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LG Fridge Not Working/Cooling

Nobody really appreciates the work of their fridge until it stops working. Unfortunately, there are many things that may have gone wrong with your LG fridge to prevent it from cooling down. This article outlines exactly what could have gone wrong so that you know how your fridge can be fixed.

An LG fridge most commonly will not work because of issues with airflow between the fridge and freezer compartments. This can be caused by the vents becoming blocked by ice or stored food, or by a broken evaporator fan. Other causes include the wrong settings on the fridge or broken components.

Female opening refrigerator door just slightly

You can find a detailed explanation below on how each component can affect the fridge’s ability to cool down. Some refrigerators also have a demo mode, which you can easily disable using the steps outlined at the end of this article.

LG Fridge Not Cooling But Freezer Works

Male looking inside fridge

A fridge that is not cooling, but still has a fully operational freezer, does not have enough airflow between the two compartments. Normally, the freezer will be cooled down to the desired temperature and then cool air is circulated into the refrigerator compartment to keep that cool as well. Below are a number of reasons why this may not be occurring.

Your Fridge is Too Full

Having too many items in your fridge or freezer can block the vents where the air circulated throughout your fridge/freezer. Removing or rearranging items so that they do not cover the vents in either compartment will allow cool air to reach your fridge.

Ice Build-Up

Ice build-up can also block the vents and prevent air-flow throughout the fridge. However, the evaporator fan could also have ice build-up, preventing the fan from turning and circulating the cold air. Ice usually builds up over time as humid air mixes with the cold air inside the fridge.

LG fridges should defrost excess ice every 4-16 hours. If this defrosting system is broken, the frost will build up and cause these issues. You can manually defrost the fridge by transferring all perishable items to another cold location, unplugging the fridge and leaving the doors open for eight hours.

Broken Evaporator Fan

If the evaporator fan is broken altogether, the air will not be pushed down into the fridge compartment, even if the vents are unblocked and there is no ice build-up. If this is the case, this component will need to be replaced.

LG Fridge Not Blowing Air

If your LG fridge is not blowing air, it might be due to a frozen evaporator coil. A blocked coil can prevent air from circulating through the fridge. Defrosting your fridge manually or using the defrost function can help melt any ice buildup and restore airflow.

Another potential issue could be a faulty evaporator fan. This fan is like the heart of your fridge’s cooling system, circulating cold air throughout the unit. If the fan isn’t working, the fridge can’t distribute the cold air it generates, much like how a fan in a room circulates air to keep it cool. Checking the evaporator fan for blockages or damage and replacing it if necessary can solve the problem and get your fridge back to its optimal cooling state.

LG Fridge Not Cooling But Light Is On

Refrigerator french door open at night

The light in your LG fridge indicates that it is receiving power and that, if all components are working correctly, it should be cooling down. Therefore, if it is not cooling but the light is on, one of the components below is not functioning correctly. Keep in mind that the issues explained above could also cause this issue.

Condenser Coils

The condenser coils, located behind the fridge at the bottom, will often become covered in dust. This prevents them from effectively dissipating heat from the refrigerant running through the coils. This is easily fixed by using a vacuum and brush to clear away the dust/debris.

Condenser Fan

The condenser fan normally blows cool air onto the condenser coils to help dissipate the heat. A broken condenser fan therefore results in an increase in the temperature of the refrigerant.

Compressor

The compressor is responsible for increasing the pressure of the refrigerant so that it can then be converted from a liquid into a gas. This allows the refrigerant to cycle through the refrigerator coils, cooling down the inside of your fridge. This process does not take place when the compressor is broken, heating up your fridge.

Defrost System

As mentioned earlier, the defrost system will periodically defrost excess ice within the freezer to prevent build-up. Sometimes this can malfunction, leaving the heating element on and heating up your fridge.If you have a manual defrosting function, ensure this is not on by consulting your user manual.

Thermostat or Thermistor

A broken thermostat or thermistor will cause the fridge not to register when the temperature increases. This will mean the cooling components will not come on to cool the fridge back down.

LG Fridge Not Cooling But Compressor Running

Female thinking about what to take out of fridge

If your fridge is not cooling, refer to the information above for the possible cause. If you notice that the compressor is still running normally, the issue could still be with one of the components listed below.

  • Condenser coils are dirty
  • Evaporator or condenser fan/motor is broken
  • Evaporator coils or fridge vents are frosted over (or blocked)
  • Defrosting system is not turning off
  • Thermostat or thermistor is broken

LG Fridge Not Cooling After Power Outage

Female looking for a late night snack inside refrigerator

An LG fridge should cool down within 24-48 hours of turning on. Sometimes a power outage will short circuit the system or cause internal errors that need to be reset. To do this, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Unplug the fridge or turn off the circuit breaker.
Step 2: Wait at least 30 seconds to allow the fridge to discharge.
Step 3: Plug the fridge back in or turn the circuit breaker back on.

If this does not resolve the issue, the power outage may have caused physical damage to the circuit board within the fridge. You will need a technician to confirm and repair this component.

LG Fridge Not Cooling After Defrost

Female scratching head in front of open fridge door

The defrost function on an LG fridge is designed to automatically turn off once it detects that all excess frost has melted away. Sometimes this function will not work properly, causing the freezer to remain warm, therefore keeping the rest of the fridge warm. This could be a result of a broken thermostat/timer or that the button is stuck (on older models).

LG Fridge Not Cooling Or Freezing

Fridge doors open in kitchen

An LG fridge that is not freezing or cooling could be experiencing any of the issues mentioned above. However, it also may not be getting any power or may be in ‘Display Mode’ or ‘Demo Mode’.

This mode is used in the showroom so that customers can see the functions of the fridge, without the fridge unnecessarily cooling down. If your LG fridge is in ‘Display/Demo Mode’, you will see ‘OFF’ on the display (it may be scattered over different parts of the display).

To disable this mode, press the ‘Refrigerator’ and ‘Ice Plus’ buttons simultaneously for five seconds. You should then hear a beep and you will no longer see ‘OFF’ on the display. Keep in mind that every model is different, so if this doesn’t work, you may have to check your user manual.

LG Fridge Not Cooling And Beeping

Repair man fixing refigerator

The beeping noise from your LG fridge is an alert that is activated when the door is open. Therefore, if your fridge is not cooling and it is beeping, the door might be slightly open, letting cool air out and switching off the fan.

If the door is not open, you may have an issue with the door latch. Having a faulty door latch will make the fridge think that the door is open, turning off the fans and causing it to beep. This component will need to be replaced by a technician, but may be covered under warranty.

LG Fridge Not Cold Enough

Girl looking for food in a fridge

Your LG fridge will not be cold enough if any of the components mentioned above are broken or not working properly. However, you should also check that the seals on the doors are tight. When you open the fridge door, you should feel slight resistance from the suction.

The settings on your fridge should also be around 37 degrees (F) for the refrigerator compartment, and 0 degrees (F) for your freezer compartment. Anything higher will not be cold enough to keep your food fresh.

If the tips above didn’t help our troubleshooting efforts check out our refrigerator not cooling article.

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Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on August 14, 2021.

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