A frost-free fridge is supposed to stay free of ice. Every few hours, a small heater melts any frost off the cooling coils behind the back panel, and the water drains away. When part of that system fails, the ice keeps building, out of sight at first, until it blocks the cold air and the fridge starts warming up. The tell-tale sign is a sheet of ice on the back wall of the freezer, or a fridge that cools again for a day after you've switched it off and defrosted it.
That's one of the most fixable fridge faults, and so are the doors that drop and stop sealing. The technician comes to you anywhere in Boksburg, tests the fridge where it stands, and tells you what's wrong and what the repair will cost before any work starts.
For safe checks before you book, see our guide to a fridge not cooling.
Suburbs we cover in Boksburg
Frost-free fridges that have iced up, in the townhouses of Parkrand and Sunward Park and the family homes of Bardene, Impala Park and Witfield. We cover:
- Sunward Park
- Parkrand
- Beyers Park
- Bardene
- Impala Park
- Comet
- Witfield
Fridge faults we fix in Boksburg
Ice on the back wall of the freezer
In a frost-free fridge, a failed defrost heater, defrost sensor, thermal fuse or defrost control lets ice build up on the evaporator until it blocks the airflow.
Works for a day after defrosting
If switching the fridge off for a day brings the cooling back, only for it to fade again, the defrost system is almost certainly at fault.
Door won't close by itself
A fridge that leans backwards slightly closes its doors under their own weight. If it leans forward, or a hinge has dropped, the door stays ajar.
Door seal not gripping
A torn, flattened or dirty seal lets warm air in. Frost builds, the fridge runs longer, and the food near the door warms up.
Fridge warm, freezer fine
Ice blocking the air channel from the freezer, a stopped fan or a stuck damper keeps cold air from reaching the fridge.
Water dripping inside
Melt water from the defrost cycle runs down a drain. If the drain blocks or freezes, the water drips into the fridge or the bottom of the freezer.
Fan noise from inside the freezer
A scraping or ticking from the back of the freezer often means the fan blade is catching on ice, another sign of a defrost fault.
Why frost-free fridges ice up
The defrost system has a heater, a sensor that tells it when the coils are clear, a thermal fuse that stops it overheating, and a timer or a control board that decides when to run it. If any of them fails, the defrost cycle stops, and the ice grows a little more each day.
A manual defrost buys you time: switch off at the wall, empty the freezer into cooler boxes, leave the doors open with towels down for a day, then dry it and switch on. But if the defrost part has failed, the ice comes back. Never chip at it with a knife, because a punctured cooling coil means a gas leak.
Getting the doors to seal
Most fridges have adjustable front feet. Raising the front a little so the fridge leans back slightly helps the doors swing shut and seal. Check it with a spirit level from side to side, too.
Don't overload the door shelves. Bottles of cold drink and two-litre milk bottles are heavy, and the weight drops the door on its hinges over time. A dropped door can often be realigned. A torn seal can be replaced.
Complexes in Parkrand and Sunward Park
In a townhouse kitchen, the fridge often stands in a tight alcove. Give it space at the back and the sides to get rid of heat, and keep the top clear. When you book, give us the complex name, unit number and gate process.
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 and its defrost system, explains the fault and gives you 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 Boksburg: your questions
Why is there ice on the back of my frost-free freezer?
The defrost system has failed: the heater, the sensor, the thermal fuse or the control. A manual defrost clears it for a while, but the faulty part needs replacing.
Is a defrost fault expensive to repair?
Usually not. Defrost heaters, sensors and fuses are affordable parts. The technician tells you the price before any work starts.
Why won't my fridge door close properly?
The fridge may be leaning forward, a hinge may have dropped, or the door shelves may be overloaded. Adjusting the feet so it leans back slightly often fixes it.
Can I defrost my frost-free fridge myself?
Yes, as a stop-gap. Switch off at the wall, move the food to cooler boxes and leave the doors open with towels down for a day. If the ice comes back, the defrost part needs replacing.
How long does a fridge take to recover after a manual defrost?
A few hours to feel cold again, and up to a day to reach its normal temperature, especially if it's full. Keep the doors closed while it recovers.
What does a fridge repair cost in Boksburg?
A defrost sensor, heater or fuse is an affordable repair, and so is a door seal or a hinge. A compressor is the costly exception. The price comes before any work starts.