Samsung Fridge Problem.....trying to burn my house down.

Samsung Fridge Problem.....trying to burn my house down.

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Discussion

cramman

Original Poster:

659 posts

196 months

Monday 26th July 2010
quotequote all
Sorry, no idea where to post this.

I’m wondering if anyone on here can help here. Before I phone Samsung, again, with details of my fridge I would like to know if there is anything I should say/threaten.

Basically, my fridge/freezer (American style thing) has recently started making a fair bit noise. It’s 3 year old and therefore should still be working, IMO. Then, on Friday gone the freezer just died.
So, I had a look on the net and it appears the fans freeze up, took it apart and all fine apart from inside the freezer which has melted, yes, fire in a freezer. It appears, more internet searching, that there has been a problem with a few models, need to confirm mine is one, although it clearly is (need the product number)
Samsung have said they will send someone to fix it, but, where do I stand?

It’s clearly been trying to burn itself down, although I will not be saying I have taken this panel off, just claimed I could smell it. Am I justified in saying I want a full replacement?

Lost food?

Time without a fridge, claims of takeaways and restaurants?

Cheers.

illmonkey

18,235 posts

199 months

Monday 26th July 2010
quotequote all
I had issues with a fridge (with inbuilt freezer), 3 engineer visits and it never did work, but every time he left I was told it'll be fine, put food in.

I lost alot of frozen meat etc, so told them I wanted money for it, as its their problem. Got a cheque for the amount I claimed and a new fridge (plus a £50 token due to me having to take 3 half days off)

cramman

Original Poster:

659 posts

196 months

Monday 26th July 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies.

I'm not sure of my serial number, put the receipt in the car today to bring to work then decided to ride in. Will be giving them a call when I get back.

Looking at that link, internal 'sparking' sounds like a load of rubbish, mine has melted, about a 3" hole a few mm deep inside the fridge. It's clearly more than a spark and to be fair I may have been very lucky.
Am I within my rights to request a full refund? The fridge is damaged as far as I'm concerned, and now the freezer no longer works, possibly as a result of the thing trying to freeze something that it trying to catch fire, ie overworking. How can I know it has not caused other components to be overworked.

cramman

Original Poster:

659 posts

196 months

Monday 26th July 2010
quotequote all
Excellent, samsung are sending someone out to sort it.

Does anyone know where I stand regards a full replacement, ie European laws etc. Or where can I check?

poo at Paul's

14,174 posts

176 months

Monday 26th July 2010
quotequote all
cramman said:
Excellent, samsung are sending someone out to sort it.

Does anyone know where I stand regards a full replacement, ie European laws etc. Or where can I check?
Samsung extended the warranty on these to 5 years following some problems. Mine is 4 years old and started to play up last week, they come tomorrow to fix it. The melted bits and panels will be replaced and there is an upgrade to the electrics to stop the potential fires.

If there is substantial fire damage they will replace it.

Busamav

2,954 posts

209 months

Monday 26th July 2010
quotequote all
we had a recall on our Samsung "american fridge " they dealt with it real quick and efficient

cramman

Original Poster:

659 posts

196 months

Monday 26th July 2010
quotequote all
Good news.

The fact the freezer is now broken worries me as they've said if this isn't due to the fault then its not their problem.

From what I've read and been told by people I've asked about fixing it sounds like the compressor is goosed. Fingers crossed.

bazking69

8,620 posts

191 months

Monday 26th July 2010
quotequote all
You should have had a recall letter from Samsung if it was a certain model. We did.

Some of their American style fridge freezers have a possible problem with shorting causing fire.

We phoned them and they were round the same weekend. 5 minute job and he was out.

Sadly, having a look at the filtered water dispenser that has been seemingly frozen solid since about a year after we bought it wasn't his domain, even though he off the record said that it was another known issue, and to take it up with Samsung. Strangely enough the water supply to the ice cube maker still works, but since his visit puddles now appear if anyone tries to use the water dispenser. Presumably it is overflowing from somewhere, but it seems a coincidence that this never issue has reared its head a few days after the repair.

I've since written a shirty letter to Samsung stating my expections of a £600 'state of the art' (their marketing words) fridge freezer. Even if it is now 3 years old, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect such a white good, especially a top end one from an established and high profile manufacturer, to have a functional life of at least 10 years.

Nothing back yet but I'll keep this thread updated if you could do likewise.

