Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling? How to Fix It

Samsung makes very high-quality home appliances, including refrigerators. However, sometimes their appliances can break down and need to be repaired. One of the most common faults people have with their refrigerators is that they won’t cool properly.

If you check each of the components in this article, you should be able to find the cause and fix it.

This guide covers all major models of Samsung refrigerators, including:

RF268ABBP

RF268ABBPXAA

RF268ABPN

RF268ABPNXAA

RF268ABRS

RF268ABRSXAA

RF268ABWP

RF268ABWPXAA

RFG298AABP

RFG298AABPXAA

RFG298AAPN

RFG298AAPNXAA

RFG298AARSXAA

RFG298AAWP

RFG298AAWPXAA

RS2630SHXAA

RS2630WWXAA

RS267LABP

RS267LASH

RS269LARS

RS2777SL

Condenser Coils

The best place to start if your refrigerator won’t cool is to check the condenser coils to see if they are dirty. The condenser coils are important, as they help to keep the refrigerator cool by dissipating heat when the refrigerant passes through them.

Here’s how to check the condenser coils:

1. Turn the refrigerator power off.
2. Locate the condenser coils (they should be under your refrigerator).
3. Check the condenser coils to see if they are dirty.
4. If they are dirty, give them a vacuum to remove dirt and debris, followed by a quick clean with a cloth.
5. Turn the refrigerator back on and monitor it over the next few hours to see if the problem has been solved.

Condenser Fan Motor

The next component to check is the condenser fan. The condenser fan helps to spread air through the condenser coils and onto the compressor. If the fan doesn’t work properly, the refrigerator won’t cool.

To check the condenser fan motor:

1. Make sure the refrigerator power is turned off.
2. Locate the condenser fan.
3. Try to turn the fan around manually, and make sure no other components or loose debris are obstructing the fan from moving around.
4. If the fan doesn’t move around a full circle, this means it’s defective and should be replaced. If it does move around, you’ll need to use a multimeter to test the fan.
5. If the test shows continuity, the fan is working correctly; if not, it will need to be replaced.

Evaporator Fan Motor

Another possible cause of your refrigerator not cooling is a faulty evaporator fan. This fan can be found in the freezer compartment.

To check the evaporator fan, you need to:

1. Locate the evaporator fan and check if it is overly noisy when operating. 
2. If the fan is noisy when operating, this means it should be replaced.
3. If the motor isn’t noisy, turn the refrigerator off. Try to turn the fan around manually. If it won’t turn around a full circle, you should replace the fan motor.
4. When the motor doesn’t work at all, you need to check it with a multimeter. You can do this by checking the windings for continuity.
5. If the windings do not have continuity, replace the evaporator fan motor.

Start Relay

Another possible reason why your Samsung refrigerator isn’t cooling is a faulty start relay. The start relay helps your refrigerator to cool down by working with the start winding to start the compressor.

The best way to check if it is faulty is to:

1. Ensure that the refrigerator is still turned off.
2. Find the start relay. First, check if you can smell a burnt smell coming from the start relay. If you can, then it will need to be replaced. If no burning smell is present, then use a multimeter to test it for continuity (between the run and start terminal sockets).
3. The start relay should have continuity; if it doesn’t, then you’ll need to replace it.

Temperature Control Thermostat

If the start relay works correctly, check the temperature control thermostat. The thermostat sends voltage to the compressor, evaporator fan motor, and condenser fan motor based on the temperature of your refrigerator.

Here’s how to check the temperature control thermostat:

1. Ensure that the refrigerator is still turned off.
2. Find the thermostat.
3. Try to turn the thermostat from its highest setting to its lowest setting, and listen to see if you can hear a clicking sound. If you can hear a clicking sound when you turn it, this is a good indication it is working fine. But if you can’t hear a clicking sound, you need to test the thermostat using a multimeter.
4. If the thermostat has continuity, it is fine, and if not, it needs to be replaced.

Start Capacitor

Next up is the start capacitor. This component provides a boost of power to the compressor when it is trying to start up, so if it fails, the compressor won’t work and the refrigerator won’t be able to cool.

To test the start capacitor:

1. Ensure that the refrigerator is turned off.
2. Locate the start capacitor.
3. Use a multimeter to test it for continuity.
4. If the start capacitor has continuity, it is working fine, and if not, it needs to be replaced.

Thermistor

If the start capacitor is working correctly, you should then check the thermistor. When the thermistor becomes faulty, your refrigerator won’t be able to cool, because the thermistor is responsible for sending the temperature of your refrigerator to the main control board. When it sends the wrong information, your refrigerator doesn’t work correctly.

Here’s how to check the thermistor:

1. Ensure that the power is still turned off.
2. Locate the thermistor.
3. Use your multimeter to test the thermistor.
4. The multimeter should show that the resistance changes when the refrigerator temperature changes, and if not, you’ll need to replace the thermistor.

Compressor

The next component to check is the compressor. The compressor helps to circulate refrigerant through the evaporator and condenser coils. When it doesn’t work correctly, your refrigerator won’t cool.

Here’s how to test the compressor:

1. Make sure the refrigerator is still turned off.
2. Find the compressor and use your multimeter to test it by placing the probes on the electrical pins that you’ll find on the side of the compressor.
3. The multimeter should show an open circuit, and if not, the compressor should be replaced by a qualified technician.

Replace the Temperature Control Board

The next possible fix to the problem is to replace the temperature control board. This component helps the compressor and fan motors to operate by providing voltage to them. The temperature control board is a very unlikely cause of a refrigerator not cooling, but it can happen. Only replace it if you’ve tried every other possible fix in the article. After you replace the board, check if the refrigerator now cools properly.

Replace the Main Control Board

If you have tried every other possible fix in this article, the last thing you can do is replace the main control board. The main control board is very rarely the cause of a refrigerator not cooling properly, so before you spend money replacing it, think about purchasing a new refrigerator instead – it might be more cost-effective.