LG Freezer Not Freezing – Causes and How to Fix

Don’t kick your LG ref if its freezer is not freezing. Take heart. You’re not the only one experiencing this problem. Reduce your stress because I’ll explain why the LG freezer is not freezing – causes and how to fix it.

There are several reasons why your LG freezer is not freezing. Perhaps it is not doing its work because of the following reasons:

  • The condenser coils are dirty. If they are, they will reduce the freezer’s cooling capacity.
  • The seal is broken. Perhaps, there is a problem with the seal of the freezer door.
  • The start relay is not doing its work.
  • The fan motor of the evaporator is malfunctioning.

There are other reasons besides these. The reason is that the freezer uses many components to freeze the items that are placed inside it. It uses evaporator and condenser coils, evaporator and condenser motors, and so forth. If any of its parts malfunctions, the usual result is the non-freezing of the items inside the freezer.

Read on to learn more about LG freezer not freezing, its different causes, and their respective fixes.

LG Freezer Not Freezing

LG Freezer Not Freezing

If you discovered that your LG freezer is not freezing the contents inside it, read on. The most obvious reason is that there is one component in its cooling system that is malfunctioning. Or maybe two or more components are not working.

Most Common Causes

1. Dirty Condenser Coils

Condenser coils that are laden with grime can reduce the cooling capacity of the freezer.

2. Broken Seal

This seal ensures the 100% cooling effect of the freezer once the freezer door is closed. However, if the seal is broken, the freezing capacity of the freezer is compromised.

3. Malfunctioning Start Relay

The whole freezing process starts when the start relay is triggered. However, if this relay is broken, it cannot start the freezing process.

4. Malfunctioning Evaporator Fan Motor

If the fan motor of the evaporator is not working, it will affect the freezing capacity of the freezer. It will not be able to circulate the air throughout the freezer.

5. Problem with the Defrost System

It is the most common cause of freezer problems. This system has a heater that turns on many times during the day. It melts away the frost that has accumulated on the evaporator coils. If it malfunctions, it will affect the freezer’s freezing capacity.

Other causes of this problem are explained below. And for every cause, there is a solution. So, don’t worry if you are experiencing issues with your LG freezer.

Just keep on reading, and you will discover the possible causes of an LG freezer not freezing but the fridge is cold. Learn how to fix this issue below.

Why the Fridge Is Not Cold but the Freezer Is?

Causes of LG Freezer Not Freezing and How to Fix Each Issue

1. Dirty Condenser Coils

If the condenser coils are inundated with grime, it will reduce the cooling capacity of your LG freezer because they won’t be able to dissipate the heat.

How to Clean Condenser Coils

Fix this problem by following the instructions below:

  • Check the condenser coils regularly for accumulated grime and dirt.
  • If the coils are dirty, use a portable vacuum cleaner with a soft brush on its head to clean them.
  • If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner, just dust the dirt off with a soft brush.

2. Damaged Seal

The freezing capacity of your LG freezer will not work efficiently if its seal or gasket is damaged. If the seal is damaged, it’ll allow the room temperature to enter the freezer, thus reducing its freezing capabilities.

You need to replace the broken seal to restore the freezer’s full capacity. If the problem is just the gasket or seal, replacing it is not a very complicated thing.

How to Fix Damaged Seal

  • Remove the door trim
  • Pull back the gasket and detach the gasket retainer from the door liner
  • Remove the damaged gasket
  • Install the new gasket by pushing it into place
  • Reattach the gasket back into the gasket retainer
  • Put back the door trim

If you have not done this yet, here is a video that shows the complete procedure of replacing a broken gasket. This will help you change a damaged gasket, even if this is the first time you are doing it:

3. Malfunctioning Start Relay

lg freezer not freezing properly

If the freezer has a malfunctioning start relay, there is nothing that will initiate the freezing process. The compressor will not be able to run at all. Even if it can run, its operation will be intermittent.

How to Fix Malfunctioning Start Relay

  • Check if the start relay is the one at fault
  • Get a multimeter tester and use it to test the relay’s continuity between its start and run terminals.
  • If there’s no continuity, it means the relay is not working.
  • Replace the start relay with a new one with the same specs.
  • Additionally, if you sense a burnt smell upon checking the relay, perhaps its circuit has shorted. Replace the start relay if this is the case.

Again, why is your LG freezer not freezing? The most common reasons why the LG freezer is not freezing include a dirty condenser coil, broken seal, malfunctioning start relay, and damaged fan motor.

4. Malfunctioning Evaporator Fan Motor

A malfunctioning evaporator fan motor will not be able to circulate the cold air inside the refrigerator. So, the freezer will not reach its full capacity to freeze the contents inside it.

