How To Fix Samsung Refrigerator That Is Not Cooling - Detailed Guide

Learning how to fix a Samsung refrigerator that is not cooling may or may not be straightforward depending on the cause of the issue. A proper diagnostics on the components of the unit will be required to determine the cause.

So, typically, parts to check will include the evaporator coil, evaporator fan, thermistor, start relay, start capacitor, condenser fan, condenser coil, compressor, refrigerant, and defrost system (timer and heater).

So, it’s hot in the summer and you want to get some old beverages from your refrigerator. When you open the refrigerator, you’re very disappointed. For some reason, it is working but not cooling. You even feel worse when the freezer is working fine but the refrigerator has refused to cool. Sadly, the freezer is usually smaller than the fridge, so you can’t decide to dump your fridge items into the freezer.

This cooling problem with Samsung refrigerators is not a new one. As with other refrigerators, many people find out that their refrigerator has stopped cooling one time or the other. So, even if you haven’t experienced this problem yet, it happens to anyone at any time. So, as long as you have a refrigerator sitting in your kitchen or even office, this article would be good for you.

Before we go into how to fix a Samsung refrigerator that is not cooling, we would take a look at what makes your Samsung refrigerator stop cooling.

Table of Contents

How to Fix a Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling — What Makes Your Refrigerator Stop Cooling?

There are so many parts of your Samsung refrigerator that may be the cause of the cooling problem. Let’s take a look at some of these parts below.

Evaporator coil

When your refrigerator has been turned on for a long time, there’s a chance that it develops frost. This is usually more common when you constantly open your refrigerator to get things out. Because warm air gets trapped in, frost forms on the evaporator coil not too long after you open it. When this happens for a long time, frost accumulates on the coil. This build-up prevents proper circulation of cold air in the refrigerator. This is because the coil gets insulated and it becomes very difficult for the fan to draw air over the coil. You may still get some cold air, but it’s not enough to keep your fridge cold.

Evaporator fan

The fan is responsible for circulating cool air from the coil to other parts of the refrigerator. When the fan is faulty, it can’t carry out this function anymore. So, your freezer stays cold, but you can’t get the fridge section cold. As a result, your food items get spoilt after a while.

Thermistor

A thermistor regulates the air temperature inside the refrigerator. It also controls the start and stop time of the cooling cycle. Basically, it is responsible for the cooling function of your refrigerator. What do I mean?

If your thermistor becomes faulty, your refrigerator either stops cooling totally or never stops cooling. When it never stops cooling, this is another problem. Frost would form over important refrigerator parts such as the coils and fan, and your refrigerator won’t work after a while.

Start relay

A compressor is one of the refrigerator parts responsible for cooling. Without a compressor, your fridge is just a storage box. The start relay is a small device responsible for starting the compressor. A faulty start relay means your compressor is never going to start. This is one of the reasons why your refrigerator may not be cooling.

Start capacitor

The start capacitor is also related to the compressor. It boosts the compressor to start functioning. So, without the start capacitor I.e. when the start capacitor is faulty, your compressor would not work. As a result, your refrigerator never cools.

Condenser fan

The condenser fan pushes hot air out of your refrigerator. If hot air builds up in your refrigerator, the inner temperature will rise. This rise in temperature will prevent your fridge from cooling your foodstuff and other items. As a result, most of your goods will get spoilt. If the condenser fan motor is faulty or the blades are defective, your refrigerator won’t get cold.

Condenser coils

During the refrigeration process, the condenser coil dissipates heat during the refrigeration process. When this coil is dirty, the heat doesn’t leave the refrigerator. As a result, the temperature in the refrigerator rises. To you, the refrigerator is not cooling, but this is not entirely true. The heat in the refrigerator is just greater than the cool air produced.

Compressor

The compressor is the main component of the refrigerator responsible for cooling. The refrigerator cycle relies on the compressor to run. The compressor compresses the refrigerant to high-pressure vapor. Then, it moves to the condenser to become a high-pressure liquid. This liquid then moves to the evaporator coils where it becomes a low-pressure vapor that cools your refrigerator. When your refrigerator is faulty, this entire process doesn’t work

Click here to learn how to replace a refrigerator compressor

Refrigerant

Without the refrigerant, the compressor won’t work as it should. Just like the body system, the refrigerant is like the blood of the refrigerator cycle. So, when you have a leaking refrigerant or the refrigerant level of your refrigerator is low, it won’t cool as it should.

