Many owners of Samsung refrigerators and LG refrigerators face the same problem: the evaporator in the fresh food section starts to freeze up. At first glance, the freezer seems to work just fine, but the refrigerator compartment slowly loses cooling or even stops cooling completely.
This issue is most common in French Door models with the freezer at the bottom. If you look through the vent holes on the back panel, you may notice frost or even a block of ice. That’s a clear sign the defrost system is not working. If you live in Vancouver WA, Portland OR or nearby, chances are you’ve seen this issue before.
Diagnostics: What We Check
Many people think proper diagnostics require removing the back evaporator cover, which at this stage is often blocked by ice. In reality, that’s not always necessary. Our refrigerator repair service starts with the main control board.
We connect the tester directly to the board connectors that supply the defrost heater.
This way we can test the entire circuit – fuse, heater, and defrost sensor (bi-metal sensor).
Then we enter Test Mode:
- Force Defrost (Fd) – forced defrost (we recommend this for checking the freezer).
- Relay Check (rd) – relay check (we recommend this for checking the fresh food section).
- Auto test at startup (the system checks relays during the first 3 seconds).
If the circuit is fine but no voltage is sent – the problem is in the control board. If voltage is supplied, you can hear and see it: the heater warms, ice starts melting, and water drips with a noticeable hissing sound.
We’re not guessing – we can clearly confirm if the circuit works or not.
⚠️ Note: refrigerators operate under dangerous voltage. Diagnostics should only be done with caution.
Why the Control Board Fails
The control board in LG refrigerators and Samsung refrigerators works the same way:
- power relays that switch the heater,
- a microprocessor,
- supporting electronic components.
In practice, it’s almost always the power relays that fail. The heater, fuse, and sensors may be perfectly fine, but if the relay burns out, no power goes to the heater.
👉 That’s the whole point of this article and our real cases: in many situations you don’t need to replace the entire control board for $300-350. Instead, with proper appliance repair diagnostics, it’s often enough to replace (resolder) the faulty relay. This solution saves the customer hundreds of dollars and fixes the problem just as well.
Real Cases From Our Practice
📌 LG Refrigerator Repair – Control Board Failure
A client called us because the fresh food section was not cooling.
When testing from the control board, the circuit didn’t ring through – the fuse and bi-metal sensor assembly were burned out.
We replaced the assembly and tested the heater – everything worked.
But just 4 hours later the same error returned. After a second visit, we confirmed the relays on the board had burned out completely. A new board costs $300-350 plus shipping and tax, which was too much for this retired couple.
Instead, we found a smarter solution: we ordered relays for $12.50, resoldered them, and reinstalled the board. In Force Defrost everything worked fine. A week later we checked in – the refrigerator was running perfectly.
📌 Samsung Refrigerator Repair – Frozen Back Panel
Another case: the back wall of a Samsung refrigerator was frozen solid, with condensation forming outside the panel.
In Force Defrost, the heater didn’t turn on. All sensors and the heater tested fine. We resoldered the relays on-site, reassembled the board, and restarted the unit. Immediately the heater engaged, the ice melted, and water started dripping with a hiss.
The customer saw with their own eyes how the defrost system came back to life. Important: if the evaporator has been frozen for too long, the evaporator cover gets deformed and waterlogged. In that case, it must be replaced to restore proper insulation. But that’s just one OEM part – not a full $300 control board.
Again, the customer was a retired couple, and saving money was a big relief.
Conclusions for Owners
If the freezer works but the refrigerator section doesn’t cool, this is a common problem in Samsung and LG French Door refrigerators. You don’t always need to remove the back cover – the entire circuit can be checked directly from the control board. By listening for the hissing sound of melting ice, you can confirm if the heater is working.
In many cases, appliance repair can be limited to resoldering a $12.50 relay instead of replacing a $350 control board. But other issues are possible too: failed heater, clogged drain line, faulty sensors, or wiring problems. That’s why full diagnostics are essential. Check our full service areas to see if we can help in your location.
The EasyFix team 🤝
No Upsells. No Nonsense. Just Honest Work.
📍 Serving Ridgefield WA, Vancouver WA, Portland OR & Nearby Areas
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❓ FAQ – Samsung & LG Refrigerator Defrost Problems
Why does the freezer work but the refrigerator section doesn’t?
This happens often with Samsung refrigerators and LG refrigerators. They usually have two cooling circuits and two evaporators. When one evaporator gets blocked with ice, airflow stops. One compartment works fine while the other “dies.” One common reason is a control board failure – usually burned relays.
Can I just defrost the refrigerator to fix it?
Yes, but only temporarily. If you turn it off for a day, the ice melts and cooling returns. But after a few weeks or a month, the problem comes back because the defrost system problem wasn’t solved.
Can I enter Test Mode myself?
Yes, but only if you know what you’re doing. In Test Mode:
- Force Defrost (Fd) – forced defrost, recommended for checking the freezer.
- Relay Check (rd) – relay check, recommended for checking the fresh food section.
After a few minutes you should hear the heater: ice starts hissing and dripping.
How much does the repair cost?
- Relay replacement only – around $320-350.
- Relay replacement plus new evaporator cover – around $500 total.
💡 Prices are approximate. The exact cost is determined after diagnostics.
⚡ If your refrigerator shows these symptoms – don’t wait until it stops completely. We provide honest diagnostics and repair with OEM parts – no upsells, no guesswork.
