GE Window Air Conditioner Troubleshooting [step-by-step]

Your GE window mounted AC acting up? This GE window air conditioner troubleshooting guide might help!

GE window air conditioners, such as the AEE08AT are great choices when you want to cool large rooms including extra-large rooms during hot, sticky summer days.

Dirty filters, power issues, and incorrect thermostat settings are just some of the problems that can hinder your AC’s cooling efficiency.

Fortunately, a majority of the issues do not need advanced troubleshooting and you can easily fix them without professional help.

Below we look at GE Window Air Conditioner Troubleshooting procedures (including resolving some GE air conditioner error codes) step-by-step to help you repair your AC if it is not working right including how to resolve GE window air conditioner thermostat problems.

GE Window Air Conditioner Troubleshooting  – step by step fixes for the most common GE window air conditioner problems

GE Window Air Conditioner not starting

Possible reasons and recommended solutions:

1.      The AC is unplugged

Make sure the AC plug is pushed completely (into the outlet).

2.      Circuit breaker has tripped/Fuse is blown

Check the breaker box/house fuse and proceed to replace fuse or reset the circuit breaker if tripped.

3.      Power has failed

The AC should automatically restart after power is restored (it restarts in the settings you used last).

Keep in mind that there will be a protective 3 minutes (approximately) delay- this helps prevent the tripping of compressor overload meaning the unit may not start to cool sufficiently until 3 minutes elapse since it was turned back on.

4.      Current interrupter device has tripped (What if the interrupter was tripped from an overload?)

Reset it by pressing the RESET button found on the power cord’s plug (Push reset to get it going, and if that doesn’t work, check the breaker or fuses) -If the fuses and breaker are fine, unplug it and call for service.

Quick Tip:

If you had a brownout, you need to use the reset button to get the AC to work again-Just wait three minutes before you do so in order to make sure the compressor doesn’t overload.

READ:

How do you reset a GE window air conditioner?

 

GE air conditioner not cooling  (general electric window air conditioner not cooling / GE air conditioner not blowing air) issue 

Possible reasons and recommended solutions:

1.      Airflow is restricted

Clear all obstructions that could be blocking the front of your air conditioner including furniture, curtains, and blinds.

2.      The temp control has not been set correctly

Make sure the AC is set to Cool mode then press the Decrease pad.

3.      Dirty air filter

Clean the filter every 30 days (at least)- see your owner’s manual for specific instructions.

4.      The room could have been extra hot

Wait- the AC needs more time to produce enough cold to cool down a room if it was very hot.

In short, the AC must first draw heat out of the room- your furniture, walls, and any carpeting all produce heat.

5.      Cold air may be escaping

Check for any open furnace registers as well as cold air returns-and seal/close.

6.      Cooling coils may have iced up

See the section ‘Air conditioner freezing up’ below for troubleshooting steps.

 

Fixing GE window AC problems continued

GE Window Air conditioner freezing up

This occurs when ice blocks the airflow, preventing the AC from cooling your room down.

What to do:

Set the AC Controls to High Fan/High Cool.

In addition, the thermostat should be set to a higher temp.

 

GE Window Air conditioner remote control not working

This may indicate that the remote batteries have been inserted incorrectly. The batteries may also be dead.

What to do:

Check the batteries. They should be inserted in the opposite: (+) & (–) direction.

Needless to say, you may need to replace the batteries (if dead) if you’re still facing the GE air conditioner control panel not working issue.

Another possibility especially if your AC has just been installed is the remote control may have been programmed for another A/C unit- I have seen the issue a few times so you may need t0 change the remote settings to the correct model.

How?

You typically have to press two or more buttons  your own simultaneously to open the options toggle to your correct A/C.

And yes, the remote could also be dead- try a new remote if you are able to operate the unit manually.

 

GE window air conditioner dripping water outside

Because warm moist(humid) air from your room usually passes over the unit’s cold indoor coil during cooling, water tends to condense on the cold ind0or coil.

The base pan is the final collecting point for the water and it is from here it will flow to the back part of the unit.

For this reason, it is very normal to notice water dripping on the 0utdoor side of the AC.

 

GE window air conditioner leaking water inside

While it is normal for the unit to drip water on the outside, you should be concerned if water drips inside (of the room).

Now, if this is happening, the probable reasons are:

• Incorrect installation– the unit will drip water inside if it was tilted to some degree into the room during installation.
• Dirty filters– this also causes moisture to collect (and drip) on the floor.

What to do

• The unit should be leveled or tilted a little to the outside (about ¼”) to allow excess water to drip outside instead of leaking into the room (It has to be tilted backwards for the water to drip out the rear of the AC and outside)
• Clean the filter because it could be dirty- remember when dirty, it blocks air from the AC’s evaporator coil, causing it to freeze over (the ice will ultimately melt off from the coils, meaning the drain pan will fill up and finally overflow with water.. Please consult the Owner’s Manual for instructions applicable to your model.

 

The thermostat panel shuts off

This may not necessary mean that the thermostat is faulty- it could be due to the temperature of your room when the AC was first turned on.

