Samsung refrigerator grinding and freeze up fix, one that actually works!

This is a video to show you how to fix your Samsung "SamDUNG" refrigerator freeze up issue. If your fridge is freezing up approximately every 3 weeks to a month then this is your fix.

This fix assumes the following:

1) The defrost heating element is good.
2) There are no physical damages, cracks, etc. that could allow humid air into the fridge.
3) That you've already installed the aftermarket drain fix.
4) That your fridge has refrigerant and doesn't have a leak.
5) That the evaporator fan is good.
6) That the temperature probe is good.
7) That your defrost control board is good.
8) That your back cover isn't damaged. Make sure the styrofoam is in good shape.

If all of the above are good and your fridge still freezes up this is the fix for you.
The issue is the factory foam tape is garbage and doesn't sufficiently seal the evaporator coil from the rest of the fridge. When this happens, humid air gets in the coil and freezes which causes the fan to begin grinding. Then soon after, the fan will freeze in place. Then the cooling stops and your food will spoil.
Most people try moving sensors around but it doesn't work. Keep all of that in its original place. The problem is when humid air keeps leaking into the coils, The defrost logic board doesn't know how to handle it. It will attempt to run a defrost cycle by heating up the heating element. But when that doesn't completely work, the logic in the defrost board times out. At that point the only way to defrost the fridge is a manual defrost cycle or unplugging the fridge and plugging it back it. But none of that matters because when you have a leak, the defrost system in this fridge simply cannot keep up. So the objective here is to seal that evaporator coil system completely. Take great care to not let any wires hang out the side of the cover when installing it. Place silicon in areas that look like they need it for a good seal. Also in the video I believe I mentioned that I did not add foam tape to the top portion of the cover, but I actually did. Also as mentioned in the video make sure you take the drain tube out and let it hang over the side and drain onto your floor (assuming you have tile flooring), that way you can see if your defrost system is working during this process. Once you are satisfied that it is, you can put it back.

This has been a nightmare for me and I have come extremely close to throwing this fridge out several times. But I believe that I finally have this issue resolved. My fridge is going on nearly 2 months and no issues at all. I watch it "pee" daily which means all is working well. Soon I will button everything back up and try and forget about it and hope that it continues to work.

Good luck!

[newked]

I am 6 months into this fix and no issues since, thank you so much for posting this. The gasket was 100% the issue.

[georgianbayfishheads]

Wow. Having the exact problem and didn’t see this video the first time it happened. Got the ice melted a second time and will be taking it apart again tomorrow but this time replacing the old ratty foam with new foam gasket. Brilliant. Greatly appreciated for sharing.

[superssport]

You are the man!!! This has worked for me. No more freezing up. Your a genius. Thank you so much.

[markdefalco]

Thank you did this three years ago and it’s acting up again defrosting it now and will recheck it again!

[thesheriff]

On my way to the store to go buy some of that tape now. I’ve been battling the same exact problem for about a year and a half or more. It’s been getting worse like you mentioned every 2 to 3 weeks now. I really hope that this is the solution to the problem. In the future if I ever run into a Samsung refrigerator owner I will make sure to pay it forward brother

[dmariaclu]

Thank you so much for the advice. I used a blow dryer to melt the ice around the fan and it worked...I am so proud of me.
Thanks again

[helenkapeller]

Hey thank you so much. For the past few years I've been dealing with this same issue and I also replaced everything. This is my last attempt before it gets thrown out of the house.

[Overlander]

Having the exact problem. Thanks a bunch for sharing! I’d really appreciate it. Having these issues over 2 years now.

[nc]

Thank God you posted I've had the same issues replaced everything just about to buy a different fridge but now I'm gonna try this one last attempt!!!

[traveldreamer]

Thanks for the info. I’m having this exact problem. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge and research.

[LATERZA]

Thank you Mike for youyr due diligence in the PRPER Fix Samdung defrost Issue, Much Appreciated bro!
my fridge has been doing the samo for a WHILE NOW !

[Porsche]

I have a different model to you, mine is side by side but same issue except that my first signs were an annoying clicking actuating relay on the main PCB, I guess it was getting confused signals. After seeing your video I investigated and found a large lump of ice near the fan & the temp probe, I also found that the insulation tape was very poor quality so I cleaned it all up, replaced the insulation and I’m hoping that I now have a fix. Time will tell. Thank you for sharing, you been a great help. Michael (UK)

[WhatArtWork]

That's absolutely fantastic! I am going to buy materials and try this .... I've also lost out $$$$ buying everything else trying to fix this same exact Thank you so much for the Video....

[christaj]

Thank you, I am about to do this this week end! Wish me luck!!

[AOG_ETH]

This fix has worked for me so far, and it has been 2 months now.
I even sealed the outside to, and I don't care how it looks. This has made the refrigerator awesome 👌

[carymark]

Hello Mike! Excellent, excellent video! I have probably watched more of these videos about this problem than anyone alive and have tested both the defrost heater and defrost sensor which were fine and replaced the drain tubes with the new Samsung updated ones. (Old ones were absolutely clogged up!) No problems with drain freezing and water running over so I am starting to suspect my “Factory crushed gasket” from the factory installation of the defrost heater wires being caught in the gasket as well as the gasket just breaking down from time as well as quality. How long has your fix worked since after I replaced the clogged drain tubes my frig was good for nine whole months, but then started the fan noise again. This could be a different problem causing freeze up like the gasket you talked about. Thanks for your

[fartknocka]

I'm about to solve my issue once and for all. Thank you very much for sharing this.

[cwilson]

every week for the past 5 years I have used a steamer to clear out the freeze up, I going to give this a try.

[tomlawton]

How long has your fix been working now...? I agree there seems to be a timeout on the defrost- are you sure it cancels defrost attempts completely after just one timeout? (that would explain why power cycling has been reported to help...) I'm not convinced the issue is air leaks around the back panel though- but I do note the latest service bulletin says to check for trapped wires preventing it closing fully... The fan is constantly drawing fridge air through the front of the back panel, past the evaporator in-out pipes, before pushing it down over the evaporator and back up and out the top side vents... Admittedly, during defrost the fan stops, but there's still a whole mess of duct full of fridge air, with a much lower pressure drop path to the problem zone than the back panel seal- however poor it is...
But- if your fix is still working- next time I have the back off (about 3wks, I'm guessing as I did it today...) I may improve the seal tape..!!
BTW, for anyone sick of their Samsuck, there's a Facebook group dedicated to helping people get refunds on these defective fridges: SAMSUNG REFRIGERATOR RECALL U.S.A. NOW. Over $3.5M in refunds recorded in the past year or so, if you can be bothered to fight. As an engineer, Id rather Fix... ;-)

[MistyLawrence-th]

Mike, do u have a reference suggestion on where to place the temp sensor wire.(big yellow sensor from defrost element)