A fridge isn't meant to run all the time. A healthy one cools down, switches off, rests, and switches on again, over and over through the day. If yours seems to hum without a break, it's working too hard, and that shows up on the electricity bill long before the fridge actually fails. The causes are usually simple: dust on the condenser coils, no room to breathe, a door seal that leaks, or a thermostat that never tells the compressor it can stop.
When a fridge does stop, the clock starts on the food inside. The technician comes to you anywhere in Benoni, tests the fridge where it stands, and tells you what's wrong and what the repair will cost before any work starts.
Our guide to a fridge not cooling has safe checks to try first.
Suburbs we cover in Benoni
Kitchen fridges that never switch off and second fridges in the garage or back room, from Lakefield and Northmead to Crystal Park. We cover these Benoni suburbs:
- Rynfield
- Farrarmere
- Lakefield
- Northmead
- Crystal Park
- Brentwood Park
- Morehill
Fridge faults we fix in Benoni
Never switches off
Dusty condenser coils, a fridge boxed in tight, a worn door seal, a faulty thermostat or low gas. The compressor runs hot and the electricity bill climbs.
Stopped completely
No hum, no light. Check the plug point and the breaker. If the light works but the fridge is silent, the thermostat, the relay or the compressor is the likely fault.
Cold at the back, warm at the front
Food at the back freezes while the door shelves stay warm. Poor air circulation, a fan fault or a worn seal on the door side are common reasons.
Hot to the touch on the sides
Many fridges get rid of heat through pipes in their side walls, so warm sides are normal. Very hot sides with a warm inside mean the fridge is struggling.
Freezer icing up fast
Warm, damp air is getting in through a seal or a door that doesn't close fully, or on a frost-free model, the defrost system has failed.
Water in the salad drawer
The defrost drain is blocked, so melt water collects at the bottom of the fridge instead of draining away to the tray at the back.
Loud rattle when it starts
A loose drip tray, a compressor mounting that has worn, or pipes touching each other at the back. Usually a quick fix.
Cut the running time, cut the bill
Five checks take strain off a fridge that runs all the time:
- Clean the condenser coils at the back or behind the kick plate, with the fridge switched off.
- Leave a gap at the back and sides, and don't stack things on top.
- Test the door seals with a sheet of paper: if it slides out easily, the seal isn't gripping.
- Let hot food cool before it goes in.
- Check the setting. The middle of the dial is right for most kitchens.
If it still runs non-stop, the thermostat, the condenser fan or the gas charge needs a technician.
Keeping food safe in a power cut
Keep the doors closed. A full, closed fridge stays cold for a few hours, and a full freezer much longer. Switch the fridge off at the wall while the power is out, and on again a few minutes after it returns.
If food has been warm for a long time, especially meat, fish, dairy and cooked leftovers, don't take the risk. Frozen food that still has ice crystals can usually be refrozen.
A fridge in the garage or back room
A second fridge in an outside room works harder than the one in the kitchen. Summer heat under a roof keeps it running, dust settles on its coils, and boxes stacked around it block the air. Give it a hand's width of space on all sides, keep it out of direct sun, and vacuum the coils a few times a year. In a very cold room in winter, a fridge-freezer with one thermostat may let the freezer warm up, so check what your manual says about room temperature.
After you book
Once you've booked, we confirm the visit with you. Typically at your door within 60 minutes for same-day bookings. Track your technician live: when they leave, you get a live tracking link on your phone.
The technician tests the fridge, measures how it's running and explains the fault and the price before any work starts.
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 repairs in Benoni: your questions
Why does my fridge run all the time?
It's struggling to reach temperature: dusty coils, poor ventilation, a leaking door seal, a faulty thermostat or low gas. Clean the coils and check the seals first.
Is it normal for the sides of my fridge to be warm?
Yes. Many fridges get rid of heat through their side walls. Very hot sides with a warm inside mean it's struggling and should be checked.
Can a fridge that runs non-stop be fixed?
Usually. A new seal, a thermostat or a condenser fan, or simply clean coils and better ventilation, often brings it back to normal.
How long will food last if my fridge has stopped?
A closed fridge stays cold for a few hours, and a full, closed freezer much longer. Keep the doors shut, move the most perishable food to a cooler box with ice, and book a repair.
Does a dusty fridge use more electricity?
Yes. Dust on the condenser coils traps heat, so the compressor runs longer to keep the fridge cold. Vacuuming the coils every few months is one of the easiest ways to cut a fridge's running cost.
What does a fridge repair cost in Benoni?
Clean coils and better ventilation cost nothing. A seal, a thermostat or a condenser fan is a modest repair, and a gas leak or a compressor is the expensive end. The technician tells you which, and the price, before any work starts.