The key points
- Plan fresh-food and freezer contents separately.
- Check which temperatures a holiday mode changes.
- Follow the model's water, ice and return steps.
Decide what will remain in each compartment
Review the contents well before departure and plan ordinary meals around food that needs using. Check package dates and storage directions rather than relying on how an item looks. Separate your decision for the fresh-food compartment from the freezer: you may intend to keep using one while leaving the other empty.
Write a short list of what will remain and who, if anyone, will check the home. This gives the preparation a clear purpose and makes it easier to follow the correct appliance instructions. Avoid making a last-minute setting change without first checking what it does.
Read what the holiday function actually changes
Find the exact mode description in the user manual. Some vacation settings allow the fresh-food compartment to become too warm for perishable food while the freezer continues operating. Samsung's Australian guidance explicitly warns that its described vacation temperature is not suitable for storing food in that compartment.
Check which compartments the setting affects and what must be removed before activation. If food will remain, confirm that the chosen settings maintain its required storage conditions. Do not copy another fridge's button sequence or assume a mode exists simply because a similar model has one.
Give water and ice systems their own checklist
Read the manufacturer's instructions for the water supply, tank, filter and ice maker during an absence. Fisher & Paykel's RF523 guide includes specific before-leaving and return steps for its ice and water system. Other models may use a different sequence, so keep the relevant pages ready.
Check whether the instructions call for turning off ice making, closing the water supply or completing flushing and ice-disposal steps on return. Follow the specified order and quantities for the appliance. A refillable water tank needs its own care instructions too; do not treat it as a plumbed system.
Plan the return before you leave
If the manufacturer directs an extended shutdown for your circumstances, follow its emptying, cleaning, drying and door-position instructions. Switching off is a model- and situation-specific decision, especially where frozen food is intended to remain. Put a note with the controls describing the chosen state and the steps required before reloading food.
For a fridge bought from Value House, keep the item's Brand New, Factory Second or Resealed condition details, warranty and correct manual together. Pickup is by appointment. When comparing models, assess a holiday function by how clearly it fits your routine and storage plans.
Before you buy
- Review food dates before departure.
- Read the exact holiday-mode description.
- Prepare water-system steps from the manual.
- Leave a clear note for the return sequence.
Sources & further reading
Prepared with AI assistance using the manufacturer and Australian guidance linked below. Check the exact model’s documentation when planning a purchase or installation.
