Are you saddled with a Samsung fridge that is not working as it should? Read this article that explains how to fix the problem.
Table of Contents
Samsung Fridge Is Not Working – What to Do
Do the following if your Samsung fridge is not working:
1. Check the Power Supply
To begin with, check to see if the power cord of the fridge is plugged in at all. If it is, check to see if it plugged in fully. Unplug and plug it back in to see if there is any change in the fridge.
If there is no change, ensure that the circuit breaker that controls that part of the house is not tripped.
However, if there is a recent power outage or surge, unplug the fridge, wait for about 30 seconds and plug it back in. When there is power supplied to it, set it to Power Freeze and Power Cool in order to help it reach cooler temperatures quickly.
Ensure that the fridge is plugged into its own wall outlet, not an extension cord and not sharing the outlet with other appliances. Having to disconnect and connect regularly affects the power cord of the fridge.
You can also test the wall outlet to see if there is enough voltage supplied from it. Plug another appliance into the outlet. If it powers up fully, then the outlet is working fine. If not, relocate the fridge to another part of the house with a working wall outlet.
2. Check the Content
Ensure you don’t pack the fridge with too many food and drinks and don’t leave it empty. To get the best out of the cooling capacity of the fridge, leave it ¾ full or at least, ½ full.
If it is too full, there won’t be enough room for cold air to move around and cool food, thereby leaving some cold and some not cold. And if it is too empty, the cold air would escape easily because there is nothing to trap it inside the fridge.
3. Check the Level
Start by opening the door of the fridge about 30 cm wide. Then, release the door. If the level is good, the door should close without a push. So if it does not, you know the fridge is not level. Therefore, check the bottom front feet’s adjustable screws and adjust them.
Additionally, check your owner’s manual to find out how best to level the fridge. The front of the fridge should be slightly elevated in order for it to work optimally.
4. Check the Location
Move the fridge away from the window if it is hit directly by sunlight. And if there is any other source of heat close to it, it is important to move it far from it. The heat reduces the ability of the fridge to work well.
If it is possible, relocate the fridge to another part of the house. However, if you cannot do this, reduce the internal temperature of the fridge to give it a chance to cool despite the heat.
In addition to the above, if you can, move the fridge away from the wall to leave the back free for air passage. If the fridge is flush to the wall, it can overheat and reduce its capacity to work.
5. Check the Temperature Setting
Take a look at the temperature setting of the fridge to see if it is at the correct point. If it is not, that would explain its inability to work. But if it is at the correct point, lower it and see if there is a change.
More times than not, adjusting the temperature setting helps to sort out the problem of a fridge not working.
6. Check the Door
Be sure the door of the fridge closes fully and seals tightly. If it is left even slightly ajar, the fridge would cease to work properly. Check the seal to see if it is damaged or dirty. Replace it if it is damaged and clean it with warm water and mild soap if it is dirty.
7. Check the Air Vents
Keep the air vents free of obstruction. This is to avoid ice forming on the back wall of the fridge and reducing its cooling capacity. Also, fresh food could get ice on it if it is too close to the air vents.
8. Check the Mode
If the model of the fridge supports the Vacation mode, check to see if it is in the mode. If it is, consult your owner’s manual for how to exit the mode so that the fridge can start cooling properly.
In the event all the above measures are in place yet the Samsung fridge is still not working, the following could cause it not to work:
9. Condenser Coils Are Dirty
Take a look under the fridge to see if the condenser coils are dirty. If they are, clean them thoroughly and wipe any leftover dust with a clean rag. And if there is stickiness or a greasy feel, clean with mild soap and warm water. Repeat the cleaning routine every 6 months or 12 months.
The condenser coils release heat from the refrigerant as it goes through them into the fridge. If they are dirty, they won’t effectively release the heat, causing the refrigerant to carry it into the fridge. Consequently, the fridge will work extra to keep cool and eventually, it may stop cooling or working altogether.
10. Boards Are Damaged
Damage to the main control board or even the temperature control board will affect the ability of the fridge to work. So check for burns around the solder points on the boards or test for functionality. Replace any damaged board to see if the fridge starts working again.
If you cannot test the boards or replace them, have a refrigerator repair agent inspect them for you and replace any damaged ones.
11. Evaporator Fan Motor Is Defective
Try spinning the blades of the evaporator fan with your hand. If they don’t turn freely, the motor is bad and should be replaced. And if the motor is noisier than it usually is, replace it as soon as possible. In addition to these, test the windings of the motor if there is no life in it at all. If there is no continuity in the windings, replace the motor of the fan.
Without the evaporator fan, there will be no cold air circulating in the freezer and flowing into the fridge. And the fan cannot operate if the motor is damaged. Therefore, the fridge won’t work at cooling food or drinks.
12. Condenser Fan Motor Is Faulty
Try and spin the blades of the fan with your hand to see if they spin without a problem. If they are stiff, the motor is bad and must be replaced. But if they spin well and there is no external object keeping them from spinning, test the motor with a multimeter to check for continuity. If there is no continuity, replace the motor of the fan.
13. Start Relay Is Damaged
Place a multimeter between the start and run terminals and test for continuity. If you don’t find continuity between the two terminals, replace the start relay. And if it rattles when you shake it, get a new relay. In addition, if there is a burnt smell coming from it, the relay is damaged and should be replaced.
The start relay starts the compressor so it can run smoothly by working together with the start winding. If it is damaged, the compressor may run only intermittently or may not run at all.
14. Start Capacitor Is Malfunctioning
Test the start capacitor using a multimeter. This is to check if it has malfunctioned or is damaged. If there is no continuity, replace the capacitor as soon as possible.
