Owners of modern household appliances are often faced with a situation where they need to leave home for a long period of time, but it is a pity to throw away food from the refrigerator or they are simply too lazy. It is for such cases that LG engineers have developed a special algorithm for the operation of the compressor and control system, called Vacation mode or “Vacation”. This function allows you to significantly reduce energy consumption while you are not at home, while maintaining the freshness of left-in food and preventing the appearance of an unpleasant odor.
The essence of this mode is to increase the temperature in the refrigerator compartment to a level that prevents food from spoiling, but also does not require intense compressor operation. Typically this indicator is set at +15°C. At the same time, the freezer continues to operate as normal, ensuring the safety of frozen stocks. LG refrigerators With digital controls, you can activate this option literally with one click of a button on the display or through a mobile application.
Many users mistakenly believe that you can simply unplug the appliance, but this can lead to the appearance of mold and musty odor inside the chambers, which will then take a long time to get rid of. The function Vacation mode solves this problem elegantly, maintaining minimal air circulation and dryness inside the unit. In this material, we will look in detail at how to properly configure your refrigerator before leaving, which models support this option, and how to avoid typical mistakes when operating equipment during long periods of inactivity.
Operating principle and temperature conditions
When you activate the vacation mode on the control panel, the electronics LG refrigerator switches the compressor operating algorithm. The main change concerns the refrigerator compartment: the temperature gradually rises to the set value, usually in the range from +14°C to +17°C. Under such conditions, bacteria multiply extremely slowly, and dry foods left in the chamber (cereals, canned food, closed bottles) do not spoil. It is important to understand that it is absolutely forbidden to store fresh perishable products, such as milk, meat or open sauces, in this mode The freezer compartment continues to function in normal mode or in super-freeze mode, if such an option has been selected in advance. This is critical for maintaining a supply of semi-finished meat products, vegetables or berries. The system.
The freezer continues to operate in normal mode or in super freezing mode, if such an option was previously selected. This is critical for maintaining a supply of semi-finished meat products, vegetables or berries. System No Frost, characteristic of most modern LG models, also continues to work, preventing the formation of an ice crust on the evaporator. This ensures that upon your return the appliance will be ready for full operation without the need for lengthy defrosting.
⚠️ Attention: Do not leave fresh food that may rot in the refrigerator compartment in Vacation mode. This will lead to the appearance of a persistent unpleasant odor, which will be very difficult to remove even after thorough washing and ventilation.
Energy consumption in this mode is reduced significantly, since the compressor is turned on much less frequently to maintain a high temperature. However, the device does not become completely energy independent. If you are planning an absence lasting more than a month, it makes sense to consider the option of completely turning off the appliance with pre-washing and drying, but for trips from 3 days to 3 weeks, the mode Vacation is the optimal solution.
How to activate the vacation mode on different models
The process of enabling the function may differ depending on the series of your refrigerator and the type of panel installed management. In models with a touch screen, on the door you need to find a button with a corresponding icon, often it is labeled as Vacation or depicts a suitcase/palm tree. In older or budget models LG with mechanical controls or a hidden display inside the camera, the procedure may be hidden in the settings menu.
To activate the function, follow these steps:
- 🔘 Press the button
ModeorFuncon the control panel several times times until the vacation mode indicator lights up. - 🌡️ If you have a model with separate adjustment, hold the refrigerator compartment temperature setting button for 3 seconds until the vacation symbol appears.
- 📱 In models with support Smart ThinQ open the application on your smartphone, select your appliance and switch the slider to mode “Vacation.”
- 🔒 Make sure that Child Lock is activated so as not to accidentally reset the settings when cleaning before leaving.
Some advanced models allow you to set an individual temperature for this mode. To do this, after activating the function Vacation use the temperature adjustment buttons to set the desired value within the acceptable range. The standard factory value is usually +15°C, which is the golden mean between energy efficiency and preservation of the conditions inside the chamber.
☑️ Check before activating the mode
Saving energy and compressor life
Using a special mode before a vacation is not only a matter of convenience, but also a reasonable approach to saving the family budget. The electricity consumption of a refrigerator directly depends on the difference in temperature inside the chamber and in the room. In the summer, when the apartment can be hot, the normal operating mode forces the compressor to work almost without interruption. The mode Vacation reduces this load, since the target temperature in the main chamber is closer to room temperature.
Reducing the frequency of compressor switching on also has a positive effect on the resource of the unit. Mechanical parts, such as the start relay and the motor-compressor itself, wear out less. However, it is worth noting that constant operation at elevated temperatures without load (empty refrigerator) can sometimes be less effective for some types of compressors than periodic switching on in normal mode, but the algorithms LG take this factor into account.
