How to Troubleshoot & Replace Ge AP2062249 / WR12X869 Refrigerator Door Handle Kit, White

We located two new handles on your website and they were delivered to us in a few days. They have made a world of difference in how the refrigerator looks now! We love the end result! 

Through Youtube we found this website in the search to figure out what to do with our refrigerator handles. They made it so easy. We watched the clips, ordered the handles through this company. It shipped immediately. We were able to install the new handles and the refrigerator looks brand new. 

This was the easiest job that I have done in a long time!! 

Slide a butter knife from small gap at trim located at top of refrigerator door. Slide the rounded edge of knife between the white inset and chrome trim which secures the handles/white inset trim. The white inset trim then removed easily while keeping the outer/chrome trim in place. I noticed the location for screws on the replacement handles and then also ran the rounded edge of the butter knife between the two separate (upper and lower) chrome trim pieces located above/below each door handle of my side-by-side refrigerator. This revealed the white plastic handles and the screws holding the white handles in place at top and bottom of each handle. It was a 6-point star bit that I used to reverse drill and remove those screws. Swapped out the new (hard white plastic) handles which fit perfectly and were the exact dimensions and look as the prior handles (for the soft foam handles being replaced). Assembled in reverse order of how I disassembled. This took no longer than 15min to complete. Looks like new, seats perfectly in door space it was designed for and functions perfectly. [DIDN'T USE PLIERS - BUT THIS FORM WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO SUBMIT WITHOUT SELECTING AN OPTION IN ADDITION TO 'OTHER' -- I ONLY USED A BUTTERKNIFE AND A 6PT DRILL BIT W/DRILL. 

After years of watching my refrigerator door handles gradually turn orange, I went online to AppliancePartsPros.com and found there were actually white replacement handles for my GE side-by-side. I called and spoke to a very helpful customer service rep who verified the item # that that matched my model, and he also found the U Tube site that showed how to install them. I ordered the parts right away and they were delivered the next day by early afternoon. My husband replaced them in short time, after he found the right screw driver (requires a special bit). I have ordered parts from this site in the past and I'm more than happy with the customer care and prompt receipt of the parts. And I love my new door handles...doesn't take much to make me happy! 

At first, because there was not any visible means of attaching the handle either on the front or inside of the refrigerator door, I thought the door may need to be replaced. However, I have viewed other repair videos from Appliance Pros so thought I would at least look to see what they had to say. I found a video that showed the VERY EASY way to replace the handles and the trim. I ordered handles and upper and lower trim. I replaced the handles in under 15 minutes! Trim is on backorder but expect it to take under 5 minutes. Simply snaps off and on. Gave the refrigerator new life and I am no longer embarrassed for someone to be in my kitchen. 

The handles were a simple fix. Just pop out the door trim, which I did by pulling on the very top and bottom of the trim to get it started. Then removed two star screws from the handle. I had to work the chrome plastic top and bottom handle caps off, then reversed the process for installing the new handle. The Recess/Dispenser was a bit more tricky. I pried the trim and control panel off with a putty knife, then the rest was fairly obvious, such as removing screws and wiring connectors. There was some sort or tape with a wire running through it that was on the back of the recess that I removed from the old one and placed it on the new one without disconnecting it. It appears to be some sort of heating element. 

Removed the white trim starting at the farthest point from the handles. I was able to do this by hand without any tool. Torx driver needed to unscrew the handles. Pried the chrome pieces off the handles by hand, replaced everything all in about 5 minutes. Now the handles are whiter and cleaner looking than the rest of the refrigerator. 

Ordered replacement handles from AppliancePartsPro. Wish there had been videos or manuals related to MY model, which was somewhat different. Rather older side-by-side, but works great. For one side took off more hw than I needed to and had issues recovering, but other was made easy. All worked in end. Needed putty knife, Phillips screwdriver and torx driver (yep). If you have chrome plastic trim on the trim, do NOT try to pry down on the trim. (Very diff from most models in videos). All in all - looks fine and parts worked. 

Took it it apart and fixed it was easy cleaned all the other parts too , so putting it back together it was all clean.