exactly the same. Woke me up. Frig was 57 and freezer was 36. I unplugged and fingers crossed!!!

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  6. Uh oh. Since the entire fridge is too warm, it's probably NOT a problem with ice buildup. It still could be, though, if it got so bad that you have a total blockage.

    Only way to know for sure, is to do the full defrost. If that doesn't fix it, pull off the tower and see if the freezer fan is spinning. If not, it's easy to replace the fan yourself (see my other comment), especially if you can get the fan locally.

    I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed for you!

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  7. Thanks for this information. The repair guy wanted $300 to repair it, thankfully I came across his site and I canceled the repair guy. My fridge is back to normal as of this morning. Thanks again !!

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  8. We purchased our fridge nearly three years ago. Somewhere during the first year, we paid that hefty $300 to do exactly what you said the repairman would do. Since then, we've had to empty out our fridge, unplug, and let the ice melt 48 hours or so about every three months. It is such a hassle!

    Our fridge is acting up once again. It's so frustrating! Is there really nothing else that GE can do to truly fix the problem?

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    1. Shoot, you can defrost it with a blow-dryer in 10 minutes! Or in 5 minutes with a heat-gun. Didn't you watch the video?

      For a more permanent solution, GE might carry what they call a "MOISTURE KIT". The GE repair guy said he could install one for me for $150 or so. But my warranty expired while fighting GE to get them to send a repairman; so I showed him the door. So I can't say if it works, or even exists.

      But if your fridge is still on warranty, try DEMANDING that they install a moisture kit. And you will have do demand it: You have to push GE with a bulldozer to get them to repair anything under warranty. It won't cost you anything (but high blood-pressure pills ;-) to try it.

      Then come back here, and let us know if it worked!

      The only other solutions are to 1) move to the desert, somewhere there's very low humidity; or 2) buy a new refrigerator that ISN'T a GE. Make sure whatever you buy isn't just a rebranded GE.

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    2. Using the hair dryer solved the problem for a couple of hours but then the noise returned with a vengeance. Here's what solved my problem permanently. I turned off the unit and with my thumb and index fingers on the fan blade near the center of the blade unit circling the spindle I pushed back towards the motor and felt the fan blade unit pop back onto it's proper fitting over the spindle. Problem solved. It's been running for over 36 hours now with no noise.

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    3. From the inside of the freezer?

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  9. Thank you for posting the video. My fridge was making the same sound and I thought I needed to have a repair man replace the fan. I subscribed to your videos cause you saved me abt $200 bucks parts and labor. I intend to unplug the refrigerator for overnight and leave the freezer door open. I assume that by tommorrow it should be defrosted. I do have some questions though. 1, If I do unplug and let the freezer door open, where will the water go when it melts? And. when I looked inside the top freezer, I dont see any ice like in your demostration. So is it possible that something else could make that sound? or is their ice inside the back panel that I dont see? My model # is GTS18GBSARBB top freezer GE . Thanks for any info you can forward me or post my email is leecaren@RCN.com. sincerely, a very grateful person.

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    1. Thank you get a TV show about these issues

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    2. Uplugged, opened the freezer for about an hour and noise was gone when I turned back on. Thanks so much!!

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  10. I'll take a stab at answering your questions. But remember, I'm NOT an appliance repair guy, I'm just a science nerd.

    Although, I AM pretty good with a screwdriver: Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey. :-)

    1) If the inside walls of the freezer feel to be at room temperature, you can assume it's fully defrosted. Overnight with it unplugged and the doors open is more than sufficient to do fully defrost it.

    2) Don't worry about the water from defrosted ice. It all drips down a tube into a wide, flat pan near the floor; where it's evaporated by hot air from the compressor blowing across drip pan.

    3) A working GE freezer with NO ice buildup? That's AMAZING! Either its more than 10 years old -- back when GE still made GREAT refrigerators -- or you live in an arid desert. Either way, if you don't see any ice buildup outside, the odds are that the noise is not caused by internal un-defrosted ice. But you'll know for sure tomorrow, depending on whether or not the fully defrosted fridge still has fan noise.

    If the defrosted fridge's freezer fan (try saying that fast) is still noisy, it's likely that the evaporator fan bearings failed. In that case, you need a new fan; and the easiest, quickest, and most expensive fix is to pay somebody to replace it.

    But it can be almost as easy, and much cheaper to buy a new fan and swap it out yourself. The GE fans cost around $50, and are easy to replace yourself with just a screwdriver. On my GE, I just have to remove 4 screws to expose the fan; 2 more remove it. Unplug the faulty fan, plug in the new one, and reinstall the back cover.

    Save all the leftover screws for other projects. ;-)

    You can find videos on how to replace the freezer fan, on YouTube by searching with phrases like "replace GE evaporator fan" (w/o the quotes, of course)

    To find vendors for fridge's fan, search Google with
    GTS18GBSARBB PARTS

    That will lead you to dozens of vendors selling parts; and most of the good ones will have diagrams of most refrigerators, showing the part numbers and prices, and how the parts fit together.

