If your LG refrigerator is running — lights on, fans humming, display working — but the inside is warming up and your food is at risk, you are dealing with one of the most common appliance repair calls we get across Chicago, Evanston, and the surrounding suburbs.
LG refrigerators are well-built machines, but a specific set of problems shows up repeatedly. Knowing what they are helps you understand what you’re dealing with and whether to attempt a reset or call a technician right away.
Why your LG refrigerator is running but not cooling
1. Evaporator fan motor failure
The evaporator fan circulates cold air from the freezer into the refrigerator section. When this motor fails or gets locked in ice, the freezer stays cold but the fridge section warms up — sometimes within hours.
Signs: Fridge warm, the freezer is still cold, clicking or grinding noise when you open the freezer door.
What to try: Open the freezer and listen for the fan running. If you hear nothing or a grinding noise, the motor is failing. Unplugging the fridge for 24–48 hours with both doors propped open can clear an ice blockage. If the motor itself has failed, it needs to be replaced.
2. Defrost system failure
LG refrigerators run an automatic defrost cycle to prevent frost from building up on the evaporator coils. When the defrost heater, thermostat, or control board fails, ice accumulates until it blocks airflow completely — and the fridge stops cooling even though the compressor keeps running.
Signs: Fridge gradually getting warmer over several days, frost visible on the back wall of the freezer, fan making unusual noise.
What to try: A full manual defrost — unplugging the fridge and leaving doors open for 24–48 hours — will temporarily restore cooling. If the problem comes back within a few weeks, the defrost component needs to be replaced.
3. Linear compressor fault
This is the most serious and most talked-about LG refrigerator problem. LG’s linear compressor technology was introduced to improve energy efficiency — but a significant number of units manufactured before 2022 developed compressor failures, many within 3–7 years of purchase.
When the linear compressor fails, both the fridge and freezer stop cooling completely. The compressor may still make a sound or draw power, which is why many owners assume it is working fine.
Signs: Both fridge and freezer warming up, compressor hum without cooling, error codes Er CO or Er FF on the display.
Important: LG offered a 10-year warranty on the compressor for many affected models as part of a class action settlement. If your fridge was manufactured before 2022 and both compartments have stopped cooling, check your model number against LG’s warranty coverage before paying for any repair.
What to try: Unplug for 10 minutes and restart. If cooling does not resume within 4–6 hours, call a technician.
4. Condenser coils clogged with dust
The condenser coils release heat from the refrigerant. When they are coated in dust and pet hair — which happens over 1–2 years in most homes — the fridge works harder, runs hotter, and eventually loses its ability to cool properly.
Signs: Fridge running constantly, warm on the sides, not reaching set temperature but not completely warm either.
What to try: Pull the fridge away from the wall, locate the coils at the back or bottom, and vacuum them carefully. This is one of the few refrigerator maintenance tasks homeowners can do safely themselves.
What happened on a recent Evanston service call
A homeowner in Evanston, IL called us after their LG French door refrigerator stopped cooling the fridge section over two days. The freezer was still working, but the refrigerator had reached 58°F by the time they called.
When our technician arrived, he ran the LG diagnostic sequence from the control board and confirmed the evaporator fan motor had failed. A thick layer of ice had built up around the motor housing, locking the blades completely. The defrost heater had also failed, which is what allowed the ice to accumulate unchecked.
Location: Evanston, IL
Appliance: LG French Door Refrigerator
Issue: Refrigerator section not cooling, freezer still cold
Diagnosis: Evaporator fan motor seized; defrost heater failed
Repair: Replaced fan motor and defrost heater, cleared ice buildup, tested full defrost cycle
Technician: Ihor
The repair took approximately 90 minutes. The refrigerator returned to the correct temperature within two hours of the repair being completed.
When to call a technician immediately
Some situations should not wait:
- Both fridge and freezer have stopped cooling — likely a compressor or sealed system fault
- Error codes Er CO, Er FF, or Er FS on the display — these point to compressor or fan failures that will not self-resolve
- Interior temperature above 40°F for more than 4 hours — food safety is at risk
- The same cooling problem returns within 2–3 weeks of a manual defrost — a component in the defrost system has failed
A reset is always worth trying first. Unplug for 10 minutes, restore power, and wait 4–6 hours to see if cooling resumes. If it doesn’t — or if the same problem returns — the underlying part needs to be diagnosed and replaced.
LG refrigerator repair in Evanston and Chicago
We service LG refrigerators throughout Evanston, Chicago, Elmwood Park, Oak Park, Niles, Park Ridge, Des Plaines, and surrounding suburbs. Our technicians carry the most common LG replacement parts on every service vehicle, so most repairs are completed in a single visit.
Call us or book online. We will diagnose the issue, give you a clear estimate before any work begins, and back every repair with our 30-day labor warranty.
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