Samsung refrigerator not turning on

What would cause a refrigerator not to come on?

Check for power

First, check to see if your refrigerator has power. If the control panel is dead or the interior light won’t turn on when you open the door, reset the house circuit breaker to see if the fridge will power up.

If the refrigerator doesn’t power up after resetting the breaker, test the electrical outlet for power by plugging a night light or similar item into the outlet to check for power. If the outlet is dead, have an electrician fix the outlet.

Troubleshoot compressor problems

When your refrigerator has power but the compressor isn’t running, follow the tips in this DIY video to troubleshoot compressor problems that will prevent the fridge from cooling:

Check the compressor start relay

Remove the machine compartment cover and check the condenser fan. If the condenser fan runs, then your compressor should be getting power because the compressor shares a circuit with the condenser fan motor on almost all refrigerators.

Unplug the refrigerator and unhook the start relay retainer clip. Pull the compressor start relay out of the refrigerator. Shake the start relay to see if it rattles. If it does, that's a tell-tale sign the relay is fried. Replace that part and your refrigerator may begin working again.

If the start relay doesn't rattle, you’ll need to check for continuity to confirm that it’s bad. Put the one meter lead into terminal 5 and the other meter lead into terminal 6.

If you detect an open circuit between those terminals then the meter will read 1 in the far left digit. You’ll need to replace the PTC relay.

If the start relay's okay, then you may have a defective compressor. Unfortunately, you’ll need to get a service technician’s help to replace a compressor, because that repair involves recovering Freon.

Check for thermistor problems

If your condenser fan wasn’t running, then you may have a defective electronic control board or a bad thermistor (temperature sensor).

Testing a thermistor in a refrigerator is fairly simple. Follow the steps in this DIY video to test the thermistor(s) in your refrigerator and/or freezer compartments:

Replace a thermistor if it isn’t working properly. This may restore cooling in your refrigerator.

If the compressor start relay and thermistors in the refrigerator are okay, then a problem with the electronic control board or a wiring failure may be preventing the compressor from running.

Follow the remaining troubleshooting tips in the video to find and fix the cause of the compressor failure or have a service technician visit your home and fix the fridge if you’re not able to repair the problem yourself.

How is the not turning on problem fixed?

Correcting most not turning on problems usually involves replacing the electronic control board, compressor or user interface control. 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 turning on

When the refrigerator is not turning on 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. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of refrigerator failures.

What to look out for with a refrigerator not turning on 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 Fridge Not Turning On After Power Outage

When your Samsung fridge is not turning on after a power outage, check the house circuit breaker for the refrigerator electrical outlet to see if it has tripped. It’s often difficult to tell whether a house circuit breaker has tripped, so shut the breaker off and then turn it back on to reset it. This may restore power to your fridge.

If resetting the house circuit breaker doesn’t do the trick, reset the electronic control board by following these steps:

1. Unplug the refrigerator power cord or shut off the house circuit breaker to completely disconnect electrical power.
2. Leave power off for 5 minutes.
3. Plug the power cord or reset the house circuit breaker to restore electrical power to the fridge.

The electronic control board may reboot and reset after you restore power to the refrigerator and the control may power up. If not, schedule refrigerator repair service to have a Sears Home Services technician visit your home and fix the fridge.

Samsung Fridge Won’t Turn On

When your Samsung fridge won’t turn on, follow these troubleshooting steps to fix the problem.

1. Check the power cord. Make sure the power cord is plugged fully into the electrical outlet. Plug the cord back in if it’s loose or unplugged.
2. Reset the house circuit breaker for the refrigerator’s electrical outlet. Resetting a tripped house circuit breaker may restore electrical power to your Samsung fridge that won’t turn on.
3. Test the refrigerator outlet for power. Unplug the fridge and plug a small appliance or night light into the electrical outlet. If the item doesn’t work, the electrical outlet is dead and preventing your Samsung fridge from turning on. Have an electrician fix the electrical outlet.

If these basic troubleshooting steps don’t help you restore power to your Samsung fridge that won’t turn on, schedule refrigerator repair service and we’ll send an experienced technician to your home to fix the problem.

Troubleshooting a Samsung Refrigerator That Won’t Turn On After a Power Outage

When your Samsung refrigerator won’t turn on after a power outage, the electronic control boards in the fridge may have been affected by a power surge through the electrical lines before the outage or during power restoration.

Resetting the circuit boards in the refrigerator may allow the fridge to turn on. Follow these steps to reset the control boards in your Samsung refrigerator:

1. Completely disconnect electrical power from the refrigerator by unplugging the power cord or shutting off the circuit breaker.
2. Leave electrical power off for 5 minutes.
3. Restore power to the fridge to reboot the circuit boards.

The refrigerator may power up again after resetting the electronic control board in this manner. If not, schedule refrigerator repair service and we’ll send a technician to fix your Samsung refrigerator.