It can be frustrating when your Samsung fridge is freezing food. Not only does it spoil your fresh produce, but it can also make a mess in your fridge. You might wonder why it happens. It could be due to various reasons, and each cause can be fixed either by yourself or with professional help.
What to Do When Your Samsung Fridge Is Freezing Food
This guide will help you break down each potential reason why your Samsung fridge is freezing food and how to fix it. We’ll provide step-by-step instructions to help you get your fridge back to optimal performance.
Refrigerator Door Isn’t Sealing
Why is my food freezing in my Samsung refrigerator? If your Samsung fridge is freezing food, a likely culprit might be a poorly sealing door. The refrigerator’s door seal, also known as a gasket, plays a vital role in maintaining the ideal temperature inside your fridge. A faulty or damaged seal can allow warm air to enter your refrigerator, making it work harder to cool down. This overcompensation can result in food freezing.
To diagnose and fix this issue, you can follow these steps:
- Inspect the seal: Check your refrigerator’s door seal for any visible signs of wear and tear. Look for cracks, loose sections, or areas that might not be sealing tightly.
- Perform the dollar bill test: Close your refrigerator door on a dollar bill (or any piece of paper), leaving part of it sticking out. Try pulling out the bill. If it slides out easily without any resistance, your gasket might not be sealing correctly.
- Clean the door seal: Sometimes, food residue or dirt might prevent the door from sealing correctly. Use warm soapy water and a soft cloth to clean the gasket and door frame. Rinse with clean water and dry.
- Replace the door seal, if necessary: If the seal is damaged or still not sealing correctly after cleaning, it may need to be replaced. Depending on your comfort level, you can either replace it yourself by ordering the correct part for your fridge model or hire a professional.
The Power Cool Option
One common reason your Samsung fridge is freezing food is due to the Power Cool option. This feature maximizes the cooling inside the fridge, which could result in your food freezing. If the Power Cool indicator is illuminated on your refrigerator panel, you should manually turn it off. If you find your Samsung refrigerator deli drawer freezing, this could be your problem.
- On models with a refrigerator panel, press and hold the Fridge button for 3 seconds until the light disappears.
- For Family Hub models, manage this setting through the Fridge Manager app. Open the app, select the fridge temperature setting, tap Power Cool, then hit Save.
Blocked Vents
How do I stop my Samsung fridge from freezing? The vents located on the back wall of the refrigerator are crucial for proper cooling. If these are covered in ice or frost, it could result in overcooling and subsequently freezing your food.
To fix this:
- Clear away any ice or frost covering the vents.
- It’s also important to keep food away from the vents, as this can interfere with airflow, leading to overcooking.
- Try to maintain 2 inches of clearance around the vents at all times.
- Also, keep food items with high water content, like fruits and vegetables, in designated drawers rather than near the vents.
- Make sure not to overstuff the fridge as this can also block vents and cause freezing.
Importance of Clean Condenser Coils
Another often overlooked but significant factor when your Samsung fridge is freezing food is the state of your condenser coils. These coils, located at the back or beneath your refrigerator, disperse heat from the inside of the fridge into the room.
Over time, condenser coils can collect dust and debris, affecting their ability to effectively disperse heat. This, in turn, causes your refrigerator to work harder to maintain the set temperature. And when the fridge works harder, it can result in overcooling and hence freezing your food.
To fix this issue, you will need to clean your condenser coils. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:
- Unplug your refrigerator: Always prioritize safety when doing DIY appliance maintenance.
- Locate the condenser coils: In most Samsung fridges, these are either at the back or underneath the unit.
- Use a brush to gently clean the coils: A coil brush, which can be purchased at any home improvement store, is perfect for this. This brush is designed to reach into the coils’ nooks and crannies without causing damage.
- Vacuum loose debris: After brushing, use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of any loosened dust or debris.
Wrong Temperature Set
An improperly set temperature can easily be the reason why your Samsung fridge is freezing food. Your refrigerator has a built-in thermostat which, when set at the right level, maintains the optimal environment for your stored food. When this setting is too low, your fridge could be overcompensating and freezing your food. You may hear more noise from your fridge if this is your issue. If your fridge is set below the recommended temperature, adjust it to a warmer setting. The ideal temperature for a fridge is typically between 34°F and 38°F.
Refrigerator Location and Temperature Control Thermostat
Believe it or not, the room where your fridge is placed can affect its cooling. If the room temperature is above 110°F or below 50°F, the refrigerator won’t cool properly, causing freezing of food.
Another culprit could be the refrigerator’s temperature control thermostat. This device controls the voltage supplied to the compressor, evaporator fan motor, and condenser fan motor. If it’s malfunctioning, the refrigerant system might run longer than necessary, leading to overcooking. If you find your refrigerator freezing food on the lowest setting, your thermostat may have an issue. You can check if the thermostat is defective by rotating it from the lowest to the highest setting. If you hear a click, it’s likely not defective.
Defective Thermistor and Temperature Control Board
The thermistor is a sensor that monitors air temperature and communicates this information to the control board. If the thermistor is defective, the refrigerator can become too cold. You can use a thermometer to see if your fridge is matching the setting you selected. Or to test if the thermistor is faulty, a technician can use a multimeter.
The temperature control board, on the other hand, provides voltage to the compressor and fan motors. A faulty control board may overdrive these motors, causing the refrigerator to become too cold.
Remember that if you’re not confident diagnosing or fixing any of these issues, it’s always best to call in a professional. Sharper Service Solutions can take care of your refrigeration repair. We can quickly and safely address the problems causing your fridge to freeze food. We hope this guide helps you get your fridge back to normal and prevents future food freeze-overs.
