Should we replace 41° fridge? Is it unsafe?

[Mgmny]

Hello! Very long story short, our LG fridge is considered unrepairable by LG, and they cut us a check for $1750, which is what our builder apparently paid for the fridge. The same model is on sale right now for $2300, and I can't really find a fridge that I like for less (face punch me, I know).

The issue is that the fridge maintains a temp between 39-42, usually landing around 41°, despite being set to 33° by me. They have come to my house 11 times to try various fixes, and finally decided it's a dud.

Can I just keep my fridge? Or is 41-42° going to cause potential food poisoning or just really reduced storage times? Online sources are conflicting on this.

What would you do? Shell out another $500 from your pocket to replace the fridge, or just live with what we have?

Thank you!!

[Another Reader]

Not safe to refrigerate food at those temperatures.  Junk the LG and buy an inexpensive GE or Whirlpool.  The Korean manufacturers have had a history of problems since arriving in the US.

Typical side by side:  https://www.homedepot.com/p/Whirlpool-25-cu-ft-Side-by-Side-Refrigerator-in-Fingerprint-Resistant-Stainless-Steel-WRS325SDHZ/302785353  Invest the difference.

[clarkfan1979]

Hello! Very long story short, our LG fridge is considered unrepairable by LG, and they cut us a check for $1750, which is what our builder apparently paid for the fridge. The same model is on sale right now for $2300, and I can't really find a fridge that I like for less (face punch me, I know).

The issue is that the fridge maintains a temp between 39-42, usually landing around 41°, despite being set to 33° by me. They have come to my house 11 times to try various fixes, and finally decided it's a dud.

Can I just keep my fridge? Or is 41-42° going to cause potential food poisoning or just really reduced storage times? Online sources are conflicting on this.

What would you do? Shell out another $500 from your pocket to replace the fridge, or just live with what we have?

Thank you!!

We have mostly GE, including 4 rentals. We have been told that they are the cheapest to repair. We haven't really had to schedule any repairs yet, so we have been very happy.

[Omy]

I've heard that 40° and below is safe. If it's really only 41° or 42° , I might consider watching it for awhile with the hope that I'd find a good sale soon...but I'd scrap it if the temp got higher. Also, my electric company is currently offering $75 to turn in my old fridge, so you may be able to do something like that to bump up your new fridge fund.

[dcheesi]

Are you getting the 41°F reading from the fridge itself? Or a separate thermometer?

Keep in mind that 41° in one spot might mean that it's actually 38 or 44 in other spots. Hard to know without sticking lots of thermometers everywhere...

[Mgmny]

Not safe to refrigerate food at those temperatures.  Junk the LG and buy an inexpensive GE or Whirlpool.  The Korean manufacturers have had a history of problems since arriving in the US.

Typical side by side:  https://www.homedepot.com/p/Whirlpool-25-cu-ft-Side-by-Side-Refrigerator-in-Fingerprint-Resistant-Stainless-Steel-WRS325SDHZ/302785353  Invest the difference.

I always thought that LG was a good brand... Weird to me that this is happening.

I guess I am probably in your camp that those temperatures aren't good, but I was hoping for better news.

Not sure they I can get the wife on board for a side by side, but can't hurt to try!

[Mgmny]

Hello! Very long story short, our LG fridge is considered unrepairable by LG, and they cut us a check for $1750, which is what our builder apparently paid for the fridge. The same model is on sale right now for $2300, and I can't really find a fridge that I like for less (face punch me, I know).

The issue is that the fridge maintains a temp between 39-42, usually landing around 41°, despite being set to 33° by me. They have come to my house 11 times to try various fixes, and finally decided it's a dud.

Can I just keep my fridge? Or is 41-42° going to cause potential food poisoning or just really reduced storage times? Online sources are conflicting on this.

What would you do? Shell out another $500 from your pocket to replace the fridge, or just live with what we have?

Thank you!!

