Two fridge problems often follow a power cut. The first is a fridge that won't start when the electricity comes back, because the surge damaged a relay or a control board. The second is a fridge that starts, but then can't seem to find the right temperature, freezing the milk one day and running warm the next.
Both are repairable, and so are the other everyday faults: a fan that's stopped, a defrost fault, a worn seal or a blocked drain. The technician comes to you anywhere in Germiston, 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 while you wait.
Suburbs we cover in Germiston
Fridges that won't start since the power came back, and fridges freezing the lettuce, from Primrose and Lambton to Elsburg and Rondebult. We cover:
- Primrose
- Lambton
- Elsburg
- Dinwiddie
- Delville
- Parkhill Gardens
- Rondebult
Fridge faults we fix in Germiston
Won't start after a power cut
The surge when the power returns can damage the compressor start relay or the control board. Check the plug point and the breaker first. If the fridge is still silent, book a technician.
Freezing food in the fridge
A thermostat stuck on its coldest, a temperature sensor giving a false reading, or an air damper stuck open lets too much cold air into the fridge section.
Temperature all over the place
A fridge that swings between too cold and too warm often has a failing thermostat or sensor, or a door seal that grips on some days and not others.
Compressor trips straight away
A compressor that restarts too soon after a short power cut can trip its overload. Switching off at the wall during cuts, and on a few minutes after the power returns, prevents it.
Fridge warm, freezer cold
Cold air from the freezer isn't reaching the fridge. A stopped fan, a stuck damper or an iced-up evaporator are the usual reasons.
Buzzing from the back
A relay that buzzes, a fan with a worn bearing or a compressor straining to start. A loud buzz followed by a click needs a technician.
Water inside the fridge
A blocked defrost drain at the back of the fridge section. Clear it gently with warm water and a pipe cleaner, with the fridge switched off.
Protect your fridge from power cuts
When the power goes off, switch the fridge off at the wall. When it comes back, wait a few minutes for the supply to settle, then switch the fridge on. That simple habit protects the compressor, the relay and the control board from the surge and from a hot restart.
A surge-protected plug adds another layer, especially for a fridge with a digital display. Keep the doors closed during the cut: a full, closed fridge holds its cold far better than one that keeps being opened.
Why your fridge freezes the food
First, check the setting. Thermostat dials are easy to knock, and on many fridges a higher number means colder, not warmer. Then check where the frozen food was: items pushed against the back wall or the cold-air vent freeze first, even in a healthy fridge.
If the setting is right and food is freezing all over the fridge, the thermostat, the temperature sensor or the air damper has failed. All three are replaceable.
Older homes, older plug points
In older Germiston homes, a fridge that keeps switching off or tripping can be suffering from a worn plug point or an old circuit rather than its own fault. The technician checks the supply at the fridge as well as the fridge itself, and tells you plainly if the problem is in the house wiring.
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, the supply and the parts behind the fault, and explains the repair and its 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 Germiston: your questions
My fridge won't start since the power came back. What's wrong?
Usually a damaged start relay or control board from the surge. Check the plug point and the breaker first. If they're fine and the fridge is silent, book a technician.
Why is my fridge freezing everything?
Check the setting first, and move food away from the back wall and the vent. If it still freezes, the thermostat, the temperature sensor or the air damper has probably failed.
Should I switch my fridge off during load shedding?
Yes. Switch it off at the wall when the power goes, and on again a few minutes after it returns. It protects the compressor and the electronics from the surge.
Why does my fridge swing between too cold and too warm?
A failing thermostat or temperature sensor, or a door seal that only grips some of the time. The technician tests both and replaces the part that's at fault.
Should I buy a surge protector for my fridge?
It's a sensible buy, especially for a fridge with electronic controls. A surge-protected plug takes the hit from a spike when the power returns, instead of the fridge's relay and board.
What does a fridge repair cost in Germiston?
A start relay or a temperature sensor is a modest repair. A control board costs more, and a compressor most. The technician gives you the price before any work starts.