Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling (A COMPLETE Guide To DIY!)

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Just your luck. Your refrigerator is not cooling, and your food is spoiling.

What do you do?

While frustrated, you go to the store to buy a new one, but it’s too expensive! You’re stuck with this broken appliance that’s slowly ruining all of your food.

It’s time to get to work fixing that fridge—we’re here to help!

How to identify if your refrigerator is not cooling?

Try to touch anything inside your refrigerator – the shelves, the food, just anything. If it’s not cold then there’s a chance that you might have a problem.
Your food is spoiling much sooner than normal. This can be really expensive. And if you noticed that you were getting rid of food at a much quicker rate than what you were used to, this can be a signal that your refrigerator is not cold enough. Leftover food can stay in the refrigerator for up to four days. If you noticed that your food is getting spoiled in under 4 days, this could be a sign that your refrigerator is not cooling enough.
If you see a lot of condensation going on inside your refrigerator or if you see lots of water or droplets all over the walls then this could be an issue with either the insulation or the temperature not being cold enough.
If you notice that there is ice starting to build up inside your freezer this may be another cooling issue. Take a look at the walls of your freezer. Is it buried in ice? If so then your freezer might be working extra hard.
All refrigerators have motors and sometimes when they’re working really hard it can start to get warm and even hot. If the motor is struggling to maintain the temperature in your refrigerator, you might not have a refrigerator as cold as it should be.
If your refrigerator is extremely loud and makes lots of vibrating noise, foods and contents are cold enough. This may mean that it’s struggling harder to get your food cold. If this lasts too long, you may be at risk of repairing or replacing your refrigerator motor. Get it inspected.
If you notice that there is water on the floor of your refrigerator, then it might be time to take a look at possibly the ice building up on your coils. This is located on the back of your refrigerator. Clean off any ice from your coils, turn it back on, and see if it continues. If it does, you may need to find an expert repairman.

What are some common causes of a refrigerator not cooling?

Dirty condenser coils

Sometimes, your condenser coils might be dirty. The job of a condenser coil is to get rid of all the heat coming from the refrigerant.

When you get rid of all the heat, the only thing that’s left is cold, and that’s how a refrigerator keeps its temperature down.

If your condenser coil gets dirty, it won’t be able to remove any heat that is brought to it by the refrigerant. Ultimately, the heat stays, and the refrigerator doesn’t get as cool as it should.

Evaporator coils frosting over

Another common cause would be that your evaporator coils are frozen over. The evaporator coil in a refrigerator removes the heat and moisture from inside the refrigerator to cool it.

The most common reason why an evaporator coil freezes over is often due to people opening and closing the refrigerator door too often.

Whenever your evaporator coils frost over, it prevents the circulation of cold air and makes it difficult for the fan to move cold air around.

Evaporator fan malfunction

You can also sometimes experience a situation where the evaporator fan has frozen as well.

If your evaporator fan doesn’t work right, it won’t be able to move the cold air around the refrigerator as it should.

The evaporator fan (and there may be more than one) intelligently spins the cool air from one location of the refrigerator, like the freezer, to the refrigerator portion, closely controlling exactly how much cool air it spreads out to each.

If it has frozen over or gotten stuck, this process would be less efficient or not work at all.

Defrost heater malfunctioning

As explained above, there can be some issues when the evaporator coils are completely covered in frost, causing them to inefficiently distribute cold air.

One way engineers regulate and protect the evaporator coils is by installing a defrost heater that will melt the frost off the coils.

If the defrost heater becomes faulty, the evaporator coils will certainly become covered in frost, and the process of distributing cold air comes to a standstill.

The cold air won’t be able to reach the evaporator fan, and the fan won’t be able to send cold air to the refrigerator.

Temperature sensor malfunctioning

Every modern refrigerator has a temperature sensor built in.

It monitors the temperature and lets the control board know whether or not it’s cold enough in your refrigerator.

Once the control board gets the signal that it isn’t cold enough, it will adjust the compressor’s power and increase fan circulation.

