What To Do If Your LG Refrigerator Won’t Stay Cold

When your LG refrigerator won’t stay cold, it’s essential to understand the main reasons and how to fix them. Modern LG refrigerators are reliable due to their advanced design and robust construction. However, this complexity means many systems could potentially fail. Let’s explore some common faults and see which ones you can attempt to fix on your own.

Dirty Condenser Coils

One of the most common problems with refrigerators is dirty condenser coils. If you’re a pet owner, your furry friend’s hair can easily be sucked into the condenser coil fan, covering the coils and causing your system to malfunction. This leads to improper evaporation of the refrigerant inside the evaporator, causing the temperature to rise.

This issue can be solved quite easily with a vacuum cleaner and a brush. Start by pulling out your refrigerator and opening the lower back panel that covers the compressor compartment. You’ll typically find the compressor on the left and the condenser coil on the right. Using a long, thin brush and a vacuum cleaner, carefully clean the coils to ensure air can circulate freely and cool them. Don’t forget to vacuum the vent in the cover you removed before putting it back in place.

After cleaning, push the refrigerator back and let it sit for a few hours. If the temperature has returned to normal, great job! You’ve successfully fixed your refrigerator. If not, it might be time to move on to the next steps in our recommendations.

Refrigerator Door Won’t Seal Shut

When your refrigerator door won’t seal shut, something is preventing it from closing properly. For example, leftovers or long containers placed near the edge of a shelf can obstruct the door. Even if the door is slightly ajar, warm air can enter and mix with the cold air, causing the temperature to rise.

Another scenario is packing the freezer with groceries. A thin box of pizza might slip behind a drawer, preventing it from closing fully and leaving the door slightly open. If the door is more than an inch open, the light stays on, and the refrigerator might beep. But if it’s just slightly ajar, the refrigerator might think the door is shut, even though warm air can still enter and raise the temperature inside.

This situation is quite common, so don’t worry. First, inspect your refrigerator. Check if anything is sticking out beyond the edge of a shelf. Open the freezer and see if any boxes have fallen behind the drawers, preventing them from closing fully.

If you find the obstruction, you’ve solved the problem. If not, the issue might be elsewhere. Keep reading for more troubleshooting tips.

Fridge Very Empty

An empty fridge can cause unstable temperatures. If you’ve recently cleaned out your fridge or bought a new one and haven’t filled it yet, this can lead to inconsistent cooling. Manufacturers recommend filling the fridge to about three-quarters of its capacity. The food inside helps stabilize the temperature, allowing the thermistor and control board to regulate it more effectively.

If your fridge is completely empty, air circulates too easily, cooling the thermistor too quickly. This can cause the control board to misread the temperature and adjust the cooling incorrectly.

To fix this, place some containers filled with water inside. Aim for around 4-6 gallons of water spread across the fridge. After a few hours, check the temperature again to see if it has stabilized.

If you use a thermometer to check the temperature, make sure it’s an electronic thermometer for more accuracy. Place it in the middle of the fresh food compartment, not on the side or close to the back wall, for the most accurate reading.

Fridge Very Full and Blocked Air Vents

Overfilling your fridge and blocking the air vents can also lead to problems. As mentioned earlier, manufacturers recommend filling your fridge to about three-quarters of its capacity. If you overfill it, air won’t be able to circulate evenly inside, causing uneven cooling and potential issues.

Especially problematic is placing food directly in front of the air vents. Items like bags of food or milk can block these vents, preventing proper air circulation. This can lead to temperature inconsistencies and strain on your refrigerator’s cooling system.

Our advice is to avoid filling your fridge completely. Keep it at about three-quarters full and ensure there’s a few inches of space between the food and the back wall. This way, air can circulate freely, maintaining a consistent temperature and helping your fridge run efficiently.

Faulty Evaporator Fan

If your evaporator fan is faulty, it can cause cooling issues in your fridge. To check if the fan is working, open the door and press the door switch. If your fridge has a magnetic type switch, attach a magnet instead. After a few seconds, the fan should start spinning and circulate the air. 

If the fan doesn’t start, look for snow or ice around the fan area. Ice buildup can block the fan from spinning, often due to the door not being fully closed or a bad door gasket. If you find ice, the best way to resolve it is to turn off the freezer and leave the door open for a few hours. Do not use a hair dryer or heat gun, as these can easily melt the plastic and blades of the evaporator fan. If this happens, you might hear a hum from the fan, which could indicate a malfunction.

After defrosting, if the fan still doesn’t work, the evaporator fan motor might be faulty and need replacing. In this case, it’s best to call a specialist to repair your refrigerator.

Low Refrigerant Level

One common issue with LG refrigerators not cooling properly is refrigerant leakage. This is a frequent problem that can significantly affect your fridge’s performance. The most common place for freon leaks is the evaporator coil. These coils are made of aluminum, and over time, micro-cracks can form, allowing the refrigerant to slowly leak out month after month, leading to improper system operation.

You might think you can simply refill the refrigerator with freon, as seen on YouTube, but please avoid doing this. Most LG refrigerators use a new type of compressor that changes its speed, making it difficult to accurately refill with the correct amount of refrigerant based on low side pressure and compressor current. These values are not constant because the compressor speed varies. Overcharging with refrigerant can also cause the system to malfunction, preventing the refrigerator from working correctly.

Moreover, if you refill the refrigerator with freon while there’s still a leak, it will leak again soon. Unfortunately, this isn’t something you can fix on your own. You’ll need to call specialists who can locate and repair the leak and properly refill the refrigerant.

Broken Compressor

We’ve saved the non-working compressor for last, but unfortunately, it’s the most common issue for LG refrigerators. Many owners complain about their LG refrigerators not cooling properly, and this problem often stems from the latest type of compressor, known as the Linear Compressor. 

The Linear Compressor is very energy-efficient and quiet, but its early versions had a design flaw. The valve plastic seal tended to degrade, causing debris to circulate through the system and clog it. This makes it more challenging to repair because not only does the compressor need replacing, but the system also needs thorough cleaning.

Another issue with faulty LG compressors is that they start circulating too much compressor oil along with the refrigerant, leading to blockages in the condenser coil and capillary tube. LG offers a 10-year warranty on its compressors. If your refrigerator is less than 10 years old, LG will provide a replacement compressor for free. You’ll just need to find a company to install it.

Replacing the compressor on your own is not feasible for regular users. It requires specialized tools and precise knowledge of how to clean the system and replace the compressor. No tips or videos on YouTube will adequately prepare you for this task. Even with extensive experience in repairing LG compressors, it can be a challenging and delicate job for professionals. 

So, if your LG refrigerator is not cooling due to a broken compressor, the best course of action is to contact a professional service to handle the repair.

Conclusion

We’ve listed the main faults that can cause your refrigerator to malfunction and hope these tips have helped you resolve the issue on your own. If you managed to fix the problem, great job! However, if the issue persists, don’t hesitate to seek professional assistance. Proper maintenance and timely repairs can keep your refrigerator running smoothly. Thank you for reading, and we hope you found this guide helpful.