    Just to get you started, I did the search I mentioned above. And the very first hit was to the below site, which shows all the parts, prices, and diagrams for your fridge:

    http://www.appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/model.aspx?model_id=5235661

    Look it over. If the parts diagram doesn't scare you, give replacing it yourself a try. If worst comes to worst, put all the parts, screws, and fan in a bag. Then hand it all to a repair guy, and let him or her install it. At the least, you'll save money by buying the fan yourself.


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    1. Or Repair Woman:-)

      Good site, defrosting freezer now...

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  11. Ok, so I haven't tried this yet. We just bought a fairly old, when I say old I mean like 1980s or older ge fridge,.not side by side either. When we plugged it in it starting getting cold but now there's a scary engine revving type noise that comes from it every so often. I wish I knew what year it was but it's old enough it has the temper glass and metal instead of the cheap plastic.

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    1. I'm not an "appliance guy" (although it is beginning to seem like it): I'm just a "science guy" who happened to make the mistake of buying a poorly-designed GE fridge that ices up.

      But I can say my old 1984 GE fridge (Model TBX18CG) still runs like new; and as you noticed is far better built than "modern" GE refrigerators. Unfortunately(?), the old GE refrigerators are NOT SUSCEPTIBLE TO ICE BUILDUP on the fan, because the fan is near the floor, not in the back of the freezer.

      So no hair drier for you. :-) Your problem isn't ice buildup.

      Since your fridge does still cool, that suggests the compressor still works. Which is lucky, because moving fridges and air conditioners often kills them...especially if they get bounced down stairs by movers.

      So it could just be a bad fan. In fact, I DID have to replace my old GE's evaporator fan once. So grab a flashlight, and peer under the fridge to see it the noise is coming from the fan. If so, it's an easy fix. Although, as I recall, you will need a hex driver to remove the two bolts holding the fan.

      In any case, one of the best places to find parts and diagrams for every GE fridge is here: https://www.geapplianceparts.com/GEApplianceParts/refrigerators

      Just enter your model number, and follow the yellow brick road to find your particualr fridges "diagram". That will show you all the parts, and how they all fit together.

      Good luck!

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  12. Thank you - Thank you - Thank you!

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  13. Thank u. My ears can rest now. :) It did the job. Model LSS25SXTA I had my settings at factory recommendations. Freezer at 0 and refrigerator at 37.It is a different GE design refrigerator but had the same defect.Thanks again.

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  14. You're welcome, and I'm glad to hear you've silenced the beast!

    And thanks for sharing the info on your model number and settings: The more data we have, the better we can understand the problem.

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  15. Amazed at how little of build up caused the humming! I removed inner panel in freezer and used the blow dryer and success! Thanks saved my marriage! Haha

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  16. Is this the most useful blog post ever written? Thank you!

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  17. I have a GE bottom freezer refrigerator. The fan is at the bottom of the refrigerator--just above the freezer. In the last year the fan has started to freeze solid every month or so. When that happens cool air stops going to the refrigerator. I had an independent repair company come back 5x, defrosting the unit each time and replacing parts that made no difference. Finally I called GE and the first repair guy just defrosted it and ran water through the drain hose. One month later the fan froze again, so I called GE. The next repair guy said he would defrost it, but the problem would happen again. He said he has seen it happen multiple times. He said the only way to fix it is to replace the pan evap. drain kit, which is basically a fancy name for the cheap styrofoam GE uses to separate the freezer and refrigerator. Apparently, once this foam degrades (which happens naturally over time with exposure to water and ice) it fails to insulate the fan properly, so the fan freezes.To get to this cheap piece of styrofoam out pretty much all the components that sit in the middle of the unit need to be removed, hence the labor heavy charge of $533.96 to install it. This is after eight years of use! The fact of the matter is that GE used cheap styrofoam material to insulate the unit and that is why it fails so early in the refrigerators life. Their design was designed to fail. Now I am forced to pay half the price of the refrigerator to fix it, or buy a new refrigerator, after eight years! The average life of a refrigerator is reported by most manufacturers as 14 to 17 years. I doubt that is the average anymore. Refrigerators are more expensive than ever and built to fail. In my search for a new refrigerator I've found all kinds of stories like this one. All the major brands have catastrophic problems reported by consumers including: leaking freezers, frost build-up, compressor failure, compressor fires, inconsistent temperatures, major repairs within the first year of ownership... The list goes on. I might offer to buy the old lady next door a new refrigerator, if I can have her old one. I'll probably come out ahead in the end.

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    1. Thanks so much for your post! I'm sorry you had to go through all that, but by documenting your experience you may help others avoid a similar fate.

      I fully agree with you, about the 'designed to fail' mentality becoming all too common these days. Hopefully you'll find a quality replacement refrigerator.

      If you do, please share your discovery! :-)

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    2. Our GE Profile bottom freezer is 14 years old this year. In Nov 2012 we had the 'helicopter in the kitchen' sound and my husband and I spent an evening scouring Google for schematics, taking apart the fridge and defrosting the evap fan.

