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GE Double Door Refrigerator flooding [merged]

Cathyb

Cathyb

Tug Review Crew: Rookie
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Woke up this morning to our one year old GE Double Door refrigerator having water pouring out all over our kitchen. Has anyone else had this problem?

We are the most unlucky as a year ago we had exactly the same problem (we were in Maui, daughter panicly called us). We got rid of the frig and bought this new one, and now....

Looks like $10,000 damage again :(

Want to see if there are more GE owners with similar problems. Thanks
 
What was the cause? Ice maker stop freezing?
 
I'm really sorry you're going through this. What a nightmare!!!
 
Cathyb said:
Woke up this morning to our one year old GE Double Door refrigerator having water pouring out all over our kitchen. Has anyone else had this problem?

We are the most unlucky as a year ago we had exactly the same problem (we were in Maui, daughter panicly called us). We got rid of the frig and bought this new one, and now....

Looks like $10,000 damage again :(

Want to see if there are more GE owners with similar problems. Thanks
Click to expand...

Been there, done that. GE products came with the house - I replace them as they break after 14+ months. Thank goodness I have tile floors on a concrete slab. No damage at all.

Solenoid froze (mechanically, not temperature-wise) in the open position and filled the freezer with water. GE makes junk. Replace any GE product that uses water or lubricating-oil.
 
Oh, this is NO fun.

Sorry to hear about this.

I have no idea about the how or why of this, but we have been pleased with our GE Washer/Dryer. But I guess a story like this would give me pause before I need to replace our old faithful Frigidaire Fridge/Freezer.
 
We have a GE Profile refrigerator (and uwave, dishwasher, range) in our house. New in 2001. No problems thus far with any of them.
 
Time to call the insurance adjustor and collect on your homeowners insurance.
 
I've learned to really hate GE Appliance division. We're in the middle of a full kitchen remodel, and put in a GE gas stove. The contractor converted to propane for us. Note that the conversion kit is included with the appliance, and is dirt simple. You flip a switch on the regulator from the natural gas to the propane position, and you replace the little brass orifice on each of the 4 burners. That's it.

But the flames were way too high. The lowest setting on the "precision simmer" burner produced an inch flame, and burned everything. So I called GE. After voice mail h3ll (of course), I got a service rep and explained the problem.
"Was it installed by a GE qualified technician?"
"It was installed by my contractor, so I assume he's qualified."
"Well, if he's not GE certified, we can't give him any information."
"You mean that if he calls to ask how to adjust this thing, you won't talk to him?"
"Not without a GE certification number"
"OK, how do I get a GE certified technician?"
At this the lady gave me another phone number to call.
Called that number, talked to another CS rep. Made an appointment to have their technician out to look at the problem.
"Since it was just installed yesterday, this is under warranty, right?"
"Yes. No charge."
Until she called back the next day.
"I have a question on your service call. Was this appliance on natural gas or propane?"
"Propane."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Our technicians are not certified to work on propane."
"But this is the number I was given yesterday. I was told that only GE certified technicians can work on this appliance. So who can?"
"Our technicians can only work on natural gas."
After escalating to her supervisor, the supervisor looking up regulations, and 4 phone calls in which I pointed out that they were the ones that said I had to use their technicians, I finally got them to send a propane qualified, GE certified, appliance tech.
"But you know that when you switched to propane, you voided the warranty. The service call will be $100."
Of course I argued about that, but was defeated. Paying $100 to get this thing to work would be better than sending it back (contractor threw out the packing materials; and the granite countertops were cut to fit this unit exactly).

So, after cancelling the first appointment, the technician shows up. He was a nice guy, and adjusted the flame. He told DW that he wasn't allowed to show or explain to her how to do it. But she watched over his shoulder. There's an adjustment screw underneath each knob. Takes 5 minutes to adjust them all. This is what you have to be a GE certified propane specialist to do -- take off a knob and turn a screw.

He apparently didn't charge us for this, though we're watching for a bill from GE. He also thought it bogus to charge us for an appliance installed just days ago.

The hassle involved was incredible. Probably 5 hours on the phone total, plus DW had to wait all day for a technician to show up. Not to mention the blood pressure rise. All they had to do was print the location of the adjustment screw in the installation guide!

I hate GE Appliance division.

-Bob
 
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We had this problem with our old frig. I think it had something to do with the little hole at the bottom of the freezer to the dripping pan blocked by ice. I don't know why it happened. But once we empty and turn off the freezer and let it completely dry up. It would work fine again for a period of time. Eventually, we got tired and replaced the frig.
 
patri: GE repairman couldn't come until Saturday -- even tho we explained water flowed out and begged earlier appointment. This is Thursday, so we don't know. Our wood cabinets have been taken apart and removed as the water went under them :( Also we are a twin-home and water went into our neighbors. The latest is that they see some mold -- oh geez!
 
judy-believe me, we have been playing telephone tag with AAA adjuster and after 5 phone calls finally connected this AM and she is coming tomorrow. In the meantime we have three rooms of furniture sitting upside down in corners and cannot use kitchen for I don't know how long :(
 
I am so stressed out right now that if GE refrig man comes on Saturday and gives me any lip -- I will show what an Irish temper really can come to. :)
 
Thank you all for letting me spout -- I think I had so much steam come out that we have a new vent in the roof :)
 
Call your OWN insurance adjuster - not the Insurance company adjuster. You will get much more $$ that way. If you don't know one then call one from the yellow pages NOW!!! They will come right out.
 
