Does anyone else's fridge have this white powdery stuff that shows up underneath the ice dispenser? The powder usually forms on the dispenser tray and sometimes along the back and side walls of the dispenser area. If so, do you know what causes this? null

Question

Disappointed · Accepted Answer

I have the same problem with powdery substance on sides and bottom of dispenser. 
LG is supposed to be a superior product. Water and ice smell and taste bad. Didn't have problem with other brand frig nor did I have this problem for the first 6 months with LG frig. I have LG filters that I have changed twice, thinking there was something wrong with the filter. No it's not the filter. There seems to be something wrong with LGs water line. Here's the clincher - I have a water filter under my sink which dispenses chrystal clear, odorless water. I think LG should own up to this defect and provide free repair service. Anyone agree with me?

Debb · Answer

I don't know what it is but find it hard to believe it is calcium. This issue didn't show up until I changed the filter after close to a year (I know I should have done it before then). However, when I bought the new (brand name) filters the white powder began. I had bought two and thought there may be something wrong with one and changed it again... still the powder. Went to the store and bought another one (and these things are not cheap!)... same deal. I've never had it happen with any other fridge I've owned and I don't have hard water. It appears to be an issue with LG filters. Did you ever get to the bottom of it?

Answered by Debb 4 years ago

LGer · Answer

I have a new LG refrigerator that costs $3000 so when I started having the white powdered residue coming out of the ice/water dispenser every day it was extremely annoying. I was afraid to drink the water or use the ice. 

However I realized the problem started happening after buying filters from Amazon. Supposedly the filters from Amazon are official LG filters. I decided to buy one of the overpriced $50 filters from BB and the problem has gone away. I examined the Amazon filter against the official $50 LG filter and I believe the ones from Amazon are fakes. The graphics and print on the Amazon filter is blurry when compared to the LG filter. Also while most of the wording is identical there are some subtle differences. For example the fake ones from Amazon are missing the US patents numbers. 

I hate having to pay $100 per year for filters but It did fix the issue.

Bobs · Answer

LG's website says this is calcium carbonate. Our powder smells like vinegar, however. I also wonder why the calcium isn't filtered out by the water filter in the fridge. Hmmm.

Yuri · Answer

Same issue here w new filter and LG fridge. How about class action lawsuit agains LG? Is this staff harmfull to health?

SueM · Answer

I have the same issue with the white powder forming on the bottom of the water and ice dispensing unit with the LG refrigerator. I had an LG refrigerator for 6 years and without issue and then when I bought this one in 2019. I immediately had this issue. Not sure what to do about it. I am hoping it is calcium carbonate but why would that not be filtered out? I may end up doing a water test to find out what it is. I hope its not harmful as I drink a lot of water.

Answered by SueM 4 years ago

SM66614 · Answer

Our LG LRMDS3006S, we have notice, has a white powder in the bottom of the glass after crushed ice melts. My wife first noticed it when drinking a glass of water with crushed ice in it. I tried using different glasses with water fron the fridge dispenser, 1 with just crushed ice, 1 with cube ice, and one with an ice ball. Crushed ice was the only glass with white powder in the bottom of the glass. No the white powder was not floating in the liquid, but laying on the bottom of the glass. I first thought water sediment, but when it shows only in the crushed ice.

Answered by SM66614 4 years ago

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I just got this new LG Refrigarator and I have the same issue too. I have hard water but did not any such issues with my old Refrigarator (GE Profile). So I am not sure if LG has a poor filter or not designed for people with well water, which is hard water.

Answered by Anonymous 4 years ago

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Yes we have that white powdery stuff too. Brand new house and every time anyone gets ice or water the powder shows up!

Dvq1 · Answer

Very good question and exactly same experience. It is possible to be hard water but it also smells like vinegar as you said. My water from other taps don't smell the same or leave water residue. Yes I bought an LG refrigerator as well.

Answered by Dvq1 4 years ago

Dispenser · Answer

I also had this powdery substance coming out of the water/ice dispenser. After arguing with LG and the seller, LG finally agreed to a service to see what the problem was. It took the service representative all of 10 seconds to diagnose the problem. The ice dispenser was not properly lubricated causing plastic to shave off this powdery substance. It’s a common occurrence.

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We bought a brand new lg thinq refrigerator a month ago (2022/01/10). It shows up the same issue. This is a product defect as it does not exist on any other refrigerators that we have used before, not even heard of such an issue until now. Bestbuy, what is your idea about this? Why do you ignore all previous feedbacks from your customer? What should you do to stop damaging your reputation which will hurts your business for sure?

Cheong · Answer

My fridge has the same problem. White powdery deposit underneath the ice dispenser. After reading the answer, I did a small experiment: drop some of the white powder into a teaspoon of white vinegar. There was bubble from the white powder and it eventually dissolved into the white vinegar. This does suggest the white powdery stuff is the calcium carbonate (CaCO3) from the hard water.

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Yes, which is why I searched for this topic and now see that everyone else is having the same problem.  It is not the filter since I’ve tried from multiple sources including the official brand filter.  Even when I don’t use the ice maker the dispenser area is chronically nasty looking because the residue drops down into it.  I took the ice maker out and the internal surface and blades are all coated in the white substance.  Bottom line, this is a crappy product.  Will not buy LQ again.

Mike · Answer

White powder showed up after the change filter light started blinking. I have a whole house carbon filter and an in-line filter before the fridge, same with the drinking water tap at the sink. No white powder at the sink. LG excuse is calcium carbonate?
Has anyone had it analyzed? I'm getting a $10 bypass plug to eliminate LGs exorbitantly priced filter.

TECH · Answer

AS A TECHNICIAN I SEE THIS OFTEN WITH THIS MODEL AND LG WILL NOT HELP THEY WILL BLAME THE HOME SYSTEM.

Waynelle · Answer

Mine is doing exact same thing! Its brand new & been doing “THIS” from the very first use! I believe it’s most likely caused by the refrigerator’s water filter. Hard water deposits usually take time to show and, at a bare minimum, cannot occur immediately following first use.

Bluebird · Answer

I have the same white powdery issue with my ice maker too! I have two similar LG refrigerators the first one I bought in 2017 with no issues. The 2nd one I bought in 2019 and it has always had the white powdery issue. The white powder always shows up below the dispenser and there is debris in the water.

Sunil · Answer

I have the exact same looking powdery stuff that shows up once every few days. Recently I realized that when the ice melts there are white powdery flakes that settle at the bottom. I understand now its probably because of hard water. Did you ever figure out anyway to fix this.

Disappointed · Answer

I also have the same problem. It started on the day it came into my house. Paid a lot for a frig I can't drink the water or use the ice. My other Frig which had filtered water and ice is still working but it is in my son's house now. I might mention it is working well without any signs of white powder. I have a filter system under my sink plus an extra on the line to the frig. I will never buy an LG again.

GregFromChicago · Answer

I did not have this problem with the GE Profile that I replaced. But I clean the white power 4-5 times a day from the bottom of the dispenser. Since I have an ice maker in the freezer, I turned off the in-door ice maker, cleaned it out thoroughly and left it off. No more white residue. I question whether the water for the ice maker is filtered first or whether it just goes to the ice make. Either way, I paid extra for a feature I can't use.

WithoutDishwasherAngry · Answer

Never have I had this problem with GE profile, GE Monogram, nor subzero Fridgedair brands; I have lived in Arizona +40 years as a homeowner. Never have I needed extra filtration on the water lines at any of our homes. Usually we would have just a little scale build up on the water spigot on all other brands. That only happened after a year of use, then I would use CLR and those would be good as new for another year!!

Then we got the almost $4,000 LG French door “Knock” refrigerator and I can only tell you how bad these past 2 years have been by showing you the photo when the repairman took the ThinQ panel off and went inside the door!  I was constantly wiping up powder in the tray, white dribbles staining the water dispenser area. You think you have an issue on outside, this photo should make you wonder what is behind your panel.

We have tried many measures like triple filtration, a water conditioner system on the house, nothing worked, we resorted to not using the ice maker nor water on the refrigerator.  Finally we had a service call for a sticking lever and I was shocked!!  I should note, we haven’t tried our RO from the sink because those lines are separate and far apart.

Very Unsightly issues with white powder, which is calcium carbonate from AZ water. Piled up like piles of cocaine.  Embarrassing when you have guests. Disgusting and a pain in the a*%. Now I see the inside, I want it to go and am trying to justify this idea to my husband.

We only used LG filters inside the fridge. Very high quality filters on all filtration.   I personally will never buy another LG product.

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just curious if anyone got their issue fixed or just replace another refrigerator? I am pretty sure for my case it is not hard water as I did send my water sample to a lab to confirm,

Kevinbrick · Answer

My new LG refrigerator started developing a white powder at the bottom of the water/ice dispenser after a couple months.. Previous fridge did not .. Not sure what it would have to do with the filter but why is it falling out of the dispenser.. Very large amounts.. Much more than should develop from pouring a couple glasses of water.. Have to wipe it down every couple of days..

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I have the same thing going on with my brand new LG and it is now forming the same substance in the door shelves after 6 months It makes me wonder if this is even safe and would want an unbiased opinion as to what it actually is rather than the manufacturers dismissing it as calcium. Anyone have any experience or suggestions on what can be done to take action

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I have the same problem. I have a “whole home”filtration system and never encountered this problem prior to buying the LG ThinQ. I have only used original LG filters. It makes me hesitant to use water from the refrigerator for drinking.

I expected a better product from LG.

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Mind does it to try a new filter still doing it…….LG needs to do something about the white powder……

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We have struggled with this issue as well since purchasing our new LG fridge.  We never had this problem with previous refrigerators at our home. White flakes/residue accumulate at the bottom of the glass after adding icecubes and also around the ice maker. The ice tastes awful to top it off. New fridge, flushed as recommended,  no resolution to this very unfortunate problem. Even purchased another new filter with no improvement.  Will avoid LG going forward.

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My new LG was fine first few months, then a week before filter replace the light came on the white residue started appearing daily.

Bought after market filter and sane happened within 2 days.

This never occur with my previous fridges.

TGCanada · Answer

Exact same problem, had a GE fridge before and never had that problem, so calcium in water is not the problem.

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I bought my lg fridge a few mo ths ago and also have this same issue.  Ive changed the filter out twice, both times with lg filters and i doesnt help at all.  I think that ill try to return the fridge.  Im not comfortable drining the water or using the ice maker which basically wasted a lot of money having these features.  And i drink a lot of water so im extremely disappointed with LG.

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Yes!  It's like white powder, like baking soda

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I have this sams issue after a few months...what can I do about it?

WantToUseMyWaterandIce · Answer

We live in Arizona. We have never had this white powder calcium carbonate buildup on ANY other refrigerator we have ever owned, except a little scale buildup on the water spigots. I hate my almost $4,000 two year old LG French door knock refrigerator. It always has unsightly powder on the tray, the spigot, and it got so bad I called in a service call.  I couldn’t have guests over and use the water/ice because powder goes everywhere. We stopped using the ice maker at six months in. Mind you, I have triple filtration on this refrigerator- I only buy LG refrigerator filters, I have a good whole house filter and Water conditioner in addition. There is something wrong with LG  design. Attaching the shocking truth photo when the repairman took off the panel and went inside the door.  I warn you do not buy these French door LG refrigerators!!!!

AndreaB · Answer

I have the same issue with my new refrigerator and it’s not hard water. I read if you remove the door ice maker bin and turn it off, you won’t have the white residue. But you also won’t have ice. I removed mine tonight and the ice chute was covered in white powder. The ice cubes also leave white particles as they melt. My other ice maker does not do this. So…it’s not my water.

ElvisPresley · Answer

Yes mine does too. I think either it is coming out of the filter or the filter should filter it out. And why do you have to run water through the new filter for 5 minutes ( I think it says one gallon). My Jura coffee machine does not require so much, nor does my water filter system.

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New LG fridge. I have powder only in the LG wall ice maker. Bottom ice maker is fine. Filter replace no help. The powder I see is external to the ice as if it is something is rubbing off in the ice tray mechanism. I had suspected it was plastic particles rubbing off but it dissolved in vinegar so seems to be mineral deposit but why only in the wall unit?? It was so bad I took the wall unit out of service.  Previous fridge no problems. Seems most likely that there are pre-existing deposits in the upper mechanisms... maybe from LG testing with terrible water. We didn't use the ice so much so maybe I'll see if there is a way to flush the upper ice mechanism and really run the unit multiple cycles BUT this is not good to have to do with a brand new unit!

Miked · Answer

Yes just searched for an answer LG claims they are calcium deposits . Last Samsung just sold because upper ice maker constantly froze up . But never had calcium deposits in it , the lower freezer ice maker worked fine . May be it’s the water filter , didn’t have one on Samsung because of RO system direct water line to ice/water . Have to check to see if one is on this unit

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We have the same thing with our lg, even when it was brand new, we changed the filter, emptied out tons of water. & boom its back. Changed the filter again, thinking it might have been a bad filter, same thing! Our other water in the house has no problems, this is something with Lg . Ours is bout one year old, we could never use the water or ice.

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I had the same problem show up when i purchased a new LG refrigerator and had never had the problem with any other previous models. I removed the filter and am running the ice maker and water dispenser without the filter and it is no long leaving the white residue.

jimbcso · Answer

I have an LG that has done this since it was new. I have RO water attached to the ice/water in my refrigerator and it's still there all the time.

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My brand new fridge had this noticeable problem that was unsightly with white powdery smudges inside the dispenser area (hard water calcium). This went away after I dispensed about 3 gallons of water (5 seconds on, then 5 seconds wait until you have done at least 3 gallons). The water was clear after that and no more powdery smudges. I had made some ice before I did this, so I discarded it and made fresh ice after the routine just described.

original1mike · Answer

I had a GE refrigerator for years never had this problem until I bought this LG brand, If I open the freezer drawer and shut it you can see the powder drop from the water dispenser immediately. Something with LG products that is an ongoing problem.

Concerned · Answer

I am in Lubbock Texas I have the same issue with my Kenmore refrigerator ice dispenser, right under where the ice dispense ice, there is a build up of white residue. I was told it was Calcium and magnesium mineral deposits hmmm ? I refuse to use the ice. Sorry I  didn't answer your question but that what I was told Calcium and magnesium minerals and that causes the water to be hard, I was the is safe to drink. Well I don't drink it, which is really ironic because I still bath in it, so I guess it's not as harmful as I thought, if I can allo it to absorb through my skin in a tub but I refuse to drink. Well I guess you can say its a mind thing  but I can reassure you I have not grown any horns on my head or grown a third arm. Its been two an half years being here in Lubbock Texas. Bathing in what I call toxic water.
Thanks
A very concerned person 
Lubbock Texas 2022

Answer

Nice to see it's not only my refrigerator.
I suspect the white powder is acting as a preservative or dry lubricant for the rubber and moving ice door parts.

Diana · Answer

I have the same issue. This refrigerator is a big spend with big issues. We have replaced the motor on the ice maker twice and it will work for a few months then stop. As soon as it starts working again the white leak shows up at the corner of the control panel on the door.  Im so over this refrigerator.

Dave · Answer

I have the issue as well with our Frigidaire. I believe the quality of some filters has gone down. I don’t think it’s the appliance. I would suggest, as I will do, sending the filters back to where you buy them. Then buy from some other source

AngryLGfridgeowner · Answer

I have the same problem.  Sometimes when I shut the door water will come out and a bunch of white powdery particles.  I recently cleaned up inside it and it was horrible.  I have had someone from Lowe’s maintenance team come out and he said it was calcium.  I can’t believe that. I’ve never had the problem before with my Samsung fridge only this one and this is less than a year old.  I’m fed up with cleaning up the white stuff that hardens up if I don’t get to it in time.  I’ve seen there is a class action lawsuit about it but don’t know what is going on with that right now.  
Hopefully LG WILL take RESPONSIBILITY And FIX THIS

LG you have a huge amount of angry fridge owners and we’re not gonna sit back and accept this. 
We’ve paid thousands of dollars for this LG fridge and the least you can do is make this right !!!!

gchess06 · Answer

Yes, I do on my LG and it concerns me because i filled a red solo cup with ice and I let it melt and I found it in the bottom of the cup. Is this power harmful and what is it?

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My first guess was calcium, but I immediately questioned that because the white powder appears without the dispenser being used.  This led me to believe that it might be insulation deteriorating in the door above the dispenser.  It should be investigated by a competent lab.

MEO5233 · Answer

The powder from my dispenser is brown. I use very little ice, will try to clean the icemaker and turn it off. Started a few months after fridge was delivered and got worse after I changed the filter, flushed as directed. Agree some defect in the design or materials is causing this, and of course I am concerned and annoyed. Needed a new fridge fast, otherwise I would have purchased something else.

NothappywithLG · Answer

We bought our LG fridge 18 mos ago. At first I thought the powder residue on the ice dispenser was because it was new. But now after a hundred or so ice runs we still get this residue.  We owned a fridge with an ice dispenser prior to this one for 20+ years. Never, ever had this residue.   Something is not right.  First of all it shouldn't leak. And it for sure shouldn't leave this powdery yellowish residue.

Moldywater · Answer

I can say anything in this box that isn't inappropriate language, but a picture is worth a thousands words

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I have this same problem. After reading all the responses I’m wondering if it is calcium deposit we have two of these LG refrigerators (given one is older and one is new) I decided to buy the same one we have at our home for our cabin because it’s been a good refrigerator so far. the one at our cabin (new one) the water is on a well system and this refrigerator has the white powder substance the one at our home does not, I’ve never seen this white powder until we bought this one for the cabin.

