Samsung refrigerator repair and error codes
RepairWell repairs Samsung refrigerators in Ottawa and Gatineau as an independent service. We are not authorized by Samsung, and repairs that fall under Samsung's own warranty should go through Samsung Canada. This page gathers what Samsung itself publishes about its fridge error codes and ice makers, so you can rule out the simple causes before you book.
Two things set Samsung fridges apart when something goes wrong. First, the display reports faults as short codes, and Samsung asks owners not to unplug the fridge or press buttons to clear a code unless its instructions say to, because that makes the fault harder for a technician to trace. Second, on many models the ice maker sits in its own compartment in the fresh-food section, with the ice bucket sealing against a chute in the left-hand door; Samsung notes that other models keep the ice maker in the freezer. Samsung's own troubleshooting for ice problems focuses on water pressure, the filter, door alignment and the seals around the ice bucket.
RepairWell is an independent repair service and is not affiliated with or authorized by Samsung.
Samsung refrigerator error codes
The codes below come from Samsung Canada's refrigerator error-code page and, where marked, Samsung US's more detailed version of the same list. Samsung says neither list is complete, and some codes apply only to certain families: 41, 42, 41C and 85C are Family Hub codes, and 76C refers to models with an Autofill pitcher. Samsung Canada's ice-maker pages state that they refer to refrigerators sold in Canada and that settings may differ elsewhere. Codes vary by model, so check the user manual for your model number before acting on any code. On Family Hub models, Samsung US says you can see current and past codes by running Self Check from Fridge Manager on the screen.
| Code | What Samsung says it means | Checks Samsung lists for owners | When to book | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21E | Freezer fan error. Samsung lists the fan being iced over, a failed fan motor or a door left open as possible causes. | Samsung says to defrost the unit and make sure the doors seal completely. Check that food is not packed so tightly that a door cannot close. | Book if 21E returns after the freezer has been defrosted and the doors close and seal fully. | Samsung Canada |
| 22E or 22C | Fridge fan error. Samsung lists a fan problem or a door left open as possible causes. | Samsung says to unplug the fridge for a few hours with the doors open, then plug it back in, close the doors and resume normal use. Move perishable food to a cooler first. | Book if the code comes back after that defrost-and-restart, because the fan or its surroundings then need a technician. | Samsung Canada |
| 88 88, 83E, 85E or 86E | Power or voltage error. Samsung lists a power surge, a brownout or a resulting communication issue as possible causes. | Samsung says to unplug the fridge or switch it off at the breaker for one minute, then restore power. | Book if the same code appears again after one power reset. | Samsung Canada |
| 84C | Compressor lock. Samsung US lists it among codes that need service. | Samsung does not list an owner check for this code; it directs owners to request service. | Book as soon as 84C appears, and check food temperatures while you wait. | Samsung US |
| PC ER or PC CH | Communication error between components. Samsung lists a recent power surge or doors that are not properly connected as possible causes. | Samsung's page says to switch the fridge off at the plug or breaker, wait, then restore power. Samsung also describes reconnecting the wire harness above the door; that is an electrical connection, so we leave it to the technician. | Book if the code remains after power has been restored, or if the door was recently removed and refitted. | Samsung Canada |
| OF OF, O FF or OFF OFF | Cooling Off mode, also called demo or showroom mode. The fridge is not cooling because it is set to display mode; service is not required. | Samsung says to press and hold the top two buttons on the left side of the control panel for 5 to 8 seconds, until a chime sounds, and to repeat if the code returns. Samsung US notes that some newer panels also need the top button on the right side, and that the exact steps are in your user manual. | Book only if the fridge will not leave Cooling Off mode after the steps in your manual. | Samsung Canada |
