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If your Samsung refrigerator won’t defrost and you have been scratching your head about it, let’s take a look at a few tricks you can use to get rid of the frozen mess.
Before we get started, it is important to note that there could be a range of reasons causing the infuriating Samsung refrigerator defrost problem.
For example, if there there is a moisture leak somewhere in the drain tubing, excessive ice buildup may result.
Also, if you had left the door open for some reason, the indoor fan may stop leading to the accumulation of too much frost since air is getting into the fridge at a rate it can’t cope with.
Still, blockage of the drain by dust/gunk will bring freezing issues.
Samsung refrigerator defrost problem? Try these tricks
Try these tricks if you are tired of drinks without ice!
Use the forced defrost mode to de-ice it
Now, there is a forced ice maker defrost mode you can use to force a defrost cycle without turning off the refrigerator.
How to force defrost Samsung refrigerator- steps
- Depending on your Samsung refrigerator, simultaneously press the freezer and lighting buttons for about 12 seconds –until you hear a ping(the display also goes blank in most cases).
Quick Tip: To be on the safe side, check your Samsung refrigerator manual for detailed forced defrost steps for your specific refrigerator.
- Next, cycle the settings again using the lighting/freezer buttons until you see “Fd” on the display.
- That will commence forced defrost of the fridge and it usually makes a beeping sound (or a ping) for approximately 20 minutes while it is defrosting- keep in mind that it typically takes around 20 minutes to defrost it completely under this method.
- Reset the unit- for the best results, it is recommended you unplug the unit then plug it back in for 30+ plus seconds.
That’s it for the forced defrost Samsung refrigerator procedure!
Check if your unit is back to operating normally again now.
Important notes:
- If the ice buildup is extreme (everything is totally frozen), you may have to run more than one cycle to completely de-ice the unit and remove the ice tray (as many as 3 cycles are sometimes needed).
- Some chiseling may be needed in some instances to get rid of the ice.
- To avoid the annoying Samsung refrigerator defrost problem, it may be advisable to use the “Fd” mode about once a month (or more frequently depending on how often you use the appliance) to defrost the unit.
Going the hand steamer way (instead of a hair dryer)
Another solution – and this makes it quick and easy especially if ice is everywhere- is using a hand steamer (instead of a blow dryer/ hair dryer) to defrost the fridge.
So, why would you want to use a steamer in place of the hair dryer yet you read somewhere that a dryer works perfectly?
Well, for one major reason:
You see, a hair dryer can melt the plastic causing the covers to not seal, which can ultimately ruin the refrigerator.
So the steamer is the best way to go (a heat gun is too intense as well).
The process is really uncomplicated:
Remove everything and simply direct the steam to the formed blocks of ice- it is such a fantastic time saver and the ice should turn into meltwater in no time.
And oh, be sure to put a great deal of absorbent towels (inside and around your refrigerator) prior to starting.
This excellent steamer is inexpensive and works like a charm for the job.
How to defrost Samsung fridge – simple tricks worth a shot
Here now are other simple tricks worth a shot if you are facing the problem:
Try a fan
The idea is to circulate warm air inside the unit to make the frost melt.
All you have to do is mount a fan up right outside the unit and let it run until the ice melts – of course, the door(s) should be propped open.
Use warm water
If your Samsung refrigerator is freezing excessively, one simple way you can get good success is by squirting warm water into the refrigerator venting with a spray bottle.
You need to take all the food out then unplug it before defrosting Samsung fridge this way.
You proceed to squirt hot water after it is unplugged- it’s a bit faster but tends to make a mess.
Alternately, you can place trays of hot water in the refrigerator until you are able to pull the ice bucket out.
Then, once it is out of the way, add more trays of hot water inside the ice maker until the ice trapped in there is melted!
It might work but just takes time.
Quick Tip: Place a bunch of hot towels (dipped in hot water) at the bottom could hasten thawing!
Pull it away from the wall and see if it will defrost
Another cause of the issue is poor ventilation for units placed near a wall.
If you suspect this to be the cause, find a way of pulling it away from the wall then leave the door(s) open and see it will defrost fully overnight.
You can actually let it sit unplugged for 24 hours – 36 hours (with doors wide open) before checking back.
Samsung refrigerator defrost problem – Permanent solution
Buying this part (it is Samsung part DA82-02367A) and installing could do the trick if you want to permanently get rid of icing problems in your Samsung refrigerator.
In fact, it is recommended by Samsung (check Samsung service bulletin) and it is intended to help prevent freezing up issues.
To be clear, it ensures your unit will never have frost build up again by allowing the condensate water (that tends to accumulate on the icemaker cooling loop) to drip down instead of running along the tubes –to the back- where it ends up freezing.
Concerning installation, the instructions are included in the accessory.
This YouTube video will give you ideas.
Replace the heating element and thermistor in the freezer and fridge – for Samsung twin cooling fridge freezer models
For some Samsung twin cooling fridge freezer models, fixing the issue permanently may also need you to replace two elements in both the freezer and fridge:
- The heating element
- The thermistor
These two components often turn out to be the culprits for these models if the problem is repetitive.
For installation instructions, there are good videos online to hold your hand.
Note: Before installation, make sure the drain holes are not blocked with ice. A nice way of clearing the lines is by pouring hot water in the drain lines using a $10 transfer pump.
Now, for some Samsung brand refrigerators, you may also need to check and replace parts such as the fridge defrost sensor, defrost timer, and the defrost control board if the issue was not resolved.
Final possible workaround
There is one final powerful workaround you can try for units such as Samsung twin cooling fridge-freezers to fix the problem of ice buildup: connecting a copper wire to the defrost heating element.
In short, copper is an outstanding heat conductor and should transfer this property to the water entering the drain during automatic defrost cycles.
So if you ever have to start a manual defrost cycle, the copper will provide plenty of heat thus help clear any ice buildup fast.
Needless to say, you have to take your refrigerator apart to put the cooper wire
This Video could help here.
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