      It's now Jan 2014 and it happened again; the cheap styrofoam argument certainly sounds like a valid explanation. Thanks so much for this post, and for the follow-up comments everyone has posted. It's certainly been very illuminating.

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    3. First, huge thanks for this post... I was afraid it was going to be more costly to fix.

      Second, I too am a computer software guy - 2 years ago had to replace the computer on my side by side to cure it of it 'clicking' when using the water / ice dispenser. At the same time I added a heating element from GE for the water line in the door - the insulation they use degrades with water and ice and over time my water line would freeze up. Now it doesn't thanks to that heating element but you would think they would design it into the appliance.

      Thanks again!

      Delete
  18. Hi--I have a GE refrigerator that's about two and a half years old. It has only just begun to make a loud buzzing noise in the past month or two. BUT . . . in this case, the buzzing is at its loudest when the compressor first comes one, and then it recedes gradually to a milder hum after that, for the duration of the "on" cycle (before this it was very quiet and barely made any noise at all). So I'm not sure that it's coming from the freezer fan, since the noise you describe seems to be constant in volume throughout its duration. Could there be some other source of my problem? The warranty has expired, so I would be grateful for any troubleshooting and fix-it suggestions if you think it might be something other than the freezer fan. Thanks in advance!

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    1. Hi, the first thing to check is to make sure the coil is clean. Pull your refrigerator out, unplug it, and unscrew the vent that is near the bottom of the back. You will see a large cylinder with a bunch of slots. It's probably really dusty.

      Vacuum it off, then get a slightly damp rag and wipe off the top of the cylinder where the vacuum doesn't reach. The coil will be a lot more efficient after this. You probably will have to do this every 6 mos to a year.

      Good luck!

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    2. If raising the temperature set-point doesn't stop the noise, it's not an unbalanced evaporator fan.

      Since the noise starts when the compressor does, it's possible the compressor fan needs to be replaced. That's not too difficult to replace yourself if your knees are good (it's on the bottom of the fridge!)

      More likely though it's the condenser itself that's making the noise. If so, that's bad news / good news: The bad news is the condenser is the most expensive part. The good news is that GE warrants condensers for at least FIVE years; TEN for 'Profile' models.

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  19. AnonymousMay 17, 2013

    Thanks this helped me so much!!!! I was sitting at my kitchen table and heard a loud noise then it stopped, then it began again. I inspected the fridge noticing the noise was in the freezer that was a little frosty and sat back down. The noise became unbearable and concerning, so I googled it and selected this blog. Followed all the instructions and noise is gone and freezer is super clean. Thanks again!!! I called my mom to tell her what I had done! :)

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  20. AnonymousMay 23, 2013

    Thanks for your help! I've had this GE freezer refrigerator for several years without any problems. But it started three years ago making this noise. The repair man said it was the ice cube maker and he sprayed the fan with wd-40. I constantly had this problem again with no answers. I found it would stop for a short amount of time when I left the GE refrigerator turner off over night. It quit for longer amounts of times when I left this refrigerator turned of and doors opened for several days.

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  21. AnonymousJune 02, 2013

    Worked for us too, thanks!

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  22. AnonymousJune 29, 2013

    Hey Mark,

    Worked like a charm..Was going crazy for 2 weeks..Maintenance guy refused to fix this..

    Thanks!

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  23. Hi. I tried a more permanent repair as even the hair dryer stopped fixing the problem.

    1. Take off light fixture, back shroud, back panel. If ice maker, remove that first.
    2. Detach and remove fan assembly. Unplug electrical - MAKE SURE BREAKER IS OFF OR FRIDGE UNPLUGGED!
    3. Remove fan from assembly.
    4. Cut out plastic on assembly and drill holds to move fan up. This is tricky. I bought stainless bolts washers and lock nuts to make this work.
    5. Remount fan on new holes with stainless bolts.
    6. You can now also pull fan up a bit on shaft.
    7. Put back together. Pay attention to reattaching ground wire. I had to resplice an extension to reach the metal fan bracket.

    Also I bought a rubber washer to sandwich between the bottom of the motor and red rubber bushing. This tightens the motor in the mount and prevents fan from rubbing on shroud.

    I had a similar problem with the compressor fan buzzing and used the same rubber washer fix.

    Not a simple repair and if you aren't comfortable cutting your fridge parts, avoid.

    This does move the fan a bit more out of the shroud and may impact cooling and efficiency. But my fridge was being defrosted daily so a tradeoff.

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    1. Oh yes. GE used cheap styrofoam with metallic tape as some kinda baffle on the inside of the back panel. This degrades and crumbles clogging the evaporator drain (the hole below the back coil). The extra water can cause icing. Run a stiff wire down the hole to unclog. All in all, not their best effort.

      Delete
    2. Your procedure sounds very intriguing. Thanks for taking the time to share it!