This is because it is responsible for providing a power boost to the compressor to enable it to start. So the compressor is likely not to start if the capacitor is malfunctioning. Even if it starts, it may not run as smoothly as it should.
15. Thermistor Is Defective
With a multimeter, test the thermistor to check its resistance and continuity. The resistance should change as the temperature of the fridge changes. If this does not happen and there is no continuity at any temperature setting, replace the thermistor.
The thermistor sends results to the control board of the fridge after monitoring the temperature of the unit. Based on the result, the board regulates power to the evaporator fan and the compressor as needed.
If the thermistor is defective, it cannot correctly read the temperature and consequently, the board cannot regulate power as needed. So the fridge won’t work properly.
16. Temperature Control Thermostat Is Faulty
Test the thermostat by turning it from the lowest point to the highest point. Wait to hear an audible click from the fridge. If you hear the click coming from the thermostat in the fridge, then be aware that the thermostat is probably working fine.
But if there is no click, check the continuity of the thermostat using a multimeter. If there is no continuity at any temperature setting, replace the thermostat.
The thermostat is responsible for directing voltage to the compressor and fan motors. These parts won’t receive voltage if the thermostat is faulty so they cannot function. And the refrigerant won’t run if these parts don’t function. As a result, the fridge can’t work or cool.
17. Compressor Is Bad
To determine if the compressor is bad and is causing the fridge not to work anymore, contact a qualified technician to run diagnostics on it. It involves using voltage so is not safe for amateur hands.
However, it is rare to see the compressor of a fridge broken down. Compressors usually last for years, some as long as the fridge lasts.
Some of the diagnostic and repair work needed here is too technical. So if you find that fixing the fridge is proving too difficult, contact Samsung Support center. You can also chat with any of our appliance technicians to find the original cause and fix it permanently.
The steps above work for all models of Samsung fridges, including side-by-side, French door and top-mount fridges.
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Samsung Fridge Light Not Working – Quick Fix
The following are quick fixes for a Samsung fridge with light that is not working:
1. Replace the Bulb
The bulb in the fridge could be burned out, causing the light not to work. So check the bulb first before touching any part of the light assembly. Toggle it a bit to see if it is just loose. If this does not work, remove it and replace it with a new bulb.
Consult your owner’s manual for the right bulb fit for Samsung fridge model. If there is no provision for that in the manual, contact Samsung or chat with any of our appliance technicians.
Here is a video for changing the LED light for a specific Samsung fridge model…
2. Replace the Light Assembly
If you change the light bulb in the Samsung fridge and the light is still not working, it is time to consider checking the entire light assembly. One or more parts of the light assembly could be defective but if you cannot correctly diagnose which part needs changing, you may have to change the assembly.
Ensure you contact Samsung to determine if individual parts of the assembly are available or if you have to buy the whole assembly. This will tell you what to do.
3. Replace the Door Switch
For some models, such as the top-mount model, the door switch controls the light in the fridge. So when you open the fridge and freezer doors to the same position, the unit could sense that both doors are closed instead of open. So the light goes off. But this is a normal thing.
However, if the door switch starts malfunctioning, it can also affect the light in the fridge, causing it to go off when it should not. So, test the switch using a multimeter to check for continuity. If there is no continuity, replace the switch.
4. Replace the Light Switch
With a multimeter, test the switch for the fridge light to check for continuity. If you don’t find continuity in the switch, replace it.
A broken or defective light switch will be so unstable that it can cause the light in the fridge to go off when it should be turned on. This leaves the impression that the light is not working at all.
5. Replace the Light Socket
Check to see if the socket is getting power supply at all, and enough of it, using a multimeter. If there is power in the socket yet the bulb is not working in the fridge, it is an indication that the socket is damaged. Replace it as soon as possible so the light in the fridge can work.
6. Replace the Light Board
Find out if the board is getting enough supply of voltage. If it is getting enough but the light in the fridge won’t work, it is likely to be defective. Replace the board and see if it solves the problem.
Samsung Fridge Top Half Not Working – How to Fix
If the top half of a Samsung fridge is not working, it could be a problem with the sealed system of the fridge. There could be a leak in the sealed system, causing some parts of the fridge to cool and others not to cool.
The model of Samsung fridge you have will determine if fixing a leak in the sealed cost-effective or not. If you have an older model, it is a freon leak and it may be more affordable to just buy a new fridge.
But if you have a newer model of a Samsung fridge, it is a leak in the sealed system. Newer fridges don’t use freon anymore because of the damage it causes to the Ozone layer. However, it is more cost-effective to fix the leak than to buy a new fridge.
Contact Samsung Support center and explain the problem to them, requesting immediate service. This is especially needed if you have an active warranty on the fridge. Otherwise, chat with any of our experienced technicians to fix the issue for you.
Recap
If your Samsung fridge is not working, it is easier to go for the easy fixes first before checking the technical parts.
Check the power cord of the fridge and the power supply, the door seal or gasket, the temperature setting, the content and the location. If any of these is not in proper working order, it can cause the fridge to stop working.
Only when these are working fine should you check the components of the fridge. More times than not, original parts that are in good working order have been misdiagnosed and replaced. If you are not sure of the workability of any fridge part, let a qualified refrigerator technician take over and do the work professionally.
Reminder
Before running diagnostics on the fridge or fixing any part of it, unplug it from the wall outlet. If you cannot reach the outlet, trip the circuit breaker. Even then, beware of parts of the fridge that could likely retain electric power after the shutdown. This is to prevent electrocution.
Additionally, using work gloves is an added layer of protection. So if you have a good pair, wear it to protect your hands.
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