Samsung Refrigerator
- Samsung RT18M 6213 WW/AA
- Compressor MSV4A1AL1R/TT3
- 0F364DBKB00391P
Problem
- Even at "5 bars", refrigerator compartment won't cool more than 40 degrees below room temperature (can be 85F in August)
- "Power Cool" temporarily lowers temperature more
More information
- In wooden kitchen compartment 33 inches wide, 68 inches high, 27 inches deep, with 3 inch space in back
- Hot garage behind back wall - aluminum foil on wall minimizes radiant heat.
- extra open space inside the back refrigerator compartment surrounding round black vent
- Refrigerator very quiet - expecting more compressor noise
- Draws 3 to 100 watts, monitored with "Kill-a-Watt" digital meter
- Freezer compartment works fine at two bars, opened twice per day, often to access "power cool"
Added a 300 cubic/foot per minute floor vent blowing air at lower back left side
- floor vent reduces maximum temperature excursion by 4F, but vent fan is noisy and consumes 40 more watts
Usage
- Mostly use refrigerator for fresh food, dairy and lots of vegetables
- Don't use ice or icemaker, not many frozen foods
Purchase and Warranty
Purchased 2019 July 9 for $648 from Home Depot 4401 SW 110th Ave Beaverton OR 97005
- delivered 2019 July 22
- added 3 year protection plan $90 ... but Home Depot doesn't answer phone within 40 minutes
Photos taken on 80 fahrenheit July morning - Click for larger view
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Thermocouple temperatures, top is left compartment wall, bottom is interior upper glass shelf |
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Inside of compartment. Thermocouple on "stovetop wall", 300 cfm vent at bottom, power routed through Kill-A-Watt meter, foil radiant barrier and 3 inch styrofoam ball spacer in back |
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Kill-A-Watt meter feeding power to refrigerator. Can exceed 100 watts during "Power Cool", usually runs below 3 watts |
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Basement: AC Infinity fan and sound baffle to floor vent above. Thermocouple attached to sheet metal duct |
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Basement: Duct connection to refrigerator floor vent. |
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Vents at back bottom of refrigerator. No detectable sound, no air blows in or out |
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Close-up of left back vent. What's that strange bit of light brown foam just inside the vent? |
Note 1: I have a rope taped around the back for pulling the refrigerator out of the compartment; the force bears on the edges of side panels, not the back panel. I hope we can fix the refrigerator, remove the rope, and leave the refrigerator in place for twenty years.