A warm fridge is a race against the clock: milk, meat and medicine don't wait. We repair fridges at home across Johannesburg, including single-door fridges, fridge-freezers, side-by-side and double-door models, and bar fridges. Book as soon as you notice the problem, and keep the doors closed while you wait.
Fridges are more repairable than most people think. The cooling system is sealed and built to last, so the parts that fail are usually the ones around it: thermostats, fans, defrost parts, door seals, start relays and control boards. The technician tests these first, then tells you what's wrong and what the repair will cost before any work starts.
Common fridge faults we fix
Not cooling, but the light is on
Often a fan, a defrost fault that has iced over the cooling plate, a thermostat, or a start relay that stops the compressor from running. A failed compressor or a gas leak is a bigger repair. See fridge not cooling.
Freezer cold, fridge warm
In a fridge-freezer, cold air usually reaches the fridge through a vent or damper from the freezer. A blocked vent, an iced-up evaporator or a failed fan can leave one half warm while the other works.
Leaking water
Water inside the fridge or on the floor usually comes from a blocked defrost drain. On fridges with a water dispenser or ice maker, a split water line or a faulty valve is the other suspect.
Freezing the food in the fridge
Frozen lettuce and slushy milk usually mean a faulty thermostat or temperature sensor, a damper stuck open, or a setting that has been knocked to its coldest.
Running non-stop
A fridge that never switches off is working too hard. Dirty condenser coils, a worn door seal, a faulty thermostat or low gas are the usual reasons.
Noisy
Buzzing, clicking or rattling can come from a fan motor, the compressor relay, or something as simple as the fridge not standing level.
Ice building up
A thick layer of ice in a frost-free fridge points to a defrost fault: the heater, the defrost timer or board, or a sensor.
Door seal torn or loose
A seal that no longer grips lets warm air in, so the fridge runs harder and frost forms. Door seals can be replaced.
Is it worth repairing a fridge?
Usually, yes, when the fault is one of the parts around the cooling system: a thermostat, a fan, a door seal, a relay or a defrost part. These are everyday repairs. The bigger job is the sealed system itself, meaning a failed compressor or a gas leak. On an older fridge, compare that repair price with a new fridge before you decide. Our repair or replace check helps.
One more thing to weigh up: older fridges can use noticeably more electricity than new ones. If yours is very old and needs a big repair, that belongs in the sum.
Power cuts and your fridge
Power cuts and load shedding are hard on fridges. When the power returns, a surge can damage the control board or the compressor relay, and a compressor that tries to restart straight away after a short cut can trip its overload protection.
Switching the fridge off at the wall during a cut, and on again a few minutes after the power is back, helps. A surge-protected plug is a sensible buy for a fridge with electronic controls.
Just moved your fridge?
If your fridge has been moved or laid on its side, let it stand upright for a few hours before you switch it on, so the compressor oil can settle. Moving a fridge can also bend door hinges and damage seals, which shows up later as frost or a door that won't close properly.
Fridges we repair
We work on the fridges in South African kitchens, including Defy, KIC, Samsung, LG, Hisense, Bosch, Whirlpool and Smeg. Freezers have their own page: freezer repairs.
No call-out fee when we repair it.If no repair is done, a R500 call-out applies. The technician finds the fault and explains the repair before any work starts, so you decide whether to go ahead.
Book a repairFridge repair questions
Why is my fridge running but not cooling?
Usually because the cold isn't getting where it should: ice has smothered the cooling plate after a defrost fault, a fan has stopped, the coils at the back are clogged, or the compressor isn't starting. Our guide to a fridge not cooling has safe checks to try first.
Why is my fridge light on but the fridge isn't cold?
The light only tells you the fridge is getting power. If the fridge is silent, the compressor isn't starting: the thermostat, the start relay, a control board or the compressor itself is at fault. If it hums but stays warm, the cold air isn't moving. Work through our fridge not cooling checks, then book a technician.
Why is my fridge leaking water?
Most leaks come from a blocked defrost drain: melt water from the cooling plate can't reach the tray underneath, so it collects at the bottom of the fridge and spills out. Switch off at the wall and clear the drain hole gently with warm water and a pipe cleaner. If the water comes from a dispenser line, or keeps coming back, book a technician.
When should I worry about fridge noises?
A steady hum, the odd click as it switches on and off, and gurgling as the gas moves are normal. Worry about loud buzzing, grinding or squealing, repeated clicking with no hum after it, or a fridge that's suddenly much louder than before. Those point to a failing fan or a compressor struggling to start. Book a technician.
How much does it cost to regas a fridge?
Regassing is one of the bigger fridge repairs, because the leak has to be found and sealed first, or the new gas escapes too. The price depends on where the leak is and the gas the fridge uses, and the technician gives it to you before any work starts. On an older fridge, compare it with a new one. See how our prices work.
Is it worth fixing a 7-year-old fridge?
Usually. A seven-year-old fridge that's otherwise in good shape is worth fixing for a thermostat, a fan, a seal or a defrost fault. If the compressor has failed or the gas has leaked out, compare the repair price with a new fridge first. Our repair or replace check helps you decide.
How do I reset my fridge after load shedding?
Most fridges don't need a reset: they restart on their own once the power is steady. If yours doesn't, switch it off at the wall for ten minutes so the compressor's overload can cool, then on again, and check a digital display hasn't lost its temperature setting. If it stays silent or warm, book a technician.
How do I know if my fridge compressor is failing?
The usual signs are a compressor that clicks every few minutes without starting, one that runs non-stop while the fridge stays warm, or one that trips the power when it tries to start. A fridge that runs but isn't cold has other causes too, so rule those out with our fridge not cooling checks. A technician can test the compressor and its relay to be sure.
