Why Force a Defrost – Samsung Refrigeration
Courtesy of Richard Sedlack, Owner/Lead Trainer, Level 2 Learning
**NOTICE**
Due the danger and complexity of electronics repair, the following shared technical tips are intended for professional reference only. Please refer to manufacturer’s recommendations as Encompass does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability or safety of this information.
Since the Genesis of Electronically-Controlled Refrigerators in 2000, one of the first questions I am asked during training is “How do I put (it) into DEFROST?” The “It” being the brand of refrigerator I am training on that session. As a Field Engineer, the reason seems obvious: defrost system components are among the top replaced parts for a “no cool” complaint. The ability to energize that system for testing is a must.
But with Samsung, there are many more procedures that require this. In these cases, you need to Force Defrost before taking one tool out of your bag. Why? For one, removal of the Direct Contact Icemaker. This system includes the icemaker “clamped” to an evaporator tube. Force Defrost, indicated as “Fd” on the seven segment displays, activates the ice maker’s heater loop as well. In fact, depending on the model you are working on, Force Defrost will also activate other electric heaters in the appliance. Those may include the fill tube heater, damper door heaters and duct heaters, besides the obvious defrost heater. Regardless, removing that icemaker while it is frozen to the cooling tube will result in YOU buying the customer a new refrigerator.
But wait, there’s more! Since Samsung’s evaporator covers are mounted so close to the evaporator itself, it is a MUST to Force Defrost before attempting to remove that cover. If not, it’s a sure bet the compressed foam type insulation behind the cover will break, and air flow will be severely compromised upon reassembly.
How do you Force Defrost? Well, on “tabletop” control models, press the Power Freeze and Fridge buttons simultaneously for about 8 seconds, until the display goes blank. Then, press any other button until “Fd” appears. A Beep should sound and defrost begins.
For dispenser models, press Freezer (top left) and Lighting (middle right) buttons simultaneously for about 8 seconds, until the display goes blank. Then, press any other button until “Fd” appears.
After complete you MUST disconnect from power to reset! As always, refer to the Samsung Fast Track Document for the model in question to verify. For some older models with bar level display, you must refer to the Fast Track for that model. Work smarter, Not harder.
Comments (37)
How often does one have to do the force defrost?
There is nothing in our service manual on doing this.
Or is this unusual, and I will need new parts?
French door froze ice and refrig after 1.5 years in use.
Hi Michelle, so sorry for the delayed response. Will see what we can find out for you from our vendor partners.
Way too often. The time between forced defrosts are necessary just gets shorter and shorter.
How to “ reset “ the fridge after Fd mode? Thank you
Can you open door during forced defrost and not interrupt 20 minute process?
Hello:
I followed your instructions and while the fridge is now showing FD, there is an intermittent beep. I thought the unit will beep once for confirmation and proceed to that mode. Is it normal to have an intermittent beep while on FD? Kindly please advise. Thank you.
Hi TR, will see what we can find out for you from our vendor partners.
I’ve used these instructions twice to defrost mine. It annoyingly beeps the entire time, about 20 minutes. And sometimes it needs a second defrost if it heavily iced over.
Yes, it’s normal to constantly beep once per second during the entire forced defrost. About 20 minutes, for a grand total of about 1,200 beeps to tell you it’s doing what you instructed it to do. Apparently Samsung engineers find it amusing to annoy you with beeping on top of being annoyed that you need to do a forced defrost.
LOL, so true
I get flashing lights and the – – and nothing. I can’t get to the fd
That’s what I’m getting this time, too. I’ve done a FD in a few times this year but now it’s doing as you described. Did you get anyone to figure out how to get to the FD? I have an RF23M8070 model.
I have an RF23M8070 model.The control lock light has to be off first, press the freezer button and control lock button together for about 12 seconds everything on the display will start flashing you let go and press the control lock button 4 times till it reads FD it will start beeping now i have to figure out how to get it out ov demo/store mode
Did you figure out the last step–how to get out of the demo/store mode? I am not sure i want to go with the forced defrost? I appreciate your post, since everything else i could find was not specific for my model.. This whole issue is really a joke.
Hi Michelle,
My Samsung ice maker is frozen solid. Lesson learned: be sure to empty the ice bucket on a regular basis so it doesn’t become frozen. Rather than break something trying to force the ice out I thought defrosting would be the best practice. I didn’t want to just unplug it and hope that works. Should I follow the directions above to defrost? Your feedback is appreciated.
Best Regards,
Paul
Just finished manually defrosting my Samsung French Door Fridge for the SECOND time and I purchased it in 2015. Reading this thread, I have 2 questions:
1. Does this Forced Defrost eliminate the need to take the insides apart and melt all the built up ice every 12 months?
2. Does the Forced Defrost also defrost the Freezer at the same time?
Our freezer works fine just don’t want to spoil what’s in there.
The ice maker and water dispenser stopped working on our Samsung RS261 French Door refrigerator. We have been told that the water tank is frozen and that we need to defrost by leaving the doors open for 24 hours. Would a forced defrost work to defrost the water tank? We have a lot of food in there and it will be a hassle to keep the perishables on ice in a cooler for 24+ hours. If we could get it done in a shorter time, that would be great. Thanks!
Steve B I have the same questions and we probably have the same model. I also bought mine in 2015. The stupid ice maker is in the fridge, the middle and freezer drawers are doing great. My main fridge is not running as cold as it should. Milk spoils in days and the twin cooling vents in the back have ice coming out. I think that the fan is frozen or something.
