How to Fix a Samsung Fridge That Is Not Cooling: 12 Reasons & Fixes

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Solve a variety of common fridge problems with these quick DIY troubleshooting steps
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Is your Samsung fridge not cooling or not cooling enough? Maybe you've noticed that your drink isn't cool enough when you get it out of the fridge, or maybe food is spoiling faster than the "best buy" date. Read on to learn the reasons why your fridge isn't cooling and how you can fix it before calling a repair shop.

Quickly Fix a Samsung Fridge That Isn't Cooling

If your Samsung fridge isn't cooling enough, follow this guide for troubleshooting steps. First, make sure the fridge is plugged all the way in, then make sure the doors are closed properly and that the seals are working. Keep in mind that your Samsung fridge can take up to 28 hours to reach the desired temperature.

Section 1 of 13:

Your fridge doesn't have enough power.

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  1. Make sure the plug is securely connected to the wall to avoid power disruptions. If the plug isn't all the way in, power can be intermittent, which can cause your Samsung fridge not to cool properly.
    • If it is plugged in correctly, unplug it and try plugging something else, like a lamp, into that outlet. You can tell right away if the outlet isn't giving enough power if the lamp doesn't turn on.
    • To fix this, plug your fridge into another outlet.
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Section 2 of 13:

Open or cracked doors.

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  1. Open doors can cause cold air to leak out. In that case, it will seem like your fridge isn't cooling.
    • Look around the door(s) when you close them to make sure there aren't any open spots.
Section 3 of 13:

Weak seals.

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  1. Weak seals let warm air in, preventing your fridge from cooling. Get a piece of paper and shut the door(s) on it. If you can easily pull the paper away, clean the seals with dish soap and water, then try the paper again.
    • If it's still easy to pull away, the seals are damaged and you can either call for a repair or repair them yourself .
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Section 4 of 13:

Outside heat influences.

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  1. Direct sunlight or being next to heat sources makes it harder for your fridge to cool down. So if it's in direct sunlight or next to a heat source, like an oven, relocate it if you can.
Section 5 of 13:

Your fridge isn't set to ideal temps.

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  1. Ideal temps are 3 °C (37 °F) (for the fridge) and −18 °C (0 °F) (for the freezer). You can set or lower the temperature in different ways according to the fridge model you have. Note that your fridge can take up to 28 hours to cool down to your set temperature.
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Section 6 of 13:

Not enough room to vent heat.

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  1. Your Samsung fridge expels heat in order to keep cool. Make sure there's at least 2 inches of clearance at the top, back, and sides of your fridge. Without that clearance, the expelled heat won't have anywhere to go, and in turn, keep your fridge warmer than it should be.
Section 7 of 13:

Dirty or frozen condenser coils.

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  1. If they are dirty or covered in frost, your fridge won't cool. You can find these coils at the back of your fridge; unplug your fridge from power, pull it out from the wall so you can see the coils, and take the coil cover off.
    • If the coils are covered in frost, leave the fridge powered off to let the ice defrost. Once defrosted, wipe the coils with a clean cloth, then replace the cover, push the unit back into place, and plug it in again.
    • If the coils are dirty, clean them with a soft-bristled brush and a vacuum, then replace the cover, push the unit back into place, and plug it in.
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Section 8 of 13:

A faulty condenser fan.

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  1. A faulty fan will prevent your fridge from cooling. If you've checked and cleaned dirty or frosted condenser coils, give your fridge about 28 hours to cool down and normalize the interior temperature. If it still isn't cooling, you want to check the condenser fan.
    • First, unplug the fridge from power and pull it away from the wall. Find the fan and take the cover off, then manually turn the fan 360 degrees.
    • If anything is preventing the fan from rotating, remove it.
    • If the fan is frosted over, let it defrost.
    • You might need to replace the fan if it still doesn't rotate 360 degrees.
Section 9 of 13:

Blocked inner vents.

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  1. Food inside your fridge blocking an air vent can prevent it from cooling properly. Keep your food at least 2 inches away from interior vents.
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Section 10 of 13:

Demo Mode is enabled.