      I was able to follow most of your description, but I had trouble understanding some of the steps. Just the crucial steps. :-)

      It would help if you explained the "big picture" of your modification. In other words:
      1) What are you trying to do with this modification?
      2) How does it solve the problem?

      Also, I'd like to understand your description of step 4? That's where you say "Cut out plastic on assembly and drill holes to move fan up."

      ==================

      Regarding the "cheap styrofoam with metallic tape as some kinda baffle on the inside of the back panel.": I believe that's supposed to be a sort of "dam", meant to divert frost-melt water away from the vents, and into the drain tube. It's not very effective, but at least mine hasn't crumbled and blocked the drain tube. Not yet.

      Thanks for the heads-up on that.

      Delete
  24. We woke up to that loud buzzing noise this morning. Thank you so much for posting how to deal with it! =)

    ReplyDelete
  25. I will never, EVER buy a GE product again

    ReplyDelete
  26. I have a 12-13 yr. old GE Profile refrigerator model no. PSS26LGRB that has started humming. It seems to be coming from the top of the freezer side (side x side) from the ice maker. I cleaned the coils/ fan at the bottom today. That helped a little with the humming, but now it's back and just as loud. It's driving me nuts and I definitely don't trust repairmen. Any suggestions as to the cause and to the solution. Be easy, mamaw can only do so much. Thanks, Mr. Wizard refrigerator repairman.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Repairman? Why do people keep calling me that? Gees, I really gotta write me some more science sh..tuf for this blog, and soon.

    OK. Again: I'm just a fellow hapless GE victim, NOT a professional refrigerator repairman. (Although if I were, I'm sure my physics professors would say I vastly exceeded their expectations.)

    But, with that disclaimer, if I were to postulate a solution, I would apply "Mr Wizard's, (aka Amateur Refrigerator Repairman Guy's) Relativistic Noise Theorem #1", which states:

    Noise coming from the TOP of a refrigerator is always (relatively) GOOD news.

    Why? Because the noise can't be coming from the compressor!
    PROOF: Compressors are always installed down low, because they are so freakin' heavy.
    QED.

    Applying Theorem 1 reduces our suspect set to the ICE MAKER and the EVAPORATOR FAN.

    Wait, please tell me you DID try the ol' blow-dryer trick, right?

    If so, try unplugging the ice maker's electrical connection. You may have to release some sort of catch, but it just unplugs. If the noise stops, voila; it's the ice maker.

    If it keeps on humming -- try teaching it the words. Heh heh.
    If the noise continues, you know it's the evaporator fan.

    And both are easy to replace yourself -- IF you can use a hex-driver, which is just a screwdriver, but with a funnier tip.

    Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I have same issue. I have followed heat gun instructions and it looks like noise was under control for few hrs but it came next day. I have profile gsc23l model. I have two setting 0 to 9 for freezer section and refrigerator section. When I changed setting to 2 , noise was gone.
    Do I need to replace evaprotor fan ? Is there any other check I can do to find out whether evaprotor fan is culprit. Refrigerator is cooling well so there should not be issue with compressor.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Your fan is fine. You just need to be more diligent at melting ALL the frost. Sometimes it takes a couple or three tries, especially if you're having very humid weather.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Our conditions at home are extremely dry. There is no visible frost, ice or anything inside the freezer. And, I only have it half full. The constant noise (sounds like a helicopter) varies in level and intensity. Occasionally, it stops, but never for long... it's driving us nuts and I hate being in the kitchen. To get it to calm down I will hit the side of the fridge or open the freezer door and push on the back panel. Those strategies seem to dim the noise briefly. Maintenance refuses to look at it or do anything about it siting the same issue stated here. I cannot unplug the fridge overnight because I'll lose all of my food. What other solutions do I have? How do I break this thing so I can get a new fridge?
    Signed, Very Frustrated

    ReplyDelete
  31. If you did the hairdryer thing, and it didn't help, then it's likely you do have a bad evaporator (freezer) fan. Easy to fix; you just need a new fan, a hex driver, and a bit of determination.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hello there - I have a ge profile french door counter depth refrigerator just installed in September. It is now making a loud noise all the time and only stops when a door is opened. Before I call out a repairman I want to be informed about what the noise may be. I can't stand being in my kitchen it is so loud and can be heard all the way into other rooms. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Get to the point. What is this crap? Do you feel smart writing 500 words that say nothing? I was so annoyed i couldnt Finnish reading it. I'll look elsewhere for the answer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Somebody has issues; MR wizard is volunteering his knowledge, expertise and time; try being a little gracious when someone gives you a gift.

      Delete
  34. Thank you! My refrigerator started making noise after about 1 year. Banging on the back of the freezer wall helped for a while, then I broke down and called a repairman. Many $$ later and watching him replace a simple fan, I felt ripped off. A year later, the noise returned and I ordered a replacement fan and installed it myself. The noise has once again returned - Needless to say a little "googling" has saved me $50. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  35. THANK YOU!!! You are a lifesaver. Ugh... I just did the hairdryer fix and hope it will last for a bit. If GE was smart, they would offer everyone a moisture kit...!! Won't be buying a GE again :-(

    ReplyDelete
  36. Same problem here, Model GE Profile pss23msw that i paid over $2000.00. The freezer must be defrosted almost every months. I would like to shut it down as i don't use it anymore but i do not know how to do it. This is a side by side and the fridge is ok.

