How to Access the Evaporator in a GE Refrigerator With a Bottom Freezer

General Electric manufactures several freezer-on-bottom, or bottom-mounted-freezer, refrigerator models for residential customers. The evaporator fan in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator circulates cool air throughout the inside of the appliance. If the freezer or fresh food compartments in a GE refrigerator with a bottom freezer aren't cooling properly, the evaporator fan may be frozen or faulty. Accessing the evaporator fan for troubleshooting, repair or replacement requires partial disassembly of the freezer compartment.

Step 1

Unplug the refrigerator from the electrical outlet to avoid serious injury or death.

Step 2

Take all of the food out of the freezer compartment. Place the food in an ice-filled cooler to prevent it from thawing while you're working on the refrigerator.

Step 3

Remove the shelves and drawers to access the rear freezer panel; these components are secured with screws in some models. Take out the mounting screws securing the ice maker to the upper left wall of the freezer compartment, if applicable to your GE refrigerator model. Remove the ice maker and place it on a padded surface.

Step 4

Remove the screws securing the rear freezer panel. Pull the panel out through the front of the freezer to reveal the evaporator components. Locate the evaporator fan directly behind the removed panel in the center of the freezer compartment.

Step 5

Detach the wiring from the evaporator fan and take out the two mounting screws to remove the component, if desired.