How To Turn Off Your Samsung Refrigerator

If you want to turn off your Samsung refrigerator either because you are moving home or going on a long holiday and you want to know how to do it, keep reading.

In this article we explain exactly how to turn off your Samsung fridge saving you energy and removing the worry of leaving an electrical appliance running unsupervised for an extended period.

How To Turn A Samsung Fridge Off

A Samsung refrigerator has one cooling system that serves both the fridge and the freezer sections. If you want to turn the fridge off, you need to turn the whole unit off. This means you can’t turn off the fridge without also turning off the freezer. 

There are three ways that you can turn the refrigerator off which are;

1. Unplug The Fridge
2. Flip The Circuit Breaker
3. Put The Fridge Into Demo Mode

Samsung refrigerators have no on/off buttons which means you need to cut the power to turn the appliance off. Let’s take a closer look at each method;

Unplug The Fridge

The most reliable and safest way to turn the fridge off is to unplug it from the wall socket. This cuts the power completely and will protect your appliance from power surges, fluctuations in power or other electrical issues while you are away.

Before removing the plug, you should turn the switch on the wall socket to the off position. It is then safe to remove the plug and completely cut the power to the appliance.

This is the best method if you are moving home as you will need to disconnect the fridge to move it to your new home. If you are going on an extended holiday and the appliance is fitted between other appliances or cupboards etc, this might not be a viable option. In which case, you should;

Flip The Circuit Breaker

If you can’t get to the plug and wall socket for whatever reason, you should flip the switch on the circuit breaker. In most cases, refrigerators have a separate circuit breaker either included inside your home’s breaker box. Or a separate single circuit breaker probably located in the kitchen close to the refrigerator.

All you need to do is flip the circuit breaker to the off position. This effectively isolates the fridge from the power supply.

Put The Fridge Into Demo Mode

Your Samsung refrigerator has a demo mode function which is designed to be used in the showroom. It allows the refrigerator to function but stops the compressor from running. This means the fridge and freezer section will no longer get any cold air.

This function saves energy but is no good if you have any food in the fridge or freezer. You will need to consult your user manual for the correct way to access the demo mode. 

Typically you will need to;

1. Tap the control panel screen to activate it
2. Press and hold the first 2 buttons on the left-hand side of the screen until you hear a beep
3. Once you hear the beep, release the buttons

On some models you’ll need to press and hold the first 2 buttons on the left-hand side of the screen as well as the button on the top right-hand side.

Once your Samsung refrigerator is in demo mode you will see OFF or OF or OF OF on the display screen. When you want to exit the demo mode simply repeat the above actions.

What Can Cause A Samsung Refrigerator To Turn Off?

If your Samsung refrigerator turns itself off when it should be running, it could cause all of your food to spoil. There are several reasons why your Samsung fridge might turn off which include;

Probable Cause	Solution
Damaged Power Cord	Check and replace the power cord if necessary
Defective Wall Socket	Check and replace the wall socket if necessary
Appliance Overheating	Address whatever is causing the fridge to overheat
Dirty Condenser Coils	Clean the condenser coils
Defective Defrost Timer	Replace the defrost timer
Frozen Evaporator Coils	Perform a force defrost or manual defrost
Defective Control Board	Check the control board and replace if necessary

Let’s take a closer look at each of these issues;

Damaged Power Cord

If the power cord has been damaged it can disrupt the power supply to the refrigerator and cause it to randomly turn itself off. You will need to inspect the power cord and check for any fraying, signs of burning, or exposed or bent wires.

You will need to replace the power cord if any of the above are visible.

Defective Wall Socket

If the power cord appears to be OK, you should inspect the wall socket and check if it is loose at all. It could just be that the plug isn’t inserted into the socket fully or the actual socket is faulty.

If the socket is at fault, you will need to contact an electrician to replace the socket for you.

Appliance Overheating

The fridge could be cutting out if it is overheating. There are a few things that could cause the fridge to overheat which include;

• The Fridge Is Too Close To A Source Of Heat
  If your fridge has been placed close to the cooker, a radiator, a sunny window or some other source of heat, it could overheat and cut out. To solve this, you will need to move the fridge to a cooler position.
• It Is Situated Too Close To Surrounding Objects
  Your Samsung refrigerator needs at least a 1 to 2 inch gap all around it. That’s the back, sides and above the appliance. This allows adequate air flow to keep the appliance operating at its best.
• The Room Is Too Hot
  If the temperature of the room is too hot, it can make the components of the refrigerator work too hard which can lead to the appliance cutting out.
• The Condenser Coils Are Blocked
  The condenser coils need to be kept free from any obstruction to work properly (see below).

Dirty Condenser Coils

The job of the condenser coils is to remove heat from the fridge allowing it to stay cool. Over time, the condenser coils get covered in dirt and dust which prevents them from doing the job they were designed to do.

If that is the case, it can prevent the condenser coils from communicating with the control board. Which could cause the fridge to turn itself off.

To solve this you will need to remove all of the dirt and dust from the condenser coils using a dry cloth, brush or for excessive amounts of dust, a vacuum cleaner.

Please Note; Before attempting to clean the condenser coils, you should disconnect the power supply.

Defective Defrost Timer

The defrost timer is part of the defrost system on your Samsung refrigerator. It is designed to activate the defrost system every 6 to 12 hours to prevent the buildup of ice.

If the defrost timer develops a fault, ice will build up on the evaporator coils and interrupt the cooling process of your appliance and cause other components to fail.

If the defrost timer is defective, we recommend contacting a technician to investigate and replace it for you.

Frozen Evaporator Coils

The evaporator coils are responsible for cooling the fridge. As the refrigerant changes from a liquid to a gas through evaporation, it cools the area around it.

If the evaporator coils become frozen, it will interfere with the proper operating temperature of the fridge which could cause it to cut out.

You can try to force defrost your refrigerator to solve this by doing the following;

1. Press and hold the power freeze and fridge buttons until you hear a beep (around 10 seconds)
2. This will initiate the force defrost function

On some models you will need to deactivate the lock function first by pressing the lock button for around 3 seconds.

If the force defrost fails to clear the ice buildup, you can try disconnecting the power supply and emptying the appliance and leaving the doors open for 12 to 24 hours.

Defective Control Board

If everything else we’ve already mentioned hasn’t solved the issue, all that’s left is the control board. If the control board develops a fault, it is likely to cause the appliance to randomly turn itself on and off. 

If you suspect a defective control board is the cause of the problem, we recommend contacting a technician to investigate and fix this issue.

SEE ALSO: How to Defrost Any Samsung Refrigerator (the proper way)

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