Fridge Freezer gone AWOL!

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tdgeek

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#243481 13-Dec-2018 16:43

Ive just now noticed my Samsung side by side is not freezing or cooling. Lights are on, I can hear a fan, but the noise isnt the same, so I guess its not circulating. Google tells me Samsungs fail after 7 or 8 years, although, obviously it did for those posters, maybe its not normal? I also read repairs are often not worth it, so we will just pickup a new one. Time of the week means next week delivery I'd suspect

Can anyone comment if its likely to be a certain thing and its worth a repairman coming in? I read that many things are sealed, and might be circuit board. Having "enjoyed" our Samsung recalled Washing Machine, I'll do another brand. Pity its end of week, but ice packs will be the temporary measure

Cheers!

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#2144885 13-Dec-2018 17:37

If you know how to use a multimeter. You could check if the compressor is receiving power.

I have a 10 year old approx Samsung side by side that still works just fine.

tdgeek

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#2144888 13-Dec-2018 17:45

Aredwood: If you know how to use a multimeter. You could check if the compressor is receiving power.

I have a 10 year old approx Samsung side by side that still works just fine.

No! Out of my league there! I imagine if that was the case it would be easy to fix? Is it worth a repairman effort? Say the compressor was borked is that a huge cost?i think we got it2010 or 2009

mattwnz

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#2144975 13-Dec-2018 18:19

Fridges used to last decades. My parents have a F&P freezer that was 40 years old, and a current F&P fridge that they got in about 1990 and works fine. Huge waste of resources, if they are now only lasting 8 years IMO. Consumer did a report and table on expected life for things like fridges.

Coil

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#2144979 13-Dec-2018 18:40

I'd say give the compressor a little tap with a rubber mallet while the fridge is off to see if it may have jammed.
Is the freezer cool and fridge warm? Or both warm? EVAP fan still works in both sides?

Cheers

tdgeek

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#2145022 13-Dec-2018 19:08

Coil:

I'd say give the compressor a little tap with a rubber mallet while the fridge is off to see if it may have jammed.
Is the freezer cool and fridge warm? Or both warm? EVAP fan still works in both sides?

Cheers

I can hear what seems to be a fan. Its a noise anyway :-)

Both are not cooling. I had a manual sort out a few weeks ago, so Ill dig that out, call Samsung in the morning to see if they have any insight. If we get it repaired and its $500 thats fine, if its $150 and be told its borked thats also fine. As a unit it worked well, so maybe worth a punt.

The wife and Mum made dumplings the other day, jammed up against a vent, so I cleared that, turned off for a minute to reset the computer inside (read that on Google, it may not be that fancy) but no change.

I'm tempted, given that its not cooling to turn the power off, in case something has frozen and got stuck, re dumplings crammed against a vent (although there is a vent on each level. There are temp sensors, a round red ball in the fridge and freezer, the freezer one seems to have white stuff inside (maybe ice?) I'll turn it off now, in case there is some cooling happening to thaw the sensor. [grasping at straws!]

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#2145024 13-Dec-2018 19:13

I'm sorry your having issues with your fridge/freezer, but the title of your post gave me a bit of a chuckle because it sounded like it had gotten up and walked out of your house!

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tdgeek

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#2145025 13-Dec-2018 19:16

LOL, yeah, a loose use of AWOL.

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tdgeek

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#2145073 13-Dec-2018 20:34

Might be this, I found the model number

I have a samsung side by side srs537nw. both side are not working properly. the fridge wont cool and the freezer turn into a fridge.

Had exactly the same problem. Found the cooling coils are not defrosting, everything was iced up inside the back panels. The drain was blocked, water pooling underneath also.

Remove all the plastic panels in the back of the freezer, including the temp. sensor (unplug) and fan (unplug). Defrost everything with a hair drier.

Make sure that the drain at the bottom is free, a small plastic tube which takes water down into a pan where it is evaporated by the compressor etc.

Replace the defrost sensor - the most likely faulty part. This costs about $Au 20.00 from Samsung (just ask for a defrost sensor for the model of fridge). This sensor fits in a plastic cage attached to the top of the cooling coils, has wires which plug into a socket. Reassemble the fridge and see if this has solved the problem.

If the fridge still does not defrost automatically, you may need to replace the circuit board ($Au 80.00 from Samsung). This board is found from the back of the fridge, in a plastic box behind a back panel at the bottom of the back of the fridge. Lots of wires to unplug!

