LG Refrigerator Error Codes Guide

Quick answer: On many LG refrigerators, Er FF, Er rF and Er CF are fan faults, Er dH is a defrost failure, Er FS and Er rS are temperature sensor faults and Er CO is a communication error. If the display just says OFF and nothing is cooling, the fridge is likely in demo mode, which you can turn off with a button combination.

LG refrigerator codes usually start with E, r or Er, so Er FF, E FF and r FF are the same code on different displays. After a power failure, LG says you can bring up a stored code by pressing Freezer Temperature and Express Freeze together for at least three seconds, though button names vary by model. A power reset (unplugging for a few minutes or switching off the breaker) can clear a temporary glitch, but most LG fault codes that return need a technician.

LG Refrigerator Error Codes list

OFF

Demo mode: cooling is turned off in both sections

Common causes: A store display setting or accidental button combination

What you can try: Turn demo mode off using the steps below.

Call a technician if: Demo mode is off and the fridge still will not cool.

Er FF

Freezer fan fault

Common causes: Frost or ice buildup around the fan, or a failed fan motor

What you can try: Unplug or trip the breaker for about five minutes, then restart. For heavy frost, LG suggests unplugging with both doors open for at least eight hours (move food to a cooler first).

Call a technician if: The code returns after defrosting.

Er rF

Refrigerator fan fault

Common causes: A blocked or failed fan

What you can try: Make sure food is not blocking the vents in the fresh-food section.

Call a technician if: The code persists.

Er CF

Condenser fan fault

Common causes: A blocked or failed condenser fan, which makes the compressor work harder

What you can try: Make sure nothing is blocking the airflow around the bottom and back of the fridge.

Call a technician if: The code appears. Cooling will suffer until it is fixed.

Er IF

Ice maker fan fault

Common causes: Frost or ice around the ice maker fan

What you can try: Defrosting the ice compartment area often clears it.

Call a technician if: Ice making does not recover.

Er dH (or FdH / dHF)

Defrost failure: the defrost cycle ran over an hour without finishing

Common causes: Ice on the evaporator, a blocked defrost drain, a failed heater or temperature fuse, or a control fault

What you can try: LG suggests unplugging for two minutes and letting it defrost again.

Call a technician if: The error persists. Defrost repairs need the freezer back panel removed.

Er FS

Freezer temperature sensor short or open

Common causes: A failed sensor or wiring

What you can try: No homeowner fix. LG lists this as a service code.

Call a technician if: When it appears.

Er rS

Refrigerator temperature sensor short or open

Common causes: A failed sensor or wiring

What you can try: No homeowner fix.

Call a technician if: When it appears.

Er dS

Defrost sensor fault

Common causes: A failed defrost sensor, which can let the evaporator ice over

What you can try: No homeowner fix.

Call a technician if: Promptly, before ice blocks airflow.

Er CO

Communication error between the main board and display

Common causes: Sometimes a temporary power fluctuation, otherwise a board or wiring fault

What you can try: A power reset may clear a one-time glitch.

Call a technician if: The code stays or returns.

Er gF

Water flow sensor fault

Common causes: A closed water valve, kinked water line or wrong water pressure

What you can try: Unplug for 60 seconds and wait up to five minutes after restart. Make sure the water valve is fully open and the line is not kinked.

Call a technician if: The water supply is fine and the code returns.

Er tt

Water tank fault

Common causes: Tank missing or not seated, or a faulty detection sensor

What you can try: Check that the water tank is installed correctly.

Call a technician if: The tank is seated and the code stays.

Er CH / Er CL

Refrigerant leak on the high- or low-pressure side

Common causes: A sealed-system leak or faulty valve

What you can try: None. This is sealed-system work.

Call a technician if: Right away.

Lo / HI

Room temperature warning, not a fault

Common causes: The room is very cold (Lo) or very hot (HI), such as a garage

What you can try: Move the fridge to a temperature-controlled space if possible.

Call a technician if: The room is normal and the warning stays.

How to clear the code

LG publishes more than one demo mode combination, and the right one depends on your model:

Open the refrigerator door, press and hold Refrigerator (or Fridge), and press Express Freeze three times.
On some models, hold Fridge and Express Freeze together for three seconds.
On other models, hold Refrigerator and Ice Plus together for five seconds.

A beep and the temperature settings returning to the display confirm demo mode is off. For other codes, a power reset (unplug or switch off the breaker for a few minutes) is the safe first step.

Fan and defrost codes: what they usually mean

Most LG fan codes come back to ice. When the defrost system cannot keep the evaporator clear, frost builds around the fans until they cannot turn, and the fridge reports Er FF, Er IF or Er dH. Defrosting with the doors open clears it for a while, but if the code returns within days or weeks, a defrost part has likely failed.

Er CH and Er CL are different. They point to the refrigerant side of the system, which is sealed and must be handled by a technician. See our sealed system repair page or our guide to why a refrigerator is not cooling.

LG refrigerator repair in Metro Atlanta

Mr. Fixer repairs LG French door, side-by-side, InstaView and bottom-freezer refrigerators across Metro Atlanta, including in-door ice makers. See our refrigerator repair and LG appliance repair pages. Call (678) 866-3669 or book online.

Code still showing?

Our technicians repair LG refrigerators across Metro Atlanta, usually the same day. Diagnostic from $80, credited toward your repair.

Call (678) 866-3669

FAQs

Why does my LG refrigerator display say OFF?

OFF on the display usually means demo mode is on, so cooling is disabled. On many models, opening the door and holding Refrigerator while pressing Express Freeze three times turns it off. Your owner's manual lists the combination for your model.

Can I fix an LG Er FF code myself?

Sometimes. If frost has frozen the fan, unplugging the fridge with the doors open for at least eight hours can clear it. If the code comes back, the defrost system or the fan motor needs a technician.

What does Er dH mean on an LG fridge?

Er dH means a defrost failure. The fridge tried to defrost for more than an hour without success. Causes include a failed defrost heater, a blown temperature fuse or a blocked drain.

Codes and meanings vary by model and model year. Check your owner's manual for your exact model.

LG Refrigerator Error Codes: What They Mean and How to Fix Them