What to Do If Your LG Fridge Isn’t Cooling

Have you noticed your LG fridge isn’t cooling properly? Maybe your food is spoiling a little quicker than usual, or perhaps you’ve noticed your fridge making a loud noise as it struggles to keep cool. No matter the root cause, a fridge that isn’t cooling properly is a frustrating problem! Our guide will help you troubleshoot the issue and figure out the cause—read on for some easy fixes!

This guide applies to all popular models of LG refrigerators, including:

LFC25760SB

LFC25760ST

LFC25760SW

LFC25760TT

LFX21960ST

LFX25950SB

LFX25950SW

LFX25950TT

LFX25960ST

LFX25976ST

LFX28968ST

LFX28978ST

LFX31925ST

LRDC22743ST

LRDC22744ST

LRFC25750TT

LRFD25850ST

LRSC26923TT

LRSC26925TT

LRSC26980SB

LSC26905TT

Clean the condenser coils

The first thing to check if your fridge isn’t cooling properly is the condenser coils. These coils keep your fridge’s interior cool by transferring heat from the fridge to the surrounding air. If the coils are dirty, they cannot dissipate the heat as effectively, meaning your fridge has to work harder to achieve the same level of cooling. 

If this is your issue, you might notice your fridge is making more noise than usual as it struggles to keep your groceries cool. Here’s how to fix it:

• Turn off your fridge and access your fridge’s condenser coils. In most models of fridges, these will be located at the bottom of the fridge, but in older models, they may be at the back. Check your LG manual if you’re not sure. 
• Check if the coils are dusty. If they are, use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to remove excess dust and grime. You can also purchase refrigerator coil brushes that are designed to get between the hard-to-reach areas. 
• Be gentle while cleaning the coils, ensuring you don’t bend or damage them. 
• Once clean, return your LG fridge to its usual position and restore power. You should notice an improvement in its cooling efficiency right away!

Check the evaporator fan

The evaporator fan circulates cool air throughout your fridge and freezer compartments. If the fan is broken or blocked, it won’t be able to cool as efficiently. 

Some signs of a faulty evaporator fan are a clanking noise when the fridge is running, indicating the fan is obstructed. You may also hear less noise than usual, indicating the fan isn’t running at all. 

To fix:

• Unplug the fridge and access the evaporator fan. It will be in the freezer compartment at the back of the freezer. 
• Gain access to the fan and check for obstructions or damage. Spin the fan blade manually to ensure it has the full range of motion. 
• The most common obstruction for an evaporator fan is ice. If you see the fan blade is blocked with ice, use a hairdryer on a low setting to melt the ice.
• If the fan blade is damaged, you’ll need to replace it. You can order a replacement part online and install it instead of the faulty one. 
• Once you’ve cleared the obstruction or replaced the fan blade, turn your fridge back on and check to see if the cooling issue has been resolved. 

Check the door seals

Refrigerator door seals, also called gaskets, ensure that cool air stays inside the fridge and warm air stays out. If the seals are faulty, your fridge will have to work harder to keep cool, resulting in a noisy fridge and poor cooling. 

Faulty seals will appear loose, cracked, or otherwise damaged. You can also test the seals by placing a piece of paper in the seals and checking to see if there is resistance when you try to pull them out. 

To fix the issue:

• If the seals don’t appear damaged but fail the paper test, they may be dirty. Excess grime can impede their function, so clean them thoroughly with warm water and cloth to see if this fixes the issue. 
• If the seals are cracked or loose, they may need replacing. You can order replacement seals online and install them instead of the old ones. Most seals simply press into place, but some may require clips or screws. 
• Once the seals are replaced, check to see if the cooling issue has been resolved. 

Take a look at the thermostat

The thermostat regulates the internal temperature of your fridge. If it’s faulty, your fridge may be running at a higher temperature than it should. You can test your thermometer by changing the internal temperature and seeing if the cooling issue resolves—if it doesn’t, your thermometer may be faulty. 

To fix:

• Disconnect your fridge from the power. 
• Find the thermostat. The location will vary for different models, so check your user manual. 
• Use a multimeter to test the thermostat. The number should change as you change the thermostat temperature—if it doesn’t, it’s faulty. 
• After sourcing a compatible replacement thermostat, remove the old thermostat and connect the new one in its place. 
• Plug your fridge back in and monitor to see if the issue is fixed. 

Check the air vents

Blocked air vents can prevent cold air from flowing from your freezer to your fridge interior. This can affect cooling and will mean your fridge is warmer than it should be. 

To check this:

• Ensure your LG fridge is not placed too close to the wall or other appliances in your kitchen. You should have at least an inch of space at the back. 
• Check the interior of your freezer. If it’s jam-packed with food, it may be restricting the airflow. 
• Check that the vents inside your freezer compartment are not iced over, and if they are, use a hair dryer on low to thaw them out. 
• Once you’ve completed these checks, monitor your fridge to see if the cooling issue has resolved itself.