Just when you thought that everything’s well…
Your Samsung refrigerator acts up all of a sudden.
Its ice maker is no longer working.
And the frost on its walls is getting too thick.
Oh no!
Now, the only thing you can think of is defrosting it.
But how can you do it?
Read on to find out:
- How long the whole defrosting process usually takes.
- 7 simple steps on how to defrost your Samsung refrigerator.
- When and how often you should defrost your Samsung fridge.
- The ideal temperature for most Samsung refrigerators and freezers.
- And many more…
How to defrost a Samsung refrigerator?
To defrost a Samsung refrigerator, you have to put it in Fd or ‘Force Defrost mode.’ Press and hold 2 buttons on the panel at the same time. When it beeps and the display goes blank, press any of the 2 buttons to cycle through the modes. Then, stop when ‘Fd’ shows up and wait until the beeping ends.
The buttons that you need to press will vary per model. As well as how long you need to press them.
I’ll discuss this step-by-step and with more details, so let’s get started.
7 steps to defrost a Samsung refrigerator
#1: Put the freezer into ‘Force Defrost’ mode
Nowadays, modern refrigerators are ‘no-frost.’
“What does it mean?”
It means that you don’t need to defrost them manually.
They have a feature inside that prevents ice from building up.
Also, there’s a new technology called ‘Smart Inverter.’
Its job is to regulate a fridge to save energy. For example, it’ll control its temperature.
This will depend on the amount of food inside. So, it’s a win-win situation for your electric bill and goods.
Now, going back to the topic.
Depending on the usage and design, frost can still accumulate inside the unit. And this will cause it to perform poorly.
Now, for this kind of situation…
Samsung has this feature on most of their fridges.
It’s called ‘Force Defrost’ or ‘Fd’ mode.
So what it does is turn your fridge’s heater on while switching the condenser motor off.
This will now cause the heating coils to warm and melt the ice buildup. Then the unit will defrost on their own.
And the good thing is, you can do this in just a few clicks.
How?
The steps are going to be slightly different for every model.
But…
Here’s the general force defrosting process
- On your fridge panel, press and hold 2 buttons for a certain period of time. (See the button combinations listed below.)
- Wait until you hear a ‘beeping’ sound and see the display go blank.
- Press the “Fridge” button to cycle through the modes. Do this until the display shows ‘Fd’ – indicating you’re in ‘Force Defrost’ mode.
Note: The button is the same for most models (“Fridge”) unless stated otherwise. Also, usually, you have to press it 3 to 4 times before ‘Fd’ appears.
After this, your fridge will keep on beeping after putting it in Force Defrost mode. So don’t worry if you hear a long chime sound.
Yes, it might be annoying. But it’ll end right away when your fridge is done defrosting on its own.
What button combinations will I use on my Samsung fridge?
It’ll depend on the model that you’re using.
So I compiled a list of button combinations for each. As well as how long you should press them and which button to hit afterward to switch into ‘Fd’ mode.
- Samsung RF263: “Energy Saver” + “Fridge” for 8 seconds.
- Samsung SRF680CDLS: “Fridge” + “Energy Saver” for 8 seconds.
- Samsung RF24FSEDBSR: “Fridge” + “Power Save” for 8 seconds.
- Samsung RF267: “Freezer” + “Lighting” for 12 seconds. (Press “Lighting” 4 times afterwards.)
- Samsung RF263BEAESR: “Energy Saver button” (left side) + “Fridge button” (right side) for 8 seconds.
- Samsung RF23J9011SR: “Cool Select” + “Freezer” for 8 seconds. (Hit any of these 2 buttons 4 times until ‘Fd’ appears.)
- Samsung RF23M8070SR: “Freezer” + “Control Lock” for 10 to 12 seconds. (Press “Control Lock” 4 times.)
- Other models with an internal control panel: “Fridge” + “Flex Zone” for 10 seconds. (For this, Press “Flex Zone” 4 times.)
- Samsung RF28: “Energy Saver” + “Power Freeze/Freezer” for 4 seconds. (Press “Fridge/Power Cool” 4 times.)
Alternative: “Energy Saver” + “Fridge/Power Cool” for 12 seconds.
Note: Let me remind you that this is only TEMPORARY. The problem may still appear once in a while. So you have to do this many times a year. However, it’s an easy fix if your Samsung fridge suddenly acts out or if the ice maker isn’t working.
For a permanent fix, you may contact Samsung Support or an experienced repairman.
You might have a faulty defrost coil, timer, or thermostat.
There could also be a gap or crack on your door.
This allows warm air to get inside the fridge. And it causes more frost build-up as well.
#2: Let your fridge defrost and remove its ice bin
Next, while your fridge is defrosting, see if you can take out its ice bin.
Usually, you’ll have a hard time removing it.
This is because there’s a frost build-up on the top walls of the ice machine. And this causes the bin to be stuck in its compartment.
