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The user needs to separate a routine operating issue from a fault that may already be affecting food safety.
Troubleshooting guide
Why a fridge is not cooling evenly
If one shelf is warm and another is icing up, the issue may be airflow, defrost behavior, or the door seal. Check these before you start resetting the appliance.
Fridge freezer5 minUpdated 2026-04-19
Symptom summary
Uneven cooling is often tied to cold-air circulation or the defrost cycle.
Likely causes
- Blocked airflow inside the cabinet.
- A leaking door seal.
- A defrost or fan-related problem.
Safe DIY checks
- Clear the air vents and avoid overpacking the rear shelf area.
- Check that the door seal sits properly all the way around.
- Monitor the real food temperature, not just the display.
When to stop
- Stop storing sensitive food if temperature is clearly rising.
- Stop and escalate if the fridge also reports a defrost-related fault.
Next step
Turn the guide into a real FixLens diagnosis
The guide narrows the problem, but the FixLens diagnosis also accounts for the exact brand, model, and error code.
Related codes
Directly related error-code pages
Samsung · ERDH
Defrost Heater Fault
The controller is not seeing the expected response from the defrost heater. That can lead to ice build-up, reduced cooling, and a service repair.