6 Common Samsung Refrigerator Problems & Troubleshooting
Samsung is one of the popular and best-selling refrigerator brands in the world. There are plenty of their models available in North America. Despite the high-quality materials used in making them, some home appliances can experience various problems. Samsung refrigerators have various issues that can affect their operation. Some of these include the refrigerator not cooling and the refrigerator leaking water.
You can either resolve these issues yourself or contact a qualified professional. Either way, it’s vital to ensure that the problems are solved correctly. This guide will help you identify the most common problems that arise with Samsung’s refrigerators. It will also explain how to fix them.
Some of the common issues that you might encounter when using Samsung refrigerator
If you have or you’re planning to buy a Samsung refrigerator, you must be aware of the most common issue you might encounter with this appliance.
1. Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling
The Part affected: When your Samsung fridge suddenly loses its cooling function, it is most likely due to the door gasket. This component is designed to create a tight seal between the inner portion of the unit and the closed door. This technique prevents the hot air from escaping through the vents. It also prevents the cold air from getting too hot.
Reason For Failing: The most common kinds of issues that can occur are due to the age of the product and how long it has been used. If the issue is still new, it might be the dirt or a foreign object that has got stuck in the door seal. It can usually be solved by removing the foreign object or dirt from the door seal.
When the door seal of your refrigerator is dirty, it can not create a tight seal and can not prevent the cold air from escaping. However, if your Samsung refrigerator is old, it will likely have a door seal, which already has damaged, worn out, or torn. It will also prevent the door from getting too tight between the fridge and the cabinet.
Fixing It: This step is very important since it will determine how you can fix the refrigerator not cooling. First, check the length of the door seal. While doing that, you can also wipe away any dirt that you might find. If you saw that the gasket is broken, replacing the door seal is a bit harder if the old one is already worn out. However, this can be done by just removing the old one and attaching a new one to it in the same way. After your Samsung refrigerator’s door seal has been repaired or replaced, give it at least 24 hours to reach its ideal temperature.
Reminder: All Samsung refrigerators require at least 24 hours to cool down. It is especially true if you have a home that has been off for a long time.
2. Refrigerator Leaking Water
The Part Affected: When you discover that water is leaking out of your Samsung fridge, the first step you must do is to identify its source. Identifying the source of the issue will help you determine which component of the Samsung fridge is affected.
There are several sources of leaks that can affect Samsung’s fridges, and here are some of them:
- Under the refrigerator leaking water: There are usually leaks under the fridge. Not being level is one of the reasons why the shelves under the refrigerator are leaking.
- Inside the refrigerator leaking water: The leading cause of the leak is the water filter inside the fridge.
- Behind the refrigerator leaking water: Leaks can also occur in the water supply or the inlet of the refrigerator.
Reason For Failing: The reason for a leak in your Samsung fridge can vary depending on where it happened, as is written above. It’s possible that the water supply line to the refrigerator is leaking. Also, the hose that goes under the unit’s water inlet is not attached correctly. It’s essential that the water in your fridge passes through the filter.
Generally, an improperly installed filter is the cause of a leak in the unit. That is why do not ever forget that Having a level fridge is very important to prevent water from flowing under the unit and onto the floor.
Fixing It: When a water leak occurs, it is best to shut off the supply to your fridge. It can also help prevent a leak from spreading to other parts of the house. If you do that, you can prevent more water from leaking and spraying while fixing or troubleshooting the problem source. The exact cause of the leak will depend on how severe it is. For instance, replacing it immediately is the best option if a damaged water filter is a culprit. However, you need to ensure that the new filter will be installed correctly to prevent the water from leaking again.
Aside from the main component, make sure that the water supply line and the connections to the fridge are also checked.
Reminder: You can check the level of your fridge by using a level app or by pushing a level bar on a spirit level. The app will use its sensors to determine if the surface is level or not.
3. Your Samsung Refrigerator Is Noisy
The Part Affected: Samsung’s refrigerators are known to make a small amount of noise. However, just like any other unit, they can still function properly. Refrigerator fan noise is often a sign that it’s doing its job. However, excessive noise can also be a sign of a problem.
The sounds are coming from the evaporator fan of a fridge. It’s a device that uses cold air to keep the whole appliance running smoothly. The evaporator fan is located inside the fridge. It’s designed to collect and distribute the cold air inside the unit.
Reasons For Failing: The vibrating and knocking sounds that you hear when the evaporator fan blade is engaged are caused by the hard frost on the surface. Basically, when the blades hit a foreign object, they create an ice buildup inside the fan. As you’re unloading or loading up in the refrigerator, you might accidentally push boxes or other objects that are too close to the fan. The blades could also get hit by ice as they hit the fan. This issue could be caused by the hot air that gets around the fan blades.
Fixing It: To troubleshoot, first, shut off the power supply then, disconnect to your refrigerator. Even though the fan might not be working at first, it can still turn on while you’re trying to fix it. To prevent injuries, make sure that the fan’s power supply is off. This is a safety tip that’s important to keep in mind when fixing a fan. After that, to prevent foreign objects from entering the fan, inspect the inside of the unit to see if they’re stuck. Avoid accidentally opening the fan’s blades, and you have to organize all the items in your fridge. If there’s an ice buildup in your room, then naturally remove it. It will help keep the natural ice from building up.
Reminder: Avoid using a hairdryer or a heat gun to remove the plastic. It will cause the plastic parts to warp and melt.
