Should I make any changes to my Samsung fridge-freezer to compensate for the summer heat?

Your Samsung fridge-freezer will function much the same in the summer as in any other season in the UK. That said, there are a few changes you may wish to make to ensure it operates optimally during the hot weather. There are also changes we do not recommend making, even though they may seem like a good idea. See below for details:

Recommended temperature for your fridge-freezer all year-round

You should keep your fridge temperature set at 3°C/37.4F and your freezer set at -19°C/-2.2F (or -18°C/-0.4F, depending on your model) all year-round. 

Recommendations for positioning your fridge-freezer

Ensure that your fridge-freezer is situated at least 5 cm from walls on both sides and 10 cm from the wall at the rear. If the fridge-freezer isn't well-ventilated like this the freezer temperature could rise and food may start to defrost when the ambient room temperature starts to rise. (Ice cream and bread tend to be the first items to soften.) The middle bar between the fridge and freezer will be too hot to touch if this is the case.

The fridge-freezer should not be in a conservatory or otherwise in direct sunlight. Such locations are likely to exceed 40°C on warm sunny days.

Things not to do

Do not use power freeze or power cool functions: these functions are not required to boost the cooling and will induce more frost and humidity, which will reduce your fridge-freezer's efficiency. You should keep your fridge temperature set at 3°C/37.4F and your freezer set at -19°C/-2.2F (or -18°C/-0.4F, depending on your model) all year-round.

Note: the power cool and power freeze functions should only be used when large quantities of fresh food are placed in the fridge or freezer (such as when you're storing the week's grocery shopping). The power function should be switched on 2 hours before the food/drink goes in and switched off 5 hours after the food/drink has been placed in the refrigerator.  

Do not keep ice creams, ice lollies or bread in the doors of the freezer or the top shelf of the freezer: these areas aren't the coldest parts of the freezer and so these items are likely to defrost faster if stored in these areas.

What should I do if I suspect the hot weather is still affecting my fridge-freezer's temperature?

One means of testing temperature consistency in your fridge-freezer is the following test: ensure the fridge temperature is set on 3°C/37.4F and leave a beaker of water in the fridge on the middle shelf overnight and then test the temperature of this water shortly after getting up the next morning. The temperature should be between 1°C/33.8F & 5°C/41F (3°C is most likely).

We recommend taking the temperature early in the morning because it's likely the best of time of day to record a reliably average temperature. You can take the temperature at another time of day, but please keep in mind that the temperature will fluctuate throughout the day, especially when the fridge door is repeatedly opened. 

If the water is above 5°C or below 1°C following the test then please click here for contact details for Samsung's customer support services for further assistance as your fridge-freezer may need servicing.