Samsung RS21 American Fridge Freezers

Samsung are generally well known for their range of HiFi and electronic products such as TV, Video and audio equipment. However, within the last few years they have introduced a range of American-style and conventional fridge freezers. Currently, they have the largest sales of American style and hold their own on conventional. Obviously, the more products they sell the greater the number of units that fail (averaging 2% of total sales). It has become apparent on UK Whitegoods that more people are asking questions about Samsung and this short write-up is aimed at informing the public how to resolve problems.

Firstly and most importantly, Samsung appliances are guaranteed for two years, covering parts and labour.  Secondly, equally important is that within this guarantee period Samsung trained engineers will look after you free of charge. Please take this guarantee period seriously, once the two years is up the ball is in your court. Take comfort in knowing that you have been given two years, not the normal twelve months.

Extended warranty/service contracts through insurers may not get Samsung-trained engineers but most engineers that subscribe to our find a repairer service are able to repair or can get the necessary info to repair.

  The Samsung American Fridge Freezer

American Style: Side by side with cooling in both fridge and freezer or with cooling in only the freezer, ducting cold air into fridge. Both types are fully electronically controlled in both areas and can be fitted with cold water and ice-making facilities depending on mode.

Conventional: Fridge placed above freezer with ducted cooling into fridge area. Electronically controlled. Additional facilities are available.

  Samsung Fridge Freezer Basic Workings

As stated earlier, all products are fully electronically controlled; that is temperature, motor (compressor) operation and defrost of ice is controlled by a micro-computer.

Production of ice and chilled water is via manual door lever-flaps on some models, but also electronically monitored.

Cold air circulation in either fridge or freezer is using low-voltage circulating fans computer-monitored by thermistors.

  Samsung Fridge Freezer Problems

Firstly, be aware that this is a complex appliance and that refrigeration repair is a specialised trade (like Corgi gas engineers). Most faults with these appliances are simple to fix, when you know what you are doing, but extremely expensive if you don’t. The following information is to allow you, the public, to identify if you have a problem. Be warned however that electronic testing of this machine does not always show up mechanical faults.

The most common electronic faults are shown by noting the current display, switching off and back on at the wall and seeing what the display now shows in the first minute. If any odd segments in the display or strange LEDs light up you have a problem. (don’t panic – the fridge-freezer will revert to normal after a couple of minutes delay.) If you have found you do have a problem, post a question on the forum and someone will help you out.

Secondly, all refrigeration equipment suffers from “pilot error”, ie little Johnny left the door open and either defrosted the food or froze up the workings. Both are very common, a fact of life and down to Mummy and Daddy to sort out; not Samsung. The following are however common faults and should be sorted out by a post to the UK Whitegoods forums or a visit from an engineer.

• Noisy fan
• Temperatures outside of safe margins
• Strange noises
• Leaks
• Appliance dead
• Display/Led errors (mentioned earlier)

The common sensors and thermal fuses are available fairly readily, some carried as stock in our store (from this link for the relevant section) but it is worth noting that the fridge back panels are very prone to failure and these cost the best part of £100. Do be aware that we have seen many of these Samsung spare parts being sold at ludicrous prices on the net, if you need parts simply email us for a quote on spares@ukwhitegoods.co.uk

Finally, this short article is designed to allow you, the customer to recognise a fault if you have one. It gives you a route to follow if you need one (ie Samsung if in guarantee and to repairs@ if out of warranty) and allows you to contact the hundreds of experienced service engineers that log in daily if you need advice.

Please note: before posting your question use the forums search facility as, quite probably, the same problem has been encountered before and the answer will most likely already be there for you. Reading back is much faster than waiting on a reply.

Also see this article for common problems explained in general terms. 

  The Common Fault On Samsung Fridge Freezers

The common problem with the Samsung fridge freezers is that the ice is not melted correctly behind the large fridge back panel or, as it is properly called, the evaporator cover. The following guide explains step by step how to diagnose and repair the problem where the fridge doesn’t cool properly but:

BE WARNED – THESE PROCEDURES ARE CARRIED OUT ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK!

If you in the least bit unsure or don’t know what this is talking about at any point DO NOT take any risks with your safety or that of others! If this is the case lives are worth more than an engineer’s callout charge, so get the professionals in.

UK Whitegoods will accept NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER if you do harm using this guide as it is intended for guidance purposes ONLY

  Step One – Diagnostics

First thing to do is to check the machine for errors, to do this you have to enter into the diagnostics mode from the front panel. AS indicated in the following diagram, press and hold the top two buttons on the control panel and the machine will offer up a display of any errors as indicated by the chart.

If there is an error detected then something like this will be shown in the display…

The example above indicates a refrigerator defrost error.

  Step Two – Check For Ice

REMOVE POWER FROM THE FRIDGE FREEZER BEFORE CONTINUING!!!

Remove all the shelves etc from the fridge and take of the evaporator cover. Check the fan housing and drain hole for signs of a buildup of ice, the defrost hole as shown below being clear. 

IF there is a buildup of ice then this will indicate that there is a problem with the defrost side and that a repair will be required, as detailed below.

  Step Three – Repair The Samsung Fridge Freezer

If you have ice as above then you will have to replace the evaporator cover for the latest version with the metal clip fitted to it, shown below. 

All the parts you require can be ordered from our online shop from this link or clicking the picture above for the cover itself

Included with the new evaporator cover, which we supply, is the new clip (shown as C in the photograph below). This is attached to the top two passes of the evaporator defrost heater and is designed to make contact with the plate on the cover when the parts are reassembled. 

This is designed to ensure that the drain hole is effectively defrosted in each cycle to prevent a future ice build up in that area and, therefore, to stop the fault re-occurring.

Next ensure that the defrost sensor on the refrigerator evaporator is the latest type with a black cap shown below. 

If this is not what is fitted to your RS21 then you will have to fit one (Part number is DA32-00006U). THIS IS VITAL!

If this is the one already fitted then check the sensor is reading correctly.

  Step Four – Check The Defrost Heaters

Please pay attention to the photograph below, you will require a multi-meter and the ability to use on properly to do this bit.

Pay attention to the top three plugs, the readings should be as follows going from top to bottom as show above:

Top: This is the Thermal Fuse simply test for continuity

Middle: This is the defrost heater connection and the resistance values should read:
Main Heater = 480Ω
Drain Heater = 2KΩ

Bottom: Is the NTC Defrost Sensor which should read 13.3 K ohms @ 0oC (This value will change depending on the temperature!)

Now check the thermal fuse for continuity and positioning and replace if it is or appears to be faulty. This MUST be positioned as shown below and MUST be fitted for safety reasons. You risk serious damage by skipping this or not doing it correctly.  

After this is done, reassemble and restart the machine and it should be fine, of course, replacing any other faulty components as indicated by the diagnostics.