Part I : So we get an additional refrigerator and move the older 20-year old side-by-side to the garage. That Kenmore is still perfect with no problems ever, but it was stuffed in a space next to a wall that restricted opening the freezer door. The new refrigerator is a bottom freezer and single swinging door for the food storage. A step up. Or not? The GDE25ESKGRSS was a real bargain and couldn't be passed up -- not many choices of bottom freezers. Below is the review which includes an noise issue worth reading about:
Pros: Relatively quiet except for low volume periodic noise (discussed below). Definitely keeps everything cold or frozen as expected. So much volume we can't keep it more than 50-60% full even with the garden harvests that crammed our old box. Love the LED lighting and door shelves that accommodate gallon size containers. We find the size of the door shelves also allow partitioning smaller items on the smaller shelf and medium sized on the center shelf and large items, like half-gallon items on bottom door shelf. The vegetable and fruit bins are larger than the previous refrigerator because the depth of the box is longer and they function much better. Prompt service call dispatching via phone or Internet site.
Cons: Only the strange woodpecker noise periodically of 8-10 knocks. We had two service calls in. Thus, the only information I could gleam was from the service repairman. Being under warranty that is fine.
The knocking noise: Listen to it!
May be faint to you, but this is the 8-10 knock pattern that happened up to 9 times per hour that can be heard up to 50 feet away while I'm sitting in the family room in my recliner enjoying a book. We can even hear it while the TV is on. So what's the story?
The first technician repairman came out, listened to the 5 recordings I had made, and immediately said it sounds like the damper. The duplicate it, he entered a few diagnostic codes on the refrigerator it invoke function that would require the damper to react. Bingo. He could duplicate it. I was all ready to have a replacement damper installed when he said that was a NORMAL sound and left with that being the result of the call.
I immediately went to the Internet and searched for GE damper noise. Scores of hits and even sound bites as above. Each incident was reported as faulty damper door and a part was given to order and replace it. I'll have to go back to the sites now and see if any follow up comments were posted as to whether a new damper fixed the noise.
Instead, I scheduled another repairman for a second opinion. This guy, from a different service ASSUMED it was the refrigerant in the coils that make the noise and did NO diagnostics. Yet, he charged GE over $300! The first guy suggested installing thermometers. So, I asked the second guy what the expected range is for the refrigerator and freezer given the settings of 0 degrees and 37 degrees. His answer, there isn't any given range (interpretation-I don't have a clue if there is one). Given that answer I asked isn't it a problem when the refrigerator food section falls to 30-31 degrees? Or the freezer drops to -12 degrees when set to 0? More spin! So he left doing NOTHING!
Thus, I remain withe disturbing noise. If I may add, the pattern could occur 3 times with just 5-7 seconds in between, up to 35 minutes. The first repairman guessed at NORMAL sound when he probably meant COMMON sound. The second repairman isn't close since the first guy proved it was the damper by invoking the damper action! If only GE would have some technician or a feedback procedure to report this.
Option 3: Bought this at Lowes and they have a request for service analysis for manufacturer defects which I believe I have. That will be next call. In the meantime, I raised the refrigerator temperature to 39 in hopes the damper which is a device that exchanges freezer air into refrigerator to cool it when it needs cooling. My hypothesis is this may reduce the number of times the damper is put into action.
I have other hypotheses re the damper construction which neither repairman knew except that it has a door the opens and closes as necessary. My belief (not fact) is that this door and damper are PLASTIC and the door is driven by plastic gears that make this noise. Whether they are supposed to be quiet, who knows? But, I can picture just a minor misalignment or loose part that could cause this noise! It will be investigated by going back to the various Internet site for answers. Stay tuned.
Worse case is that we will just become accustomed to the noise the same way we are with an ice make dropping ice or water gushing to in a dishwasher and life will continue. If anybody has a clue, what this noise is, don't hesitate responding. Thanks.
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Update: Please see post 920 for Part II (current status and actions) and Post 925 for Part III and Fix.
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