Questions New Refrigerator…

[S.D. Ice Angular]

Questions New Refrigerator…

I hope some of you have purchased a refrigerator lately and can give me some feedback.

I recently purchased a new side by side Samsung at the Best Box Store. I returned home (75 miles away) unpacked it and put in place. Then I realized it had a dent in the door. So the next day I stopped back into the Best Box Store and had some pictures. As it turns out all they can do is order me another one and would just swap them. Pain the Arss but OK I said. While waiting for the 2nd one to come I noticed that my water bottles and milk seemed warmer than I prefer. I set a thermometer in it (Digital) to see what the temp really was, turned out 39° F was as cold as it gets. I have always set my fridge’s right at or close to 32° F. So I spoke with Samsung customer service for 2 hours one morning and asked what I was doing wrong or what could I do about this. After 4 people and the same story again and again I was told that if I have it set to max than that is all the colder it will get.

So I go to pick up the second one and let them know I was disappointed with the cooling portion of the fridge. Everyone I spoke with understood and did not think I was out of line. So I brought my thermometer in and they said they could plug it in for the night. The told me it was at 30° the next morning. AWSOME, I am excited about this once again. So I drag my SUV and trailer back in the 75 miles. They even give me a $75.00 Credit for the pain I went through. Well when I arrived to pick it up it had no crating or external packaging at all. They were able to find the box that was it. So they rolled it up on my trailer and said the traditional “Thank You”. I strapped it down the best I could but noticed after a few miles it was rolling back and forth on its wheels. So I screwed some 2” x 4” pieces of wood down to my trailer so it won’t rock back and forth. Well the lower portion of both doors rubbed during the trip home and it is now damaged and my fault. I am just sick about this, I finally decided to put it in place and see just how bad it looks. As it turns out not bad at all, So once again I am excited to have a new fridge. Then again I discover this 2nd one only gets to 41° F. So I trek back to the Best Box Store. I tell them what has happened and I blame them for not having the original packaging in part for the rub marks.

They (the store manager) said they will work with me and help me out; he really is very nice about it. So they will give 100% back for the 1st one with a dent in the door then they will deduct for the rub marks on the door of the 2nd one and return to me what they deem fair.

He also said he would help me out on the replacement I choose but recommended I probably choose another manufacturer.

As of now I still have both sitting in my house, so I don’t know what that deduct will be. I paid $1500.00 each for them.

I think the Best Box Store (and Manager) has been fair with me at this point.

So now I am asking a few questions,

(1) Do my expectations in the cooling of a fridge seem out of line?? I have never had a fridge before that would not make milk slushy or even freeze water if set to high.

(2) What do you set your fridge at??

(3) What manufacturer would you recommend??

(4) What would you do??

[delcecchi]

I have a maytag that is like 18 months or so old, french doors. bottom freezer.

The digital thing on the front is set to 37 degrees, I hate frozen lettuce. I just looked at the thermometer I have inside and it is right at 37 or 38 degrees.

Isn't there a local appliance dealer somewhere near you? That stuff with trailers etc seems like such a pain.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

I live in a very small town, I have a choice of 30 miles (Sears Store), 45 miles (Lowes Store and some locals) or the 75 miles (Sioux Falls, SD) endless selection.

So Yes but no also.

I have been looking for the past 3 months, This Samsung is really what I like it just don't get cold enough for me.

Another question I have is: I know the plumbing industry has gone through many mandates / laws in the recent years on Gallon usage on faucets, Shower Heads, Dish Washers, Toilets Etc.

Has there been a regulation on refrideration equipment industry that a fridge only needs to be in the 40 degeree range??

The trailer thing is a magor pain, The companay I work for is based in S.F. so going there on a regular basis is common but in 36 MPG car.

Not my 10 MPG SUV with trailer.

[CAMAN]

Does the unit run continuously, or does it seem to cycle properly? Does the freezer seem to work properly?

Seems like you're getting excellent customer service, and as long as they're treating you properly I would keep going back. Nothing much you can do about the drive.

[delcecchi]

I just remembered something that might be relevant. Or not.

To obtain higher energy efficiency, compressors etc have been made smaller. This decreases cooling capacity. They also insulated box better. But it means that it can take a long time, like a day or more, to get everything cold to the desired temperature, depending of course on what you have put in it.

How long did you let it run before checking it?

I would be surprised if it could never get below 40 since it is supposed to be 38 for food safety.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

I think the longest I went with out opening the door would be 12 - 16 hours. With nothing new added in 4 days. It just consistantly runs at 40 or 41.

