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Samsung RF197 refrigerator not cooling

November 24, 2019, 11:05:53 pm

Our Samsung refrigerator is not cooling.  I removed the cover over the evaporator coils inside the refrigerator and noticed that frost was only forming on the first 3 inches.  So it appears to me that it has lost most of the refrigerant.  There must be a leak somewhere.  Has anyone had a similar problem with a Samsung refrigerator?  If so, were you able to get it repaired?  I want to avoid replacing the refrigerator if possible.

Ron
2004 U295 38' PBDS

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Re: Samsung RF197 refrigerator not cooling

Reply #1 – November 25, 2019, 02:41:31 am

Unplug the refrigerator, wait 20 min. Plug it back in, see what happens.  Sort of a hard reboot.

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Re: Samsung RF197 refrigerator not cooling

Reply #2 – November 25, 2019, 02:59:27 am

If what Roger suggested does not work, try shutting it off for 24 hrs.  It may have iced up blocking airflow to you refrigerator.

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Re: Samsung RF197 refrigerator not cooling

Reply #3 – November 25, 2019, 12:42:18 pm

Thanks for the suggestions.  I should add some more background information.  I am aware of the known problem with condensate drain freezing.  So when we returned home from our travels recently I removed all of the food from the refrigerator and shut it down so it could melt ice and dry inside.  I then removed the panel inside the refrigerator so I could inspect the condensate drain.  I also removed the rear panel in the freezer section.  After a few days, I then started the refrigerator to see how much of the evaporator was getting cold in both sections.  The only evidence of frost was on the upper evaporator for only about 3 inches.  My conclusion is that there was probably a slow leak that had been there for awhile.  During the summer I noticed that the freezer section was having difficulty maintaining set point.  In retrospect, I think this was the first evidence of a refrigerant leak.

My opinion is that considering the difficulty involved in replacing a refrigerator in a motorhome, it is worth spending some money to attempt a repair.  My experience is that a service connection would need to be installed somewhere accessible in a refrigerant line, and then the system could be charged using refrigerant with leak indicating additive.  The leak is likely very small since there was still some refrigerant in the system after being shut down for days.  If the leak can be located, it might be repairable.  I have gone through these steps with refrigerators and freezes in the past and had success, but it is getting harder to find "repair services" that are actually willing to do repairs on refrigeration equipment.  They usually just look at the refrigerator and say "It leaked its Freon.  Buy a new refrigerator.  We sell refrigerators."

So has anybody been able to find a repair service that will actually do work on the refrigeration system in the refrigerator?

Sorry for the long explanation.  Thanks for reading.

Ron
2004 U295 38' PBDS

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Re: Samsung RF197 refrigerator not cooling

Reply #4 – November 25, 2019, 05:12:41 pm

You might check to make sure that your freezer door is sealing properly.  We thought our Samsung was not working until we discovered that the door had been slightly torqued from trying to open while driving, causing it to not seal fully on the right side.  The compressor couldn't keep up.  Fixed the door and everything is fine.  Then replaced our latch that retained the door only on the left side with a Fridge Fixer that secures it from the center.  No more torquing.

Fridge Fixer

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Re: Samsung RF197 refrigerator not cooling

Reply #5 – November 26, 2019, 06:56:26 pm

Today I finally cured my Samsung French Door RF20HFENBSR from continually iceing up not allowing air to flow.

I found the answer (not easily) on page 23 of the Refrigerator User Manual.  "So if you don't want to make ice, press the Ice Off button."

The problem is in the fact that the function is off when you push the off button until a glass lights up that is like a glass with two small ice cubes in it.  Actually the two tiny ice cubes are small print, lit up saying "ice off" in the middle of the lit up tiny glass icon.

"OPERATING- When "Ice making" function is selected,ice-making is priority, Then the temperature of freezer will be  lower than the setting temperature.  If you don't need the ice making function, please press the button of "ice off".  Failing to do so might cause noise."

I will add, for sure cause iceing up, failure of temp to regulate (as it will now cool to the maximum.

I believe this so important for all to know I will start a new post with this, as it may or may not be your problem.

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