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  1. Repair
  2. Samsung
  3. Samsung Refrigerator
  4. Refrigerator not cooling

Samsung refrigerator not cooling

Common reasons your Samsung refrigerator is not cooling

The most common reasons your Samsung refrigerator is not cooling are a locked compressor, defective electronic control board or a damaged evaporator.

  • 67%

    67% of the time it's the
    Compressor

  • 12%

    12% of the time it's the
    Electronic Control Board

  • 11%

    11% of the time it's the
    Evaporator

  • 10%

    10% of the time it's the
    Something else

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    Most common repairs needed to fix a Samsung refrigerator

    Compressor Replacement

    A locked refrigerator compressor can exhibit several symptoms indicative of a malfunction. The most noticeable sign is a lack of cooling in the refrigerator compartment, leading to elevated temperatures and the potential for food spoilage. The freezer may also fail to maintain the desired freezing temperatures, resulting in no ice production from the ice maker or dispenser. Additionally, you'll observe that the compressor is unusually silent or fails to produce its typical humming sound during operation. In some cases, the compressor may attempt to start but fail, resulting in repeated clicking noises. The inability of the compressor to circulate refrigerant properly can affect the defrosting process, leading to ice buildup in the freezer. Furthermore, a faulty compressor could send a sudden influx of melting frost to the drain line, causing it to back up, preventing adequate draining, and potentially causing water leaks.


    Electronic Control Board Replacement

    A defective electronic control board can lead to various failures in a refrigerator, including a lack of power or cooling and water leaking. This is because the board serves as the brain of the refrigerator, controlling crucial operations such as regulating internal temperatures, running fans, managing defrost cycles, overseeing the ice maker, and controlling dispenser functions. If the electronic control board malfunctions, it can disrupt communication between many different components, including automatic doors if equipped. A failing board may cause a chattering or clicking noise from the refrigerator and may emit a burning odor. Due to the potential impact on multiple components, it is advisable to have a Sears Home Services professional conduct diagnostic tests on the board to confirm if replacement is necessary.

    Evaporator Replacement

    A damaged refrigerator evaporator causes a decrease in overall cooling performance, leading to elevated temperatures in both the refrigerator and freezer compartments. These higher temperatures can result in food spoilage and less effective preservation of frozen items. Frost or ice buildup on the evaporator coils may hinder their ability to absorb heat efficiently. Excessive condensation inside the refrigerator can lead to leaks. Additionally, a damaged evaporator may cause unusual noises, such as hissing or gurgling sounds, during the refrigeration cycle.

    What to expect when you experience a Samsung refrigerator not cooling issue

    How is the not cooling problem fixed?

    Correcting most not cooling problems usually involves replacing the compressor, electronic control board or evaporator. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.

    Sears Home Services recommendations for a refrigerator that is not cooling

    When the refrigerator is not cooling it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. We provide Samsung refrigerator repair near you, and our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of refrigerator failures.

    What to look out for with a refrigerator not cooling diagnosis

    Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your refrigerator problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.

    Samsung Refrigerator Won’t Cool

    When your Samsung refrigerator won’t cool, check the settings on the control. Little hands can sometime fiddle with the buttons on the control. Make sure that the refrigerator temperature is set at 37 degrees and the freezer temperature at 0 degrees. Adjust the setting if necessary.

    If the settings are okay, follow these troubleshooting steps to help resolve the problem when your refrigerator won’t cool.

    • Check for items blocking air vents inside the refrigerator compartment and freezer. The owner’s manual will show you where these vents are located. Move any large or tall items blocking the air supply or return vents in the refrigerator and freezer compartments.
    • Clean the condenser coils if they’re dirty. Follow the directions in the owner’s manual for accessing and cleaning the condenser coils. Use a coil brush and vacuum cleaner to clear dust and lint from the coils so the refrigerator will cool efficiently.
    • Reset the electronic control board. Sometimes, a power surge or glitch through the electrical supply lines going to your home will corrupt the internal logic in the electronic control board and affect cooling. To reset the control board, unplug the refrigerator or shut off the house circuit breaker for the fridge. Leave power disconnected for 5 minutes and then restore power. The control board will reboot and reset. The refrigerator may begin cooling again.

    If these basic troubleshooting steps don’t help you resolve the problem when your Samsung refrigerator won’t cool, schedule repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix the cooling issue.

    Samsung Refrigerator Not Staying Cold

    Check the refrigerator and freezer door gaskets when you discover your Samsung refrigerator not staying cold. Loose, cracked or damage door gasket seals will allow warm, moist air to enter the fridge and cause cooling problems.

    If you find loose spots in the gaskets, insert the gaskets back into the channels that hold the seals in place.

    Replace any door gasket and you find cracked or damaged.