| Ice Off blinking | The ice bucket is not inserted, or is not inserted correctly. | Reinsert the ice bucket so it sits correctly. Samsung Canada's ice-bucket pages add that it should close completely and that you should not force a bucket that is frozen in place. | Book if the bucket is frozen in place or the light keeps blinking with the bucket fully seated. | Samsung Canada |
| 76C or blinking Autofill indicator | Moisture detected in the Autofill compartment. | Dry the Autofill compartment. Samsung Canada says no service is required unless the code keeps returning. | Book if the compartment keeps getting wet or the code returns after drying. | Samsung Canada |
| 85C | Low-voltage warning on Family Hub, for example after a brief power outage or voltage drop. Samsung Canada calls it harmless. | Press OK for 3 seconds to clear it. | Book if 85C appears repeatedly without any power interruption you are aware of. | Samsung Canada |
| 5E | Fridge defrost sensor error. | Samsung US lists this among codes that need service and gives no owner check. | Book when 5E appears, especially if frost is building on the rear wall of the fridge section. | Samsung US |
| 8E or 14E | Ice maker sensor errors: Samsung US lists 8E as the ice maker (freezer) sensor and 14E as the ice maker sensor. | No owner check is listed for these codes. The general ice-maker steps in Samsung Canada's guide (ice maker on, water pressure, filter) still apply. | Book when either code appears, with the model number and a note of whether ice production has stopped. | Samsung US |
| 33E | Ice pipe heater error. | No owner check is listed; Samsung US directs owners to request service. | Book when 33E appears, particularly if ice is jamming in the chute. | Samsung US |
| 39E or 39C | Ice maker function error. | No owner check is listed for the code itself. Samsung Canada's ice-maker guide describes a Test button on the ice maker that runs a test cycle of about 6 minutes; see your manual for where it is on your model. | Book if the code returns or no ice is made within 8 hours of a test cycle. | Samsung US |
| 40E or 40C | Ice room fan error. | No owner check is listed; Samsung US directs owners to request service. | Book when 40E or 40C appears, noting any frost or ice inside the ice compartment. | Samsung US |
A code tells you what the control board measured, not which part failed. Tell us the code when you book; it shortens the diagnosis. How to read any error code →
Symptom guides for Samsung refrigerators
- Fridge section warm or not cooling
- Freezer not freezing
- Frost on the back wall or in the ice compartment
- Ice maker not making ice or frozen over
- Water dispenser slow or not working
- Water under the crisper drawers or on the floor
- Fan noise, clicking or buzzing
- Food freezing in the fridge section
- Fridge running all the time
Finding the model and serial number
Samsung Canada says the product numbers for its refrigerators are on a label inside the fridge on the left-hand side, with a second label outside at the bottom left. Samsung notes that French-door model numbers typically start with RF, side-by-side with RS, bottom-freezer with RB or RL, and top-freezer with RT. Photograph the whole label, including any version suffix after the model number.
What's specific to Samsung refrigerators
Water supply comes first. Samsung Canada says the ice maker needs at least 20 psi (about 140 kPa) of water pressure, and that the dispenser should fill 6 oz (about 180 ml) in under 10 seconds. Samsung rates its filters at 300 gallons (about 1,100 litres), which it puts at roughly six months for an average household, and says a clogged filter or a reverse-osmosis system can drop pressure below what the ice maker needs. On RS27T and RS22T side-by-side models, Samsung notes two water lines that stop water and ice working if they are cross-connected at installation.
Ice buildup and frost around the ice bucket. On models with the ice maker in the fridge section, Samsung Canada explains that frost in the ice compartment usually comes from warm fridge air getting in: a gap between the ice bucket and the chute in the left door, a damaged or dirty rubber seal on the bucket, or a dispenser flap held open by ice or debris. Its guidance is to clear the frost (a damp cloth for light frost, a plastic scraper for medium frost, a full defrost for heavy frost), level the fridge so it rests on its levelling legs, adjust the doors, and check the bucket seal and flap. Samsung warns against using a hair dryer, and against forcing out a bucket that is frozen in place.