    Is it possible to shut down the freezer only?

    ReplyDelete
  37. You can't "turn off" the freezer alone. But if you raise the temperature in the freezer to above freezing, that would solve the icing problem. Just make sure the refrigerator part stays cold, though. You may need to lower it's temperature (or air) control to compensate for the warmer freezer.

    ReplyDelete
  38. GE Profile PTS25LHSARBB. In the middle of a humid summer, about 3 months after purchase in 2007, I had severe icing in the freezer vents at the base and the behind the center plastic column inside the freezer, complete of course with the nasty grinding noise. A call to the GE 1-800 number suggested using a "passive" defrost method, but being impatient, I too used a heat gun and boy did the ice come crashing down inside and melted water poured out. They also told me not to put too much food toward the back wall of the freezer (don't block the venting - need good circulation to keep the ice from forming) - I've just been just a little more careful about that and for another 6-1/2 years had not experienced the problem - that is, until tonight (of course at about 11pm bedtime). Was swearing to myself that I must be encountering the "7-year life expectancy" that you hear about these days for appliances, as I had forgotten the diagnosis/fix until stumbling upon this site (Thank you Mr. Wizard). Used the quick melt method and 15 minutes later was back in business.

    ReplyDelete
  39. That's a good point! Avoid blocking the warm-air intake vents on the back wall, to maximize air circulation and freezer efficiency.

    Unfortunately, keeping them clear won't solve or even noticeably reduce the icing problem. I know because (for a while) I stationed wire baskets in front of the vents to keep boxes from sliding back and blocking the vents. I thought for SURE my "clever" solution would solve the icing problem. But no, it made difference whatsoever. So I took them out.

    Still, it's probably worthwhile to periodically shove stuff away from the back wall to keep the vents clear.

    It's just another design defect, that was never an issue on the old (pre-2000) GE refrigerators. On those well-designed models, they put the intake vents in the FRONT, where they were basically impossible to block and still shut the freezer door.

    ReplyDelete
  40. AnonymousJuly 15, 2014

    Dear Mr. Wizard, this sounds great and thanks for this site! But before I do the hair dryer thing my question is... on my GE profile fridge (french doors with bottom pull out freezer) the buzzing noise (sounds exactly like your video) is MUCH louder in the fridge near the vents behind the top shelf than it is in the freezer. Does that make a difference? up by the

    ReplyDelete
  41. AnonymousJuly 30, 2014

    It has always been a rather noisy fridge, but lately it became unbearable. The hairdryer worked like magic. Many thanks. (I will never buy another GE fridge).

    ReplyDelete
  42. I used the blow dryer and I had peace for about 30 minutes, now the noise is slowly starting to kick back up sporadically. Any suggestions of what else it could be?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like you didn't get all the ice melted. Sometimes it takes a few tries. If you're positive you did a thorough job, then you might need a new fan motor. That's rare, though, because they are high-quality Panasonic brushless motors. Whatever GE engineer specified those great motors probably got fired for that "mistake". ;-)

      Delete
  43. If the loud noise appears to be coming from behind the refrigerator, its origin is likely the condenser fan. The condenser fan is located near the back of the refrigerator and is often hidden by a removable panel. The noise could be lint and dust buildup causing stress to the fan's operation. If the noise continues once the fan is cleaned, it's probably a malfunction in the fan motor itself. It will need to be replaced.

    ReplyDelete
  44. My new GE bottom freezer/refridge seems to have same 'buzzing' noise I find described here, but while the fan may be the source of the vibration/noise, it seems that it is the freezer rear panel and fan cover that are actually vibrating the most and making the most noise. During a 'noisy vibration' episode, if I simply open the freezer door and push gently on the back panel and fan cover....noise STOPS. Fan cover is attached to rear panel by one 1/4 inch screw....and has too much play. I will try to make a video of this and post it.

    ReplyDelete
  45. We had this exact same issue tonight on our 6 year old GE Profile (loud buzzing sound), and then I came across this site and defrosted using the hand dryer exactly as shown here, and it worked great! Plugged the fridge back in, and now it purrrrrs like a kitten. Thanks, Mrwizard!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have had the same problem, but knew it had to do with a fan in the back of the freezer. I would press against the plastic covering the area where the fan is and the sound would change or stop. I did that tonight and the fan stopped running and only the lights come on in both the freezer and refrigerator now. The compressor does not run and I have had to remove everything from both sides and place all in another refrigerator in the garage. Is there a fuse that I could have blown out when I prevented the fan from turning?

      Delete
  46. We had the same loud buzzing as well as the ice build up on food. I unplugged and defrosted for 24 hours. I plugged back in today and a few hours later the buzzing started back up again. Do I need to unplug for longer or could it be another issue? Thanks in advance!

