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Are you struggling with endless LG refrigerators bottom freezer problems?
If yes, then read on to find out how to fix your LG bottom freezer refrigerator.
LG refrigerators bottom freezer problems and solutions
Since there is no one-does-it-all solution for the most common lg refrigerators bottom freezer problems, we shall look at the recommended troubleshooting steps for each issue individually….
Let’s dive in…
LG fridge bottom freezer not working / LG refrigerator bottom freezer not working / LG refrigerator bottom freezer stopped working
Start your troubleshooting with the most basic fix– inspect if the power cord is loose (It could be that your kid or the dog tugged at it working it loose).
Be sure to plug it in securely, if it’s loose.
Next, you will want to confirm that your power outlet is working.
To do so, disconnect your refrigerator and plug in your phone.
Does the phone charge?
If it does, it could be that the amps are not enough for the refrigerator.
Normally, refrigerators require a power outlet with 120v and at least 15 amps.
So connect your refrigerator to a power outlet that meets these specifications.
On the other hand, if the outlet is not working, you will need to inspect the circuit breaker and see if it is tripped.
If it is, turn it back on and see if it will start working smoothly afterward.
LG refrigerator bottom freezer won’t turn on
First try the steps we have just covered in the section above about fixing an LG bottom freezer refrigerator that won’t turn on- that’s because it can be a power supply issue
Otherwise, power is not always the problem and you need to check elsewhere.
In truth, quite often it is either the start relay is faulty or the compressor has gone bad.
Here’s how to identify the faulty part…
Do you hear clicking sounds?
If not, you will need to inspect the start relay further because no sound usually means a bad start relay.
Now, to test the relay, first remove it.
Keep in mind that you can either use a multimeter to test it for continuity or you can gently shake it.
Speaking of the test, if it lacks continuity or rattles when you shake it, it could mean it is faulty – replacing it is the most recommended repair(You can order the OEM LG bottom freezer refrigerator start relay on LG’s Amazon store).
In contrast, if the unit clicks once in a while, that is the start relay trying to start the compressor but the compressor is not starting.
Here you will therefore need to test the compressor.
Follow the steps on the video below to test the compressor..
Again it is best to replace the compressor if it is defective(we recommend an OEM compressor for LG bottom freezer refrigerators).
LG refrigerators bottom freezer problems – how to fix other problems
LG refrigerator bottom freezer won’t open
Quick Tip: Refrigerator doors may be a bit hard to open immediately after closing them. This is due to the vacuum created as the warm air that has just entered it is cooled.
In short, it is normal for your refrigerator doors to require some effort to open within minutes of it being closed.
Moving on…
If the freezer doors are fully jammed, it is likely that they have frozen shut.
If that’s the situation, try to unplug your refrigerator and let it sit for up to 24 hours.
After that, open the doors and wipe out the melted ice and any moisture inside the unit.
Now, if the door is opening partially or it is hard to fully open, chances are that the door rails are dry and friction is preventing the freezer door from fully sliding open.
The fix here could be applying additional grease on the door rails.
Remember LG recommends you apply a non-toxic NSF H1 grease or lubricant to the top and bottom of the rails- also confirm that the grease is water-resistant and can operate under cold/freezing temperatures.
LG refrigerator bottom freezer light not working
If the light stopped working, it is likely that the light bulb has reached its end of life.
I suggest you confirm this by checking the bulb to see if it has a dark area beneath it or if the filaments are loose.
Now, if you see some dark spots, it’s likely a gonna so you may have to replace the bulb – they come cheap at just under 20 bucks on Amazon.
Even LED lights from LG are not exactly expensive.
Other than that…
If your refrigerator is a pre-2020 model and you have light issue, I recommend that you check and make sure that the wiring harness in the middle door is securely connected.
To do that, pull the middle drawer and remove the basket from the rail system.
Next, hold both sides of the door and lift it to remove it from the rail system.
Now proceed to inspect the wiring harness at the rear-right side of the drawer to make sure that it is properly connected- just tug at the harness to make sure that it is not loose.