We have mostly GE, including 4 rentals. We have been told that they are the cheapest to repair. We haven't really had to schedule any repairs yet, so we have been very happy.

I'll keep this in mind! I always thought LG was a good brand! Our entire kitchen is LG, so that's annoying!

[Mgmny]

I've heard that 40° and below is safe. If it's really only 41° or 42° , I might consider watching it for awhile with the hope that I'd find a good sale soon...but I'd scrap it if the temp got higher. Also, my electric company is currently offering $75 to turn in my old fridge, so you may be able to do something like that to bump up your new fridge fund.

Oh yeah! I'll definitely look for rebates like that, good point. It's been at this temperature since at least July, and we haven't gotten sick yet, but I follow pretty strict food safety procedures while cooking and storing, so that's what has me so nervous about this

[Mgmny]

Are you getting the 41°F reading from the fridge itself? Or a separate thermometer?

Keep in mind that 41° in one spot might mean that it's actually 38 or 44 in other spots. Hard to know without sticking lots of thermometers everywhere...

Our fridge doesn't report temperature, just the setting temp. I heard the tech on the phone talking to someone about thermostat voltage and he said my fridge was reading 42 at the probe. So the fridge knows it's too warm too.

I have an infrared thermometer that I can zip around the fridge and it's all pretty much 38-42, except the door which is usually around 50.

I've also stuck my instant thermometer in lots of things over the past 3 months because I was concerned it was getting worse

[EchoStache]

IMO, you have two problems here. The temp is borderline for food safety.  Maybe its ok, maybe not.

Perhaps more importantly, you fridge is trying to get colder, but cannot.  That tells me it is probably running 24/7 and burning/wasting tons of electricity.  If that's the case, it is not only costing you money the longer you keep it but will probably fail quickly.  Take the warranty money and replace it IMO.

[Mgmny]

IMO, you have two problems here. The temp is borderline for food safety.  Maybe its ok, maybe not.

Perhaps more importantly, you fridge is trying to get colder, but cannot.  That tells me it is probably running 24/7 and burning/wasting tons of electricity.  If that's the case, it is not only costing you money the longer you keep it but will probably fail quickly.  Take the warranty money and replace it IMO.

So interestingly, the freezer is the correct temperature and correctly adjusts when I change the freezer temp, so because it's a 1 compressor system, I'm not sure that it is running too much... Because wouldn't the freezer just get increasingly colder and colder?

I really think it's a damper/fan issue, but these were both replaced and are "working correctly" so I have no idea.

[Sibley]

Well, at a minimum, while you have a malfunctioning fridge please don't have any dinner parties. You have the right to risk food poisoning for yourself. You don't have the right to subject others to that risk.

If the electrical usage isn't out of wack, then it can be used as an extra freezer, and cold storage of potatoes, carrots, and other produce that will keep longer at lower temps but don't need full refrigeration. Don't put meat, mayo, or dairy in it, or other foods that need refrigeration to be safe. Might make a good drink fridge, its cold enough to chill them and since they're sealed it should be safe.

But yes, buy a new fridge. Or new to you at least, you might find something used.

[Paper Chaser]

Side by sides suck for storing common things. Pizzas, party trays, sheet cakes, etc. I won't own one, and I'm surprised so many people continue to buy them honestly.

If you can get the fridge to a scrap yard or electronics recycling center yourself, you can probably get a few hundred dollars for it. Especially if it's non-magnetic stainless on the outside. That might make the new fridge free or close to it.

I'm not opposed to some food risks from time to time, but I wouldn't want to be uncertain about everything in the fridge forever. That seems like a lot of unnecessary worry that I'd rather avoid.

[Mgmny]

Well, at a minimum, while you have a malfunctioning fridge please don't have any dinner parties. You have the right to risk food poisoning for yourself. You don't have the right to subject others to that risk.

If the electrical usage isn't out of wack, then it can be used as an extra freezer, and cold storage of potatoes, carrots, and other produce that will keep longer at lower temps but don't need full refrigeration. Don't put meat, mayo, or dairy in it, or other foods that need refrigeration to be safe. Might make a good drink fridge, its cold enough to chill them and since they're sealed it should be safe.

