Samsung Refrigerator Error 33E – Causes & Fix
The small heater that keeps the ice maker's fill tube from freezing is open, so water stops reaching the tray.
At a glance
Severity: Low
- Meaning
- Ice Pipe Heater Error – Fill Tube Freezing
- Typical repair cost
- $0–$550
- DIY difficulty
- Moderate
The water for Samsung's ice maker travels through a short fill tube into the ice compartment, and part of that tube runs through air that is well below freezing. A thin heater wrapped around it, which Samsung calls the ice pipe heater, keeps the water moving. When the board sees that heater's circuit open, or a bad connector in it, it shows 33E (33C on some models). Without heat, a plug of ice soon forms in the tube: the ice maker keeps cycling but the tray stays empty. Fridge and freezer temperatures aren't affected – this is purely an ice-production fault.
How it looks on the display
Model families & display variants
| Model family | Shows | Note |
|---|---|---|
| French-door and four-door models with an ice maker in the fridge door | 33E | The fill tube enters the ice compartment from the top of the door, so the heater and its wiring run through the door hinge. |
| Newer control boards | 33C | Same ice pipe heater fault with the C suffix. |
| Side-by-side models with the ice maker inside the freezer | 33E | The fill tube and heater sit at the upper rear of the freezer compartment. |
Safety first · Consult a professional
Unplug the refrigerator before reaching into the ice compartment or removing covers around the ice maker. If you thaw the fill tube with warm water, use only a small amount so it can't run into the ice maker's electronics.
- Unplug the appliance or switch off the breaker before opening any panel. Mains voltage can kill.
- Water and electricity: unplug first, keep towels ready and never stand in water while the appliance is connected.
Symptoms
- 33E or 33C on the panel, often together with an ice maker that has stopped
- Ice bucket empty or only a few small, hollow cubes
- Ice maker tray twists on its test cycle, but no water flows in
- Icicle or ice plug visible at the end of the fill tube
- Water dispenser still works normally
Possible causes
Ranked by how often each cause is behind this code (editorial estimate).
- Ice pipe heater burned open
- Loose or corroded connector in the heater circuit (often near the door hinge or behind the ice maker)
- Brief glitch after a power outage or surge that a reset clears
- Low water pressure or an old filter making the fill dribble and freeze at the tube tip
- Heater driver on the main board faulty
Fix it step by step
Try one full power reset
If 33E showed up right after an outage or a storm, switch off the breaker for a few minutes and turn it back on. If the code doesn't come back within a day, the heater may be fine and the event was a one-off.
Run the ice maker test
Remove the ice bucket and hold the ice maker's test button (on the ice maker body) for a few seconds until it chimes. The tray should tip, then refill with water. A tray that turns but stays dry after the fill points to a frozen fill tube or a supply problem.
Tools: Flashlight
Rule out the water supply
Dispense a glass of water. If it flows at a good rate, the supply line and filter are fine. A weak trickle means a clogged filter or house pressure below the roughly 20 psi minimum Samsung asks for – fix that first, since a slow fill freezes in the tube even with a working heater.
Thaw the fill tube
With the fridge unplugged, point a hair dryer on low at the tube opening where water enters the ice compartment, or drip a little warm water into it with a turkey baster until the ice plug lets go. Catch the water with a towel under the ice maker.
Tools: Towels & shallow pan
Measure the heater
Unplug the heater's connector (reachable behind the ice maker cover or at the harness near the upper hinge, depending on the model) and measure across its two wires. Any stable resistance reading means the element is intact; OL means it has burned open and must be replaced.
Tools: Multimeter, Screwdriver
Inspect the connector
If the heater measures fine, look for green corrosion, water or a half-seated latch at its connector and at the plug where the harness enters the door. Clean, dry and reseat it, then power up and see whether 33E returns.
Tools: Flashlight
How to reset 33E
- Switch off the breaker or unplug the refrigerator for 2–5 minutes
- Restore power and wait for the ice maker to start a new cycle
- If 33E reappears within a day, the heater circuit is still open – thawing alone won't keep it clear
Where the parts are
- 1Evaporator fan
- 2Defrost heater
- 3Temperature sensor
- 4Door switch
- 5Compressor
- 6Condenser
Repair options & costs
| Repair | DIY? | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Power reset and thaw the fill tube | Yes | $0 |
| New water filter (for slow fills) | Yes | $30–$60 |
| Ice pipe heater (part only) | Yes | $20–$60 |
| Ice pipe heater replaced by a technician | No | $180–$320 |
| Main board replacement | No | $250–$550 |
Rough US estimates; technician call-out fees vary by region. Not a quote.
When to call a technician
Call a technician if the heater reads open and you're not comfortable working inside the door or hinge wiring, or if the heater measures fine but 33E keeps returning, which points to the board. You can keep using the fridge in the meantime; just switch the ice maker off so it doesn't keep cycling on a frozen tube.
Frequently asked questions
Is my food affected by 33E?
No. The code concerns only the heater on the ice maker's water tube. Fridge and freezer keep their temperatures, and the water dispenser usually keeps working.
Why does thawing the tube only help for a day or two?
Without a working heater, the tube sits in sub-freezing air and the next fill freezes in it again. Thawing proves the diagnosis; the open heater still has to be replaced.
Is 33E related to 39E?
Both stop ice production, but 33E is the heater on the fill tube, while 39E points to the ice maker unit itself not completing its cycle. With 33E the tray usually turns fine but gets no water.
Should I turn the ice maker off?
Yes, until it's fixed. Turn the ice maker off in the settings and empty the bucket so old ice doesn't fuse into a block while you wait for the part.
Sources
- Official Samsung user documentation and support pages (facts only; wording is our own)
- Methodology: How We Build Code Pages · Data Sources We Use · Editorial Policy