What causes Samsung Refrigerator 33E?

A burned-out (open) ice pipe heater, the most common cause per Samsung's support note and owner repair reports. A loose, corroded or damaged wire connector at the heater. A damaged wire in the harness to the heater. A fault on the control board that powers the heater (less common; a technician rules out the heater and wiring first).

How do I fix Samsung Refrigerator 33E?

Write down the code and your model number, and take a photo of the display. Samsung asks you not to unplug the fridge or press buttons to make an error code go away unless its steps tell you to, because that makes it harder for a technician to diagnose. If you have a Family Hub model, you can see current and past codes with Self Check: open Apps, then Fridge Manager, Fridge Settings, Self Check, and Start. Check whether the ice maker is still making ice. If it isn't, use the ice in the bucket and keep a bag of ice on hand until the repair; the fridge and freezer should still cool normally, since this heater only serves the ice maker's water line. Don't use a hair dryer or heat gun on the ice maker or ice room. Samsung's support pages and service bulletin warn that heat can melt the plastic liner and parts. Don't chip at ice in the fill tube or ice room with tools. That can crack the tube or the ice bucket. Request service through Samsung's Support Center, or have an appliance technician check the heater. Replacing it means removing freezer drawers or panels and working on wiring.

When should I call a pro for Samsung Refrigerator 33E?

33E or 33C shows on the display. Samsung treats it as a code that needs service. Testing the ice pipe heater's resistance against the model's spec (Samsung Canada's note gives about 62 ohms) and checking its connector and harness. Replacing the heater if it reads open, then thawing and clearing the fill tube so water can reach the ice maker again. Checking the water inlet valve if the fill tube keeps freezing after a new heater, since a valve that drips can also freeze the tube. The fridge is still under warranty.

Code: 33E🧊 Samsung Refrigerator

Samsung Refrigerator Error Code 33E (33C): Ice Pipe Heater Error (Meaning, Causes, Fixes)

Q: What does Samsung Refrigerator 33E mean?

33E or 33C on a Samsung refrigerator is an ice pipe heater error. The ice pipe heater is a small heater wrapped around the tube that carries water into the ice maker, and it keeps that tube from freezing. Samsung says the code means the heater may be open (burned out) or its wire connector may be loose or bad. The usual sign is an ice maker that stops making ice because the fill tube froze. This is a parts repair, so note the code and your model number and request service. Samsung US lists 33E as "Ice Pipe Heater Error" in its refrigerator error code guide. Samsung Canada's support notes say 33E or 33C indicates an ice pipe heater error, meaning the heater may be open or have a loose or bad wire connector, and that a technician should check the heater's resistance, which should be around 62 ohms on the model that note covers. Resistance varies by model, so the technician should compare against the spec for your fridge. On bottom-freezer and French-door Samsung models, this heater sits on the ice maker fill tube (water pipe). If it fails, water left in the tube can freeze, the ice maker gets no water, and ice production stops. Owners who replaced the part for 33E on AppliancePartsPros commonly report finding the old heater open on a meter and the fill tube frozen solid.

Reviewed 2026-10-22 · Based on 5 manufacturer & service sources

What the code means

Samsung US lists 33E as "Ice Pipe Heater Error" in its refrigerator error code guide. Samsung Canada's support notes say 33E or 33C indicates an ice pipe heater error, meaning the heater may be open or have a loose or bad wire connector, and that a technician should check the heater's resistance, which should be around 62 ohms on the model that note covers. Resistance varies by model, so the technician should compare against the spec for your fridge. On bottom-freezer and French-door Samsung models, this heater sits on the ice maker fill tube (water pipe). If it fails, water left in the tube can freeze, the ice maker gets no water, and ice production stops. Owners who replaced the part for 33E on AppliancePartsPros commonly report finding the old heater open on a meter and the fill tube frozen solid.

Likely causes

A burned-out (open) ice pipe heater, the most common cause per Samsung's support note and owner repair reports
A loose, corroded or damaged wire connector at the heater
A damaged wire in the harness to the heater
A fault on the control board that powers the heater (less common; a technician rules out the heater and wiring first)

Safe DIY checks

⚠ Before you start

Unplug the appliance (or switch off its breaker) and shut off the water supply valves before removing panels or disconnecting hoses. Keep towels handy for residual water.

Write down the code and your model number, and take a photo of the display. Samsung asks you not to unplug the fridge or press buttons to make an error code go away unless its steps tell you to, because that makes it harder for a technician to diagnose.
If you have a Family Hub model, you can see current and past codes with Self Check: open Apps, then Fridge Manager, Fridge Settings, Self Check, and Start.
Check whether the ice maker is still making ice. If it isn't, use the ice in the bucket and keep a bag of ice on hand until the repair; the fridge and freezer should still cool normally, since this heater only serves the ice maker's water line.
Don't use a hair dryer or heat gun on the ice maker or ice room. Samsung's support pages and service bulletin warn that heat can melt the plastic liner and parts.
Don't chip at ice in the fill tube or ice room with tools. That can crack the tube or the ice bucket.
Request service through Samsung's Support Center, or have an appliance technician check the heater. Replacing it means removing freezer drawers or panels and working on wiring.

🛠 When to call a pro

33E or 33C shows on the display. Samsung treats it as a code that needs service.
Testing the ice pipe heater's resistance against the model's spec (Samsung Canada's note gives about 62 ohms) and checking its connector and harness.
Replacing the heater if it reads open, then thawing and clearing the fill tube so water can reach the ice maker again.
Checking the water inlet valve if the fill tube keeps freezing after a new heater, since a valve that drips can also freeze the tube.
The fridge is still under warranty.

Parts that commonly fix it

Always match the part number to your exact model.

⚙

Ice maker fill tube heater (ice pipe heater)

Only if a technician or your own meter confirms the heater is open. Samsung uses different heaters on different models, so match the part to your refrigerator's full model number.

[affiliate link slot: AFFILIATE_SLOT_FILL_TUBE_HEATER]

⚙

Digital multimeter

For checking the heater's resistance with the fridge unplugged. An open reading (no continuity) means the heater has failed.

[affiliate link slot: AFFILIATE_SLOT_MULTIMETER]

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-22. Always confirm against the manual for your exact model number.

Samsung Refrigerator Error Code 33E (33C): Ice Pipe Heater Error (Meaning, Causes, Fixes)

What the code means

Likely causes

Safe DIY checks

🛠 When to call a pro

Parts that commonly fix it

Ice maker fill tube heater (ice pipe heater)

Digital multimeter

Related codes

Sources