But yes, buy a new fridge. Or new to you at least, you might find something used.

Thanks for the perspective. I hadn't considered the risk of poisoning others, so good point.

[Mgmny]

Side by sides suck for storing common things. Pizzas, party trays, sheet cakes, etc. I won't own one, and I'm surprised so many people continue to buy them honestly.

If you can get the fridge to a scrap yard or electronics recycling center yourself, you can probably get a few hundred dollars for it. Especially if it's non-magnetic stainless on the outside. That might make the new fridge free or close to it.

I'm not opposed to some food risks from time to time, but I wouldn't want to be uncertain about everything in the fridge forever. That seems like a lot of unnecessary worry that I'd rather avoid.

Yeah, i think we are pretty much stuck on a french door unit as well. At our last house, we had one of those "fancy"  4 door units where 1 of the compartments could be fridge or freezer or anything in between, and it just didn't seem to store food as well as a pull out drawer for the freezer.

I hadn't thought about a recycling center. I figured i could post it on craigslist/facebook and market it as a beer fridge or as a cold pantry for vegetables plus working freezer / ice maker.

[GilesMM]

41F is a whopping 1 degree higher than recommended. I definitely would NOT replace it.  Just be aware of the issue and think about how you use it.  Don't leave food out to get bacteria growing on it before putting it away.  Set the thermostat at 41 so it doesn't run all the time.  If you start getting food poisoning, then think about a replacement. 

I would also get a sensor to monitor the temps continuously. I like the Sensorpush models.

[Omy]

If you start getting food poisoning, then think about a replacement. 

While I agree that it's probably ok to use it for awhile longer, I would replace it BEFORE you start poisoning yourself. ; )

[chemistk]

That fridge is eventually going to fail, much sooner than you'd hope. That's almost a guarantee with LG and Samsung fridges. Take this as an opportunity to replace it, as others have mentioned.

As someone who has worked in the food industry for a long time, 41F is definitely a very risky place to be. You've been lucky so far but it just takes one round of Salmonella or Listeria sickness for you to regret those temperatures. In a commercial or foodservice environment, 41F would definitely warrant a repair or replacement of the unit.

One of the best ways to measure the actual temperature is to take a small glass, fill it with water, cover it with foil or plastic wrap, and put a small alcohol thermometer into the glass. Wait a few hours and you'll have a very stable reading.

[Dicey]

In the interim, placing blocks of ice in the fridge might help. I do this in the RV and it makes a difference. For the small RV fridge, I use quart size screw-top milk containers. At home, I use the square plastic tubs that the warehouses sell nuts and fancy chocolates in.  The "nut" blocks last much longer. I keep these on hand. When power outages loom, I pop one in a bowl in the fridge.

[chemistk]

In the interim, placing blocks of ice in the fridge might help. I do this in the RV and it makes a difference. For the small RV fridge, I use quart size screw-top milk containers. At home, I use the square plastic tubs that the warehouses sell nuts and fancy chocolates in.  The "nut" blocks last much longer. I keep these on hand. When power outages loom, I pop one in a bowl in the fridge.

Even putting jars/bowls/whatever of water will help OP's case. By creating more cooled mass in the fridge, the temperature won't be so susceptible to the door opening and closing.

[Mgmny]

41F is a whopping 1 degree higher than recommended. I definitely would NOT replace it.  Just be aware of the issue and think about how you use it.  Don't leave food out to get bacteria growing on it before putting it away.  Set the thermostat at 41 so it doesn't run all the time.  If you start getting food poisoning, then think about a replacement. 

I would also get a sensor to monitor the temps continuously. I like the Sensorpush models.

The sensor push is $50. Not that i can get a new fridge for $50, but i do have an infrared thermometer that I use to scan probably daily just to check. The temps have varied lately from 37-45, and even higher for things in the door (my ketchup bottle was 52 this morning.....!!).