    ReplyDelete
  47. So if you were going to buy a new fridge- top freezer model- what brand would you buy?

    ReplyDelete
  48. So if you were going to buy a new fridge- top freezer model- what brand would you buy?

    ReplyDelete
  49. Just wanted to say THANK YOU for the help! 10 minutes and a hair dryer and we can hear ourselves think again...
    Much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  50. AnonymousJune 01, 2015

    Thank you so much for your advice!!!!! It works well! =)

    ReplyDelete
  51. I have a GE GFSS6KKYSS its the one with the refrigerator up top and the freezer on the bottom. That humming sound comes on once every twenty minutes or so, lasts for about 3-5 minutes and then goes off. Does this seem like the same issue everyone is talking about? I raised the temperature in the fridge in hopes of it eventually eliminating the noise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Watch the youtube video, and read the comments there. If you're still confused, post you question/s here (or there) again, and I'll try to help. Good luck!

      Delete
  52. THanks --I thought I broke it..b/c the freezer door popped open for prob 6 -7 hours-- I came home to very loaud buzzing --did exactly as you said-- AND ITs OK--Honestly thought it was broken for good...but its nice a quiet enough now and my freezer is clean --THANK YOU EVER SOOOO MUCH!

    ReplyDelete
  53. WOW AMAZING SAVED ME $200.00

    ReplyDelete
  54. Our fridge just started buzzing real loud after I had the fridge door open while cleaning for about 30 minutes. I will be trying this tomorrow.

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  55. I love in Texas and as soon as the humidity starts so does the monster inside the fridge. Thank you for the video, I about had a heart attack the first time it happened. Seriously considering purchasing a new non GE fridge. Research will be done first. Suggestions are welcome.

    ReplyDelete
  56. I know this post is 5 years old, but I just wanted to add that this fixed our issue with our 2 year old Kenmore (built in 2013)! Thanks!

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  57. Mr Wizard, your humor (and knowledge) sure helped me deal with my fridge freakout; thanks.

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  58. My wife thanks you more than you could ever know.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Any suggestions on how to get GE to fix my fridge? I've had service techs out 3 or 4 times for the same problem and now my extended warranty has expired. The tube that goes down the back (of the inside of the fridge) freezes up and the water leaks/overflows and lands under the deli drawer and then freezes. All the tech does is put a hose down the tube and defrost it. Seems like a defect to me but GE says no.

    ReplyDelete
  60. A GE refrigerator with a design defect? That's just crazy talk. ;-)

    Sorry, never had this one, so I'm just guessing here, but I recall somebody saying the styrofoam in his decomposed (crumbled apart) and clogged the drain tube. Have you tried to clear the line yourself of any plastic foam bits?

    Other than that, a full manual defrost wouldn't hurt and might reduce the incidence rate.

    I was about to suggest running the fridge at a higher temperature so the defrost waster was less likely to freeze. But if you go that route, you might as well unplug it ... and leave it unplugged!

    If you figure out the problem, please come back and share your solution. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Thank you so much, woke up this morning with this loud hum that filled the house. I thought I would check it out on the internet, didn't even have to say what type of fridge it was. Thank you so much.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Bless you, sir. I will sleep well tonight. Easiest fix ever!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Thanks for all the great info. Your post from Oct 13, 2013 mentions noise from the ice maker. I have confirmed my issue is the ice maker (humming louder than normal but nothing like the video). Do I have any options to fix the noise other than replacing the entire ice maker?

    ReplyDelete
  64. Ice makers lead a hard life. Personally, as long as it still worked, I'd live with a slightly louder one. But if it bugs you, they are fairly cheap, and very easy to replace: Mine hangs on the side of the fridge by 4 screws and plugs into the back wall. About 10 minutes repair time, max. Use a hex driver, not a screwdriver if you have them. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  65. AnonymousJune 26, 2016

    Thank you for your helpful video. I had been searching for a solution to our noisy, 16 month old LG refrigerator. I wrote to LG and believe you would be interested in their response which is as follows:

    "Does the noise last longer than 30 minutes?

    If Yes: Does the noise stop when the doors are opened?

    Yes: This indicates the noise is coming from one of the fans this can be caused by frost buildup around the fan. If possible, make
    sure the cabinet and doors are leveled correctly. An unleveled unit can prevent the doors from sealing correctly.

    If the unit is leveled, then unit needs service."

    Even though ours is an LG brand, we tried your suggestion of using a hair dryer to warm the coils and melt the ice. We never could see any ice and did not open up the back of the refrigerator. We simply unplugged the frig and warmed the vents. We kept the frig unplugged for a few hours afterward to make sure whatever ice may have been there was gone. Although it has only been two days, the noise has indeed stopped. I plan to follow up with LG in a few weeks after I see if this method will hold for our particular refrigerator.

    Thanks again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm having the same issue with my LG - and they told me the same thing. I've leveled it and it still makes the noise. I've only had the unit for about 2 months so the thought of having to pay $150-200 for a service call is annoying. Has the noise stopped for you? is it the french door model with the freezer drawer? Thanks!

