LG LFXS24623S: Failed Compressor — No Cooling in Richmond, TX
📞 Call (346) 512-3688🔧 Performed by Serhii T.
The Problem
- •All food in both the freezer and fresh food sections fully thawed overnight
- •Freezer compartment temperature reading 56°F instead of the target 0°F
- •Fresh food section also reading 56°F with no active cooling detected
- •Compressor running continuously but producing no temperature drop in either compartment
🔍 Diagnosis
When I arrived at the home in Richmond, 77406, the client told me she noticed that morning that everything in the refrigerator had thawed. Both compartments were at 56°F, which told me right away the system had completely lost its ability to cool. That kind of uniform temperature failure across the freezer and fresh food sections points to a sealed system problem, not a fan motor or defrost issue. I started with a leak detector sweep around the compressor, line set, and evaporator connections. No active leak registered. Then I pulled out the compressor cover panel on the back of the unit and immediately saw that the compressor had already been replaced. The label on the back confirmed the swap was done in 2021. I connected my manifold gauges to the system. With the compressor running, I read 42.5 psi on the low side. On a properly functioning R-134a system, the low side should be pulling down into the 0 to 10 psi range under load. At 42.5 psi, the system was sitting in pressure equilibrium, meaning the compressor was spinning but not pumping. It had no compression. The refrigerant charge, rated at 4.41 oz of R-134a per the label, was still in the system, but the compressor could not move it. The 10-year LG compressor warranty on the 2021 replacement had already expired. The client declined a second compressor replacement and chose to purchase a new refrigerator.
🔧 The Repair
- ✓Step 1: Performed leak detection sweep using electronic leak detector around compressor base, suction and discharge lines, and evaporator access points. No active refrigerant leak detected.
- ✓Step 2: Measured compartment temperatures in both the freezer and fresh food sections using a calibrated digital thermometer. Both read 56°F.
- ✓Step 3: Removed the rear compressor cover panel to access the sealed system components and inspect the compressor.
- ✓Step 4: Identified that the original LG linear compressor had been previously replaced. Located the replacement date label on the compressor, confirming the swap occurred in 2021.
- ✓Step 5: Connected manifold gauges to the low-side service port. Powered the unit on and allowed the compressor to run for five minutes to get a stable pressure reading.
- ✓Step 6: Recorded low-side pressure of 42.5 psi with the compressor running. This confirmed the compressor was not building differential pressure. The system was in equalized pressure state, indicating total compressor failure.
- ✓Step 7: Reviewed the LG 10-year sealed system warranty terms with the client. Confirmed the warranty on the 2021 compressor replacement had expired.
- ✓Step 8: Presented repair estimate for a second compressor replacement. Client declined. No repair performed. Refrigerator deemed non-repairable within client's budget. Unit to be replaced.
✓ Result
The diagnosis was completed at the Richmond, 77406 property. Both compartments were confirmed at 56°F with a non-functional compressor reading 42.5 psi running pressure. The replacement compressor installed in 2021 had failed, and the original LG 10-year warranty no longer applied. The client was informed of all options clearly. She decided that a second compressor replacement was not worth the cost given the unit's age and repair history, and she began shopping for a new refrigerator.
💡 Technician Notes
LG French door models from the 2015 to 2018 production window, including the LFXS24623S, used linear compressors that became notorious for early failure. LG eventually extended warranty coverage on many of these units, but once you are on a second compressor, that coverage is gone. If you own one of these units and it is still on its original compressor, the early warning sign is a warmer-than-usual fresh food section, typically creeping above 40°F, while the freezer still seems acceptable. That is the linear compressor starting to lose efficiency before it fails completely. The one maintenance action that helps delay sealed system stress is keeping the condenser coils clean. Dirty coils force the compressor to work harder and run hotter. If your LG stops cooling in both compartments at the same time, do not wait. Call a technician the same day. Uniform temperature loss across both sections almost always means the sealed system is involved, and food safety becomes a concern within hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my LG French door refrigerator stop cooling in both the freezer and fridge at the same time?
When both compartments lose cooling simultaneously on an LG French door model like the LFXS24623S, the cause is almost always a sealed system failure. A defrost issue or fan failure typically affects one section more than the other. Equal temperature rise in both sections points directly to the compressor not building pressure, which is what I confirmed with manifold gauges at 42.5 psi running pressure on this unit.
How much does it cost to replace a compressor on an LG refrigerator in the Houston area?
Compressor replacement on an LG French door refrigerator in the Houston area typically runs between 600 and 900 dollars including labor and refrigerant recovery and recharge. The cost depends on the specific compressor model and labor time. For a unit that has already had one compressor replaced outside of warranty, many clients find that cost difficult to justify against the price of a new refrigerator.
What happens if I keep running my LG refrigerator when the compressor is not working?
If the compressor is failed, running the unit does nothing to cool your food and risks burning out the compressor motor entirely, which creates a harder recovery situation if you later decide to repair. Food safety is the immediate concern. At 56°F in both compartments, perishables are in the danger zone and should be removed within two hours of discovering the problem.
My LG refrigerator already had the compressor replaced once. Is it worth replacing it again?
That depends on the cost of the second replacement versus the age and overall condition of the unit. If the original LG 10-year warranty no longer covers the replacement compressor, you are paying full price again. For a unit manufactured in 2016 that has already had one compressor swap, most clients in Richmond and the greater Houston area decide that a new refrigerator is the better investment at that point.
What does 42.5 psi on the low side mean when diagnosing an LG refrigerator compressor?
On an R-134a system like the LG LFXS24623S, a properly working compressor should pull low-side pressure down to roughly 0 to 10 psi while running. At 42.5 psi with the compressor on, the system is sitting in equilibrium. That means the compressor is turning but not pumping refrigerant. It has lost compression. The refrigerant is still in the system but is not circulating, so no heat transfer happens and both compartments warm to room temperature.
Repair Summary
- Brand
- LG
- Model
- LFXS24623S/00
- Repair Type
- Compressor Failure Diagnosis / Sealed System Assessment
- Refrigerant
- R-134a
- Root Cause
- Failed replacement compressor unable to build operating pressure
- Parts Replaced
- ✓No parts replaced. Compressor replacement was recommended but declined by the client.
- Location
- Richmond, TX 77406
- Status
- ✓ Completed
Service Area
We provide refrigerator repair service in Richmond and surrounding areas.
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