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When an LG refrigerator unit isn’t working correctly, most people expect all of its compartments to be warm. So, why might the freezer compartment not freeze even though the refrigerator compartment is still cold?
When the freezer is warm, but the fridge is cold on your LG appliance, it’s likely because the condenser coils are dirty or the compressor is failing. These two problems will affect the appliance’s ability to cool down. However, frozen evaporator coils or a failed freezer evaporator fan can also prevent the freezer from cooling down sufficiently.
A problem like this can be pretty frustrating and confusing, but don’t worry. This guide will walk you through the most likely reasons you’re facing this problem and how you can fix them quickly.
Why Is LG Refrigerator Working But Freezer Not Freezing?
Here are the most likely reasons the freezer is warm even though the fridge is cold:
Dirty Condenser Coils
About this part: The refrigerant that keeps your LG refrigerator cold travels through a closed-loop system. The outer part of that system is called the condenser, and it consists of several condenser coils.
The refrigerant absorbs heat from inside the fridge compartments to keep them cold. But once it flows through the condenser coils, it dumps that heat outside the appliance.
That continual process of absorbing and then dumping heat keeps your
What likely happened: When you discover that the fridge is cold, but the freezer isn’t freezing, the first likely reason is that the condenser coils are dirty.
Dirty condenser coils will reduce the fridge’s ability to cool down. The condenser cannot effectively dump heat outside of the refrigerator as the coils are covered in dust.
You’ll notice it in the freezer first because it needs to be much colder than the fridge. However, even though the refrigerator is still cold, it will soon become warm as the condenser coils get dirtier.
How to fix it: You can solve this problem by cleaning the dirty condenser coils. The coils are on the rear of most models, so you can access them by turning the refrigerator unit around.
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Be careful not to touch the condenser coils directly as they are very hot. Instead, vacuum all loose dirt away from the coils before using a brush to clean away the remainder.
After cleaning the condenser coils, give your LG freezer at least 24 hours to stabilize its temperature.
You can prevent this issue by regularly cleaning the condenser coils. Vacuuming it once every few months is enough to prevent dirt from building up around the coils, keeping your fridge and freezer compartments cold.
Read: 5 Reasons Why LG Freezer Is Not Freezing
Frozen Evaporator Coils
About this part: As you saw above, the cooling system in your LG refrigerator consists of the condenser and evaporator. To recap, the condenser coils are where heat is dumped outside of the appliance.
The opposite side of the condenser is the evaporator, and its coils are inside the freezer compartment.
As refrigerant travels through these coils, they’ll remove heat from the compartment, bringing it to freezing temperatures.
What likely happened: Another likely reason your fridge is cold, but the freezer is warm is that the evaporator coils are frozen inside the freezer compartment.
When the evaporator coils freeze over with ice coating their surface, the refrigerant cannot remove heat from inside the freezer compartment.
As a result, the freezer fails to get cold enough to freeze your food items inside.
How to fix it: The first step to fixing this problem is to defrost the freezer manually. You can do so by emptying the compartment and shutting off the appliance. Be sure to leave the freezer door open so that warm air can help melt the ice buildup on the coils quicker.
As you melt the ice on the evaporator coils, you’ll allow the refrigerant to absorb heat efficiently in the freezer compartment. That will produce the lower temperatures your freezer needs to work correctly.
Read: Why Freezer Is Making Humming Noise?
Failed Freezer Evaporator Fan
About this part: The evaporator coils you saw above work alongside a freezer evaporator fan. The fan blows air past the evaporator coil to distribute cold air evenly throughout the freezer compartment.
Typically, this fan will shut off briefly whenever you open the compartment door. However, it’ll turn on to resume distributing cold air when you shut the door.
What likely happened: In this situation, the freezer is likely not freezing because the cold air isn’t being spread out evenly. That’s the result of an evaporator fan not working correctly.
This problem could happen if the fan blades are damaged or the fan motor is no longer working. Also, an electrical fault like a short circuit or a motor that has burned out can cause this problem.
How to fix it: Fixing this problem will require you to inspect the freezer’s evaporator fan. If the problem is with the fan blades, you can replace them with new ones. However, a burned-out or failed motor will need a total replacement.
Read: LG Refrigerator Error Code E FF – Troubleshooting Guide
Faulty Compressor
About this part: Think of the compressor as the heart of your
The compressor will stay on until the freezer and fridge compartments reach your set temperatures for them. Then, the compressor will shut off until it needs to begin cooling once more.
What likely happened: The compressor can become faulty and stop working correctly. That’s especially true if you’ve been using the fridge for several years and the compressor experiences long-term wear.
When that happens, the freezer won’t be able to reach the low temperatures it needs to freeze food items inside. However, it might still work just enough to keep the fridge compartment cold.
Unfortunately, faulty compressors are a known problem with LG refrigerators.
How to fix it: Unfortunately, you cannot repair a faulty compressor. If you’re sure that it’s the root cause, you can invest in a new replacement for your LG refrigerator.
A new fridge compressor can be pricey regardless of the brand or model. So, you might want to also consider if it’s worth upgrading to a newer model
Read: LG Refrigerator Error Code E FF – Troubleshooting Guide
Bonus Tips
Here are a few extra tips to help you as you troubleshoot your LG refrigerator unit:
How Do You Reset The Freezer On An LG Refrigerator?
You won’t find a reset button for the freezer on your
Why Is My LG Freezer Icing Up?
Your LG freezer will see a buildup of ice if too much warm air finds its way into the compartment. That can happen if you leave the door open for too long or if the door seal is worn out. Remember to push the freezer drawer all the way in, as it could prevent the door from closing correctly.
How Do I Defrost My Fridge Freezer Without Turning It Off?
You can defrost your freezer without turning it off with a pot of hot water. First, empty your items from the compartment. Then put a pot of hot water inside the compartment and close the door. The steam from that pot will melt away ice and frost buildup.
Read: LG Refrigerator Error Code FF: Troubleshooting Guide
Is It Worth Replacing The Compressor On A Refrigerator?
Refrigerator compressors typically last as long as the fridge does. If the compressor fails while still under warranty coverage, it’s worth replacing it. The warranty coverage means you won’t have to pay for it. However, if the warranty has expired, you might be better off investing in a new refrigerator instead.
How Hard Is It To Fix A Fridge Compressor?
A fridge compressor is a sealed component. Not only will you need an EPA-certified technician to fix it, but the process will also involve welding and other heavy-duty tasks. Therefore, repairing a fridge compressor is not something you should do yourself as a DIY task.