Defrost system

The defrost system is one of the major systems in your refrigerator responsible for the cooling and defrost cycle. The defrost timer regulates the cooling time, and ensure defrosting kicks into place at the right time. Or else, ice would build up in your refrigerator. The defrost heater is also part of the defrost system. It prevents ice buildup in your refrigerator by heating your evaporator coil, thus melting the excessive frost buildup on the coil. If any part of the defrost system is faulty, the refrigerator would not cool properly.

How to Fix a Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling — Simple Solutions

While the steps above show technical issues that cause a Samsung refrigerator to stop cooling, there are also simple issues that could be checked to get your fridge working fine again. So, if your Samsung refrigerator and freezer are not working, here are some simple issues to check in order o get them fixed –

Check your refrigerator’s power source

Firstly, ensure that your refrigerator is turned on. If it isn’t on, there is no way the items inside the refrigerator can get cold. An LED bulb in your refrigerator, more often than not, will tell you if the power source is functioning properly.

Check the thermostat

Is the thermostat set at the right level? Unlike the few refrigerators that make use of digital thermostats, most refrigerators use mechanical thermostats that are usually set by rotating it to the desired level. If you mistakenly turn your thermostat to the lowest setting, the refrigerator won’t get as cold as it should.

Check the vents for obstructions

There are vents located at the back of your freezer. If these vents are blocked by items such as containers, boxes, ice cream bowls, e.t.c. the cool air won’t circulate well. If you notice anything blocking these vents, get them out of the way.

Check the condenser fan

The condenser fan which is essential for the refrigerator cycle needs to function properly. Check if the condenser fan is stuck. If there’s anything like ice that prevents it from functioning properly, scrape it off. Ensure that you turn off your refrigerator while doing this. Turn back your refrigerator after cleaning and make sure the fan rolls while the compressor is working.

Vacuum the coils

To ensure that the cooling coil (evaporator coil) is not clogged, use a vacuum cleaner to work on the coil. These coils are usually located beneath or behind the fridge, and they cause the refrigerator to stop cooling when they are clogged.

Here are some of the tools required to fix a Samsung refrigerator that is not cooling:

Multimeter
Evaporator fan and/or condenser fan
Wire connectors

Check out this video for tips on how to fix any refrigerator that is not cooling:

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How to Fix a Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling — Technical Solutions

Now, we shall take a look at the more technical solutions to fix a Samsung refrigerator not cooling.

i. As mentioned above, when the condenser coil of your refrigerator is dirty, the fridge won’t get as cold as it should. So, once you notice this, clean the coil properly with a cleaning agent. Ensure that the fridge is turned off when cleaning.

ii. Locate the condenser fan motor and determine if it is defective. If you turn the fan and it doesn’t spin, it should be changed. Also, check for obstructions and remove them if present. Then, test the fan motor for continuity using a multimeter. If the condenser fan motor doesn’t show continuity,

iii. Using a multimeter, check if the start relay is defective. Test the continuity between the start terminal socket and the wall. If the multimeter doesn’t record continuity, change the start relay. Also, if you notice a burning smell, change the start relay. The start capacitor should also be checked with the multimeter to determine if it is defective.

iv. The main control board should be the last thing you try to fix if you notice that your Samsung refrigerator is not cooling. The only time you can be sure that the board is the problem is when you have checked other parts of the refrigerator and everything is fine.

v. If your evaporator fan is not rolling well because it is chipped off, change the fan. Also, if the coil and/or fan are filled with frost, thus making them ineffective, have them changed. Below, we would be looking at how to change your Samsung refrigerator evaporator fan.

Replacing your Samsung Refrigerator Evaporator Fan

As stated above, your evaporator fan is one of the main reasons why your Samsung refrigerator is not cooling. A damaged evaporator fan is usually evidenced by a loud sound when the freezer door is opened. The evaporator fan is located behind the freezer. Let’s take a look at how to replace this fan.

Remove the cover

You can’t access the evaporator fan behind your freezer by leaving the cover there. When the cover is removed you would notice that the evaporator fan is still held in place by an evaporator fan cover. So, you have to remove the evaporator fan cover afterward. With a screwdriver, you would be able to get out the screws holding the covers in place.

Remove the evaporator fan

Removing your evaporator fan is not a difficult process. Take out the fan from the mounting bracket. Also, disconnect it from the wires because you’ll be replacing it with a new evaporator fan. The wires are fragile. So, they cut if you pull too hard.

Replace the evaporator fan

You should have purchased a new evaporator fan before removing the old one. You can get the right one from a Samsung repair store close to your home or order it online. Plug the wires into the new evaporator fan and install it in the mounting bracket.

