Why this Samsung refrigerator kept icing up

The refrigerator section wasn’t cooling, but the freezer still worked. Behind the rear panel, ice had built up around the upper part of the evaporator. The lower section was much clearer. That uneven pattern helped us focus the inspection on the upper evaporator area.

It had been defrosted about a week earlier. The ice came back. We removed silicone left around the assembly, added a small heater to the upper area, and replaced the defrost sensor after checking its resistance.

A working freezer didn’t explain the warm refrigerator

A freezer that still freezes food can make a refrigerator problem confusing. In this case, the technician traced the refrigerator-side problem to ice building up near the evaporator fan. That fan moves cold air through the refrigerator section. Ice that interferes with the blades can interrupt airflow even while another compartment remains cold.

Another Samsung with a similar symptom needs its own diagnosis. Our refrigerator-not-cooling guide covers other faults that can produce a similar complaint.

The ice was concentrated above the coil

The upper area stood out once the panel was off. Ice surrounded the upper tubing and nearby components, while much of the lower coil remained exposed.

A photo of clear lower coils doesn’t prove that the heater, controls, and sensors all work correctly. It shows where ice remained at that moment. We used the pattern as part of the diagnosis instead of treating another defrost as the whole repair.

Silicone was also visible around the assembly. We removed it during the work. Its presence doesn’t establish the original cause of the icing, and adding more sealant wasn’t the approach we chose here.

What we changed in the upper area

We fitted an auxiliary heater in the area where ice had been collecting. The package shown in the video identifies a Supco SH201, rated at 15 watts. Another refrigerator needs a separate compatibility check.

The technician also replaced the defrost sensor because its resistance reading raised a concern. He checked a separate temperature sensor and left it in place.

We protected the connection with adhesive-lined heat shrink and tape. Heater selection and placement depend on the particular appliance, so this case shouldn’t be used as wiring instructions.

What the final check does tell us

After we cleared the ice, the fan turned freely by hand. The video ends with that mechanical check and the part we used; it doesn’t show a measured cooling result or a later follow-up.

If your refrigerator keeps icing up

Before arranging service, note which compartment feels warm and whether you hear a fan scraping or stopping. A photograph of accessible frost can help explain the complaint. Leave internal panels and electrical parts to a technician.

Tell the technician if the refrigerator was recently defrosted and how soon the symptoms came back. That history mattered here. A recurring problem deserves a diagnosis of the cause before deciding which repair suits the appliance.

For a related Samsung problem involving the ice maker rather than refrigerator airflow, see our Samsung ice-maker guide. Our Samsung service page describes the appliances we service.

Epic Star serves Los Angeles-area customers. If your refrigerator section is warming up while the freezer still works, request refrigerator service or call/text (213) 205-2055. Include the model number and what each compartment is doing so we can start with the right information.