When Samsung says to call. Samsung Canada asks owners to contact it if the ice maker is frozen over with a sheet of ice, if a white wire can be seen hanging from a freezer ice maker after a block of ice is cleared, or if frost returns after the seal checks. For Family Hub and other SmartThings-connected fridges, Samsung says it has released a firmware update that can help prevent and possibly resolve a frozen-over ice maker, and recommends keeping the fridge connected. Samsung's owner pages do not describe a forced-defrost procedure, so we do not give one here; a technician does that on site if the diagnosis calls for it.
Ice production is paced. Samsung Canada says the ice maker stops when the bucket is full or when ice piles up under it, and that after a reset ice may take up to 8 hours to appear and 24 hours to return to normal. A slow ice maker with no error code, Samsung says, does not need service.
Recalls and notices
We found no Health Canada recall for this category when this page was reviewed. We searched the Government of Canada Recalls and safety alerts database, including its open-data export current to 23 September 2026, for Samsung refrigerators and ice makers on 24 September 2026. A recall is a formal safety action published by Health Canada with the manufacturer. A service bulletin is a manufacturer's repair note for technicians, and a complaint is a report from an owner; neither is a recall. If you think your fridge is affected by a safety issue, check recalls-rappels.canada.ca with your model number and contact Samsung Canada.
When to book
Book if a code returns after the one reset or check Samsung lists for it, if Samsung's page says the code needs service, if the ice maker is frozen over, or if the fridge section rises above 4 °C. Tell us the exact code as shown, the model number and what the fridge was doing when it appeared, and leave the fridge as it is if Samsung's page says not to unplug it. The diagnostic is $89 plus tax, waived if you go ahead with the repair, and you get a written finding and quote before any work.
Samsung refrigerator questions
Should I unplug my Samsung fridge to clear an error code?
Only if Samsung's instructions for that code say to. Samsung asks owners not to unplug the fridge or press buttons to clear a code otherwise, because it makes the fault harder for a technician to diagnose.
My Samsung fridge shows OF OF and is not cooling. Is it broken?
Probably not. Samsung says OF OF, O FF or OFF OFF means Cooling Off (demo) mode, and service is not required. Holding the top two buttons on the left of the panel for 5 to 8 seconds until it chimes turns it off on the models Samsung Canada describes; your manual has the exact steps.
Why is there frost or a block of ice in my Samsung ice bucket?
Samsung Canada links frost in the ice compartment to warm air getting in, usually through a gap between the bucket and the door chute, a bucket seal that is damaged or dirty, or a dispenser flap held open by ice. Levelling the fridge and checking those seals are the owner steps. If the ice maker itself is frozen over, Samsung asks owners to contact service.
Can you do a forced defrost on my Samsung ice maker?
A technician can defrost the ice compartment during the visit if the diagnosis calls for it. Samsung's owner pages do not publish a forced-defrost procedure, so we do not give one for home use. Samsung does say not to use a hair dryer.
How much water pressure does a Samsung ice maker need?
Samsung Canada says at least 20 psi. As a rough test, it says the dispenser should fill 6 oz (about 180 ml) in under 10 seconds. If it does not, check that the house supply valve is fully open and try the test with the filter removed.
Do you fix Samsung fridges under warranty?
No. RepairWell is independent and not authorized by Samsung. If your fridge is within Samsung's warranty, contact Samsung Canada first. We can give you an independent written finding for the $89 diagnostic if you want one.
Other brand guides for this appliance
Sources
- Samsung Canada: Common Samsung refrigerator error codes and their meaning
- Samsung US: Samsung refrigerator error codes
- Samsung Canada: Steps to get your Samsung ice maker working again
- Samsung Canada: Steps to restore normal ice production from your Samsung ice maker
- Samsung Canada: Frost forms on your Samsung ice bucket
- Samsung Canada: Samsung ice bucket is stuck or has a block of ice
- Samsung Canada: How to find the model and serial numbers for your Samsung product
- Government of Canada: Recalls and safety alerts (search and open data)
Sources checked 2026-09-24.
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