You see, if a room is extremely hot, it will generally take longer to cool so we recommend you allow the AC enough time and see if it will cool the room successfully.

READ:

Window air conditioner thermostat troubleshooting

 

GE air conditioner buttons not working

If the + and – pads/buttons on the control panel are unresponsive, you will not able to adjust the temperature on your window unit up or down.

To correct the issue, disconnect power to your AC for two-three minutes. This resets the electronic components that could be causing the problem and should hopefully restore its normal functioning.

For the uninitiated, here is how to set temperature on GE air conditioner:

Simply press the – or + pads on the unit’s control panel to raise the temperature or bring it down.

 

GE Window air conditioner error codes fixed

 

GE air conditioner error code 88 / GE window air conditioner all lights flashing

To begin with, 88 is normal after you first start your unit.
Here’s how it operates:

• As soon as you connect the power cord, all lights will come on and double “8s” will show in the display for about 2 seconds. If no other operation is started by means of pressing other buttons, the lights go off.
• If there is a power interruption/failure, double “8s” and all lights in the LED display for 2 secs and then the unit starts to run again in the last used mode.

The most important thing to remember is that the unit should respond to any temperature adjustment even if it displays 88 and all the lights are on.

Otherwise, the other potential trigger of this general electric AC code is a failed temp sensor.

 

GE window air conditioner turns on and off repeatedly

If it keeps turning on/off, the filter could be dirty(There’s a huge chance it is) so clean it first.

There are other likely causes including a bad compressor (replace it but test the compressor first), low refrigerant (have it refilled by a qualified person), dirty evaporator coils (clean them), or frozen coils(try to unfreeze them- you can use things like a heat gun- to thaw  ice or even a hair dryer).

In addition, the thermostat could be in a bad spot—meaning it’s in a location that usually has a different temp. from other parts of your home.

In this case, the thermostat falsely thinks your home is hotter/colder than it really is resulting in the AC turning on/off repeatedly

 

GE window air conditioner cool light flashing

If you notice the unit’s Cool LED light flashing (on the control panel) and its compressor kicks off (sometimes it will, simultaneously), it may indicate two issues:

1. The evaporator coils could be frosting up(icing up) or
2. They are too cold.

In a nutshell, it means the evaporator temperature may be too low so it might be necessary for the compressor to cycle off for some time until there is a rise in the evaporator temperature.

Now, this primarily occurs when the outside temperatures are too low while the AC is operating (below 70F).

That said, there’s a chance that there’s a problem with sensors (mostly the tube temp sensor- if yours has)…it could be behaving that way if the sensor was not installed correctly so it may be worth checking your sensors, as well. 

 

GE window air conditioner filter light flashing  / GE air conditioner blinking red light

GE Window-mounted air cons with a ‘Reset Filter’ pad (with LED) will turn on once the fan has run for 250 hours. This is simply to remind you to clean the filter.

How to clean  filter on GE Window air conditioner

 

Having said that, the light may come on even though the filter is not dirty- to turn the LED off and reset the run time turn AC unit off  then try to Press “Reset Filter” button.

You can now turn the AC on again.

Besides, in models that have WiFi capability Built-In, you may notice a red light behind the filter (on the right side). This is just a status light signaling that the internal WiFi module is functioning.

 

GE air conditioner control panel not working

If the buttons do not respond, first try to reset the unit(see the instructions in the FAQ section).

If that does not work, it could be the a small fuse (installed between the control board and touch pad -Some  controls have it).

In other words, if yours control panel is not lighting up, then perhaps you need to replace the fuse.

Don’t forget that the control can itself be bad- and the best solution is changing out the entire pad.

 

 

GE air conditioner keeps changing temperature

If the temp setting keeps adjusting itself, check the control panel- it may have malfunctioned.

The key pad may also have issues.

What to do:

We suggest these steps:

1. Open the A/C cover.
2. Next, unplug the ribbon cable – from the keypad -then plug it back in a few times.

It should stop malfunctioning if the problem is a result of a faulty connection.

If not, the entire control panel may need to be replaced.

 

GE window air conditioner all lights flashing and beeping issue (and why is my GE air conditioner beeping)

If it is blinking all lights and beeping at the same time, try to reset it first.

Follow these steps:

• Turn  your GE window air conditioner off.
• Unplug it’s power cord from socket (power socket).
• Wait for about 5 minutes.
• Plug your AC power cord back into it’s socket.
• Now turn your unit back on.

Now, if that never worked (all lights are still flashing and it is beeping), try the following:

1. Check if there might be some obstructions  around the AC or in it- you see, leaves or dirt or other debris can get stuck in certain spots of your AC, leading to it malfunctioning (hence the blinking lights and beep sound)
2. Clean the filter (if you have not done that recently)- this is a very important maintenance procedure and your AC could be in trouble because of a clogged filter.
3. Check cables and  all connections inside- there is also a possibility of a cable being loose or damaged so inspect all around your unit and secure any loose connection (replace any burnt/destroyed cable)

Worryingly, if you’re still caught up, it could be that you’re looking at a bad part (needing to be replaced)..common culprits include the thermistor (it may have broken down) and a relay that has gotten stuck….just contact GE if your warranty is still active.

