Samsung Refrigerator Fan Noise Ice Buildup Troubleshooting!

A faulty fan is probably the noisiest part of a Samsung refrigerator. Suppose the fan is not just loud, but you also notice a large mass of ice around it. If so, you should troubleshoot the Samsung refrigerator fan noise ice buildup.

Generally, there’s ice buildup around the refrigerators fan because of a clogged drain hole, moisture from uncovered foods, condensation in the base pantry tray, blocked vents, or a faulty gasket. And now, the noise is likely from the fan blades hitting the large obstructive ice mass.

So, the problem’s source is often the ice buildup that the fan blade rubs against. Once you stop the ice accumulation, you will likely stop the noise. 

Note, however, that the noise sometimes relates to an unleveled fridge or damaged fan blade, which you also need to examine. 

To help you, I’ll discuss all these probable causes, highlighting the easiest and most effective DIY fixes. Let’s get started!

In a rush? Below is a table showing the most likely causes of a noisy and frosty Samsung refrigerator fan and the fixes:

Quick Samsung Refrigerator Fan Noise Ice Buildup Fix Guide

How to Troubleshoot a Samsung Refrigerator Fan Noise Ice Buildup?

To troubleshoot a frosty and noisy Samsung refrigerator fan, you’ve first to fix the excess ice as it could be the source of the noise. Here’s how to go about it;

Fixing Samsung Refrigerator Fan Ice Buildup

Ice may collect around the Samsung refrigerator for different reasons and is never a good thing. You can tell that from the fan’s noise, which could be as rough as a grinding sound or as heavy as a bang/thump.

Here are the most likely causes of excess ice mass around the refrigerator fan and how to go about them.

1. Clogged Drain Hole

If ice collects in the refrigerator’s drain hole, water will leak into the base pantry tray and form a pool. The water will then evaporate and condense around the fan and other places. 

Fix 

There are different ways to unclog the drain holes, and they include:

Option 1 (using boiling water)

This method requires you to pour boiling water into the drain hole using a syringe. Then leave the hot water to sit for a few minutes before you siphon it out (again using the syringe).

Option 2 (using heated copper wire)

You can also unclog the drain hole using a 6-inch long copper wire. The wire should preferably be 3mm in diameter, and you need to twist it around the drain hole. 

But first, you must wrap it around a heater tub to make it hot. That’ll enable the wire to melt the ice chunk in the drain hole.

2. Moisture from Uncovered Food 

You shouldn’t leave food like soup, milk, raw meat, or even water open in the fridge. You should also not leave cut-open fruits or wet vegetables uncovered in the refrigerator. 

If you do, they’ll release moisture which could condense around the fridge fan and form ice. The more moisture, the more the ice builds up.

Fix 

Cover open foods in the fridge. But first, defrost the fan using the tips shared below. 

3. Condensation in The Base Pantry Tray

The pantry tray at the bottom of your Samsung fridge often accumulates water from condensation. If the water collection is excessive and the rate of condensation is high, ice will form and may grow to obstruct the fan. 

Fix 

You can remove the excess water from the base pantry tray by pulling the tray out and cleaning it. 

4. Obstructed Air Vents

Over time, the air vents at the back of your Samsung refrigerator collect dust which blocks them and interferes with the defrosting. Food could also block the air vents if you stack the containers too close.

Fix 

Vacuum the air vents to get rid of the excess dust. And if the food containers are too close to each other, spread them evenly in the fridge.

5. Faulty Gasket

For cooling to take place effectively, the door seal or gasket should provide a tight seal. So, if your Samsung refrigerator won’t cool, there is always the chance that the gasket is loose, damaged, or worn out. If it is, air will enter the fridge, condense, and become ice.

Fix 

Inspect the door gasket. If it looks faulty and nonfunctional, replace it.

Fixing Samsung Refrigerator Fan Noise

Now, if your Samsung refrigerator fan is not just frosty but noisy too, consider first defrosting it before you can look at the discussed issues and their fixes.

When the problem recurs, you should get into the root cause, where the table above and the earlier fixes come in.