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  66. AnonymousJune 30, 2016

    Thank you! This works. I was so scared when my refrigerator got so incredibly loud because I can't afford to buy a new one. The hair dryer method sure quieted it. I just did this 10 minutes ago and now it's running constantly, but quietly.I'm sure it's only to get it cooled back down.

    ReplyDelete
  67. I have the same model of GE profile fridge and after 10 years of great service, it started to make these loud noise. Probably it has been doing so but over time it's getting to a point where I started to notice it ... Amaze that your solution still applies from the time you post up your solution, and you're helping hundreds of people fixing this annoyance. Hope I can buy you a beer some time ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  68. My old top freezer model has a rotating refri control numbered 1-9, with 9 being the coldest; no freezer control. I have found temporary relief by squeezing a folded dish sponge between the wire rack and the back panel. That absorbs the vibrations. After some time --like days-- the sponge has to be reset, I guess because temp and humidity change and the sponge adjusts to that. Having read this post I will now try something more permanent.

    ReplyDelete
  69. We live in the desert....awoke at 4 a.m. with the same problem. Thanks for your tutorial. I will get to work.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Very Loud buzz every 20 minutes, lasting about 8 seconds.
    GE fridg.about12 years old.
    In my dreams its like a lazor gun im attacked by green marsions.
    Any ideas ???

    ReplyDelete
  71. Very Loud buzz every 20 minutes, lasting about 8 seconds.
    GE fridg.about12 years old.
    In my dreams its like a lazor gun im attacked by green marsions.
    Any ideas ???

    ReplyDelete
  72. Thank you for saving me the expense of a service call, you definitely helped me identify the problem and looks like I will be able to remedy the problem. Thanks!!!

    ReplyDelete
  73. Thank you Mr. Wizard! My Hotpoint fridge was making the noise. Unplugging it with the freezer door open for a few hours did the trick. I'm grateful to you and so glad I noticed your posting on a Google search. Saved me a lot of time and effort and/or a repair bill.

    ReplyDelete
  74. I just hit the area in the freezer where the sound was coming from and it fixed it! I think it knocked off the excess ice that was rubbing against the fan blade. Working great now and very quiet! Try just hitting it first and see if it fixes it!

    ReplyDelete
  75. I just hit the area in the freezer where the sound was coming from and it fixed it! I think it knocked off the excess ice that was rubbing against the fan blade. Working great now and very quiet! Try just hitting it first and see if it fixes it!

    ReplyDelete
  76. Short of replacing the motor, I have found that a periodic spraying of WD-40 in and around the spindle of the fan blade every few months is the only solution.

    ReplyDelete
  77. got one too,,,black top mount....back panel drives me nuts,,if you push on it ...noise goes away.....ive tried putty,,,spacers....silicone...nothing works.i don't think its frost...its the lousy fan vibrates on back plate.......not sure......I might callservice warranty from lowes.......piece of junk for 550.00

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
  79. COMPLETE CURE TO TINNITUS: I had tinnitus in both ears for fifteen years with a high pitched two tone sound, the noises are constant and have learned to ignore the ringing. Later, another sound was added, a deep tone that has a sporadic rhythm, that mimics human speech. It varies from soft and muted, to painfully clear, and loud. Have try sound machines, ear plugs, my hearing aid, and medication all to no avail rather I have a difficult time sleeping. Lately I was directed to a Doctor called William on internet who provided solution to the problem. Do not be discourage, dr williams product is a permanent cure to Tinnitus. Contact him with this email (drwilliams098765@gmail.com)

    ReplyDelete
  80. Hi Mr. Wizard,

    I unplugged and defrosted the GE refrigerator as suggested. It actually worked for two days!!! The noise went away. However, day three, the same hmmmm noise is back. IT IS CRAZY! Is there anyway to fix the problem for long term, other than throwing away the GE product! Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  81. I am sophie from Canada, I once suffered from a terrible and Chronic tinnitus ,in 2016, the doctor told me it has no permanent cure i was given medications to slow down its progress, i constantly felt my health was deteriorating as i constantly go out of breath,and this noise was really terrible especially when am sleeping, i have this constant ringing in my ears for about 8 months, this was really a terrible noise ,on thin one day that i was going through the internet,and i came across a post of Mrs Kate on how she was been cured from tinnitus through dr Williams herbal product, I contacted this herbal doctor via his email and explain everything to him and make purchase of his product,few days later he sent me the herbal medicine through courier service, when i received the herbal medicine i used it for 3 weeks as prescribed and i was totally cured of tinnitus within those week of usage,on thin now i have not hear anything ringing in my ears.if you need his help you can Contact this herbal doctor via his email drwilliams098765@gmail.com for help

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The good news is the GE fridge will drown out your tinnitus.

