All Known Samsung Refrigerator Problems

Samsung refrigerators are some of the best globally, with plenty of their models available all across the US. However, despite being some of the highest-quality home appliances, they occasionally experience common problems that you will have to resolve.

Common Samsung refrigerator problems involve a unit that’s not cooling, water leaks, knocking or vibrating noises, an ice maker that’s not dispensing ice, and frost in the freezer compartment. You can choose to solve these problems yourself with thorough troubleshooting, or you can contact a qualified professional to do so.

This guide will explore common Samsung refrigerator problems and help you understand why they happen. Then, you’ll also discover how these problems can be fixed.

Common Samsung Refrigerator Problems and Solutions

Here are some common Samsung refrigerator problems you might face and the solutions you need to fix them.

Samsung Fridge Not Cooling

Affected Part: When you find that your Samsung fridge is not cooling as it should, there are one of the problems with the door gasket, also known as the door seal.

The door gasket is designed to form a tight seal between the closed door and the rest of the refrigerator. In doing so, the cold air inside the fridge is protected because none of the hot air can seep in from the outside.

How it fails: The door gasket can fail in several ways, depending on how long you’ve had the appliance. For example, if your Samsung fridge is still new, something may be stuck in the door seal, like dirt or a foreign object. 

When the door seal is dirty or obstructed, it can’t form a tight seal and will allow the cold air to escape, preventing the fridge from cooling.

However, older Samsung fridges will likely have door seals that are damaged, torn, or worn out. That, too, will prevent there from being a tight seal between the door and the fridge.

How to fix it: Firstly, you must inspect the entire length of the door seal on your fridge. As you do that, remove any foreign objects and wipe away any dirt you might find.

If you find that the gasket is worn out, you’ll have to replace it with a new one. However, that’s a straightforward task that you can do yourself by removing the old door seal and attaching the new one the same way.

After you’ve repaired or replaced the door seal, give your Samsung fridge at least 24 hours to reach the temperature you’ve set.

Important Note About Cooling: All Samsung refrigerators will need sufficient time to cool down to the temperature that you’ve set. So, when installing a new refrigerator, or if you have one that’s been off for a prolonged time, give it at least 24 hours to cool down sufficiently.

Read: 5 Reasons Why Samsung Fridge Not Cooling + Service Manual + DIY Heater

Water Leaking From Samsung Fridge

Affected Part: When you notice that water is leaking from your Samsung fridge, the first troubleshooting step you must take is to identify the source of the leak. Knowing where the water comes from will tell you which part is affected.

Three common sources of leaks for Samsung fridges and their affected parts are:

• Leaks behind the fridge: the water supply or water inlet.
• Leaks inside the fridge: the problem is with the water filter inside.
• Leaks under the fridge or its drawers: the fridge as a whole isn’t level.

How it fails: As you can see above, the cause of a leak in your Samsung fridge will depend on where the leak happens.

So when you discover the leak behind the fridge, it’s likely that the water supply line itself is leaking or that the hose is not correctly attached to the fridge’s water inlet.

As water flows into the fridge, it must first pass through the

water filter. That’s why a leak inside the fridge compartment is likely caused by a filter that was installed incorrectly or that an off-brand (Non-Samsung) filter was used.

Lastly, always remember that your fridge must be perfectly level. A fridge that isn’t level will cause water to mistakenly flow under the drawers inside or even onto the floor underneath the unit.

How to fix it: When troubleshooting a water leak, it’s best to shut off the water supply to your fridge. Doing so will prevent more water from leaking or spraying as you troubleshoot and fix the problem.

The exact solution you’ll need for this will depend on the root cause of the leak. For example, a damaged

water filter must be replaced immediately. But, more importantly, the new filter must be installed correctly to prevent another leak.

Of course, you’ll want to buy an authentic water filter replacement for this purpose.

Regardless of the root cause, you’ll still want to check the water supply line and all of its connections behind the fridge. Make sure that there are no leaks and that you have screwed them on tightly.

Lastly, check that the fridge is level. You can do so using a spirit level or by using a level app on your smartphone. These apps use the phone’s sensors to determine whether or not the surface (in this case, your fridge) is level or not. If necessary, you can adjust the fridge’s adjustable legs to level the fridge correctly.
Read: Why Samsung Fridge Is Leaking Water?

Knocking or Vibrating Sound From Inside Samsung Fridge

Affected Part: Samsung refrigerators make a small amount of noise, just like any other fridge. These noises are a sign that the fridge is turned on and is doing its job. However, excess noise, like loud vibrating or knocking, is a sign of a problem.

These sounds are likely coming from the evaporator fan inside the fridge. The evaporator is the source of cold air inside the fridge, and its fan is designed to circulate the cold air throughout the entire appliance.

How it fails: The knocking or loud vibrating that you hear comes from the evaporator fan blade continuously hitting something hard. Typically, the fan blades are hitting against a foreign object or an ice buildup formed inside around the fan.

