Is your Samsung freezer icing up? It is important to find a solution as quickly as possible. In this article, we discuss how to fix the problem.
Table of Contents
Why Does My Samsung Freezer Keep Icing Up?
Your Samsung freezer keeps icing up because of one or more of the following issues:
1. Weak or loose door seal
2. Poor air circulation
3. Open ice maker flap
4. Low freezer temperature
5. Improper location of the freezer
6. Hot or wet food items in the freezer
These are the main reasons why the freezer keeps icing up. However, if you notice that the back wall of the freezer is thickly iced up, it could mean that the defrost system has failed and the evaporator coils have frozen over. It could also mean something else.
To determine this, have a refrigerator repair agent come out to check the issue and fix it.
The Defrost System
For the defrost system, you can verify if one or more of the components have failed. To do this, start with the defrost heater, which is right under the evaporator coils behind the back panel of the freezer.
Test it using a multimeter to check if there is continuity. If there is no continuity, replace the defrost heater.
To check the defrost timer, turn it counterclockwise until it clicks and the freezer goes into action. This tells you that the timer is defective as it should turn automatically to advance into the defrost cycle. It should not be turned manually before it works.
For the defrost thermostat, remove the retaining clip holding it and pull the wires out of its terminal. If screws hold the wires in place, turn them counterclockwise to remove them.
Test the thermostat in both cold and hot water. In cold water, the multimeter should show 0.000 in the closed position. But when the water is hot, the multimeter should read O.L as the thermostat is connected to it.
However, if this does not happen at any point, it means the thermostat is defective and should be replaced.
Here is how to replace the defrost thermostat in a Samsung refrigerator…
Also, check the defrost control board. If you are not sure about how to do this, contact a professional refrigerator repair agent to determine if the board is damaged and replace it.
Check out these other articles…
Samsung Refrigerator Not Getting Cold [How to Fix]
Known Issues with Samsung Refrigerators [How to Fix]
Samsung Freezer Keeps Defrosting [How to Fix]
Samsung Freezer Icing Up – Quick Fix
If a Samsung freezer is icing up, check the following:
1. Door
If the door does not seal properly, check the door seal to see if it is broken or loose. Replace it if it no longer fits tightly around the edge of the door.
Even if it does, test its functionality by closing the door on a piece of paper or a dollar bill. Then, try to pull the paper or bill out. If you can do this effortlessly, replace the seal because it is weak.
Clean the seal if it is dirty. A dirty seal will keep the door from closing firmly and tightly, thereby compromising the cold air within. Clean it with warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth until it is thoroughly clean.
Additionally, ensure the door closes properly after opening. Do not leave it even with the tiniest opening, otherwise, warm air will enter, cause condensation, freeze and cause a buildup of ice.
It is also important not to open the door of the freezer frequently. Doing this lets cold air out and warm air in. Since warm air carries moisture, the moisture settles in the freezer, freezes and forms ice or frost in the unit.
2. Air Circulation
Check the air vent in the freezer to ensure nothing is blocking it. Move items in the freezer in order to leave the vent free. Placing packages too close to the vent or even over it causes the cold air to freeze the packages and cause an ice buildup over time.
Furthermore, keep from placing any item on the back wall of the freezer. Doing this builds ice. Leave the back wall free; let nothing rest on it.
In addition, create spaces between all the items in the freezer; do not keep them closely packed. A tightly-packed freezer is usually poorly-ventilated, leading to some items freezing and others not freezing.
In the same vein, leaving the freezer too empty and too cold causes an ice buildup. It is important, therefore, to find a middle ground for the amount of food to store in the freezer.
It is difficult for a well-ventilated freezer to ice up. This is because the cold has room to move about and not concentrate only on some spots, leading to freezing.
3. Ice Maker Flap
Open the side of the Samsung refrigerator door with the dispenser and check the ice chute. There is a black flap in it and it should rest on the housing.
If it is not resting flush on the housing of the chute, check to see if ice or any other external object is keeping it open. Clear it so the flap rests on the housing.
An open flap is one of the reasons why a freezer ices up. Through the opening, warm air enters and causes a buildup of frost inside the freezer.
