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Er CH

LG Er CH on a refrigerator: possible high side refrigerant leak

Verified with sources1 sourceReviewed Oct 3, 2026
Technician coming? See the 2 steps they must show you
Stainless steel fridge freezer
Matti BlumeCC BY-SA 4.0Image source

Risk level

High

Professional inspection is recommended.

Urgency

High

Quick answer

LG says CH points to a refrigerant leak on the high pressure side of the circuit, which a faulty valve can cause. It is not a home repair: request LG service, watch the food temperature and do not open the appliance.

Safety first

Stop and check this first

  • Only a certified refrigeration technician opens or recharges the refrigerant circuit. Do not open the rear compartment or try to add gas: there is pressurised refrigerant and mains voltage.
  • If the fridge loses cooling, follow the CDC rule for food: when in doubt, throw it out without tasting it.

Safe checks you can perform

  • Food temperature
  • Code and model for service
  • Room ventilation

Leave these tasks to a qualified professional

  • Do not attempt this professional task: Leak location by a certified technician
  • Do not attempt this professional task: Tightness and cooling test

What a technician must be able to justify

A technician is coming

These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.

These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.

  1. Leak location by a certified technician

    What they doA certified refrigeration technician checks the sealed circuit with a leak detector and gauges and inspects the valve LG mentions.

    They must show youwhere the leak is and the pressure reading against the specification.

    In writingthe leak point, the repair, the refrigerant recovered and charged, with amount and type.

  2. Tightness and cooling test

    What they doAfter the repair, the technician runs a tightness test on the circuit and checks the fridge returns to temperature without CH.

    They must show youthe tightness test result and the temperature reached.

    In writingboth tests and the date.

Before accepting a part or repair

Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.

Checks and evidence, step by step

Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.

  1. 1

    Food temperature

    No special tools

    Procedure

    Who:
    you.
    How:
    put an appliance thermometer in the fridge and another in the freezer, and keep the doors closed while you wait for the technician, because with a leak the fridge may lose cooling.
    Result that matters:
    the CDC sets 40 °F (about 4 °C) or below in the fridge and 0 °F (about -18 °C) or below in the freezer.
    If the readings are within range:
    the food is still protected; check the thermometers again every few hours.
    If the fridge is above 40 °F:
    with the door closed, the CDC gives the fridge 4 hours at most and a full freezer 48 hours (24 if half full). Frozen food that still has ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below can be refrozen. When in doubt, throw it out without tasting it.
    Evidence to keep:
    a photo of each thermometer with the time and a list of what you threw away.

    Evidence: Keep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency

  2. 2

    Code and model for service

    No special tools

    Procedure

    Who:
    you.
    How:
    take a photo of the panel showing CH and of the label with the model and serial number.
    Result that matters:
    LG knows it is a possible refrigerant circuit problem.
    If the fridge still cools:
    say so when you request service; it helps plan the visit.
    If it no longer cools:
    ask for an urgent visit and move the food to another cold place.
    Evidence to keep:
    photos of the code and the label, with the date.

    Evidence: [LG Refrigerator] Digital and Analog Error Codes

  3. 3

    Room ventilation

    No special tools

    Procedure

    Who:
    you.
    How:
    open a kitchen window and do not use flames or sparking appliances near the fridge while you wait for the technician.
    Result that matters:
    refrigerant does not build up if there really is a leak.
    If you notice an odd smell or a hiss at the back:
    move away, unplug the fridge from a safe point if you can and report the symptom to LG.
    If you notice nothing:
    keep the room ventilated and wait for the technician.
    Evidence to keep:
    note any smell or noise and when it started.

    Editorial caution: some fridges use flammable refrigerants. Do not look for the leak yourself: it is a job for a certified refrigeration technician only.

    Evidence: [LG Refrigerator] Digital and Analog Error Codes

Where this code applies

A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.

Primary scope

System
Appliances
Brand
LG
Product type
Refrigerators

Known code variants

  • CH
  • CH fuga refrigerante LG
  • E CH
  • ER CH
  • Er(E) CH
  • Error CH LG
  • LG CH error
  • LG refrigerator CH refrigerant leak

What it means

LG defines CH as a high side cycle leak: the control reads that there is a refrigerant leak on the high pressure side of the sealed circuit and lists a faulty valve as a possible origin. For CH, LG gives no home steps: it asks you to request service. A leak in the refrigerant circuit means the fridge may lose its ability to cool. The code is a deduction by the control from its readings; whether there is a real leak, and where, only a certified refrigeration technician with instruments can confirm.

Warnings and stop conditions

  • Higheditorial warning

    Only a certified refrigeration technician opens or recharges the refrigerant circuit. Do not open the rear compartment or try to add gas: there is pressurised refrigerant and mains voltage.

    Evidence: [LG Refrigerator] Digital and Analog Error Codes

  • Mediumsource verified

    If the fridge loses cooling, follow the CDC rule for food: when in doubt, throw it out without tasting it.

    Evidence: Keep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency

Symptoms and causes

Probable causes · in order

  • Refrigerant leak on the high pressure sideCommon

    This is what LG lists for CH. Only a certified refrigeration technician can confirm and locate the leak with instruments.

    Evidence: [LG Refrigerator] Digital and Analog Error Codes

  • Faulty valvePossible

    LG lists it as a possible origin of the code. It can only be told apart from a leak elsewhere during the sealed circuit diagnosis.

    Evidence: [LG Refrigerator] Digital and Analog Error Codes

Virtual technician

Does Er CH still appear after these checks?

Answer a few questions to narrow down the likely cause and the safest next action. Guidance only - it never replaces a professional.

Start diagnosis

Sources and technical references

  1. 1

    [LG Refrigerator] Digital and Analog Error Codes

    LG Electronics · 2025 · official_doc

Sources: [LG Refrigerator] Digital and Analog Error Codesreviewed 2026-10-03 · verified

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