I guess I'm wondering if it would make sense to drop $50 on something that might be a foregone conclusion.

Also, "start getting food poisoning"...??? I don't mean to be an alarmist, but people do die of food poisoning... Things like Rice scare me because cooking it doesn't kill the bacteria they have, and improperly stored after heating it could cause life-threatening food poisoning...

[Mgmny]

If you start getting food poisoning, then think about a replacement. 

While I agree that it's probably ok to use it for awhile longer, I would replace it BEFORE you start poisoning yourself. ; )

Oh yeah, agree 100%. People die from food poisoning. and at some point, a few rounds of vomiting and diarrhea just isn't worth $1750 anymore.

[Mgmny]

That fridge is eventually going to fail, much sooner than you'd hope. That's almost a guarantee with LG and Samsung fridges. Take this as an opportunity to replace it, as others have mentioned.

As someone who has worked in the food industry for a long time, 41F is definitely a very risky place to be. You've been lucky so far but it just takes one round of Salmonella or Listeria sickness for you to regret those temperatures. In a commercial or foodservice environment, 41F would definitely warrant a repair or replacement of the unit.

One of the best ways to measure the actual temperature is to take a small glass, fill it with water, cover it with foil or plastic wrap, and put a small alcohol thermometer into the glass. Wait a few hours and you'll have a very stable reading.

Thanks for the advice! For the entire month of August i had a cup of water in the center of the fridge. It wasn't covered like you suggest, so it was probably even colder than it should have been, but it was consistently reading 40-42, despite the fridge being set to 33. I was using an instant read thermometer though, but that shouldn't impact it much. 

[Mgmny]

In the interim, placing blocks of ice in the fridge might help. I do this in the RV and it makes a difference. For the small RV fridge, I use quart size screw-top milk containers. At home, I use the square plastic tubs that the warehouses sell nuts and fancy chocolates in.  The "nut" blocks last much longer. I keep these on hand. When power outages loom, I pop one in a bowl in the fridge.

Even putting jars/bowls/whatever of water will help OP's case. By creating more cooled mass in the fridge, the temperature won't be so susceptible to the door opening and closing.

I considered this actually, because i do it in my deep freeze (gallon pails of ice cream filled with water). But i wasn't sure where the issue was stemming from for the fridge. If it's a temperature probe issue, then me adding ice won't really help, because I'll be artificially lowering the temperature, and the fridge will run less, sure, but it won't actually get any colder.

[Mgmny]

Due to this thread, we did decide to replace the fridge.

I went to Lowes, told them my budget, and got the biggest fridge they had. Some 3 door Samsung unit that ended up costing about $1675. It was on sale for $1899 and i used one of the handy lowes 10% off coupons, and got it down to $1700. The guy working the desk took off another $25 because the warranty he was offering me was ringing up $25 more expensively than the sign said, so i probed him on it, and he just modified the appliance price for me.

So, i got a new 30.1 cubic foot fridge on the way. Supposed to be here in.... DECEMBER. So until then, wish me luck that we don't die of food poisoning.

I heard everyone's complaint that LG and Samsung are garbage, but... i couldn't find a GE model in this price range with as large of a capacity as the Samsung. Plus, the Samsung has makes it's ice in the freezer compartment (compared to a different part of the fridge) and it has this neato auto-fill pitcher, that i was tempted by.

I am a huge sucker, because i DID purchase the 3 year plan, because of everyone saying Samsung is crap, and i sort of figure for $150 (they will give me $50 back if i don't use it), it may be worth it given how my current fridge flopped in 6 months. Probably not the smartest financial move, but it's what i did.

[gooki]

FWIW 41f is right on the max safe temp required by law for commercial kitchens in my country.

[lutorm]

FWIW, our LG french door fridge has worked flawlessly for a decade. Our biggest gripe is that there's a lot of condensation inside, but that might be normal given HI humidity.