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  1. This mode disables the compressor and prevents the fridge from cooling down. You'll know it's in Demo Mode if the display shows OF-OF .
    • Each model differs slightly on how to disable Demo Mode, but generally, press the Energy Saver and Power Freeze/Freezer buttons for 3 seconds until you hear a chime.
Model Disabling Demo Mode
RF265**/RF266**/RS263B**/RS265B**/RS265L**/RS267B**
RS267L**/RS269L**/RS2530B**		 Press Power Freeze & Freezer temp buttons simultaneously for 3 sec
RF267** Press Energy Saving & Freezer temp buttons simultaneously for 3 sec
RS2630** Press Ice mode & Freezer keys simultaneously for 8 sec
RM25++ Press Artic Select Zone & Freezer temp buttons simultaneously for 8 sec
RS2544++/RS2545++/RSG++/RSH++/RSJ++
RL38E++/RL41E++/RL44E++/RSA++		 Press Power Freeze & Freezer temp buttons simultaneously for 3 sec
RL38F++/RL41F++/RL44F++ Press Menu & Select key for 6 sec and press Power off key while it is blinking
RL38S++/RL41S++/RL44S++ Press Power off & Temp key for 8 sec and press Temp key while it is blinking
RB194AB*/RB195AB*/RB196AB*/RB197AB*/RB215A*
RB215AB*/RB216AB*/RB217*/RB217AB*/RL62**		 Press Power Freeze & Freezer temp buttons simultaneously for 5 sec
Section 11 of 13:

Empty fridges are harder to keep cool.

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  1. Maintain â…” of your fridge so it has to cool down less whenever you open the doors. Keeping the fridge stocked will help keep the inside cool. Here are some tips to maintaining the food in your fridge:
    • Use sealable and stackable containers. These keep excess moisture down.
    • Put fruits and vegetables in the crisper drawer(s). Using the drawers is similar to using sealable containers and will help keep excess moisture to a minimum.
    • Use the Flex Zone (if you have it) for odds and ends, like snacks and beverages.
    • Avoid putting perishable food in the doors, since this area gets a blast of warm air every time you open the fridge.
    • If you have a lot of open space, fill water bottles to stay within the â…” mark.
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Section 12 of 13:

Error codes.

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  1. If your fridge notices something is wrong, it'll display an error code. This can let you know things like the evaporator fan isn't working or the auto-defrost option isn't functioning. In that case, you can further troubleshoot to solve those specific error codes to fix your fridge and get it to cool.
    • You can run a self-check cycle on Samsung fridges with Family Hub. Simply navigate to Apps on the touch-screen on your fridge and go to Fridge Manager > Fridge Settings > Self Check > Start . [1]
    • These error codes will also check different components, like the start relay and thermistor.
Section 13 of 13:

How to Adjust the Temperature

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  1. Use the associated app or press the button to lower the temperature. You can lower the temperature of your fridge in a few different ways, depending on the model of your Samsung fridge:
    • For Samsung fridges with Family Hub, use the SmartThings app. If you have an older model, use the Fridge Manager app instead.
    • For models with Fridge and Freezer buttons, press the Fridge or Freezer button repeatedly to lower the temp. If the fridge has Power Cool , you can repeatedly press the Fridge button to activate it to prompt your fridge to cool down quickly.
    • If your fridge has arrow buttons, press either of them to find Fridge , Freezer , or Flex Zone menu, then press the circular button in the middle of the arrows to select that menu. Then use the arrows to find the temperature you want and press O again to set it.
    • For Samsung fridges with the "Freezer convert" button, make sure you have the right settings. You can accidentally change the settings so that the freezer is converted into a fridge without knowing it. In that case, you can think that your freezer isn't cooling down enough.
      • Touch and hold the Freezer Convert button or the Fridge On/Off button for 3 seconds to rotate through the options. You may need to do this a few times to change your settings completely. [2]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.samsung.com/us/support/troubleshooting/TSG01003409/
      2. ↑ https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10001436/

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