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Topic: Samsung Freezer Failure (Read 702 times) previous topic - next topic

Samsung Freezer Failure

The bottom freezer drawer in our trusty Samsung RF197ACRS residential fridge has stopped freezing.  Our fridge was installed in Sept. of 2013 and it has been running continuously 24/7 since that time.  Never given us a single problem for eight plus years...until now.  We use it for "overflow" food storage when our coach is parked at our house.  The freezer is usually full.  I went out yesterday to get some steaks out of the freezer and discovered the temp in the bottom drawer was showing 40 degrees.  Everything was thawed out, so appears it was like that for several days.  Sadly, most of the food will be unusable.  :'(

Since I know this model fridge has been popular with Forum members, I am inquiring to see if anyone has had a similar problem.  The electric power to the unit has been uninterrupted.  We always have our coach plugged into 50 amp, and the inverter comes on automatically if the grid power to the coach fails (which is highly unlikely now that our house has battery backup).  The fridge section has power and is still working fine - maintaining the normal set temp of 38 degrees F.  I tried doing a "hard power reset" by cutting off the circuit breaker for 5 minutes and then turning it back on.  After doing that last evening, I went out this morning and the temperature readout for the freezer section thinks it is holding -2 degrees F (which is the recommended temp) but the stuff I left in the freezer is still thawed out and the freezer drawer is obviously not below freezing temp.  The freezer drawer shuts tightly and the seals are intact just like new.

I haven't had time to do any trouble shooting yet.  Pulling the fridge out to look at the back side will be a major project.  Was hoping some smart person on the Forum can come up with a simple fix or tell me if they had a similar problem and what was the solution.  Standing by for words of wisdom!

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Samsung Freezer Failure

Reply #1 –
The one I put in my Monaco had an issue with the drain icing up and then the coils iced over so no air flow. There was a You Tube cure for mine behind the panel you could see the drain and the self defrost heater element. I attached a paper clip to the heater and put the other end in the drain hole. That fixed my problem not sure about yours.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Samsung Freezer Failure

Reply #2 –
Quote from: craneman –
...had an issue with the drain icing up and then the coils iced over so no air flow.  I attached a paper clip to the heater and put the other end in the drain hole. That fixed my problem not sure about yours.
Thanx, Chuck, for the info but I don't think that is the problem in this case.  There was a Forum thread 6 years ago covering the drain freezing problem.  I purchased the Samsung factory "fix" and installed it in our unit just to be safe, even though we had never had any sign of the drain plugging up.  I will pull the inside coil cover off and check the coils, but doubt this will be the solution.

Samsung RF197 Condensate Drain Freeze  (See Reply #4 and #5)

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Samsung Freezer Failure

Reply #3 –
Chuck, I don't think there is an easy DIY fix. Time to call for a service appointment.  If your controls say it is -2 but it is not there may be some blockage in the air flow passages. We had a service call on ours, $90 to show up and evaluate. It was a couple hundred to fix what was wrong, some temperature sensor.  The sales guys will tell you a very optimistic life expectancy. I think the service guy as more realistic.  He suggested most modern refrigerators have a life of about 10 years. And in those 10 years technology and efficiency advances make a new refrigerator use less energy.  At some point the cost of repairs make getting a new refrigerator a better choice.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Samsung Freezer Failure

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 –
At some point the cost of repairs make getting a new refrigerator a better choice.
Thanx for the info on your service call.  I will check around and see who is available locally as far as mobile service techs.  I'm not optimistic.

Agree with your point on cost of repair versus replacement.  The problem is, we had our fridge installed at FOT and the only way they got it into the coach was by removing the side window on driver side.  There's no way I'm doing that myself, so the price of replacing the fridge also includes the cost of a service appointment in the FOT shop for removal of old unit and insertion of new.

Our Days Spent in Remodel Shop

Makes it worthwhile to me to try to stretch the service life of the old unit...if possible.

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Samsung Freezer Failure

Reply #5 –
Take all of the doors, bins, shelves and drawers out.  Remove the window. When you replace it use rubber gasket from Xtreme. Rent a manual material lift.  Makes it easy to get old one out and new one in.  Get some helpers.  We used one of these lifts to get AC units off and on the roof of the coach.  About $30 for a half day.

Key thing here, get some help.  Use lifting straps form the fridge.

Hope it is something easy to fix.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Samsung Freezer Failure

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 –
1.  Makes it easy to get old one out and new one in.
2.  Hope it is something easy to fix.
1.  "Easy" is a relative term that means different things to different people.
2.  Thanx...me too.