As you load or unload items from the fridge, you might accidentally push things like boxes too close to the fan. A piece of cardboard, for example, could be what the fan blades are hitting.

Besides that, the blades could be hitting ice that forms around the fan. Each time we open our fridge, the hot external air could lead to condensation, which freezes around the fan blades, causing this problem.

How to fix it: Firstly, shut off your refrigerator and disconnect its power supply. Even though the fan might not be turning at first, it might turn on while you’re trying to troubleshoot it. To prevent injuries to your fingers, make sure that the power is off. 

Then, organize your fridge to ensure that no packaging or other items are in the way of the evaporator fan blades. Then, inspect the fan to see if there are any foreign objects trapped inside.

Suppose you find that there’s an ice buildup in there. If that’s the case, the best approach is to let that ice melt away naturally.

Read: 4 Reasons Why Samsung Fridge Is Making Knocking Noise

Samsung Fridge’s Ice Maker Isn’t Dispensing Ice

Affected Part: When you push the ice dispensing lever, the fridge is supposed to send ice falling into your cup. If that doesn’t happen, there’s likely something wrong with the switch activated by pressing that lever.

The switch is located behind the ice dispenser’s panel, directly behind the lever. When the switch is activated, it’ll signal the ice maker to turn its auger and push ice towards the dispenser opening.

How it fails: The ice dispenser switch could have failed electrically or mechanically. For instance, an electrical surge or short circuit could have damaged the switch and prevented it from working correctly. Mechanically, a part of the switch could have broken off, making it unresponsive whenever you push the dispenser lever.

Any of those causes would result in no ice being dispensed when you press against the lever with your cup.

How to fix it: To solve this problem, you must replace the affected switch. Firstly, disconnect the power to the fridge to prevent any risk of electrocution or injury.

Next, unthread the screws that hold the ice dispenser panel in place. Doing that will give you access to the ice dispenser lever and the switch. Next, carefully disconnect the wiring from the switch and remove the screws that keep it mounted in place.

Then, mount the new switch in its place and reconnect the wires the same way as with the old one.

Read: 3 Reasons Why Samsung Fridge Is Not Making/Dispensing Ice

Freezer In Samsung Fridge Is Full Of Frost And Ice

Affected Part: The freezer compartment of your Samsung refrigerator is designed to keep items frozen but without developing frost or ice. So, if a buildup of ice or frost forms there, it’s likely because the freezer is suffering from poor ventilation. 

Poor ventilation is typically caused by a blocked air vent in the freezer. When the air inside a freezer doesn’t circulate and comes into contact with moisture, frost will develop as a result. 

How it fails: A lack of ventilation and a blocked air vent could be because too many items are inside the freezer. More specifically, those items are pushed up against the back wall of the freezer and physically block the air vent.

How to fix it: Firstly, you must remove anything that’s blocking the air vents in your freezer. Then, organize your freezer so that air can flow freely between all of the items and containers inside. When proper airflow is restored, the cooling system can remove moisture from the air much more efficiently.

Lastly, it’s also crucial to remove any buildup of ice and frost that have already formed inside the freezer. The best way to do this thoroughly is to turn off the refrigerator and leave the door open so that the ice will melt by itself.

Read: Why Is Ice Or Frost Build Up In The Freezer?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do Samsung Refrigerators Have A Lot Of Problems?

No, Samsung refrigerators do not have a lot more problems than other leading brands. The refrigerator units produced by this South Korean company are well-designed. Still, they experience common products that you’d expect from any fridge, regardless of the brand or model.

What Is The Average Lifespan Of A Samsung Refrigerator?

The average lifespan of a Samsung refrigerator is 10-15 years. However, with proper maintenance and care, you can expect the lifespan of your fridge to be on the higher end of that range.

Still, it’s important to remember that some fridge parts last longer than others. An excellent indicator of individual parts’ lifespans is the company’s warranty coverage.

How Reliable Are Samsung Refrigerators?

Samsung refrigerators are some of the most reliable on the market. Remember: this company is an industry leader with a stellar global reputation to protect. That’s why they put a lot of effort and resources into building and testing their refrigerator models thoroughly before they reach the customer.

Why Is My Samsung Fridge Running But Not Cooling?

When your fridge turns on and runs but doesn’t cool down, the evaporator fan motor has likely failed. Even though the fridge’s cooling system is working, it still requires the fan to distribute that cool air to all of its compartments. When the fan fails to do so, most parts of the fridge will not cool down.

Another thing to consider is whether or not your fridge has been running for a long time. For example, a brand new fridge or one recently turned off will need at least 24 hours to cool down and reach the set temperature.

Read: Samsung Fridge Not Cooling After Power Outage – How To RESET?

Is There A Class Action Lawsuit On Samsung Refrigerators?

Yes, there is a class-action lawsuit on Samsung refrigerators in the United States. The lawsuit was filed in 2017 by customers, primarily highlighting problems with the fridge’s ice maker.

In particular, they argue that the ice makers produce slushy ice, leave ice crystals at the bottom of their dispensers, a noisy fan, and water leaking under the crispers.