A fridge is one of the hardest-working appliances in the house, running day and night for years. When an older one stops cooling, the first question is usually whether it's worth fixing. The honest answer is that it depends on the fault. Thermostats, relays, fans, seals and defrost parts are affordable repairs that can give an older fridge years more. A failed compressor or a gas leak is the expensive end, and on a very old fridge, a new one may be the better buy.
The technician comes to you anywhere in Krugersdorp, tests the fridge where it stands and tells you which kind of fault it is, and what the repair will cost, before any work starts. You decide.
Our guide to a fridge not cooling has a few safe checks to try while you wait.
Suburbs we cover in Krugersdorp
Older fridges worth another few years, and newer fridge-freezers, in the homes of Noordheuwel, Monument, Kenmare and the rest of Krugersdorp. We cover:
- Noordheuwel
- Monument
- Kenmare
- Silverfields
- Krugersdorp North
- Mindalore
- Rant-en-Dal
Fridge faults we fix in Krugersdorp
Clicking but not cooling
The compressor tries to start, the overload clicks it off, and the cycle repeats. A failed start relay is the usual cause, and it's an affordable repair. Sometimes the compressor itself is failing.
Warm, and the compressor is hot
A compressor that runs hot without cooling may be low on gas from a slow leak. Finding and repairing a leak is a bigger job, and the technician will tell you the cost first.
Thermostat dial does nothing
On older fridges, a mechanical thermostat switches the compressor on and off. When it fails, the fridge either never cools or never stops. It's a simple part to replace.
Heavy frost in the freezer section
On a static fridge, some frost is normal and needs a manual defrost now and then. Frost that builds quickly points to a door seal that isn't gripping.
Water at the bottom of the fridge
The defrost drain at the back of the fridge is blocked. Clearing it with warm water and a pipe cleaner usually solves it.
Rust on the outside
Rust around the bottom or the door can mean water has been leaking for a while. It's worth finding the leak before it reaches the wiring.
Light on, nothing else
If the light works but the fridge is silent and warm, the thermostat, the relay, the compressor or a wiring fault is to blame.
Older fridges: repair or replace?
Older fridges were often built simply, and simple parts are easy to replace. A relay, a thermostat, a door seal or a fan costs a fraction of a new fridge, and is well worth doing on a fridge that's otherwise in good shape.
The case for replacing comes when the sealed system fails: the compressor or a gas leak. Older fridges can also use noticeably more electricity than new ones, so if a very old fridge needs a big repair, the running cost belongs in the sum. The technician gives you the price before any work starts, and our repair or replace check helps you decide.
Moving a fridge
Transport it upright if you can. If it has to lie down, lay it on its side, not its back, and let it stand upright for a few hours before switching on, so the compressor oil settles. Tape the doors shut and take the shelves out so nothing breaks in the move.
After a move, check that the fridge stands level and the doors close and seal properly. A twisted door or a dropped hinge shows up later as frost and a warm fridge.
Defrosting a static fridge
If your fridge has a freezer compartment with a plate that frosts up, defrost it when the ice is about as thick as a coin. Switch off, take out the food, leave the door open with towels down, and let the ice melt. Never chip at it with a knife: a punctured cooling plate means a gas leak.
After you book
Tell us the make and roughly how old the fridge is when you book. 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 finds the fault and tells you plainly whether it's a small repair or a big one, 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 Krugersdorp: your questions
Is it worth fixing an old fridge?
Often, yes, if the fault is a relay, thermostat, seal, fan or defrost part. If the compressor has failed or the gas has leaked out, compare the price with a new fridge.
Why does my fridge click every few minutes?
The compressor is trying to start and the overload is switching it off. A failed start relay is the usual cause. Leave the fridge off at the wall and book a check.
Can a fridge be regassed?
Yes, but the leak has to be found and repaired first, or the gas escapes again. It's one of the bigger fridge repairs, so the technician gives you the price before starting.
Why is the outside of my old fridge rusting?
Water has usually been leaking for a while, from a blocked defrost drain or a cracked drip tray. Find and fix the leak first, then treat the rust before it spreads.
What does a fridge repair cost in Krugersdorp?
A relay, a thermostat or a door seal is a modest repair on an older fridge. Finding and repairing a gas leak, or replacing a compressor, is the expensive end. You'll have the figure before any work starts.