Samsung RFG238AARS/XAA-00 refrigerator Parts

Ice building up on the bottom of the freezer in your Samsung RFG238AARS is almost always caused by a defrost drain problem: meltwater from the automatic defrost cycle cannot flow to the drain pan, so it refreezes on the freezer floor. Use the steps below and the RFG238AARS user manual as your safe reference.

• Defrost drain tube is clogged with ice, food debris, or sludge.
• Drain trough is frozen over because the drain did not clear during defrost.
• Door not sealing (gasket gap or drawer not closing fully) causing excess frost that overwhelms the drain.
• Freezer overpacked so the drawer cannot close completely (this can lead to frost build-up).
• Freezer temperature set too cold or frequent door openings creating heavy frost.

1. Unplug the refrigerator and remove food from the freezer drawer.
2. Remove the lower basket and upper drawer so you can access the freezer floor.
3. Melt the ice on the freezer bottom using a hair dryer on low or warm towels (avoid sharp tools).
4. Clear the drain opening (usually at the back of the freezer floor or under a rear panel) with warm water using a turkey baster.
5. Confirm the drawer closes fully and nothing is preventing the rails from seating.

When the defrost drain can’t move water out, ice buildup can block the freezer drawer, reduce airflow, and cause temperature swings that affect ice maker performance and food quality.

• You clear the drain but ice returns within a few days
• You see water leaking outside the unit
• The freezer won’t hold temperature after defrosting

Last updated: January 2026

To remove the bottom freezer drawer on a Samsung RFG238AARS, we typically pull the drawer fully open, lift out the upper drawer and lower basket, then remove the fasteners that secure the freezer door front to the rail assemblies so the door front can lift off the rails. For model-specific steps, use the RFG238AARS user manual.

1. Empty the freezer so nothing falls or binds the rails.
2. Pull the freezer drawer fully open.
3. Lift out the upper drawer (it lifts up and out).
4. Remove the tilting pocket by pulling both support guards upward at the same time.
5. Lift out the lower basket from the rail system.
6. Remove the fasteners on both sides that hold the freezer door front to the rails (the manual calls out hex-head bolts).
7. Lift the freezer door front up and off the rails.

• Phillips screwdriver
• 10 mm socket wrench
• Work gloves (to protect hands from sharp edges)

• Unplug the refrigerator (or switch off power at the breaker).
• Remove food and ice to reduce weight.
• Open the drawer fully so the rails are extended.
• Keep screws/bolts together so reassembly is easier.

Removing the drawer the right way prevents bent rails, broken basket supports, and sealing problems that can lead to frost buildup and a freezer that will not close completely.

Last updated: January 2026

To reset the ice maker on your Samsung RFG238AARS, remove the ice bucket and press the ice maker test button on the right side of the ice maker one time. This starts a harvest cycle and can clear a minor jam or control glitch.

• Pull the freezer drawer open and remove the ice bucket.
• Break up and discard any clumped or stuck ice.
• Press the ice maker test button once (do not press repeatedly).
• Reinstall the bucket and push it in until it clicks.
• Wait for the cycle to finish, then try dispensing ice.

For model-specific operating notes and cautions, follow the ice dispenser section in the RFG238AARS user manual.

• Do remove the bucket first so you can access the test button.
• Do confirm the bucket is fully seated; a partially installed bucket can stop dispensing.
• Do not press the test button continuously when the tray has ice or water; it can overflow or jam.
• Do check that Ice Off mode is not enabled.

More troubleshooting help for Samsung ice issues is in why your Samsung fridge stopped making ice and how to fix it.

A reset forces the ice maker through a harvest cycle, which helps clear a stalled cycle and confirms whether the problem is a simple jam versus a water supply or temperature issue.

Last updated: January 2026

The Samsung RFG238AARS refrigerator’s exact cubic-foot capacity is not stated in the model-specific RFG238AARS manual text we have available here, so we cannot confirm a single official capacity number for your exact unit from this source alone. We can, however, explain how to verify it on the appliance and what “capacity” typically means.

Use these model-specific checks to confirm the correct capacity for your refrigerator:

• Check the specifications section in the RFG238AARS manual (some versions list total and compartment volumes)
• Look at the model and serial label inside the fresh food compartment (the manual notes it is on the left side)
• If you have the original sales sticker or product sheet, compare it to the full model ID (for example, RFG238AARS/XAA-00)
• If you are comparing listings, confirm whether the number is total capacity or “usable” capacity

Even though it does not provide a capacity figure in the excerpted text, the manual does confirm features that can affect usable space:

• Twin Cooling System (separate evaporators for fridge and freezer)
• Cool Select Pantry Plus full-width drawer
• Water filtration system
• Dual ice maker on RFG238 models (fridge and freezer)

Capacity affects how much you can store day to day, and features like dual ice makers and pantry drawers can reduce usable shelf space even when total capacity looks high.

Last updated: January 2026