How to Fix Malfunctioning Evaporator Fan Motor

  • Check the condition of the fan motor.
  • Get a multimeter and use it to test the continuity of the motor. If there’s none, replace the motor.
  • Spin the motor blades manually.
  • If the blades don’t spin, the motor has gone bad.
  • Replace the motor.
  • If the motor is noisy, you should also replace it.

5. Freezer Not Working After a Power Outage

The freezer may not be freezing because of a problem caused by a power outage. Perhaps, you noticed the problem several days after a brownout occurred in your area.

How to Fix Freezer That’s Not Working After Power Outage

  • Check the wall socket or electrical outlet where the freezer is connected. Make sure that it’s still working and that it is still supplying the required voltage.
  • If there’s no problem in that area, check the power cord of the freezer. Power surges occur after power is restored. Perhaps the power surge has burned the power cord. If there’s no problem with the power cord, make sure that it is properly plugged into the outlet.
  • If everything is ok so far, unplug the freezer, or turn off the circuit breaker that it is plugged into. Wait for about 30 seconds, and then turn on the circuit breaker and plug the freezer. This will reset the freezer and hopefully make it run again.

Please understand that you need to give time for the freezer’s compressor to stabilize itself after a power outage. Typically, it will take about one to two days for its working temperature to normalize. So, take this into account before performing the steps enumerated above.

6. Bad Condenser Fan Motor

The condenser fan motor’s function is to pull outside air to the condenser coils so that the compressor stays cool. So, if the freezer does not cool down, maybe this condenser fan motor is not working. It will cause the compressor to heat up.

How to Fix Bad Condenser Fan Motor

  • Check the condenser fan motor if it is working.
  • Try to turn the fan blades of the motor manually.
  • If the blades turn freely, the motor is still ok.
  • If they don’t turn freely, the motor has gone bad.
  • Get a multimeter and test the continuity of the motor.
  • If there’s no continuity, replace the motor.

7. Bad Temperature Control Thermostat

lg freezer not working

The temperature control thermostat sends voltage to the evaporator and condenser fan motors as well as the compressor.

This enables the compressor and the motors to run. If the temperature can’t deliver the voltage required, the compressor and the fan motors won’t run. When that happens, you will have a problem with the LG freezer not freezing, but the fridge is cold.

How to Fix Bad Temperature Control Thermostat

  • Check the thermostat by turning it from its lowest temperature setting to its highest temperature setting. If it clicks at its highest setting, the thermostat is ok.
  • But if you don’t hear the click, get a multimeter and test the thermostat for continuity. If there is no continuity, at low or high-temperature settings, it has gone bad. Replace it.

8. Bad Compressor

The compressor is the part of the cooling system that compresses the refrigerant and then circulates it through the evaporator and the condenser coils. This electrical device does not break easily because it is made of durable materials.

But if you have already checked the cooling system and everything’s okay, you have to look at the compressor. Fixing this problem is not for the ordinary handyman. A qualified HVAC technician must do it. But here’s what you can do on your end before replacing the compressor.

How to Fix Bad Compressor

  • Check if there are other components of the cooling system that not working.
  • If you are sure that there are no other parts that are malfunctioning, then that’s the time you check the compressor.
  • Get a multimeter and check the compressor’s continuity between the electrical pins located on the compressor’s side.
  • If a circuit is open, it is very likely that the compressor is defective.
  • Ask for an HVAC technician to check the compressor, if it can still be repaired.
  • If it can’t be repaired, replace the compressor.

9. Bad Thermistor

The function of the thermistor or temperature control sensor is to read the air temperature and send the information to the control board. It works in tandem with the temperature control thermostat. The control board regulates the evaporator fan’s power and the compressor’s run when it receives the signal.

If the thermistor is malfunctioning, its readings will be incorrect. So, the control board cannot send the right amount of power to run the motor and compressor when they need power. The result is that the freezer will not be freezing.

How to Fix Bad Thermistor

  • Get a multimeter and test the continuity of the thermistor.
  • If it is ok, its resistance readings will vary along with the changes in the temperature inside the freezer.
  • But if its readings do not vary, the thermistor has gone bad.
  • Replace the thermistor.

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Conclusion: LG Freezer Not Freezing

There are many reasons why your LG freezer is not freezing. Its cooling system consists of many components. If just one of these components malfunctions, the freezer will not be able to do its work.

Here are some of the reasons why the freezer won’t freeze and the easiest ones to fix:

  1. Dirty condenser coils: Reduces the cooling capacity of the freezer.
  2. Broken seal: Maybe the freezer door is damaged compromising the complete sealing of the system.
  3. Broken Start Relay: This component starts the whole freezing process. So, if it is dead, the process will not start.
  4. Malfunctioning evaporator fan motor.

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