LG Fridge LMWS27626S/02 squeals until door opens

Question

Hello. i am looking for help with an LG LMWS27626S/02 (5 years old). Overnight it started making a squealing noise that stops the moment I open the doors. I cleaned under the unit, pulled the bottom cover, and disconnected that fan to test—no change. The sound seems to come from the center rear of the fridge, not the bottom. I haven’t pulled the shelves/drawers to remove the rear interior panel yet to check for ice on the coils. Is that the right next step, or is there something else I should check first?

AskHow · Accepted Answer

Customer: Hello. i am looking for help with an LG LMWS27626S/02 (5 years old). Overnight it started making a squealing noise that stops the moment I open the doors. I cleaned under the unit, pulled the bottom cover, and disconnected that fan to test—no change. The sound seems to come from the center rear of the fridge, not the bottom. I haven’t pulled the shelves/drawers to remove the rear interior panel yet to check for ice on the coils. Is that the right next step, or is there something else I should check first?

Appliance Expert: Hi, I’m Mike—thanks for the detailed description and model info.
Are temperatures and airflow in the fresh-food section otherwise normal, or have you noticed warm spots or visible frost buildup anywhere?

Customer: Temperature seems like ok, i didn't noticed warm spots either

Appliance Expert: If you open a fresh‑food door and hold the door switch closed to keep the fans running, does the squeal return and can you tell if it’s from the center rear wall or the upper‑left ice room area?

Customer: Did not check yet

Appliance Expert: When the squeal happens with the doors closed, does it start immediately and run continuously, or does it cycle on and off every few minutes (and if so, about how long are the cycles)?

Customer: Not sure, to be honest

Appliance Expert: When the noise is happening, if you open only the left fresh‑food door, only the right door, and then the freezer drawer, does the squeal stop in all cases or only when a fresh‑food door is opened?

Customer: yes

Appliance Expert: Thanks—that pattern plus your “center‑rear” location makes this 90% likely to be the refrigerator (fresh‑food) internal fan, not anything in the base or the compressor.

What it most likely is
- Most likely: a worn **refrigerator evaporator/circulation fan motor** bearing that squeals but shuts off when a door switch opens.
- Also common: light **ice/frost contact** with the fan blade or shroud behind the rear interior panel (from a door left ajar, high humidity load, a blocked return vent, or the start of a defrost issue).
- Less likely: the **air damper** or the **ice‑room fan** (those are usually heard high/left), and you already ruled out the **condenser fan**; the **compressor** wouldn’t stop the instant a door opens.

Is pulling the rear interior panel the right next move?
- Yes—inspecting the fan area behind the fresh‑food rear panel is the next logical check to confirm whether you’ve got a rubbing-on-ice situation or a motor/bearing squeal.
- If you find no ice and the blade isn’t rubbing, plan on a new **refrigerator evaporator fan motor** (and blade if the hub is cracked).
- If you do find ice, melting it will quiet the noise temporarily, but also look for causes like a door not sealing, items blocking vents/air tower, or a recurring defrost failure (heater/thermistor/control), which may warrant a technician diagnosis.

Safety note: unplug the fridge before removing interior panels—there are sharp metal edges and moving fan blades; don’t chip at ice with tools or apply high heat.

If you’d like, I can walk you through precise pinpointing (using the door switch) and the panel access/inspection steps for your LMWS27626S/02.

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