Changes Worth Reporting Now

Appliance warning signs include new leaks, repeated cycle stops, unusual noises, and changes in heating or cooling.
Stop using an appliance that smells burned, sparks, or has damaged cooking glass.
Call with the symptom you noticed; no inspection, model search, or test cycle is required first.

Common Symptoms and Safe Next Steps

Sign	Likely cause	What to do
Both compartments feel warm	Possible control or cooling fault	Call and limit door openings.
Fresh food warms but freezer stays cold	Possible airflow or fan fault	Keep doors shut and call.
Water collects underneath	Possible drain or water-system leak	Call about the puddle.
New repeated clicking	Possible starting component fault	Call about the clicking.

Cooling changes need diagnosis because several faults can produce the same symptom.

Sign	Likely cause	What to do
Frozen food softens	Possible cooling fault	Limit door openings and call.
Heavy frost returns	Possible seal or defrost fault	Report the frost during your call.
Ice production stops	Possible fill or ice-making fault	Call about the missing ice.
Water leaks near ice storage	Possible valve or fill-system leak	Stop using the ice maker and call.

Report lost cooling separately from a change in ice production.

Sign	Likely cause	What to do
Water appears during filling	Possible hose or inlet valve leak	Stop the cycle at its controls and call.
Water appears during draining	Possible pump or drain-path leak	Keep clear of wet areas and call.
Drum will not spin	Possible lid lock or drive fault	Call about the stopped function.
Heavy banging begins	Possible load or suspension issue	Switch the washer off at its controls.

Call about a washer leak without running another load to locate it.

Describe whether the water appeared near the front, back, or underneath.
Read the exact displayed code during the call without interpreting it.
Keep away from water around electrical equipment rather than reaching through it.

For anyone deciding who to call for a leaking washing machine, an appliance repair technician assesses faults within the machine. Whirlpool identifies pump, drain-pipe, and tub-seal problems as possible leak sources; water on the floor alone does not identify which one failed.

Sign	Likely cause	What to do
Clothes stay damp	Possible airflow or heating fault	Call about the longer cycles.
Drum stops turning	Possible belt or drive fault	Stop using the dryer and call.
New squealing develops	Possible roller or bearing wear	Stop use and call.
Burning odor appears	Possible overheating or lint hazard	Stop use; leave and call 911 if fire is suspected.

A dryer that smells burned should stay out of use.

The CPSC recommends cleaning lint filters before or after each use. Lint-screen care does not replace professional fault diagnosis.

Sign	Likely cause	What to do
Water remains after a cycle	Possible drain restriction or pump fault	Call about the standing water.
Dishes stay dirty	Possible circulation or spray fault	Call about poor washing.
Water escapes at the door	Possible seal or filling problem	Stop the cycle at its controls and call.
Cycle repeatedly stops	Possible latch, control, or sensor fault	Report the stopping point and displayed code.

A dishwasher symptom helps direct the inspection but does not identify a replacement part.

Describe whether the dishwasher fills, washes, drains, or stops partway through.
Mention whether the problem affects every load or started with one.
Avoid pulling the appliance out to investigate a hidden leak yourself.

A stopped cycle and a failed drain are different observations, although both can leave water inside. Describe the last attempt without restarting.

Sign	Likely cause	What to do
Oven does not heat	Possible element, igniter, or control fault	Switch it off at its controls and call.
Cooking becomes uneven	Possible sensor or heating fault	Call about the change in results.
Cooktop glass cracks	Damaged surface assembly	Stop using the range and call.
Gas odor appears	Possible gas leak	Leave without touching switches; call the gas utility or 911 outside.

A gas smell calls for leaving the area and reporting it from outside.

Keep cooking equipment off when heating becomes uncontrolled or glass is damaged.
Describe the affected oven function rather than testing several settings again.
Report a gas odor only after reaching a safe place outside.

Sign	Likely cause	What to do
Runs without heating	Possible heating component fault	Stop use and call about the change.
Sparks appear inside	Possible cavity, cookware, or component issue	Switch off at the controls and call.
Door will not close firmly	Possible hinge or latch damage	Stop using the microwave and call.
Turntable stops rotating	Possible drive or motor fault	Call about the turntable.

Microwave diagnosis belongs with a technician even when the appliance is unplugged.

GE Appliances warns that an internal capacitor can remain charged after unplugging. Call about symptoms; one of our local appliance repair partners handles diagnosis.