I also have a Samsung fridge with the same very well known issue, so it's likely not the refrigerant level. I don't have the wherewithal to rig it like OP has though.
As long as you have a spare computer (seriously, a RasPi would do well!), and don't mind doing some small electronics, you could do this as well!
The link is a complete how-to for my whole infrastructure, which spans multiple buildings, and sends all my sensor data to a central server (sitting next to my DSL modem at my house, no less).
I use Tor extensively, including my whole network topology. It allows me to create a cloud of my own machines, rather than depending on $CloudVendor. :) But everything is documented. Have at :D