You can test if the thermometer is functioning properly by using a multimeter.

Defrost thermostat not working

You’re probably wondering, “How does the defrost heater know when to turn on?” The answer lies in using a defrost thermostat.

It helps regulate when the heater should turn on or off.

If the thermostat fails to send the proper signals to the heater, then the heater will not do its job of defrosting the evaporator coils.

The main control board failed

The control board is the central system that helps control every aspect of cooling in your Samsung refrigerator.

If there is anything wrong with the control board, chances are your refrigerator won’t be either.

Compressor inverter board failed

There will be no refrigeration in the fridge or freezer if the inverter board for the compressor fails to direct electricity to the compressor.

You’ll need multimeter skills and knowledge on how to test the input and output of the inverter board to solve this issue.

First of all, check if there is power coming into the compressor by measuring the voltage between terminal 1 (X1) and ground (B). If there is no voltage reading, then check if the timer module is working properly by measuring the voltage between terminal 3 (X3) and ground (B). If there is no voltage reading here either, then replace it with a new one.

If there is voltage coming in but no voltage coming out, then we know that there is a problem within the inverter board itself. To test this further, measure resistance between terminals 2 (X2) and 3 (X3). If the resistance readings are low (less than 10 ohms), then replace it with a new one.

Compressor failure

If your Samsung freezer and fridge are not cooling at all, you may need to replace your compressor.

You can try to troubleshoot the issue by checking if the power and motor are getting to it and if they are working properly.

One of the reasons for a compressor to lose efficiency or fail either mechanically or electrically is if it’s lost its coolant.

Refrigerant leak

Refrigerant is a substance used in a heat pump and refrigeration cycle to transfer heat from one place to another. It can be either in liquid or gaseous form and is usually used in a closed-loop system.

There are several ways to check for leaks in your refrigerator’s sealed system.

One way is to listen for any hissing or bubbling noises coming from the fridge.

Another way is to feel around the fridge for any warm spots, which could indicate a leak.

Finally, you can check the pressure gauge on the fridge (if it has one) to see if it’s reading properly. If not, this could also indicate a leak.

If you think a leak has entered your fridge’s sealed system, it’s important to get it fixed as soon as possible by a qualified technician.

Trying to fix it yourself could make the problem worse and potentially cause aThe air damper is a part of the refrigerator that controls the flow of air inside. serious injury.

Restricted air filter needs cleaning or replacing

The restricted air filter is located in the back, right-hand corner of the refrigerator.

To access it, you will need to remove the kick plate by unscrewing the two screws that hold it in place.

Once the kick plate is removed, you will see the filter housing.

To clean the restricted air filter, simply remove it from the housing and rinse it off with warm water.

If it is extremely dirty, you can soak it in a bowl of warm water and vinegar for 30 minutes before rinsing.

Allow the filter to dry completely before putting it back in place.

The restricted air filter should be replaced every 6 months or sooner if it becomes clogged and can’t be washed.

Air damper control not working

The air damper is a device located in the fridge that regulates the airflow inside the fridge.

The air damper is usually found near the back of the fridge, behind the crisper drawer.

If your fridge is not cooling properly, one possible cause could be that the air damper is not working properly.

To fix this, you will need to replace the air damper control.

Temperature control board malfunctioned

The temperature control board is the “brain” of the refrigerator. It controls all of the functions related to temperature, such as the compressor, fan, and defrost timer.

The temperature control board is located in the back of the fridge, behind the panel.

To test the temperature control board, you will need a multimeter. First, unplug the fridge and remove the panel from the back. Locate the board and find the two large terminals.

Place one lead on each terminal and set your multimeter to ohms. If you get a reading of infinity, then your board is good. If you get a reading of zero or close to zero, then your board needs to be replaced.

Faulty thermistor

A thermistor is a type of resistor whose resistance varies with temperature. They are often used as temperature sensors, and they are also used in negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistors.

Thermistors are usually located near the compressor in the refrigerator. In some models, there may be more than one thermistor.