4. Freezer Temperature
Check the setting of the temperature for the freezer. It should be at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, not lower. So if it is lower, it will explain the icing up of the freezer. It means the freezer freezes too quickly and builds ice fast.
Adjust the temperature to the right point and ensure it is not adjusted. Also, give the freezer time to adjust to the new setting.
Note: Most Samsung freezers have an automatic defrost system that melts ice so that there is no buildup. So if the freezer is icing up, it means the defrost system can no longer handle the level of ice buildup.
It also means one or more components of the defrost system have malfunctioned or the freezer needs to be opened less often.
5. Location
Ensure there is no heat source close to the freezer. This is because the heat from the source will cause the freezer to work extra hard to maintain a cool temperature. In the end, ice builds up quickly in the unit.
Therefore, relocate the freezer to another space or room with a better temperature. And keep it away from direct sunlight, making sure the room is well-ventilated.
6. Content
Allow hot food to cool completely before storing it in the freezer. Apart from causing an ice buildup, it could damage the unit with time.
Also, allow wet food to drip dry before putting it in the freezer. The water from the food pools on the floor of the freezer and freezes, forming ice.
Hot or wet food items cause ice to build up in the freezer. Hot food causes condensation which freezes and forms ice. And wet food drips water which freezes over time to form ice. Bottom line – avoid moisture.
Removing the Ice
To remove the ice that is already in the freezer, do the following:
Step 1
Empty the freezer of all contents. Store the perishable ones in another freezer, fridge or cooler. Throw out anything that is no longer edible or that has been in the freezer for too long.
To make the defrost and cleaning process easier, remove the shelves and racks and prepare them for washing.
Step 2
Disconnect the freezer or fridge freezer from power. If there is no way to reach the power outlet, shut down the circuit breaker for that part of the house.
Next, open the door of the freezer and leave it open. If it is a fridge freezer, open both doors. Doing this helps speed up the defrost process.
Step 3
Set towels around the edge of the freezer to absorb dripping water. Be sure to mop up excess water during the process so that it does not damage the floor of the room. Change the towels when the ones in use become too wet.
Give the unit time to fully defrost so that all the accumulated ice can melt. This may take up to 10 hours or even 24 hours, depending on the level of ice buildup.
To speed things up even further, use a wooden or plastic spatula to scrape the ice off the inside walls of the freezer. You can also place bowls or pans of hot water inside the freezer and allow the steam to melt the ice.
Apart from these, soak a towel or cloth in hot water and rub the ice off the sides of the unit. It helps to melt thick sheets of ice.
But while this is happening, be sure to scoop the chunks of ice out of the unit so they don’t prolong the defrost process.
Take this time to wash the shelves and racks taken from the freezer. Use warm water and mild soap to wash them, taking care with the glass shelves.
Do not use hot water to wash glass as it could cause the glass to crack or shatter.
Dry the parts thoroughly and expose them to air-dry while the freezer continues to defrost.
Step 4
After the defrost process, dry the freezer or fridge and freezer sections out completely, using a dry towel. Leave the door or doors open so that the unit can air-dry even after mopping up the moisture. This is to prevent another and quicker ice buildup.
When the freezer is completely dry, put the shelves and racks back in their respective places. Then, restore the food items in it.
Close the door or doors and reconnect the unit back to power. If you shut down the circuit breaker, power it up again.
However, if the freezer ices up again, even after fixing all of the above issues, or the inside rear wall has a thick ice sheet, there is a serious problem.
Contact Samsung immediately to check and fix it. Alternatively, chat with us. We have qualified and experienced refrigerator technicians readily available to assist you.
Note: If it is a chest freezer, open the drain valve. Depending on the model, it could be on the bottom left side or the bottom right side of the freezer.
Attach a hose or pipe to the valve and channel it into a bucket. It makes draining the water from the melted ice faster and easier.
Recap
Ice in a freezer does not mean the freezer is performing optimally. It could mean something is wrong. So if your Samsung freezer is icing up, find out why and fix it immediately. This is because continuous ice or frost buildup can burn and damage the freezer beyond repair.
Get Instant Help — Ask An Experienced Verified Appliance Technician
Need expert help? Click here to use the chat box on this page to speak with a verified appliance technician right away. No need for expensive in-home service calls. No appointments. No waiting.