Please be sure to properly reconnect it if it is loose – you should hear a click once the harness connects properly.
Final solution
If your refrigerator’s light have not come on and you have tried all the above repairs, chances are your door switch is faulty.
And this can result in the refrigerator not sensing the door as open when the door is actually open.
So you might need to get a replacement door switch for your model (you may want to do a continuity testing to prove that the door switch is defective).
LG refrigerators bottom freezer problems – additional troubleshooting steps
LG refrigerator bottom freezer not sealing / LG refrigerator bottom freezer won’t seal
When it comes to sealing fault, begin by checking the basics – doublecheck the arrangement of foodstuffs and the bins to verify that thy are not preventing the door from fully closing.
If they are, be sure to rearrange them as necessary.
Next, you will want to inspect the door gasket to confirm that it is not dirty-If you see any grease or dirt on the gasket, be sure to wipe it off.
To do so, use warm water and a mild detergent.
And while at it, inspect the gasket for signs of wearing or tear.
If it is worn out or torn, you will need to get a replacement gasket depending on your refrigerator model such as the OEM LG refrigerator freezer door gasket (part number ADX73550624).
Another thing worth trying is inspecting your refrigerator’s leveling – you will want to follow all the model’s leveling instructions(You can find these instructions in the owner’s manual that came with your refrigerator or on LG’s refrigerator leveling guide).
Additional solutions for sealing problems
If you have a French door refrigerator with a bottom freezer, inspect how the door mullion (flap/cold screen) behaves when you open the left door.
Now, if the mullion is not folded, be sure to fold it before closing the left door.
You see, the door mullion should automatically fold itself when you open and close the left door as it allows the right door to nicely seal against it.
So if the mullion in your refrigerator is frequently unfolding or it won’t fold back, you might need to get an OEM replacement mullion plate.
LG refrigerator bottom freezer won’t stop beeping
Now, an LG refrigerator that beeps consistently is ,in genera, an indication that either the internal temperatures are high or that the refrigerator is not detecting the door as closed.
In any event, if there are problems with the door-closure mechanism, the temp inside the refrigerator will also rise.
So, what options do you have?
Well, first you need to understand that it is not one thing that bring problems with the door closure mechanism…Nah…several things could be wrong.
And you, of course, need to know what to do to sort out each of these potential problem points..
That’s where our previous guide LG fridge making noises? Try this comes in…go through it and try the suggestions we have made under the section LG fridge keeps on beeping/chiming – it could help you get rid of the issue permanently.
LG refrigerators bottom freezer problems – how to fix cooling/freezing issues
LG refrigerator bottom freezer not cooling / LG refrigerator bottom freezer won’t get cold / LG refrigerator bottom freezer stopped cooling
If you’re having cooling problems, first get this: If your LG refrigerator is brand-new or there was a recent power outage, you should give it around 24 hours for it to stabilize its internal temperatures- it could start cooling fine after 24 hours.
Otherwise, the next logical step to take is to inspect the display of the refrigerator and see if it blinks either OF F or O FF.
If it does, it means that the unit is in demo/display mode and it won’t cool when in demo mode- so deactivate this mode for normal cooling to resume.
How?
Well, to turn off demo mode in 2018 and prior models, simply press and hold the refrigerator and ice plus icons/buttons simultaneously for five seconds.
And if you have a 2019 or later model, press and hold the refrigerator & ice plus buttons -at the same time.
Remember that while you’re still holding the refrigerator button, you must tap the ice plus key three times to stop the demo mode function.
Check if your display will start showing the temperature controls once demo mode is de-activated,
This is important:
How frequently (and for how long) are you opening your fridge doors?
You see, frequent opening of the door (or leaving it open for too long) typically results in warm air entering your fridge.
Okay…it may not sound like a big deal but this warm air ends up interfering with your unit’s cooling process (you obviously need cold air in there for efficient cooling).
So only open the refrigerator when necessary and do not leave the door open for too long.