Check the continuity of the thermistor using a multimeter. The resistance should decrease as the temperature increases.

If the resistance does not change, or if it changes erratically, then the thermistor is faulty and needs to be replaced.

Another way to test a thermistor is to measure the voltage across its terminals with a multimeter. The voltage should increase as the temperature increases.

If there is no voltage or if the voltage does not change with temperature, then the thermistor is faulty and needs to be replaced.

If your refrigerator has a faulty thermistor, you will need to replace it with a new one

What to check if Samsung TV not cooling

Check the power outlet

If your refrigerator isn’t cooling, try unplugging it and checking the power outlet.

First, unplug your refrigerator. Then check the power outlet to make sure it’s working.

If the outlet is working, keep your refrigerator unplugged for 2 full minutes before plugging it back in again.

Make sure there is at least 1 inch of clearance between the wall and the back of your fridge so that you can still get proper ventilation!

Check temperature control settings

If you have a Samsung refrigerator, you may have noticed that the temperature control settings are not set right. This is a common problem with these refrigerators and can be fixed with just a few minutes of your time.

There are several different types of temperature controls depending on the Samsung model refrigerator you own. All of them are straightforward to adjust using the buttons on the front panel of your refrigerator.

The ideal setting should be around 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit). Check your manual for details about how to adjust your particular model’s controls.

Temperature control settings can get changed accidentally or by kids playing with them. It’s important to check them once in a while to make sure everything is working properly!

Check refrigerator and freezer doors

When your Samsung refrigerator won’t cool, the first thing to check is the door. If it was left open or ajar, give it several hours to regulate back to the correct temperature.

If this doesn’t work, move on to step two: check your thermostat on the inside of the fridge. This will help you determine whether or not there is a problem with your cooling unit.

If everything looks good here and you can’t find out what’s wrong, then it’s time to call out a repairman!

Check and clean condenser coils

Cleaning the condenser coils on your fridge is a job that needs to be done every once in a while.

The condenser coils are not in a sealed unit, and over time they can become caked with dust, hair, or pet fur. This reduces their ability to keep the air in the fridge cold.

Condenser coils usually build up a lot of dust and debris over the years. It’s highly recommended that you clean them at least once or twice a year to allow them to properly function.

Here’s how to clean the condenser coils on a Samsung refrigerator:

Turn off the power to your refrigerator before cleaning the condenser coils. You don’t want to risk being shocked while working on your appliance!
Unplug it from its power source and remove any removable parts like shelves or drawers so you have easy access to the coils underneath them.

Check the condenser fan

If you hear a loud fan noise coming from your refrigerator, don’t panic! It’s probably just the condenser fan, which is designed to keep the compressor (the part that cools down the air inside) working efficiently.

There are a few things you can do to check whether or not it’s working correctly:

Turn off the refrigerator and go to the bottom corner behind your refrigerator.

Remove the panel on the back to see the condenser fan and compressor.

If you can see that the fan is spinning but making a lot of noise, it might be jammed with lint or something else.

You can try removing this debris with a vacuum cleaner if there isn’t too much of it.

If your condenser fan doesn’t spin at all, it probably needs to be replaced. To replace it, follow these steps once you receive your new fan:

Strip wires from the old fan using wire connectors
Place the new fan in the bracket and screw it in place
Secure the fan to its location behind the fridge

Check the compressor relay

If you’re looking for a way to make sure your compressor relay is working properly, there’s an easy way to check.

First, unplug your refrigerator and then plug it back in again. Listen closely to the compressor.

If you hear the compressor “click on” and then quickly “click off,” it’s likely that you have a bad relay.

You can try the shake and rattle test by unplugging the start relay from the compressor and shaking it. If you hear particles rattling inside as you shake it, it’s definitely bad!

If you don’t get a reading on the multimeter, the contacts on the relay have been destroyed, and it needs to be replaced.

A multimeter is used to check for continuity between the contacts in a relay. If you don’t get a reading, the contacts have been destroyed, and you will need a new relay.