Judy: We have AAA homeowner's insurance that covers flooding -- I don't think another adjuster can handle this -- am I wrong?
 
The insurance adjuster is working for THEM to pay you the least - your insurance adjuster will work for YOU to get you the most possible. You will have to give them about 10% of what they get for you but it will be much more then you will get on you own. It is like you going to court with no lawyer and the other person has one. GET ONE. Worth a call. Pick a local one out of the phone book - Private Insurance Adjuster.
 
I can not disagree with Judy more.

Independent adjuster are worse then ambulance chasing lawyers. Once you sign with them you can not talk to your own insurance company regarding the claim. They will always make the numbers look like they made you money. They will get you the same money you would have gotten on your own IF you are willing to do the work.

One great scam they always try to pull is they try to keep the homeowner in a hotel for as long as possible. Seems nice at the time until you realize they collected 10% of the hotel and food costs out of the final settlement and if they had 'approved' the work you could have been in your house months before hand.

Save your money. Use a good contractor and you will be happy.

Good luck with everything. This will probably be a real pain in the rear.
 
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We deal with adjusters on property damage all the time. Get a contractor to handle every thing. Just pay the deductable. If you play contractor you will get short changed by the adjuster. We find all kinds of hidden damage with water damage that may get covered up and become a real problem if not addressed.

Also, spell check isn't working.
 
I guess we can agree to disagree. I still say - get the adjuster.
 
I think the problem with adjusters/contractors is that people go with whoever is assigned to them (or someone they picked out of the phone book). A true professional will make an insurance claim a relatively easy and financially-neutral process.

Find a really good Realtor in your area. (Not a friend, or a friend of a friend. Find someone who specializes in damaged property.) That Realtor knows the right person to deal with insurance companies. Besides, the referral is free.
 
We had a GE buiilt-in refrigerator-freezer installed during a remodel almost 20 years ago. Within 6 months the compressor failed.

When I called GE service and described the situation, the service guy within 30 seconds knew exactly what the problem was, and what was involved in fixing it. He said it happened all of the time.

As a repairman, he said he appreciated GE refrigerators because they provided a steady stream of business for him.
 
Cathyb said:
Judy: We have AAA homeowner's insurance that covers flooding -- I don't think another adjuster can handle this -- am I wrong?
Click to expand...

Watch out when you make a claim. Where we live, you make two claims and they look to drop you. We never hooked up the ice maker. We have two friends who had the same problem. There was a leak in the water line to the ice maker.
 
bobcat: yes, I am wondering if AAA will drop us. We have been customers for over 20 yrs and carry them for auto, home and a few other coverages. We'll see.....
 
Need a lawyer's advice...

Last Wednesday we came downstairs to find water pouring out of our GE refrigerator -- I mean really pouring and all over our kitchen. We got the Flood people out and notified our AAA insurance.

Today the GE repairman finally comes and admits our two year old refrigerator had a faulty part that caused the major flood and turned us over to their Claims Department.

The extent of damage to our wood cabinetry and kitchen, dining room and family room floors is excessive to the point that our tile has to be pulled up on the whole downstairs; wall of mirror removed because of wet walls, all the cabinets removed so they would dry the drywall under it AND our townhome neighbor has dampness from this too.

My questions are:

1. How much is GE liable for all this damage -- which I am guessing will be in excess of $10,000?

2. We are covered by AAA with $1000 deductible which we have paid. Is GE liable to refund us that $1000?

3. Should we seek a lawyer in addition to AAA handling the claim?

We currently have zero use of kitchen so we have to eat in our upstairs bedroom or a restaurant. Is there anything called 'Inconvenience to owner' that we should know about?

Sure could use some advice here. Thanks in advance!
 
I am not a lawyer but can offer a personal opinion from an insurance standpoint

GE is liable for all of the costs associated with the defective part which caused the water damage including the property damage to your unit, and your neighbors, and your extra expenses generated because of the loss, which should include the costs of having to eat out, or if you need to obtain temporary lodging while repairs are underway.

Your insurance policy most likely has a clause called 'transfer rights of recovery' or along those lines for subrogation rights. This means that if AAA pays your claim they have the right to go against GE to recover the cost of the claim, and they will usually ask for the deductible as well. Ask your insurance company adjuster if they are going to subrogate against GE, and if you hire a lawyer to pursue a claim against GE if it will effect their payment to you.

Also be sure to let AAA know about any extra expenses that you incur, or that might be available, because of the loss. They should be covered but AAA might not ask you about them, so be sure to bring up the subject.
 
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