Alternative fixes
Confirm that you do not have foodstuffs blocking the air vents.
Here’s the thing: Blocking the air vents leads to poor or no airflow from the freezer to the fridge.
The end result? Your fridge will not cool as you it has been doing.
So be sure to remove any foodstuff that might be blocking the vent(s).
And while at it, confirm that you are not overstocking your unit as this could be impeding airflow inside the fridge too.
By the way, LG recommends you stock your fridge up to ¾ way.
Still on airflow, make sure that your fridge is well spaced from the wall.
Here we recommend a spacing of 2” away from the walls to give room for efficient air circulation(This usually allows efficient flow of heat from the condenser coils to the surrounding).
Here’s a better guide from LG to guide you in spacing your unit:
Moving on…
Is the refrigerator beeping?
If yes, it could mean that there is a problem with the door closing and this is causing warm air to enter your unit even when the doors are closed.
To fix this, follow the steps we have covered above in our post: LG bottom freezer refrigerator won’t stop beeping -how to fix the issue.
Additional solutions
Does the display blink an error code?
If yes, what code does it blink?
If it blinks a dH error code (F dH, r dH or Er dH), it typically means that your refrigerator is having trouble defrosting.
You may be aware that this can make its evaporator coils get frozen over, leading to lower cooling power/capability.
A temporary fix here would be to manually defrost the refrigerator by unplugging it overnight (around 8 hours)- don’t forget to leave all the doors open.
if that does no work, try for the more permanent fix: Replacing the defrost heater because it could be bad, leading to repetitive defrosting issues.
But you want to test the defrost heater.
Now, to test the heater, just perform an ohm test- keep in mind that a healthy defrost heater should read between 10 and 150 ohms.
So if yours is out of this range, it might be bad- we recommend the OEM LG refrigerator defrost heater from LG, if you want to swap it out right away.
Quick Tip: Sometimes it is the defrost sensor that is faulty(or the fuse on the sensor-which isn’t resettable) so it might be what you need- When the defrost sensor is broken, the defrost cycle could stop functioning.
Finally…
If the display blinks either E CL or E CH, it is routinely a signal that the refrigerant might be leaking.
In other words, the amount of refrigerant in your refrigerator is not enough to fully cool the unit.
Unfortunately, refilling refrigerant is not DIY stuff- you need to call in an EPA-licensed technician to come and refill your fridge to the appropriate refrigerant levels(the refrigerant is toxic both to you and to the environment).
LG refrigerator bottom freezer not freezing / LG fridge bottom freezer not freezing / LG refrigerator bottom freezer won’t freeze / LG refrigerator bottom freezer stopped freezing
The easiest step I suggest you take if the bottom freezer is not freezing is the freezer compartment temperature..
So, what is the freezer compartment temperature?
Here’s what I want you to note: LG recommends a temperature of at least 4⁰F for freezing to occur.
So if your temperature is above this, be sure to lower it.
Otherwise, go back to the section LG bottom freezer refrigerator not cooling above and try the troubleshooting steps we have gone through there to fix the freezer.
That is because the repair process for cooling and freezing faults is nearly the same.
LG refrigerator bottom freezer ice maker not working / LG fridge bottom freezer not making ice / LG refrigerator bottom freezer won’t make ice / LG refrigerator bottom freezer stopped making ice
If it won’t make ice, try the following:
If the refrigerator is new or there has been a recent power outage, again let it sit for around 24 hours for it to start producing ice.
Next, confirm that the freezer temp is set to at least -4⁰F. As mentioned earlier, this is the temperature that LG recommends for normal ice production.
Quick Note: A higher temp might produce ice but it will be at a slower rate.
Moving on…
Is the ice maker on?
To verify, locate the Ice Maker icon on the control panel and confirm that it is on.
Now, there are several more steps that might result in your ice maker not making any ice.
We have explained all of them in our comprehensive article: How to fix LG refrigerator ice maker problems so open it and try them out.