Comparative table of energy consumption and operating conditions:
| Parameter | Normal mode | Vacation mode | Refrigerator turned off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature in the refrigerator compartment | +3...+5°C | +14...+17°C | Room |
| Freezer operation cameras | Active (-18°C) | Active (-18°C) | Inactive |
| Energy consumption | 100% | ~40-50% | 0% |
| Risk of odor | Low | Low (if there is no food) | High (without ventilation) |
Preparing products and chambers before departure
Even if you use a special mode, preparing the refrigerator for a long absence of the owners requires compliance with certain rules. First and most importantly, review the content. All opened packages, dairy products, meat, fish, prepared salads and sauces must be either eaten or frozen in the freezer. In Vacation mode, the temperature of +15°C is not sufficient for the safe storage of perishable food.
In the refrigerator compartment you can leave closed bottles of drinks, canned foods, cereals in airtight containers, as well as some types of vegetables and fruits that store well at room temperature (apples, potatoes, onions). However, it is better not to take risks and leave the cells as empty as possible. This will ensure better air circulation and more uniform temperature distribution.
Be sure to check the door seals. If the rubber bands are dirty, wipe them with a damp cloth. Make sure that the doors close tightly and are not opened slightly due to misalignment or foreign objects. In vacation mode, when it is warmer inside, condensation may form more actively when opening frequently, but since you are leaving, the main task is to ensure tightness so that warm, humid air from the room does not get inside.
⚠️ Attention: Never leave food that could leak in a refrigerator that is turned off or operating in vacation mode. Spilled milk or juice, when dried, form a sticky film that will have to be washed with aggressive chemicals, which can damage plastic parts.
Using the LG ThinQ application for remote control
Modern “smart” refrigerators LG are equipped with a Wi-Fi module, which allows you to control them via smartphone. This is especially convenient if you have already left, but forgot to activate the vacation mode or, conversely, want to check the status of the device. The application LG ThinQ is available for iOS and Android and provides advanced functionality compared to the physical control panel.
Through the application, you can not only turn on the mode Vacation, but also receive a notification if the refrigerator door is left open or if a power surge occurs and the appliance reboots. Also, some models allow you to diagnose faults and send a report to the service center. This gives additional peace of mind while traveling.
What to do if the application does not see the refrigerator?
Make sure that your phone is connected to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network (many smart devices do not see the 5 GHz network). Also check whether the Wi-Fi module is turned on on the refrigerator itself - sometimes it needs to be activated by a combination of buttons on the control panel (usually Ice Plus and Freeze Control simultaneously for 3 seconds).
To connect, follow these steps:
- 📲 Download the LG ThinQ application and create an account.
- 📡 Press "+" to add a device and select "Refrigerator".
- 🔗 Follow the instructions on the screen to pair (usually you need to hold down a certain button on the refrigerator).
- 🏠 Once connected, you will be able to see the current temperature and operating mode status in real time.
Returning from vacation: proper start
When you return home, you should not immediately load the refrigerator with food. First you need to disable the mode Vacation. Click the appropriate button on the panel or application. The device will begin to cool the refrigerator compartment to standard values (+3...+5°C). This process can take from 2 to 4 hours depending on the temperature in the room and the workload of the chambers.
Before placing products inside, it is recommended to wipe the shelves and walls with a damp cloth, since during your absence dust may have settled there or a slight smell of “stagnation” may have appeared, even if there were no products. Let the refrigerator run idle for about an hour after returning to mode to stabilize the temperature background.
If you notice that after turning on the normal mode, the refrigerator makes unusual sounds or does not get cold for 5-6 hours, check to see if the air duct dampers are stuck. In rare cases, prolonged idle time in warm mode could lead to a slight thickening of the oil in the compressor, but modern synthetic oils LG easily cope with this at the first start.
Is it possible to leave the refrigerator in Vacation mode for six months?
No, it is not recommended. The vacation regime is designed for absences lasting up to 1-2 months. For longer periods, it is better to turn off the appliance completely, defrost it, wash it, dry it and leave the doors ajar for ventilation. Long-term operation of the compressor without full load and cycling may not be optimal.
Will the ice maker work in Vacation mode?
In most LG models, when Vacation mode is turned on, the ice maker function is automatically turned off so as not to waste water and energy on producing ice, which will simply melt or take up space. However, in some premium models, the settings may differ, so it is better to check the indication on the display.
Why is the Vacation indicator on, but the temperature does not rise?
If you have activated the mode, but the temperature does not rise above +5°C, there may be a large amount of warm food in the chamber that the refrigerator is trying to cool, ignoring the energy saving command until it stabilizes. Also, the cause may be a malfunction of the temperature sensor or a malfunction in the electronic control module.
Is it necessary to defrost the refrigerator before turning on the holiday mode?
In refrigerators with the No Frost system (and LG has most of them), scheduled defrosting is not required, since moisture is removed automatically. However, if you see ice in the freezer, it is better to remove it before leaving so that the compressor does not work with increased load in your absence.