      Delete
  82. AnonymousJuly 06, 2017

    My out of warranty GE fridge began buzzing and thinking it might be a sign the compressor was going bad I scheduled a service visit. That evening I stumbled upon your site and cancelled the appointment. The heat gun did the trick. Many thanks. Bill

    ReplyDelete
  83. This tip worked perfect. Our freezer door was not closed completely all night and after is was closed for a while this morning this noise started. After your hair dryer tip, the noise is gone. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  84. Thank You so much. Fixed the problem right away.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Been encountering this problem repeatedly this winter, even with really low humidity. The hairdryer/heat gun works for a couple of weeks, then we're back to random buzzing. Thought maybe my seals were bad, but everything seems OK there, and it takes some effort to 'release' both the freezer and fridge door.
    Today, I've applied some RainX to the evaporator fan blades, hoping that will keep them from frosting/icing over. We shall see...

    ReplyDelete
  86. I tried all of the above and found some solutions worked but only temporarily. The best and most permanent solution I found was purchasing a new fan motor for $14 online and looking up an installation tutorial video on YouTube to see how to install it. I could have done it myself, but a handyman friend of mine offered to do it for $25. All the better.

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
  88. I am so thankful to have come across your blog and appreciate your advice. I am ecstatic that this is the first time I was able to fix this refrigerator without spending hundreds of dollars. This morning there was a loud noise in my freezer. I thought I would have to buy a new condenser fan or a new refrigerator at over $2,000 for counter depth. My GE fridge is 13 years old and I have spent almost $1,000 in repairs mostly on the ice maker. I corrected the problem by increasing the cooling on the fridge which immediately made the freezer motor calm down. I removed the grate from the bottom and vacummed dust from the bottom. I left the grate off the bottom of the fridge to allow air to circulate. I also moved any food in the freezer from the vents in the freezer. I am amazed the freezer loud noise is gone. Defrosting the freezer was not an option for me as I have over 40 pounds of fish in the freezer caught from a fishing trip that I thought I would have to lose. I will never buy another GE appliance again. I honestly cannot thank you enough and feel I pulled the lucky card today by coming across your blog. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Regards. Denise in Ft. Lauderdale.

    ReplyDelete
  89. AnonymousJuly 30, 2018

    I'm glad I found this. My fridge is humming. It's the kind with the freezer drawer on the bottom and then to two doors for the fridge The ice maker is in the fridge door and I'm sure it's the fan for the ice maker, which is at the back of the fridge. So should I just empty the fridge and let it warm up?

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
  91. Hello, I found this posting very informative as I have the same fridge and recently came across an issue of the fridge going into a defrost setting for some reason. I was wondering if you have ever had to reset your fridge and how to do it properly. Thanks for your time.

    ReplyDelete
  92. You are the man! I Increased the temp setting and the noise decreased immediately. The fridge is only four months old. Whatever happened to "quality goes in before the name goes on"?
    We have a 1978 Montgomery Ward upright freezer that has run like new. My wife defroasts it every six months and life is good.
    Thanks again for your help.

    ReplyDelete
  93. I am able to temp fix it by blowing ( yes with my mouth like blowing out a birthday candle ) oin the holes on the outside of the fan housing - a few seconds and it quiets down.


    I saw your site after a google search, I had also assumed that was the problem, Frost / ice build up on the fan blades - I’m a pilot and we get the same issue flying through cold moisture, but we have engine anti-ice systems which heat the engine intake with hot air ( that’s why the intakes of jet engines are not painted and are usually a dull silver color - that’s unpainted aluminum and the heated section).

    Will use my wife’s hair dryer - I suspect it doesn’t have to be super hot either and I’m initially going to try it with the fan running ala CFM-56 turbofan engine style! ( heated blades spinning shed ice faster ).

    Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  94. Thank u for the wonderful advice. Only took about 5 min w/hair dryer to fix noisy freezer fan. Saved me a repair man. Barbara A

    ReplyDelete
  95. Too much work to pull fridge out - unplug - deal with all the inside stuff - then heatgun. Instead - takes two seconds - like others have said - gently push on the panel until the ice hits the blade - and hear the blade shear the ice - then quiet. Been doing this for a few years. Drawback - it could wear on the blade - so far hasn't and the blade can always be replaced. easy peasy.

    ReplyDelete
  96. Mine is 24 hours old and i was just startled by a buzz buzz buzzzz buzzzz nouse lasted 4 seconds coming from the kitchen.


    1 day old??? Just replaced a 6 year old samsung that quit.

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  97. I also hav this problem it goes on loud then quiets down. When I lost power for few hrs it stopped. So I guess I'll try hairdryer.i only have 1 control in frig not freezer but there is a know in freezer don't no what it is frig only 4 yrs old. I'll never by ge .it came with the house

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  98. I'm staying at a friend's house to watch her dogs while she's away. Her GE fridge is vibrating. I see no ice built up in the freezer. It will stop vibrating simply by walking over to it and standing in the right spot, or by gently pressing on the refrigerator or freezer door handle.

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  99. Nice blog. Are you searching refrigerator repair service near me, contact OJ SAME DAY APPLIANCE REPAIRS

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