Samsung Freezer not freezing

Shefalika

Junior Member
Mar 29, 2021
3
1
36
I have a Samsung Side-by-side RS21HSTPN1, 600 ltr.
About two weeks ago the freezer stopped working but the temp on the panel showed -20 C. I called the service centre who came in and said that the gas needs to be filled (greasy droplets had dripped near the compresor at the back/base), They brushed off the coils at the back, changed something called a drier/dryer. filled some gas. Said it would take a few hours for the freezer to be good and left. The freezer starting chilling almost immediately

10 days later, I woke up to find the same thing: Temp shows as -20 C, bu the Freezer was not freezing.
Called the service centre again, this time they said that there we no drips near the compressor.
There was also very little gas in the fridge (apparantly it did not "woooosh" enough when they opened the "valve")
They opened up the back wall of the inside of the freezer and saw that there was frosting only on the top two coils.
They told me that the fridge probably has an internal leak - and if it does then there is no repair solution.
Nevertheless, they did fill in more gas... and left saying that if this leaks out in about a week then if is more likely than not an internal leak and they would have to verify that with a nitrogen-hold test - and , in that case, there is no repair solution as per Samsung company policy.

The freezer stopped working again this morning.
The Temperature panel shows -20 C.

Online searches set up questions marks against all sorts of potential issues - Thermostat problem, compressor problem, dirt/grit in the gas tube that was not suctioned out the before the first filling of gas, and so on...

Could anybody advise on what this might be and how it could be fixed?
What can I do to save my rather nice fridge from becoming a shoe cabinet?
 
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herm0016

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2005
8,503
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so many samsung threads to link, so little time.

there is a leak, and they just filled it up and did not repair the leak it sounds like.
 

DooKey

Golden Member
Nov 9, 2005
1,811
458
136
They are correct. There's a leak in the system. I would let them do the nitrogen-hold test to see if they can find the leak. If internal to the coils then you will be buying a new fridge.
 

Shefalika

Junior Member
Mar 29, 2021
3
1
36
They are correct. There's a leak in the system. I would let them do the nitrogen-hold test to see if they can find the leak. If internal to the coils then you will be buying a new fridge.

I was told by a fridge technician that I could possibly get an external condenser installed - is that really possible?
does that work?
 

Shefalika

Junior Member
Mar 29, 2021
3
1
36
another thing...why does the thermostat show -20 C while the inside is slowly climbing above zero?
Could there be a thermostat-compressor link issue?
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,678
14,075
146
another thing...why does the thermostat show -20 C while the inside is slowly climbing above zero?
Could there be a thermostat-compressor link issue?

Odds are, what you're seeing is the temperature setting, not the actual temperature of the freezer.

Oh...and welcome to the less than wonderful world of Samsung refrigeration. Their products work great...until they don't.
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
25,873
24,215
136
I'm kind of amazed my Samsung washer and dryer have survived 3 years without issues. Probably because it's been just me living here and sometimes with a GF, so not a ton of laundry
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,678
14,075
146
I'm kind of amazed my Samsung washer and dryer have survived 3 years without issues. Probably because it's been just me living here and sometimes with a GF, so not a ton of laundry

I've never had any problems (knock on wood) with my Samsung laundry machines.
 

HarryWalker

Banned
Apr 2, 2021
5
2
36
I also try to fix the household appliances myself, but if the service center does not help, this is most likely the end.