Overall, you could be looking at the fan blade hitting the accumulated ice. In this case, you’ll have to defrost the ice mass using any of these two options:

Option 1 – Hair dryer/handheld steamer method

This option requires you to:

• Unplug the refrigerator from the power
• Empty the food
• Take away the back panel (you may need to unscrew it)
• Undo the plugs on the backside
• Pass a hairdryer or handheld steamer to defrost the ice 
• Get things back as they were after the ice melts

Option 2 – Manual defrost

You can also defrost the ice manually without a hair dryer or steamer by following these steps:

• Unplug the fridge and empty it
• Remove the back panel and allow it to sit for a few hours

Alternatively, unplug the fridge from the power and empty its content. Then leave it for 24-48 hours. In this case, you don’t have to remove the back panel. That makes the option ideal for Samsung fridge owners who aren’t handy.

Other Possibilities for a Samsung Refrigerator Fan Noise

Excessive ice buildup around the fan is not the only reason for a noisy Samsung refrigerator fan blade. You could also be looking at these other possibilities:

· Unleveled fridge

If your Samsung refrigerator is not resting on leveled ground, there is always the risk of it shaking and making a vibrating noise. If it does, the fan may become loose and will start making some noise. The vibration could also result in released moisture displacement and condensation around the fan.

Fix – You need to check your fridge and level it, as that could be why the fan is noisy. If possible, level its legs properly or change its position and ensure the new location is uniform.

·  Wrecked fan blade

If the unit’s fan blade is wrecked, it will struggle to push cold air across the fridge condenser coils. As a result, it’ll make noise, which can be annoying.

Fix – Consider replacing the fan blade if it appears shattered. You may need to remove the unit’s back panel to access and examine the fan blade.

Other Probable Causes of a Samsung Refrigerator Fan Noise Ice Buildup

In addition to the shared reasons, your Samsung refrigerator fan may accumulate ice and eventually become noisy from rubbing against it due to any of these reasons (they are the least likely, though)

• Faulty evaporator fan – A defective Samsung evaporator fan will likely make noise when running. If so, you need to replace it. You can ask for a service technician’s help here. 
• Dirty condenser fan – You should clean the condenser coils if they look dusty. Consider using a commercial refrigerator condenser cleaner or brush to make the job easier.
• Faulty thermistor – A defective thermistor interferes with your unit temperature control, and that could accuse excessive frosting around the fan. So, test the thermistor’s continuity with a multitester/multimeter and replace it if it’s faulty.
• Malfunctioning thermostat – The thermostat could have the same effect as the thermistor if faulty. So, you also need to test its continuity and replace it if it shows negative continuity.

People Also Ask

1. Why Does My Samsung Refrigerator Fan Keep Icing Up?

Your Samsung refrigerator fan keeps icing because of a clogged drain hole, moisture from uncovered food, condensation in the base pantry tray, blocked vents, or a faulty gasket. Another possibility is a malfunctioning defrost component. 

2. How Do You Defrost the Fan On a Samsung Refrigerator?

You can manually defrost a Samsung refrigerator fan by unplugging the unit for 24-48 hours or overnight. You can also melt the large ice with a handheld steamer or hair dryer. Alternatively, if the buttons are present, you can press the Fridge + Energy saver switches for at least 8 seconds.

3. Why Is My Fridge Fan Freezing Up?

Several reasons could explain the freezing up of the fridge fan. They include condensation in the pantry tray, blocked vents, a clogged drain hole, a bad door seal, and a faulty defrost system. Sometimes, however, the issue could be the wrong temperature setting. 

Closing Thought On Samsung Refrigerator Fan Noise Ice Buildup!

Discussed are the reasons your Samsung refrigerator fan is frosty and noisy. Remember, it starts with defrosting the fan. If that doesn’t work, address the root cause, ranging from clogged drain holes and uncovered food to obstructed air vents and faulty gaskets.

Also Read:

• Why Samsung Refrigerator Stops Making Noise When the Door Opens
• How to Troubleshoot Samsung Fridge Making Loud Humming Noise
• Why Your Samsung Refrigerator is Making an Owl Noise