LG refrigerators bottom freezer problems – more fixes
LG refrigerator bottom freezer won’t heat up
If your refrigerator is not defrosting, chances are that the heating element is bad hence the freezer won’t heat up to defrost.
You already know this: To test the defrost heater, you will need to perform an ohm test.
Quick Tip: A continuity test is not always effective since it does not work on all defrost heaters.
Now, with your multimeter set to the lowest ohm setting, insert the probes into the terminals of the defrost heater.
If the heater is healthy, you should get a reading of between 10 and 150 ohms.
So if your reading does not fall within this range, then the defrost heater is probably defective and you need to install a new OEM LG refrigerator defrost heater.
On the other hand, if the defrost heater is healthy, it could be that the defrost sensor is faulty hence it cannot sense when the unit requires defrosting.
Luckily, you can again easily test the defrost sensor using a multimeter– you will need to replace it for your unit to resume normal heating during defrosting.
LG refrigerator bottom freezer won’t close
Here begin by confirming that there is no foodstuff or trays preventing the door from fully closing.
If it is too much food, be sure to re-arrange them – for the trays, you just need to fully insert them in place.
Next, inspect to see if something is stuck in the door gasket.
If there is, pull it out and wipe the gasket with a moist cloth and a mild detergent.
Also inspect the gasket it to see if it has become loose or detached-If it is, firmly push it back in place.
Moving on…
Fully remove the trays and inspect to see if something has fallen behind the drawers thereby preventing the door from fully closing- remove it, if there is.
Finally
Inspect the freezer rails for signs of frost build-up or other obstructions- remove any obstructions.
As regards the frost(you may see significant frost build-up), put a dry towel beneath the rails and drip hot water to melt the ice.
LG refrigerators bottom freezer problems – LG refrigerator bottom freezer leaking water
The solution to your leaking refrigerator depends on where the water is leaking from…
See below..
Is your LG refrigerator bottom freezer leaking water from the back?
If yes, this points to a problem with the water line connection.
So first carefully inspect the water line for signs of damage or cracks.
And if the water line is damaged, you will need to get an OEM water line for LG refrigerators.
In the meantime, you can turn off the water valve before the replacement water line arrives.
However, if the water line does not appear damaged, you just need to confirm that it is properly installed- an incorrectly inserted water line is what results in leaks in new LG refrigerators.
Simply check the water line fittings – if the water line is properly put in, you should only see one black line (partially visible) on the tube.
However, if you are seeing two black lines, you might have to insert the water line a bit further till you can only see (partially) one black line.
Is LG refrigerator bottom freezer leaking water from the inside?
If yes, this is normally accompanied by a block of ice at the bottom of the freezer compartment.
When this occurs, it means that the drain hole is clogged with ice-This can result in the water from the melted ice during the defrost cycle collecting at the bottom of the freezer compartment(This water then freezes once the defrost cycle is over leaving a sheet of ice at the bottom).
To fix this, you will need to first thaw the refrigerator as described below…
- First disconnect the refrigerator from the power outlet.
- Follow this by taking out all the foodstuff, opening all the fridge and freezer doors and letting it sit for around eight hours.
Quick Tip: Keep dry towels in and around the refrigerator to soak up water from the melted ice.
Alternatively, you can follow the steps in the video below and you should be done within 30 minutes.
LG refrigerator bottom freezer leaking water from the bottom
Here it could be water leaking from the back that is collecting at the bottom.
So be sure to check the water line connection as we have seen above.
Also it could be that the freezer door is not closing fully hence the water drips to the floor during defrosting.
That being so, follow the steps we have just covered above under the section freezer door not closing- it might help you fix the issue.
LG refrigerators bottom freezer problems – final words
When replacing parts, always confirm that you are getting replacement parts that are compatible with your refrigerator model.
It is also a good idea to see if there good instructional videos on YouTube – they are quite a good number of them demonstrating correct installation steps and they can go a long way in helping you get everything right.
ALSO READ:
How to fix LG refrigerator blink codes
How to reset LG refrigerator temperature
