Stainless French-door refrigerator in a white kitchen next to a range

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Known issue: Samsung French-door fresh-food evaporator ices up (fan rattle, fridge warm)

On Samsung French-door refrigerators with a separate fresh-food evaporator (for example RF28 and RF263 families), owners and repair sites widely report ice building on the fresh-food evaporator until it blocks airflow or strikes the fan. Causes reported include incomplete defrost, a weak defrost heater and an off-calibration defrost sensor. We found no Samsung service bulletin or recall for it, so treat it as a known field pattern, not a manufacturer-acknowledged defect.

Cross-checked ~90 min moderateBrands: Samsung

Before you start

Unplug the refrigerator before removing the evaporator cover or touching the fan.
Never chip ice off the coil with tools; a punctured evaporator is sealed-system work for an EPA 608-certified technician.
Keep heat sources moving and at a distance from plastic parts.

Diagnostic steps

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OnCall Tech is a reference tool for trained technicians and can make mistakes. Always disconnect power and confirm with the manufacturer's documentation before you work.

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