Check the evaporator

The evaporator is where the refrigerant turns further into cold vapor, which cools the contents of the refrigerator. And that’s where the evaporator fan moves the cool air where it should go.

The problem sometimes is that the circulated air can have a lot of moisture in it, and this moisture can cause the evaporator coil to freeze over.

The frost will block the heat transfer, which will keep the heat inside the refrigerator instead of letting it escape.

Refrigerators use a heating rod to warm up the evaporator to get rid of this potential frosting. But if that heating rod fails, then that could be an issue too. We’ll get into that later.

Check to see if your evaporator(s) are getting the 8–14 volts of DC power they need to run properly.

To check your evaporator(s), you need to partially open your refrigerator panel in the back and check for any frosting on your coils or any other signs of failure, like burnt wires or other electrical issues with your unit.

Check the evaporator fan

The evaporator fan controls airflow from the evaporator coils. This is what cools down your food and drinks in the refrigerator compartment of your Samsung refrigerator.

To check the evaporator fan, you will need to remove the freezer light mountings and look up through the casing to see the fan. You should be able to see it spinning if it’s working properly. If it isn’t moving, there are usually two reasons: an obstruction or the fan has failed.

If the fan has failed, check to see if the door switch is helping the fan start and stop properly. The door switch is pressed when the door is closed (it also turns the light on and off).

Just press the switch with your hand to simulate a closed door.

You can also use a multimeter to see if the fan is getting the proper voltage of 8–14 volts of DC power it needs to run.

Or you can close the refrigerator doors and wait two minutes. Quickly open the doors after two minutes are up, and you should catch this fan still moving for a few seconds.

If it isn’t moving, the fan has likely failed!

Check the defrost drain

Your refrigerator needs a place for the water to drain, and the problem could be a clogged defrost drain.

The defrost drain is a small hole underneath the evaporator coils in the back of the refrigerator. It’s designed to drain water from beneath the coils and out of your refrigerator.

If it gets clogged, water can back up into your appliance and cause problems with temperature control and ice formation.

To fix this issue, let your refrigerator thaw out and then force air through the drain to unblock it. Alternatively, you can use a turkey baster to blast water down the drain.

How to fix a refrigerator that is not cooling?

Make sure to clean your condenser coils. A dirty condenser coil will cause your refrigerator not to cool.
Check to see if you are condenser fans are also clean and spinning. If your condenser fan is not spinning, this will cause your refrigerator not to cool. Check if the condenser coil is clogged with dirt.
Make sure your evaporator fans are clean and spinning as well. An inoperable evaporator fan will prevent the refrigerator from cooling.
The problem could be your starter relay. If your refrigerator is not cooling, the start relay may be bad. Check to ensure the control board is getting power and has a good connection. If you have an older refrigerator, this may be the problem.
Inspect the temperature control thermostat and make sure it reflects the temperature that you feel in the refrigerator.
Also, check the start capacitor. If your refrigerator is not cooling, the start capacitor may be bad. This will cause your refrigerator not to start. Turn off the power to the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes. Then try turning it back on again.
Inspect the thermistor. Inspect the defrost heater element and make sure it is getting power and that it has a good connection.
Inspect the compressor. If you have an older refrigerator, this may be the problem.
Replace the main control board.

Common mistakes when fixing a refrigerator that is not cooling

Not checking the refrigerator’s filter
Not checking the insulation on the cold side
Not checking the defrost timer
Not checking the water lines
Not checking the power supply
Not checking the door seal

How to order Samsung refrigerator replacement parts

First, open up your refrigerator door and look on the side wall for a sticker with all the details regarding your appliance.

The sticker might also be located on the back or side of your refrigerator.

Take down the exact model number of your refrigerator.

You’ll need this later on when you get into ordering replacement parts through an authorized dealer or a third-party seller.

Next, type that model number into the company’s website or online retail store and locate the exact part you need.

Some websites have everything from fans and filters to ice makers and even entire refrigerators if yours is beyond repair or missing some pieces.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, check out other websites like eBay or Craigslist—but if you do this, make sure it’s someone reputable!

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