Restore other parts

Return the evaporator fan cover and the cover behind the freezer section. Be sure to screw it properly before turning on your fridge. When the installation is complete, plug in your fridge. Then, check if the refrigerator is cooling.

Note: Don’t change your evaporator fan if you’re not sure the problem is coming from that area. Also, there could be more than one problem with your refrigerator, making it lose its cooling function.

Replacing Your Samsung Refrigerator Condenser Fan

Your Samsung condenser fan is located at the back of the refrigerator, along with the compressor. So, turn off your refrigerator and head over to the bottom corner behind your refrigerator. Remove the panel to see the condenser fan and refrigerator. Plug your refrigerator back in and watch closely. If the condenser fan makes noise or doesn’t spin at all, the fan is bad.

Sometimes, the compressor may be hot. Use a hair drier in cold settings to cool it down and check for a difference. If the fan still doesn’t work well, replace it. Follow the few steps below to replace your condenser fan.

Remove and disconnect the old fan

Unscrew the fan bracket and remove it. Then, remove the fan from the bracket and cut the wires close to it.

Replacing your condenser fan

Strip the wires and connect them to the new fan using wire connectors. Place the new fan in the bracket and screw it in place. Then, secure the fan to its location behind the fridge.

Turn on your refrigerator. Return the panel behind the fridge if everything works fine.

Conclusion

Your Samsung refrigerator may stop cooling due to various problems. If you discover that your freezer is cold but the fridge is warm, don’t jump right to the main control board. Instead, try out these simple solutions first. If they don’t work, begin to check each part for problems in order to know the next thing to do.

Meanwhile, if you have some money to spare and don’t want to go through the whole process yourself, you can call a technician to diagnose the problem and get your refrigerator fixed.

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How To Fix Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling — Related FAQs

How Long Does a Samsung Refrigerator Last?

A Samsung refrigerator could last up to fifteen years if it is well maintained. It could even last longer, depending on some factors.

Some of the factors that determine the life cycle of a Samsung refrigerator include the user, the refrigerator model, the condition of use, and the size of the refrigerator. Other seemingly minor things like how frequently the refrigerator is opened and the condition of power supply in the area can also determine how long the unit will keep serving optimally.

Is Samsung Refrigerator Reliable?

Samsung refrigerators are reliable. Samsung is also one of the most widely sold refrigerator brands, especially in the US. Samsung refrigerators are smart and durable; they also come in different sizes and models that suit different users’ needs.

If you are putting style and price into consideration before purchase, Samsung offers a good deal for your money. A common problem, though, with Samsung refrigerators (which other brands also share) is their ice maker. You may also want to consider ease of access to a good local repair shop before proceeding with the purchase.

What’s the First Thing to Check if Refrigerator Stops Working?

If your refrigerator suddenly stops working, the first thing to check is your home circuit breaker, to be sure if the refrigerator is getting power or not. If there’s a cut in power supply, disconnect the refrigerator’s power plug to avoid any potential risk of electric shock before proceeding with any checks.

If it is getting power supply, confirm that you didn’t confuse a dead bulb with a dead refrigerator. You will know if the refrigerator motor is running through its sound. You should also consider seeking the help of an expert.

Why is My Fridge Warm?

Your fridge is warm possibly because its door doesn’t close properly. You have to look at your refrigerator’s door seals carefully to see if any part of it is damaged, or if it has cracks or rips. You’ll have to look quite closely, as it may not be readily noticeable.

If your refrigerator’s door doesn’t close properly (or if you open it too often), there is a usual loss of the cool air which usually aids the refrigerator in cooling. If this is the case with your refrigerator, seek expert help.

How Can I Make My Fridge Colder?

You can make your refrigerator colder by adjusting its internal temperature dial to a higher value. The dial usually comes with a value of 1 to 5 or more, where 1 is warm and the highest number is cold.

Most refrigerator brands come with this internal temperature control/dial to help users adjust the refrigerator’s temperature as they deem fit. To make your refrigerator colder, simply turn the control/dial a digit or two higher and give it some time to adjust. You’ll have a colder refrigerator in a matter of hours.

What Temperature Should I Set My Samsung Refrigerator To?

Set your Samsung refrigerator to about 38 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer to about -2 degrees Farhenheit. Ideally, the fridge should be set at less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer at less than 0 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are using a model that displays temperature using bars, setting each compartment to three lit bars will be fine.

Set your refrigerator to these temperatures, except you are trying to save energy when you have no food in the refrigerator—that is only when the temperatures could be higher.

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