Out of interest, what temp did you have the freezer set to? Ours was at -25c, but I noticed the technician had cranked it down to -15c at some point during his visit without telling us. Again, this rings alarm bells, almost as if he has been told to do this on the hush?

Edited by bazking69 on Monday 26th July 21:09

poo at Paul's

14,174 posts

176 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
The Serviceline guy has just been and gone, was here for just less than an hour in all.

He replaced the heater, drain / heater, the fan motor, temp sensor and also added a fuse board to the back pcb that will stop terminal fires it seems!


Fridge all back and working now. Shame, I really enjoyed the 3 year old fish fingers and ready meals we've been eating for the last 4 days!

cramman

Original Poster:

659 posts

196 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
bazking69 said:
You should have had a recall letter from Samsung if it was a certain model. We did.

Out of interest, what temp did you have the freezer set to? Ours was at -25c, but I noticed the technician had cranked it down to -15c at some point during his visit without telling us. Again, this rings alarm bells, almost as if he has been told to do this on the hush?

Edited by bazking69 on Monday 26th July 21:09
Mine was set around the -15 range I think. No problems freezing up etc.

As for the fix, It's all well and good fixing what is causing the fire, but, mine has been on 'fire', I'll add a pic tomorrow for those interested.

netherfield

2,695 posts

185 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
-18C is the minimum -20C better.

If you were trying to freeze a joint of meat -15C is not enough sometimes to get to the centre.

ThatPhilBrettGuy

11,809 posts

241 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
netherfield said:
If you were trying to freeze a joint of meat -15C is not enough sometimes to get to the centre.
What? It magically stays warmer inside for ever?

Out of the way with you nuclear fusion. We've got a meat based solution hehe

Simpo Two

85,705 posts

266 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
netherfield said:
-18C is the minimum -20C better.

If you were trying to freeze a joint of meat -15C is not enough sometimes to get to the centre.
Tell that to Robert Falcon Scott nuts

touching cloth

11,706 posts

240 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
ThatPhilBrettGuy said:
netherfield said:
If you were trying to freeze a joint of meat -15C is not enough sometimes to get to the centre.
What? It magically stays warmer inside for ever?

Out of the way with you nuclear fusion. We've got a meat based solution hehe
hehe

Simpo Two

85,705 posts

266 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
To be fair, decomposing meat probably gives off warmth.

E. coli vs Samsung, who's going to win?!

ThatPhilBrettGuy

11,809 posts

241 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
To be fair, decomposing meat probably gives off warmth.

E. coli vs Samsung, who's going to win?!
Samsung. From the reports it's either going to A) freeze it or B) cook it so you're safe either way.....


....apart from the burnt down house with option B) obviously.

paddy27

1,742 posts

235 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
poo at Paul's said:
The Serviceline guy has just been and gone, was here for just less than an hour in all.

He replaced the heater, drain / heater, the fan motor, temp sensor and also added a fuse board to the back pcb that will stop terminal fires it seems!


Fridge all back and working now. Shame, I really enjoyed the 3 year old fish fingers and ready meals we've been eating for the last 4 days!
Looks like he did to yours what their contractor did to ours. Been working fine since.

Our freezer is set to -19C and we have no problems with that.

If the water dispenser is not working then the water supply has frozen up. Its in the bottom part of the fridge, you can see it. It freezes when teh heater element stops working and then it all freezes over and the ice stops the fan. Its a known fault and the y should replace it under warrenty. They have extended the warrenty to five years on these problem Fridges.

s.m.h.

5,728 posts

216 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
If its the circuit thats been overheating then I cant see that they wont replace all thats necessary to get it working again.
I guess the issue is whether the engineer (I think they are trained to do just this inspection/repair) has the required parts without ordering bits in.
We received the letter, called, and was rectified within 4 days, job itself took very little time. I cant understand why its been this long for you to be contacted as ours was done 3 months ago.

Simpo Two

85,705 posts

266 months

Tuesday 27th July 2010
quotequote all
Strange, the neighbour's £900 Siemens induction hob went beserk recently after (you guessed it) 13 months. However the warranty was for two years so a chap in a van came out, swapped a board, found it made no difference, swapped another board and that fixed it. Apparently the boards go back to some soldering-iron jockeys who fix them and they get re-used for future repairs.

Would we get to the moon today? No chance.