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Samsung Freezer Failure

Reply #7 –
I'd definitely check locally to find a refrigerator repair guy...talk to him on the phone and half the time they'll give you a rough idea of what it's going to take at that point...search until you find someone that does.

We had a Samsung in our 5th wheel and heard stories that the fix on these can be cheap and ez, or it's a throw away, and the repair guy usually knows immediately.

With that all said, I reluctantly had someone come look at the fridge at home last year...$135 fix and we've been good since-so don't necessarily give up!
2000 Foretravel GV320 4010 #5717
"SuperDutyFiver" on most other boards

*** East coast based - literally "all over the east coast!"

Re: Samsung Freezer Failure

Reply #8 –
I have the same samsung as chuck, and it is about the same age
and also runs 24/7.  I have been thinking about buying a little
freezer for the house and letting the samsung rest between trips.
this thread has just convinced me.

Re: Samsung Freezer Failure

Reply #9 –
Quote from: wayne m –
I have been thinking about buying a little freezer for the house and letting the Samsung rest between trips.
I don't know if giving a fridge "time off" between trips would be good for it or not.  I have always assumed that a residential model fridge is designed to operate 24/7 and that turning it off between trips would not be necessary or desirable.  However, IF there are any moving parts inside that would tend to "wear out" after a given amount of running time, turning it off (when not needed) might indeed extend the life.  Anyway, too late for me to try it.

As one of those "They Don't Build Them Like They Used To" stories I offer our ancient fridge in our house as an example.  It is a side-by-side 25 cu.ft. Amana Model SR25F1 (in the very nice Almond color finish) that we purchased in 1986, soon after we moved into our present house.  I still have all the manufacturer paperwork and the original sales receipt.  It cost $1365.58 (including tax and free delivery).  Except for the times grid power went down, it has been running continuously for almost 36 years and never skipped a beat.  IF it ever dies it will be like losing a close member of the family.

By the way, Wayne, that sure is a beautiful and scenic location where you live.  I have coach barn envy!  :thumbsup:

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Samsung Freezer Failure

Reply #10 –
I do know shutting them off annually to actually defrost does help. Over the years they will accumulate ice were they never were intended to and drop the efficiencies they were certified with. Unfortunately IMO all the newer higher efficiency models will never live up to our old power hunger units that actually were meant to give good service life
Scott

Re: Samsung Freezer Failure

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie –
As one of those "They Don't Build Them Like They Used To" stories I offer our ancient fridge in our house as an example.  It is a side-by-side 25 cu.ft. Amana Model SR25F1 (in the very nice Almond color finish) that we purchased in 1986, soon after we moved into our present house.  I still have all the manufacturer paperwork and the original sales receipt.  It cost $1365.58 (including tax and free delivery). 

Using the inflation calculator, "Adjusted for inflation, $1,365.58 in 1986 is equal to $3,483.32 in 2022.  Annual inflation over this period was 2.64%."

Nice to put things in perspective BUT even at today's prices for refrigerators with all their bells and whistles, you'll never see 36 years of service like you have, Chuck!
.
Bill Jackson & Kim Sweeney
2013 27' Lazy Daze RK
2002 U320 PBDS 36' Build 5941 (Sold)
1999 U320 40' (Sold)
2005 Country Coach Intrigue 40' (Sold)

Re: Samsung Freezer Failure

Reply #12 –
I had a 1983 Amanda. Ala Mode in Almond, actually we gave it to my son, the only thing that's been done to it is the gaskets door seals have been replaced, you pull out the ice tray and it has a apparatus you plug in it's place and it makes ice cream it has a steel finned bowl with a plastic boat looking propeller that turn's the cream, it's in his garage and put's up with the Texas summer heat, still going strong! I would bet that frig was made in the good ole USA...
Mike & Donna Mariana + Angel & Rusty
2003 U295 3620
Build# 6118
2021 Jeep Wrangler 392

Re: Samsung Freezer Failure

Reply #13 –
Our unit has the residential Samsung 19cf unit.  When we brought it home last year, the fridge would not get colder than 47*.  Had a tech come out, he pulled the back cover and found the coils frozen up.  Basically said it would cost as much to repair as to replace.  Now we empty the fridge between trips and turn that breaker off.  I know it will go weeks to months before it's an issue, but it's easier not to have to remember when it was last thawed out.  Fires up and gets to temp in a few hours, so not a big deal for us.
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197