Why Is My Samsung Fridge Not Cooling, but Freezer Works?

It can be baffling to find that the freezer section of your Samsung refrigerator appears to be working fine, yet the fridge section isn’t cooling. However, there are logical reasons why this issue can occur. This article will go through these possible causes so you can move forward with getting it fixed.

Here’s why your Samsung fridge isn’t cooling, even though the freezer is working fine.

Dirty or damaged door seal

The door seal, also called the gasket, creates an airtight seal all the way around the door when it is closed. This seal ensures that the cold air inside the refrigerator stays inside and does not escape, and also ensures that the warm air outside the refrigerator stays outside and does not enter.

If the gasket on the fridge door is damaged, loose, or dirty, the airtight seal can be compromised, leading to gaps that allow air to flow in and out. This causes the fridge’s temperature to rise and forces the appliance to work harder to maintain a cool temperature, which results in higher energy consumption.

If the freezer is working fine but the fridge is warm, it could be that the seal on the freezer door is okay, but not on the fridge. Replacing a damaged seal isn’t an expensive or difficult job; most people can do it themselves. If the seal looks dirty, try cleaning it with warm, soapy water to see if that fixes the issue.

The fridge door was left open

If the fridge door is frequently opened by people rummaging for snacks—perhaps you have hungry teens—the fridge is continuously flooded with warm air, preventing it from reaching and maintaining the correct temperature. It might also have been accidentally left open for a long period.

Since people are more likely to search for quick snacks in the fridge than in the freezer, this can create the appearance that the freezer is working fine while the fridge isn’t. In reality, the fridge simply isn’t being given a chance to work properly.

Try leaving the fridge closed for several hours without opening the door and see if the temperature drops as a result.

Incorrect fridge temperature settings

The temperature should be set to 37°F for the fridge section of your Samsung refrigerator. Refer to your user manual for information on how to check and adjust the temperature of the fridge. This typically involves using the digital display or turning a temperature dial.

Blocked vents

While your Samsung refrigerator should be kept around two-thirds full to allow it to run efficiently, overfilling can have the opposite effect. When items are packed tightly together or cover the vents inside, airflow is restricted, preventing cold air from circulating around the refrigerator. This can result in a fridge that doesn’t cool properly.

If the fridge or freezer section is overfilled, try removing some food items to see if this helps.

Hot items were placed inside

If you’re the type of person who likes to batch cook meals to keep in the refrigerator to eat throughout the week, and you’re placing containers of hot food straight into the refrigerator after cooking, this will definitely cause the fridge’s temperature to rise.

The more hot food you place inside, the more dramatic the change will be, and the longer the fridge will take to cool back down. Rather than placing items in the fridge while they are still piping hot, allow them to cool down until they are lukewarm or closer to room temperature.

Faulty evaporator fan or ice buildup on coils

The evaporator fan circulates cold air from the evaporator coils to both the freezer and fridge sections of your Samsung refrigerator. However, if the evaporator fan stops working, it can sometimes result in uneven cooling, with the freezer remaining cold while the fridge becomes too warm.

Similarly, if the evaporator coils freeze over, the freezer can stay cold, as the freezer section is close to the coils in many Samsung models. Meanwhile, the fridge becomes warm because the evaporator coils can no longer effectively absorb heat.

Both issues can also be interconnected, with ice buildup on or near the coils obstructing the evaporator fan, preventing it from working. Or, the fan may stop working first, leading to inadequate airflow over the coils, which can then cause them to freeze over.

That’s why we’ve grouped both of these issues into one category. If you’re checking one, you might as well check the other. Follow these steps to do so:

1. Open the fridge or freezer door and listen to see if you can hear the evaporator fan spinning.
2. Unplug your Samsung refrigerator.
3. Remove the back panel inside the freezer.
4. Inspect the evaporator fan for ice buildup or any broken blades. Spin it manually to check if it turns freely.
5. Check whether the evaporator coils have ice buildup or a thick layer of frost. A thin layer of frost is normal.
6. If the coils are frozen over, leave the door open and allow them to thaw out over several hours, or you can speed up the process by using a hair dryer on a mild setting.
7. If you suspect the evaporator fan is damaged or not working, replace it with a new one.
8. Reassemble the refrigerator once you’re sure the fan is working and the coils are defrosted. Plug the appliance back in and wait to see if the fridge is now cooling properly.

Issues with other components

Problems with other components may also result in your freezer working fine, while the fridge does not. For instance, there might be an issue with the temperature control thermostat, low refrigerant levels, problems with the control board, a faulty thermistor, or a defect in the defrost system.

However, these issues are less likely than those mentioned above to cause this exact problem, and some of them are quite complex to diagnose and fix. So, if the steps above have not resolved the issue, we recommend calling a professional to assess your appliance.

Additionally, when a major component is at fault, Samsung refrigerators usually display an error code. If your Samsung refrigerator isn’t displaying an error code, the cause is likely one of the issues we mentioned previously.