    Problems with the ice dispenser door can also keep your Samsung refrigerator from staying cold. Look for ice chips or an ice cube blocking the ice door from shutting fully. Clean that area to prevent warm air from entering the freezer and causing cooling problems. Have a service technician replace the ice dispenser door if it’s cracked or damaged.

    Clean the condenser coils on your refrigerator. The condenser cools hot refrigerant during the refrigeration cycle. The fridge won’t cool properly if those coils are dusty and dirty. Use a coil brush and vacuum clean to clean the condenser coils.

    If your Samsung refrigerator is not staying cold after following these basic troubleshooting tips, schedule repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix the cooling rpobem.

    New Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling

    When your new Samsung refrigerator is not cooling, check the owner’s manual for advice and troubleshooting tips. Follow the guidelines in the owner’s manual to fix the cooling problem.

    Keep in mind that it may take up to 24 hours for the refrigerator to cool problem depending on conditions such as how much food your load in the fridge and where you install the refrigerator.

    Check the guidelines in your installation manual to make sure you have adequate ventilation clearance on the sides and top of the fridge. The refrigerator won’t cool properly without adequate airflow through the cabinet.

    Check for items blocking air supply and return vents inside the refrigerator. The owner’s manual will typically show you where those air vents are located. Move any items blocking the air vent.

    If these basic troubleshooting tips don’t help you resolve the problem with your new Samsung refrigerator not cooling, schedule refrigerator repair service to have a technician fix the cooling issue.

    Samsung Fridge Stopped Cooling

    If your Samsung fridge stopped cooling, check the power cord to make sure it’s securely plugged in.

    Reset the house circuit breaker if the power cord is plugged in properly but the refrigerator has no power.

    If the refrigerator has no power after resetting the breaker, check the electrical outlet for power using this procedure:

    1. Unplug the refrigerator.
    2. Plug a night light or small appliance into the electrical outlet to check for power.
    3. If the electrical outlet is dead, have an electrician fix the electrical outlet.

    Resetting the electronic control board on the fridge can sometimes restore cooling. To reset the control board, unplug the fridge or shut off the house circuit breaker for the fridge for 5 minutes. Restore power to the fridge and the control board will reboot and reset. See if the refrigerator resumes cooling.

    If you’re unable to resolve the problem when your Samsung refrigerator stopped cooling by following these troubleshooting tips, schedule refrigerator repair service and we’ll send a technician to your home to fix the fridge.

    Samsung Refrigerator Not Cold

    Follow these troubleshooting tips to fix a Samsung refrigerator that is not cold.

    • Check the refrigerator and freezer temperature settings. Little hands can sometime play with control buttons and change those settings. Adjust the settings if necessary. The refrigerator should be set at 37 degrees and the freezer at 0 degrees.
    • Look for items blocking the cooling air supply and return vents in the fridge and freezer. Move items around so air flows freely through those vents. Don’t overload the refrigerator or freezer.
    • Clean the condenser coils. The condenser coils are located in the machine compartment at the bottom of the fridge. Unplug the refrigerator and remove the machine compartment cover or the bottom front toe panel to access the condenser coils. Use a coil brush and vacuum cleaner to clear dust, lint and debris from the condenser coils so the refrigerator cools efficiently.

    If these basic troubleshooting tips don’t help you fix a problem with your Samsung refrigerator that I not cold, schedule repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to repair the fridge.

    Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling but Freezer is Fine

    When you find your Samsung refrigerator not cooling but the freezer is fine, blocked air vents are often the problem. Check the owner’s manual to find the location of air supply and return vents in your model. Move large or tall items away from those vents so cooling air can circulate freely through the refrigerator compartment.

    Check the door gaskets for loose spots, cracks or damage. A bad door gasket seal will allow warm air to enter the refrigerator compartment and affect cooling. Push any loose sections of a door gasket back into the gasket channel. Replace any cracked or torn door gasket.

    Clean the condenser coils if they’re dirty. Condenser coils cool down refrigerant before it enters the evaporator. Dirty coils diminish the cooling efficiency of the refrigerant. Use a coil cleaning brush and vacuum cleaner to clean dust, dirt and lint from the condenser coils.

    If these basic troubleshooting steps don’t help you fix the problem when your Samsung refrigerator is not cooling but the freezer is fine, schedule refrigerator repair service and we’ll send a technician to your home to repair the fridge.

    Samsung Refrigerator Freezer Not Cooling

    When your Samsung refrigerator freezer is not cooling, follow these expert troubleshooting tips to help you fix the problem.

    • Check for blocked air vents and overcrowding in the freezer and refrigerator. Move any items blocking air supply and return vents in the freezer and refrigerator. Use up or move items to a separate refrigerator or freezer if your Samsung fridge is overcrowded with items.
    • Clean the condenser coils. Dirty condenser coils reduce cooling efficiency in the freezer. User a coil brush and vacuum cleaner with attachments to thoroughly clean dust, dirt and lint from the condenser coils.
    • Reset the electronic control board in the refrigerator. Unplug the power cord or shut off the house circuit breaker for the refrigerator for 5 minutes and then restore power. The electronic control board in the fridge will reboot and reset. The freezer may then begin cooling properly.