I really appreciate the tips and comments here! We have had our Samsung for about four years and this is the first time it’s frozen up. I chipped away the cubes that were blocking The tray and scraped the frost. I used the Force Defrost and then dried out the chamber and tray with a paper towel. It took about two hours for the first batch of cubes to drop but it works! I think I’ll be checking the unit monthly from now on.
there’s a known problem with the icemakes in Samsung fridges. All you have to do is speak yo Samsung and they should fix under warranty. Ive had mine replaced twice and the front door due to premature rust. I couldnt fault Samsung for their service on this at all but im alittle disappointed in the issues we’ve had given the purchase price if the product
I’m trying to defrost and have pressed Freezer/Fridge together. Then everything lights up and it looks like it’s “locked”. I can’t get to fd and don’t know what to do. Please help since the fridge is making noise, yet again, after spending $300 to change the back panel.
I Just successfully put freezer in fd mode after trying for 30min different button combos (as my model didn’t match the descriptions). Hold the top left button and the middle right button down together to reach this hidden menu.
Hello, should we leave the refrigerator doors closed or open for for the defrost?
Hi Lisa, according to the manufacturer, here are the steps to take; hope this helps!
To perform a manual defrost:
Remove all perishable items and empty the ice bucket(s).
Lay down towels underneath the fridge, and keep a good supply of extra towels handy.
Unplug the fridge and prop the doors open.
As time passes and the towels get wet, swap them out for dry ones, until the towels stop getting wet or at least 24 hours pass.
Turn the fridge back on and close the doors. After about 2 hours you can put the food back in.
Closed
Hi Donna, I had the same problem, then found a video that worked for my fridge. Press and hold the Energy Saver and Fridge buttons together for 12 seconds. The screen will go blank. Then press the Fridge button again and FF1 will appear. Press the Fridge button again 3 more times and FD, forced defrost wil appear and the defrost process will start. The process last 20 minutes and the fridge beeps every second the whole time so go and find another room for 20 minutes! After the FD I pressed Energy Saver and Freezer to turn the fridge off, then pressed them again to turn it back on.
Sadly the forced defrost did not solve the problem and we had to buy a new fridge, NOT a Samsung.
Join the Samsung Refrigerator Recall group on Facebook. Samsung freezers have these issues, they can’t be repaired, the NJ AG previously sued them for this, and many people have received refunds for their purchase. The Samsung refrigerators/freezers are lemons.
OMG. We are all having the same issues culminating at this time. Bought mine also 2015 and will have occasional Ice maker issues but nothing I cannot handle by my trusty hairdryer to defrost just the frost inside the ice maker without defrosting the whole fridge. But now I could not even nudge the ice maker tray open. It’s stuck. I’m following these great advice to force defrost. Let’s see what happens. Fridge is still beeping.
I’m a hair dryer user as well… and have also noticed I can avoid some of the issue by ensuring I don’t let the ice bucket get too full. Now however my ice maker is going TICK TICK TICK TICK like a time bomb. I suspect it’s a valve that is activating but can’t get water (frozen line somewhere). Gonna try this stinking Fd except it seems some of our panels are arranged differently? (The energy saver and freezer buttons are reversed in placement for example? )
Have a Samsung double door with 2 ice-maker (purchased Sept-2017); one in top left that dispenses through door and the other in the freezer – bottom left drawer. Had the top one replaced as it constantly froze up and the tech also added a new silicon seal around it as there was a noted problem that frig air would get in and cause continuous thawing.. that fixed that one. Bottom icemaker often over freezes and stops the icemaker. Solutions tried (1) Fridge turned off; (2) DF mode; and (3) unplug. So far the DF mode works after several attempts. The cause (repeatedly) find my teenagers often don’t close the bottom drawer all the way. Otherwise, things seem to work.
From all the different comments and questions No one has answered these questions
1) Does doing a forced defrost help to the fridge return to cooling normally and to be more effcient ?
2.) During a FORCE DEFROST can you leave food and drinks in the fridge while the forced defrost is happening??? Basically are they safe or does food have to be removed amd relocated until the fridge is back normal cooling status and capabilty?
Lex…Stop Fd after 20 minutes and the unit will immediately begin cooling. I have to Fd every 6 weeks or so. Have never removed anything and nothing has ever went bad…..
Be Careful, on some Samsung models FD is freezer defrost. RD is refrigerator defrost. If your fan is hitting the ice buildup in the fridge there are some good videos on Youtube that show how to get rid of the ice and save $300 on a service call. I don’t know how long it lasts but it took six years to get to this point….
My Refrigerator is a Samsung RF 267. I usually have to defrost the whole refrigerator for a day or so and wait till the drain tube thaws out. I have in the past replaced the temp thermister at the same time. My symptom is Ice under the crisper. I tried replacing the tab with a longer one which didn’t help either. I have the internals out now waiting for the thaw. while out I plugged the fan and temp control sensors in and plugged the refrigerator in . I then went into FD (forced defrost) the heating coil got hot so that is not the issue. I will now try to use the FD once a month to see if that will alleviate the problem.
@Bill Kalway
We have the same fridge same issue with Ice under the crisper. Some times the water bladder freezes too. Besides periodic FD,. Keep the back of the freezer tray as clear as possible. Boxes of frozen foods block the cold air flowing down into the freezer. Best of luck!
[…] Full Defrost (FD): Alternatively, you can select FD, which refers to a full defrost. As the name suggests, selecting this mode will start the defrost cycle for all compartments, particularly the fridge and freezer compartments. That option is ideal for situations like when you need to move the fridge to another location. […]
Same issue here (purchased 2015 :() Question – after FD is complete, what next? Unplug and then plug back in? Does it automatically restart after a set time (I have seen 20 minutes and i have seen 1 hour). Or do you need to go through and select a different code for normal mode? Thank you!