LG Refrigerator Error Code 1F or IF – Troubleshooting Guide

Suppose you see that your LG refrigerator is showing the 1F or IF error code. If that’s the case, that means there’s a problem with the ice maker that you need to troubleshoot and resolve.

The 1F or IF error code on an LG refrigerator means the appliance senses a problem with the ice maker fan. This code is triggered by an ice buildup at the fan or a failed ice maker fan motor. Besides that, the code can also be indirectly triggered by a problem with the door alignment or door gasket.

Keep reading as we walk you through the troubleshooting steps for this error code and what you can do to solve it.

What The 1F Or IF Error Code Means On An LG Refrigerator?

Thanks to the way error codes appear on the

LG fridge display, you might think you’re seeing either 1F or IF. Don’t worry, though, as they point to the same issue: the fridge has detected a problem with the fan in the ice maker compartment.

This problem won’t affect your fridge’s overall ability to cool things down. Still, it will prevent the ice maker from working correctly. That’s why you’ll want to get this problem fixed sooner rather than later.

1F Or IF Error: Causes And Solutions

This problem has three most likely triggers: ice and frost buildup at the ice maker fan, a misaligned door or door gasket, or an ice maker fan motor that no longer works.

Let’s take a closer look at each possibility and how they can be fixed.

Ice Buildup At Fan

What it is: The ice maker compartment in your

LG fridge has a dedicated fan. Like the other fans in the fridge, this one drives cold air throughout the compartment to keep its temperature low.

When the fan works correctly, the compartment stays cool enough to efficiently produce ice for you to enjoy at any time.

How it fails: The ice maker fan continually drives cold air past its fan blades. However, if the air carries excess moisture, it will build frost and ice around the fan. Over an extended period, that buildup will grow larger until the ice prevents the fan blade from turning at all.

When that happens, the fan stops working and triggers the 1F or IF error code you see on the fridge display.

How to fix: A buildup at your ice maker fan must be defrosted thoroughly. This process will take at least 8 hours or more, depending on how big that buildup is.

To do so, remove all items from the ice bin and leave your fridge doors open. Then, unplug your fridge and leave it alone for at least 8 hours or until you see the ice buildup has melted away.

Read: Why Your Ice Maker Is Making Grinding Noises

Door or Door Gasket Problem

What it is: There’s also a likelihood that the 1F or IF error code and the ice buildup at the ice maker fan are both symptoms of another problem and not the root cause themselves. For example, they might be symptoms of a problem with the fridge door or its door gasket.

Your

LG fridge doors are designed to close firmly and prevent any cold air from escaping the compartments. But, at the same time, those doors also prevent warm air from seeping into the fridge, causing a buildup of ice like what we discussed in the previous section.

The door gasket is critical as it helps the door form that tight seal with the rest of the fridge’s body.

How it fails: An ice buildup at the ice maker fan is caused by moisture and warm air entering the compartment. That could happen because the fridge door is misaligned due to damage. For example, a bent door hinge could prevent the door from closing correctly and allow warm air to enter the compartment.

The same can also happen if a foreign object prevents the door gasket from forming a tight seal between the fridge door and body. For instance, debris stuck in the door gasket could create a small gap that lets warm air enter the fridge.

How to fix: Suppose you find that the fridge doors are misaligned. In that case, you can realign them by turning the adjustable nuts at the bottom hinge of the door. You can use them to raise or lower the door with these nuts.

At the same time, inspect the entire length of your fridge door gaskets for foreign objects. Remove anything you find, and wipe the gasket clean.

Read: 5 Most Common Lg Refrigerator Ice Maker Problems

Failed Ice Maker Fan Motor

What it is: The ice maker fan is powered by a dedicated motor connected to its fan blades. Whenever the ice maker compartment is too warm, the fan will turn on to distribute cold air to lower the temperature. Once the set temperature has been reached, the fan motor will turn off.

This on-and-off process will repeat itself several times throughout the day to keep the ice maker cold without wasting too much energy.

How it fails: The fan motor can burn out or suffer from an electrical fault. For example, cold air keeps leaking out of the fridge, and the fan will keep turning for long periods to lower the temperature. That will cause excess wear in the motor and cause it to burn out.

Besides that, the motor could also get damaged due to an electrical surge or short circuit in the fridge.

How to fix: The ice maker fan motor can’t be repaired, so you’ll have to replace it with a new one. The ice maker fan housing is attached to the back panel of the freezer. To access it, first, remove all of the items and shelves inside the freezer.

Next, remove the back panel by unthreading the mounting screws and freeing the panel from the tabs that hold it in place.

Once you’ve removed the panel, you can then unthread the screws that attach the fan motor to its housing on that panel. With the screws removed, you have to detach the fan’s electrical wiring and take the fan assembly out.

Next, attach the new fan’s wire harness and slide the fan into the housing. Screw the motor into the housing, then reattach the back panel back into the freezer.

Read: Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working? Here Is How To Fix It

How To Clear The 1F Or IF Error Code?

To clear this error code, you must first troubleshoot and resolve the root cause that triggered it. Then, once your ice maker fan is functional, you can reset the fridge to clear the code and ensure that everything is working correctly.

How To Reset An LG Refrigerator Unit?

Resetting your LG refrigerator is as easy as cycling its power. That means you’ll turn it off and on again following these steps:

1. Firstly, turn the fridge off at its power source.
2. Next, leave the appliance alone for at least 30 seconds. It will discharge any electricity inside and clear its memory during this time, including the error code.
3. Lastly, switch the fridge back on at the power source.

Suppose your ice maker has already become warm. In that case, you must give it a few hours to cool down once more and be cold enough to produce ice.

How To Test Your LG Refrigerator After Repairs?

The 1F or IF error code is related to your fridge’s ice maker. So, after repairs, you can test it by seeing whether or not it can produce ice typically. To do this, let the ice maker cool down for a few hours, then see if you can get ice from it.

Once you see that the ice maker is functioning normally and the error code has not returned, that means your repairs were successful.

Read: LG Refrigerator Is Not Cooling – Troubleshooting Guide + Service Manual

How To Use Automatic Test Feature?

For a more thorough test, you can press the test button on the main control board. That board is accessed from the back of the fridge, concealed behind an access panel.

Pressing the test button on the main control board will start the fridge’s automatic test feature. If any errors are detected, you’ll see error codes shown on the fridge’s display.

Accessing and pressing the test button while the fridge is turned on can be pretty risky. So, only proceed if you feel safe doing so.