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0 pointsStillBored2y ago0 comments

My experience went on for ~6 months of soap opera, similar to what you're describing, where an authorized service provider would "fix" it, and then it would stop cooling within a week or two. Then LG, or the authorized center, would diagnose some other thing that hadn't been replaced. No actual leaks were ever found, which was the problem after they replaced the compressor (the first thing they replaced, but it was on the 2nd trip), and now they had access points to check the pressure.

With the bonus that in our particular case, we were paying for the "labor" and getting the parts under warranty, which means that in the end I paid ~$1000 for repairs and LG claimed to have provided ~$1200 worth of parts (which is bullshit because an aluminum evaporator coil doesn't cost $400 unless it has a 20x retail markup). So, when they sent a check, it covered our sunk costs. But I had a fridge with a brand new compressor, evaporator, and condenser, as well as an upgraded control board/etc. This is part of the reason I took a crack and just ran it without the Yoder loop.

So, a couple of points: some other companies fix yoder loop leaks by bypassing them and feeding factory-provided heating coils through the now vacant line.

Also, the LG parts all had copper brazing points, so the tech never had to work with aluminum/steel directly.

Finally, I wonder, after your initial comment, if there was just a problem with the refrigerant charge, which was causing your fan to ice over as a byproduct because it was slightly under/overcharged from the factory.

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inferiorhuman2y ago

  now they had access points to check the pressure.

This is such a mixed blessing. It's great for diagnostic work, but it's also one more place for things to leak over time. Cars can deal with leaks (and are expected to leak by design) but they've also got a couple pounds of refrigerant if we're talking R134a. A fridge has like 40 grams (which makes the explosion hazard stickers on the R600a fridges kinda funny). Were it me, I'd be very wary of accepting sealed system work under warranty.

  Also, the LG parts all had copper brazing points, so the tech never
  had to work with aluminum/steel directly.

That's interesting. I wonder how the mix of metals bodes for longevity.

  Finally, I wonder, after your initial comment, if there was just a
  problem with the refrigerant charge, which was causing your fan to
  ice over as a byproduct because it was slightly under/overcharged
  from the factory.

To be clear the whole evap was icing over. But the fan is, by necessity, quite close. I'm inclined to think it was filled properly at the factory because overall the build quality was leaps and bounds ahead of Whirlpool (and Frigidaire). It wouldn't take much to convince me that there was some sort of electronic component failure as one thermistor was already out of spec.

With the LG I was a renter, so I was willing to push things along with LG and do as much diagnostic work as possible. But at the end of the day I didn't really want to dig into fixing anything myself because the fridge simply wasn't mine. I also didn't have room for a second "project" fridge. The landlady wasn't out anything because it was covered under the extended warranty (my initial call was a year + 1 day after the purchase) and LG bought it back for full retail price.

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inferiorhuman2y ago

  now they had access points to check the pressure.

  Also, the LG parts all had copper brazing points, so the tech never
  had to work with aluminum/steel directly.

That's interesting. I wonder how the mix of metals bodes for longevity.

  Finally, I wonder, after your initial comment, if there was just a
  problem with the refrigerant charge, which was causing your fan to
  ice over as a byproduct because it was slightly under/overcharged
  from the factory.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse