Samsung fridge making noises and not cooling

If the freezer is still working but the fridge section is warm, the most common issue is that the cold air from the freezer isn’t getting through to the fridge properly. The noise may help point to whether it’s a fan, ice build-up, or the compressor struggling.

Before checking anything internal, isolate the appliance from the mains.

1. Check for heavy frost or ice build-up If it’s a frost-free Samsung, remove the fridge rear inner panel if accessible only after unplugging, or first look for signs such as a very cold freezer but poor fridge cooling, plus whirring, buzzing or rubbing noises. A blocked evaporator from ice can stop airflow to the fridge.

2. Listen to the type of noise A clicking or repeated buzzing from the back can suggest compressor/start relay trouble. A scraping or ticking noise inside often points to the evaporator fan catching on ice. If the noise is from inside the freezer area, fan/ice is more likely than the sealed system.

3. Check the evaporator fan is running Open the freezer and listen after closing the door switch. If the fan isn’t running, the fridge section often warms up while the freezer appears OK. A failed fan motor, ice obstruction, or wiring fault are all possible.

4. Check the air vents and door seals Make sure food isn’t blocking the vents between freezer and fridge. Also inspect the fridge door seal for gaps, as warm air ingress can cause icing and poor circulation.

5. Try a full manual defrost If you suspect ice build-up, switch off, empty it, and leave doors open for 24–48 hours with towels down. If it works again afterwards, the likely fault is in the auto-defrost system, fan, or sensors rather than a simple one-off issue.

If it still won’t cool properly after a full defrost, it will need proper diagnosis of the fan, defrost heater/thermistor, control fault, or possibly compressor/sealed system issues. For any mains electrical testing or sealed refrigeration work, use a qualified appliance engineer.

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