There may be other problems, like a faulty thermostat on the valve which controls circulation of cold air into the fridge from the freezer, I have no experience of solving this.

mattwnz

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#2145078 13-Dec-2018 20:45

Why not just contact a repair agent to look at it. I would think a repair would be cheaper than replacement anyway, as these things have gone a lot in price over the last few years. You are probably talking at least 3-4k these days for a decent side by side in stainless.

tdgeek

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#2145081 13-Dec-2018 20:54

mattwnz:

Why not just contact a repair agent to look at it. I would think a repair would be cheaper than replacement anyway, as these things have gone a lot in price over the last few years. You are probably talking at least 3-4k these days for a decent side by side in stainless.

Yes, with the replies and finding the manual and Googling the above, its well worth doing that. Ill call Samsung first thing tomorrow, maybe get a hint, then call a local whitewall repairer or Samsung may suggest a local (ChCh) repairer. Harvey Normal has 3 models at $1800 others at $2600 or so.

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#2145106 13-Dec-2018 21:57

Try Appliance Guru or Appliance Guy or Appliance Works.

The guru guy sounds ok hes got a good social media presence across the spectrums....

Theres also Saxon appliances.

nzlogan

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#2145111 13-Dec-2018 22:19

Not sure I'd bother with repairs if I was in your situation...

My parents had separate Samsung fridge/freezer which were side by side, just outside of the warranty period (which I believe was 3 years) and the fridge leaked the refrigerant. After hearing other people had issues with Samsung fridges, parents decided it would be more economical to purchase another brand, rather than repair and have more issues. They have a F&P at their other house which is about 17 years old and they haven't had any issues.

My other parents bought a Samsung french door fridge/freezer, at less than a year old the ice maker stopped working and was replaced, a few months later it stopped working again and was replaced. Now, at just under three years old, the whole unit is requiring replacement - fridge has stopped cooling, ice maker doesn't work, and they've been told it's rusting (can't remember where the technician said the rust was). Considering the appliance cost well over $5k it's pretty poor it's already failing miserably.

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#2145151 14-Dec-2018 07:20

nzlogan:

Not sure I'd bother with repairs if I was in your situation...

My parents had separate Samsung fridge/freezer which were side by side, just outside of the warranty period (which I believe was 3 years) and the fridge leaked the refrigerant. After hearing other people had issues with Samsung fridges, parents decided it would be more economical to purchase another brand, rather than repair and have more issues. They have a F&P at their other house which is about 17 years old and they haven't had any issues.

My other parents bought a Samsung french door fridge/freezer, at less than a year old the ice maker stopped working and was replaced, a few months later it stopped working again and was replaced. Now, at just under three years old, the whole unit is requiring replacement - fridge has stopped cooling, ice maker doesn't work, and they've been told it's rusting (can't remember where the technician said the rust was). Considering the appliance cost well over $5k it's pretty poor it's already failing miserably.

Thats my opinion as well, but its Friday. From the replies. I'm happy to pay a minimum hourly rate to assess it. It may be something small, perhaps, can fix it now, be an hour. Thats a cheap option right now, otherwise, we will go shopping tonight, delivery wouldn't be till probably Tuesday, so may as well get it looked at.

Freezer meals this weekend! Both have been filled with ice in the interim

trig42

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#2145164 14-Dec-2018 08:26

You are obviously not too stressed about not having a fridge.

I'd imagine if you went out and bought a new one this morning, they could get it to you today - make that a condition of the sale.

Yours may be repairable, it sounds like the electronics are going, just not the compressor. It could be all iced up (Has it been really humid?) and sometimes leaving them switched off at the wall so they can properly defrost can fix them. It could also be that the drain hole is blocked up (so that when it defrosts, the water can't escape - usually to a tray above the hot bit of the compressor so that it can evaporate). It could also be stuffed.

tdgeek

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#2145166 14-Dec-2018 08:35

trig42:

You are obviously not too stressed about not having a fridge.

I'd imagine if you went out and bought a new one this morning, they could get it to you today - make that a condition of the sale.

Yours may be repairable, it sounds like the electronics are going, just not the compressor. It could be all iced up (Has it been really humid?) and sometimes leaving them switched off at the wall so they can properly defrost can fix them. It could also be that the drain hole is blocked up (so that when it defrosts, the water can't escape - usually to a tray above the hot bit of the compressor so that it can evaporate). It could also be stuffed.

Yes, it could be any of those! No, I'm not bothered about it, if things happen out of my control, no point sweating it. Can't shop this morning, but other times we bought large items, it was always a day or so later, but can't get out till tonight.

I'll update where I get with Samsung and the repair people.

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