 

GE window ac compressor not turning on (GE window air conditioner compressor not working)

Well, if your GE window air conditioner compressor won’t turn on but the fans are working, it could be due to the filters or the coils (evaporator and condenser coils) being dirty so clean them and see how it goes.

It may be necessary to swap the filters/coils if they appear damaged.

There’s also a likelihood of the compressor itself having malfunctioned (it can die if you have been using the AC from a low-voltage outlet).

Unfortunately, only an expert can help when it comes to testing and replacing the compressor itself (remember it can misbehave if running low on refrigerant from a leak). 

 

GE air conditioner error codes (Troubleshooting GE window air conditioner error codes)

Fault codes are typically programmed in AC controls to help trained service technicians quickly diagnose faults with the unit.

To help point you in the right direction In the event that the unit’s electronic control displays a fault code, here are some of the most common GE air conditioner error codes and their meaning

GE air conditioner error code E1

Electronic control board malfunction issue. Unplug the A/C for 1-3 minutes and then re-insert it in to reset the unit’s electronic control board.

A replacement electronic control board may need to be installed if this doesn’t work.

 

GE window air conditioner error code  E4

Water collection bucket is full and needs to be emptied.

The bucket float switch could also be out of order- inspect it for damage and replace if necessary.

 

GE window air conditioner error code 8 and how to fix e8 error code GE window air conditioner

Depending on model, E8 may mean overload malfunction error perhaps due to a clogged filter or low temp setting  (if the outside is too hot). 

Quick Tip: Remember that you can always attempt to clear most GE window ac unit error codes by resetting the unit (see the instructions in the FAQ section).

 

If your error code is not in the above list, I suggest you go through the GE air conditioner error codes and troubleshooting guide by askrepairbuddy.com

GE Window Air Conditioner Troubleshooting  – useful tips

• If a component needs to be replaced and you cannot find replacement parts particularly for GE window models that have been discontinued, consider calling GE parts department number 1-877-959-8688 directly to check if they have the part in stock.
• If you’re having issues with the built-in WIFI set-up (for GE WiFi enabled smart room window ACs), you can try to rerun the connection set up process with the help of the GE Appliances App. Download the latest version from iTunes/Google Play and let it walk you through the connection set up process.

 

GE Window Air Conditioner Troubleshooting  -Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How do you reset a GE window air conditioner? / How do I reset my GE air conditioner?

Simply disconnect power (or unplug it) to your GE air conditioner for two-three minutes then restore power.

This usually resets the internal electronic parts and may help clear some of the common issues.

You can also try to reset the electronics by turning off power completely at the main circuit breaker for about 30 seconds.

But perhaps the simplest way of resetting the A/C is pressing the “Reset” button on the power cord, if it features one- some of the latest GE air conditioners come with a reset button to allow you to restore them to their default thermostat settings more easily without turning off the unit.

Refer to the owner’s manual if you’re not sure whether your GE A/C has this reset feature.

 

How Do I Reset GE air conditioner WIFI?

First, the AC should still run without WiFi connection so loss of connectivity should not bother you too much.

However, it is easy to reset the entire AC-Wifi set up if a reset if required.

First press the reset button (found on power cord plug) to reset the a/c (as mentioned above).

The next crucial step is forgetting your personal home Wi-Fi in the settings menu when trying to connect to the GE Wi-Fi.

The other option is to remove the appliance then download and reinstall the app. one more time.

 

Why is my GE air conditioner beeping?

GE window air conditioner is programmed to beep under the following conditions…

The AC will beep once when:

• The power cord has been connected
• The A button has been pressed while the power is on (this includes the remote control button).

On the same note, the AC will beep twice if any button press (including on the remote control) fails.

 

What does EP mean on a GE air conditioner?

EP code on GE air conditioner could point to a failed sensor (on the coils).

For the most part, this type of error will need to be checked by a trained service tech.

That being said, try to reset the A/C before making the service call.

 

Conclusion

These GE Window Air Conditioner Troubleshooting procedures can come in handy if your AC is not working as it should.

Of course, should the fault(s) persist, we suggest you discontinue the use of the AC until it has been checked by a service technician.

Bear in mind that if your product is still under warranty, it is best to first contact GE customer service for troubleshooting help via 1800-432-2737  – it may not be cost effective to repair some appliances if they’re under warranty and it makes more sense to replace.

RELATED:

GE dishwasher not turning on? Here is what to do

GE dishwasher diagnostic mode (How to enter)

GE profile dishwasher troubleshooting control panel

Why is my GE dishwasher not turning on? 

ALSO READ:

Dyson air quality sensor problem? Try this quick fix

Delonghi portable air conditioner troubleshooting -ultimate guide

Daikin air conditioner fault codes, meaning, and some solutions

Carrier infinity fault codes – description and how to fix your unit

Too much oil in AC system symptoms and troubleshooting tips