[CJH]

Seems like you're getting excellent customer service, and as long as they're treating you properly I would keep going back. Nothing much you can do about the drive.

+1

[CAMAN]

Does the unit run continuously, or does it seem to cycle properly? Does the freezer seem work properly?

Can you answer these questions? I'm trying to diagnose if it's the refrigerator or something you may have to change at your home.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

No, It does not run continusly, I have tried to listen for it to stop and start but it is very quiet. I would say maybe less than 15 minutes an hour.

The Freezer is set to 4 (out of 7) and is just fine every thing is frozen solid.

I have also tried the "Energy Saver" mode "On" or "Off" it makes no difference.

Thanks for any help or tips you can provide.

[delcecchi]

It doesnt run all the time but doesn't get cold enough. I would think that is a thermostat or setting problem since if it ran longer it would get colder. I googled and this doesn't seem like a common thing. One point made was that the unit should be away from walls by and inch or so. Like in the back, if it is right up against the wall, that will cause problems.

[PurpleFloyd]

We have a Samsung Ref that we bought from BB about a year ago along with a Samsung Induction range, Over the range Micro, 62" TV and Blue Ray player, 22 " TV in our room and my phone is also a Samsung and we have had great luck with all of them.

As to the Ref. It was the french door model RFG297AARS and it cools just fine. The only downsides are that the compressor is fairly loud and the ice is really noisy when it drops.

[PurpleFloyd]

I will say that it certainly helps to have enough ventilation around the top and sides of the ref to get max efficiency. Our previous ref was wedged into the opening and it really had to work to keep up. If we pulled it out into the room it would work fine but not in place. I just redid the kitchen and made the opening bigger and the new ref has no problems. But from the sound of it this is not your issue because the freezer keeps up and with our everything would get to the thaw point.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

Left Side = 1" Spacing

Rear = 3-1/2" Spacing

Right Side = Open

I just filled out a "Serivce Request" on the Samsung HSOforum, they are supposed to get a hold of me with in 24 hours.

[CAMAN]

Are you positive you have the settings correct for the thermostat? I know I have been confused by the way they are worded and designed. Like on my whirlpool refridge it's a digital readout with buttons,you have to press up and make the numbers larger to make it cooler and when I first set it up it did it backwards and it warmed everything until I figured out what I did wrong. It's an easy mistake to make if you did.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

I am setting it according to the manual and Samsung customer services instruction.

I have submitted a service request on the Samsung HSOforum.

There acknoledgement claims they are coming from Hoffman Estates, IL(Chicago).

That seems like a long ways to come.

[bearslayer]

Try using a remote thermometer and put the probe in glass of water in the ref. That way you don't have to keep opening to check temp and you will get a more accurate reading of what the temperature is getting too with the probe being in liquid. Are you testing temps with ref full? Fuller it is, the better. Objects hold alot of coolness in in the unit when you open doors.

[Swimmer]

Let us know what you find out with the technical request. To me it sounds like they designed it to only go down to 38...easy to do with a digital controller .

Me? I have a 1950's Art Deco style Zenith (Made in the USA!) in the basement for a beer fridge. That sucker is set on "4" out of 5 (one being the coldest) and I still get some sludgy beers once in a while.

[croixflats]

S.D. sorry about the troubles your having.

I bought Samsung 2 years ago not a side by side but a rather large one with bottom mount freezer. So far it has been a great refrigerator with no problems. The frige part has no problem cooling down to 32 defgrees and like your freezer does a great job at that also. I am amazed how fast it makes ice and the quantity it makes.

I run ours at 34 degrees and in the meet keeper the meet gets partially frosted and pop in the back bottom shelf at times gets slushy. The gallon of milk stays nice and cold even being in the door. I like to keep it at 34 this helps the milk last much longer.

I hope they get this worked out for you. The Samsung we have is a nice unit and I cant see any reason a side by side would be any different. Good luck

[Swimmer]

While I agree it seems like you are recieving decent customer service there are a couple troubling points. 1) they didn't save the packing material in order to repack your 2nd new fridge which led indirectly to the bottom being scratched upon transport; and 2) they stated that they were able to get the temp to go down to 32 degrees overnight on the replacement fridge -- which was either false or they had a substandard method of measurement. I hope the technical department at Samsung will be able to do something about this...otherwise you may be trecking back to the big box for a different model.

[LightningBG]

Is it possible these units are getting damaged bouncy down the road on the trailer?