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I have the sane problem as everyone. Didn’t happen until a year later after we bought it,more or less. I made ice on my own from the tap water and that sediment didn’t come. I believe it has to do with the LG system of ice making. LG should take responsibility. In my picture you can see the powder o sediment inside the ice. I don’t trust this to drink. In one of my pictures I allowed the ice to melt and you can see the amount of whitish something that came once the ice became water.

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Same problem. I took this white powder from half of one glass with ice. It's horrible! It is necessary to carry out a chemical analysis and judge LG

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Did the under under the sink filter help?

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I bought a brand new GE Bottom Freezer refrigerator 3 years ago from a reputable appliance store. 
YES, I also have white powdery residue coming from the top refrigerator light. It looks like Parmesan cheese.

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I have the same issue & all of my appliances are brand new. We haven't even moved in our new home. It's an LG side by side refrigerator with the see through glass on one side. I have ran over 2 gallons of water through the system & changed out the ice 3 times. I appreciate all the responses.  I just hope there won't be anymore issues.

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Dont buy LG!  Live in Arizona, we have this problem. I am an AZnative, never have we had this problem with any other brand fridge we owned.  We had our LG ice maker repaired by LG. We have the first "knock" model that doesn't do craft ice.  It has done this powder within months of putting it into service.  In year two when the tech opened up the entire door panel to do the work you would not believe what we found! Enough of that white powder to fill a 2 quart bowl!  It was all over inside that panel behind where the nozzles live and where the ice drops through the door.  It is our water tds elements drying out in this refrigerator and accumulating.  Somehow their ice maker design is flawed and causes this dehydration of the water and humidity in the fridge,  leaving calcium carbonates and magnesium that is in your water behind. It doesn't matter what brand filter you use because the only thing that will remove these minerals is reverse osmosis or maybe traditional water softening. We have a whole house pre filter and a tac filter on our main plus a secondary filter on our fridge line and it still does this powder because those don't remove TDS.  It is not practical to put whole house RO (lots of water waste.) After the tech cleaned everything out we kept the ice maker off and the water line works fine.  Does anyone here have a regular water softener, curious if you get the powder???

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Yes what is it caused from

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This problem does not come from LG or filters. Look up on google. It will tell you, it's calcium carbonate. It comes as the water gets colder. Read for yourself.

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I too was skeptical about the calcium answer until I saw the white material in the ice water disappear after the glass sat out on the counter over night. I repeated it and was surprised again with the same result. I guess it just redissolves when it warms up.

Waynelle · Answer

LG’s website recommends flushing 2 full gallons of water from door dispenser and disposing. Immediately following the two gallon flush, our “powdery” issues ceased to exist. LG also recommends disposing of the first 4 (four) full ice trays - per ice maker. Mine has two ice makers so I disposed of 8 eight total ice trays. 
TIP: Dispose of ice cubes down your sink garbage disposal to clean & sharpen blades & remove residue in pipe. TO DO: Push as much ice as possible into disposer before turning on. Turn Off & Repeat. Do not run water from faucet until all ice has been eliminated from sink & disposer, and then, run only cold water.

Mike · Answer

A refrigerator technician said a white powdery substance around doors of a refrigerator may be mold.  He indicated it is more often seen in RV or trailer refrigerators.

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Yes can it be harmful if it is put on your skin

Mike · Answer

It is due to the water. It doesn’t appear in soft water but is does in hard water. It is calcium-based and harmless to you.

LG Digital Customer Care · Answer

It's hard to determine what that white powdery stuff that you are describing that shows up under the ice dispenser or that forms on your dispenser tray and along the back and side walls of the dispenser are in the ENERGY STAR® Qualified LG 27.9 cu.ft. Smart Wi-Fi Enabled French Door Refrigerator, Model # LFXS28968S is without seeing it first hand. It could be calcium which is in your water supply. It is not harmful, and you may also notice it floating as small white particle floating in the water. This is because the ice has frozen the calcium and as the ice melts, it will leave the white calcium in a powder form. If you live in an area that has a hard water issue, that will more likely be what the white powdery substance is.

“Does anyone else's fridge have this white powdery stuff that shows up underneath the ice dispenser? The powder usually forms on the dispenser tray and sometimes along the back and side walls of the dispenser area. If so, do you know what causes this?”

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