    If these basic troubleshooting steps don’t help you resolve the problem with your Samsung refrigerator freezer not cooling, schedule refrigerator repair service and we’ll send an experienced technician to your home to diagnose and fix the cooling issue.

    Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling But Freezer is Working

    When your Samsung refrigerator is not cooling but the freezer is working, use these troubleshooting steps to help you fix the problem.

    1. Check the temperature settings. Little hands can sometimes fiddle with control buttons on your fridge. Make sure that the refrigerator is set at 37 degrees and the freezer at 0 degrees. Adjust the temperature settings if necessary.
    2. Look for items blocking air supply and return vents in the refrigerator and freezer compartments. Refer to the owner’s manual for the location of air vents in your Samsung model if necessary. Move items that you find blocking the vents so air flows freely through both compartments.
    3. Overcrowding the refrigerator and/or freezer compartments can inhibit cooling air flow. Use up items or store them in a separate refrigerator or freezer if necessary to prevent overcrowding.
    4. Clean the condenser coils if they’re dirty. Lint and dust on condenser coils will reduce cooling efficiency. Use a vacuum cleaner and coil brush to clean dirt, lint and dust from the condenser coils.
    5. Reset the electronic control board. Unplug the refrigerator power cord for 5 minutes and the plug it back into the outlet. The electronic control board will reboot and reset. This may restore proper cooling in your fridge.

    If these basic troubleshooting steps don’t help you resolve the problem with your Samsung refrigerator not cooling even though the freezer is working, schedule refrigerator repair service and we’ll send an experienced repair technician to your home to fix the issue.

    Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling After Power Outage

    Power surges through electrical lines that occur during restoration of power after an outage can wreak havoc on the electronic circuit boards in your refrigerator. When your Samsung refrigerator is not cooling after a power outage, reset the electronic control boards using these steps.

    1. Unplug the refrigerator power cord or shut off the house circuit breaker for the refrigerator.
    2. Leave power disconnected from the fridge for 5 minutes.
    3. Plug the power cord back in or reset the house circuit breaker to restore power.

    The electronic control boards in your Samsung refrigerator will reboot and reset. The fridge may resume normal cooling.

    If your Samsung refrigerator doesn’t cool properly after resetting the control boards, you’ll likely need to schedule repair service to fix the cooling failure.

    Samsung Twin Cooling Plus Not Cooling

    When the refrigerator and/or freezer section in your Samsung Twin Cooling Plus is not cooling, try resetting the main electronic control board in the refrigerator. Unplug the power cord or shut off the house circuit breaker to completely disconnect electrical power. Leave power off for 5 minutes and then plug the power cord back in or reset the circuit breaker to restore electrical power. The circuit board in the refrigerator will reboot and reset. The refrigerator may resume normal cooling after resetting the control board.

    If resetting the control board doesn’t help fix the problem with your Samsung Twin Cooling Plus not cooling, follow these additional troubleshooting tips to restore cooling.

    • Check for items blocking air vents inside the refrigerator and freezer compartments. Move large or tall items that you find blocking supply and return air vents. Refer to your owner’s manual to find the location of those vents if you have trouble finding them.
    • Clean the condenser coils. Dirty condenser coils impede cooling efficiency in your Samsung Twin Cooling Plus refrigerator. Use a coil cleaning brush to clear lint, dust and dirt from the condenser coils.
    • Check the door gaskets. Loose, cracked or damaged door gasket seals can allow warm air into the fridge and cause cooling problems. Reattach loose spots in the gaskets and replace any cracked, damaged or torn door gasket.

    If these basic troubleshooting tips don’t help resolve the problem with your Samsung Twin Cooling Plus not cooling, schedule refrigerator repair service and we’ll send a Sears Home Services technician to your home to fix the fridge.

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    Glossary Terms

    Refrigerant is a chemical compound used in HVAC systems and refrigerators to absorb heat from the environment by cycling through states of evaporation and condensation, enabling the cooling process through its cycle of evaporation and condensation.

    R-12 refrigerant, also known as Freon-12, is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compound that was once widely used in air conditioning systems, refrigerators, and aerosol propellants before its phase-out due to environmental concerns.

    CFC certification refers to the credentialing process that qualifies HVAC technicians to handle chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other refrigerants in a manner that complies with environmental regulations. It is essential for professionals who install, maintain, or repair HVAC systems and refrigeration equipment.

    A refrigerator thermostat is a device within a refrigerator that regulates its temperature by turning the cooling system on and off based on the interior temperature compared to the set desired temperature.

    Additional possible Samsung refrigerator symptoms you may experience