4. Refrigerator Not Making Ice
The Part Affected: Your Samsung refrigerator’s freezer compartment is designed to keep food items frozen. This feature is usually used to prevent ice and frost from forming on frozen food items. If the buildup of ice or frost occurs in the freezer, it could be caused by the ventilation issue. The issue is usually caused by a blocked air vent. When this happens, moisture can enter the air and cause frost to form.
Reason For Failing: Another possibility is that the items inside the freezer are too big to vent properly or a blocked air vent could be the reason why the refrigerator is not making ice. If the items inside are too big or too many, they are physically blocking the air vent and the back wall of the freezer. More specifically, these items can cause the freezer not to produce the ice, and also prevent your food to be frozen. That is why you should always be aware of the items you are putting inside the freezer, or at least organize them.
Fixing it: This issue can usually be solved by opening the vent on the outside of the freezer. This allows air to circulate and prevent frost from forming. To make sure that the air can flow freely between the containers and the items in the freezer, first make sure that the shelves are empty. The proper ventilation can help the cooling system remove moisture from the air. This step is vital to prevent the accumulation of ice and frost that has already formed inside the frozen food. Turning off the refrigerator completely is the best way to do this. It can be done by leaving the door open and letting the ice completely melt.
Reminder: Do not ever use a vacuum cleaner or a heat gun on your freezer because the focused heat from a heat gun or a hairdryer can warp and melt the plastic components of the fridge.
5. Refrigerator Is Not Defrosting
The Part Affected: A faulty termination thermostat can cause frost buildup on the evaporator coil. It can also cause the defrost heater not to heat up, which can result in too warm temperatures. The thermostat contacts are usually closed when it reaches 140 degrees celsius. One common reason why the refrigerator is not defrosting is due to a faulty timer. Although these components are easy to diagnose, they can not be easily fixed. The only solution is to replace the timer.
Reason For Failing: After analyzing your refrigerator, it’s possible that it has warmed up too much, or it doesn’t seem to be defrosting properly. Various factors can cause this issue. This can be caused by either the heater’s malfunction or by the moisture in the air. You can check this issue by using a multimeter. Refrigerator is not defrosting may also be caused by the faulty defrost thermostat.
Fixing It: If the device is defective, it will not operate properly. To check for continuity, use a multimeter to test the device’s operation. If the device doesn’t have continuity after reaching the low temperature, then you have to replace it. The purpose of the timer’s operation is to remove frost that has accumulated on the coils. If the device is defective, it may not allow the machine to perform its intended function and may not provide sufficient power to the defrost components. To determine if the timer is working correctly, start by carefully moving the dial toward the defrost cycle. Meanwhile, if your Samsung unit is not working properly and you do not know what to do, then it is essential to contact a local repairman.
Reminder: The main control board is responsible for controlling the power supply to the various components of the refrigerator. If its components are not working properly, it could stop sending voltage to the frozen system. There are some tricks that can aid you to force the defrost of your home appliances. One of these is by using steam mops.
6. Uneven Temperatures & Food Spoilage
Your Samsung refrigerator may have an uneven temperature that leads to food spoilage. The proper temperature for the proper functioning of a refrigerator is 40F. When the temperature reaches above that point, food spoilage occurs, and the fridge’s thermostat might have a problem. The temperature difference between the room and the air can also indicate that the damper control is faulty.
If the resistance of your thermistor does not change after reaching a specific temperature, it should not be functional as well and should be replaced. Suppose the power is still on, and all the temperature settings are correct, but the foods are still spoiled. In that case, it is time to contact a local repairman to define and fix the problem of uneven temperature & food spoilage with your refrigerator.
When Is It Time To Hire An Appliance Repairman?
These days, people are always on the Internet to find answers to their various questions. They just turn to tutorials to solve their home appliances’ problems. However, when it comes to fixing a malfunctioning refrigerator, it’s crucial to have the proper skills and knowledge to avoid making a grave mistake in the future.
For Example:
- If you smell burning around your refrigerator, call an emergency response team. However, turning off the fridge does not guarantee safety and can also cause fires.
- Some appliances, such as freezers and refrigerators, make low humming noises when they’re turned on. Make sure that they don’t make noises that are louder than your washing machine.
- When a faulty fridge is used, it will use more energy to perform its task. For instance, a defective fan motor of the refrigerator will have to work harder to keep the temperature at a certain level.
- Aside from causing mold growth, moisture can also contribute to the accumulation of other pollutants on the floor and inside some of your home’s appliances, like refrigerators.
If you ever encounter one of those mentioned above, then you probably should call an appliance repairman. Having your home appliances like Samsung refrigerator repaired by a skilled technician can help avoid experiencing these issues. Doing so could save you from replacing the problematic ones. Although most repairs are not expensive, they are still important to ensure that your appliances are up and running properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with Samsung refrigerators?
Aside from the usual issues, such as the refrigerator, not cooling, and refrigerator leaking water, some Samsung problems also include the refrigerator not making ice properly.
Why are there so many problems with Samsung refrigerators?
No, Samsung’s refrigerators don’t have a lot of problems compared to other leading brands. However, they do experience common issues like uneven temperatures & food spoilage.
How long is the average lifespan of the Samsung refrigerator?
A Samsung refrigerator generally has a lifespan of around 15 years. However, with proper care and enough maintenance, it can last longer than that.
Are Samsung refrigerators reliable?
Samsung is a renowned brand that has built its reputation on being reliable. This is why they make sure that their products are thoroughly tested before they are sold.
Final Thoughts
This guide helps you troubleshoot common problems that you may encounter when using your Samsung refrigerator. Despite the quality of Samsung’s products, there are complaints submitted by its users on various forums.
If you use a Samsung refrigerator and have had problems with it, then you should contact an appliance repair company if you can’t handle the issue.