(Aside from this, your ice maker will also be unable to produce ice. This is due to the thick ice build-up as well.)
What to do?
So, if you see that your ice bin can be safely removed, do it carefully.
It’s made of plastic and can be broken easily when taken out using force.
Then, put a towel or rag inside the compartment. And also on each shelf of your Samsung fridge.
Do this after removing the bin. Leave it on the bottom part to absorb any excess water or moisture.
But if you can’t take out the ice bin…
#4: Force defrost your fridge once again
Is it not yet possible to remove the ice bin?
If so, do step #1 all over again.
Yup, you’ve read it right.
You can do it as many times as needed.
This is because it could take many defrosting cycles before all the ice gets melted. Especially if your fridge has a lot of frost buildup.
But don’t worry, repeating the 1st step is normal.
Typically, a force defrost is done more than once. So don’t expect that everything will be finished after a round or two.
How many times does this usually take?
Most Samsung fridge users said that they did it at least 3 times.
Here’s a summary of their experience:
After the 1st defrost, there would be melted ice hanging down.
Then by the 2nd one, you may see that the ice in the cooling coil and at the rear of your unit has already melted.
And on the 3rd cycle, the rest of the ice on the ice maker is thawed out.
Note: Again, this will still depend on your situation. Along with other factors that affect the speed of defrosting. Such as the amount of ice buildup and warm air inside.
#5: Wait until the beeping sound stops
Once your fridge is in Force Defrost mode, sit and wait for the defrost process to finish.
Your device will stop automatically so you’ve got nothing to worry about.
“How long does it take to defrost a Samsung refrigerator?”
Usually, this will last for less than an hour. Say, around 20 to 40 minutes.
So there’s no need for you to bring out all the food inside.
If needed, only take out the items under the ice maker.
This is to make sure that they’ll not be soaking wet after the process. Since there could be leaks due to the melted ice.
Note: During this, you’ll constantly hear a beeping sound. So if it stops, it means that the defrost is done.
“Help! My Samsung refrigerator is taking too long to defrost.”
If it’s been more than an hour already, you can switch the Force Defrost mode off.
How?
By cycling through the modes once again.
Earlier, you clicked a certain button to get to the Fd mode, right? (For example, “Fridge” or “Lighting.”)
Now, you have to press it again until you’re on a blank display.
This should get your fridge out of Force Defrost mode.
If this isn’t working, try restarting your Samsung refrigerator manually.
Unplug its cord from the power outlet. Then put it back in after about 30 seconds.
#5: Put the ice bin back in its place
Now, once the beeping ends, return the ice bin back to its compartment.
But before doing so, check if there’s moisture left inside.
If there’s any wet area, dry it with a towel.
This is to make sure that the compartment is clean and dry before inserting back the ice bin.
#6: Allow your fridge to reach normal cooling temperature
If your fridge is done defrosting and the ice bin is already put back in its place…
Let your Samsung fridge cool a bit.
Also, don’t make any adjustments to its temperature yet.
Allow it to reach the ideal cooling temperature.
“What’s the recommended temperature for my Samsung refrigerator?”
Based on Samsung, refrigerators must be set at 38° F (3 °C).
While freezers should ideally have a -2° F (-19 °C) temperature.
Note: This is the standard for most models. So it can vary per type. To make sure, check out the recommended temperatures on your control panel. Or find it in your fridge’s manual.
Also…
Ensure that your ice maker is OFF
“Why?”
This is so that it can’t cycle until your fridge is ready and cold.
But once your refrigerator has cooled a bit or back to its normal cooling temperature, turn the ice maker on.
Then last but not least…
#7: Wait for your fridge to stabilize
Normally, refrigerators will stabilize after 24 hours.
So, check your ice bin compartment again after a whole day has passed. See if the ice maker is working again or not.
Frequently asked questions:
When should you defrost a Samsung refrigerator?
You should defrost a Samsung refrigerator when it’s not cooling properly. And also if the ice on its walls is more than half an inch thick.
It should be done as soon as possible. This is because your fridge can’t reach the set temperature anymore due to so much frost.
“Why’s that?”
The ice on its walls doesn’t allow air to circulate well inside. And this also prevents it from maintaining the set temperature.
Reading tip: 9 Things To Do When Your Smart Fridge Isn’t Cooling (DIY)
How often should you defrost a Samsung refrigerator?
You shouldn’t defrost a Samsung refrigerator too often. Most of its models are ‘no-frost’ and defrost on their own. So there’s usually no need for them to be defrosted – unless it’s really necessary.
“When is it necessary to defrost my Samsung refrigerator?”
As I said earlier, there are 2 situations.
One is when your fridge has temperature issues.
Either it’s not cooling properly. Or it’s too cold and frozen inside.
Last is when your unit has thick ice build-up inside.
This is a clear sign that something is wrong with your fridge. And defrosting it is an easy and temporary fix.