A lot of Midrand homes are newer, and so are their fridges. Many have inverter compressors, which speed up and slow down instead of switching on and off, electronic temperature sensors instead of a dial, and a display that shows an error code when something goes wrong. They're efficient and quiet, and their faults are usually in the electronics and sensors around the cooling system, which the technician can test and replace.
In the older homes of Halfway House and on the Glen Austin smallholdings, there are plenty of older fridges too, with simpler thermostats and relays that are straightforward to repair.
Whichever you have, the technician comes to you, finds the fault and tells you what the repair involves and what it will cost before any work starts. Our guide to a fridge not cooling has some safe checks to try first.
Suburbs we cover in Midrand
Inverter fridges in the newer complexes of Noordwyk, Vorna Valley and Carlswald, larger fridges in the Kyalami and Waterfall estates, and older fridges in Halfway House. We cover:
- Halfway House
- Kyalami
- Vorna Valley
- Noordwyk
- Carlswald
- Waterfall
- Blue Hills
- Glen Austin
Fridge faults we fix in Midrand
Error code on the display
A code points to a sensor, a fan, the defrost system, the inverter board or the compressor. Photograph it before switching off, because some fridges clear it on restart.
Inverter board fault
Inverter compressors are driven by their own control board. If the board fails, the compressor stops even though it's fine. Replacing the board is often far cheaper than the compressor.
Temperature sensor fault
A failed sensor gives the control board the wrong reading, so the fridge freezes food or runs warm. Sensors are small, affordable parts.
Defrost system fault
Frost-free fridges melt the ice off their evaporator with a heater. When the heater, its fuse or its sensor fails, ice builds up and blocks the airflow, and the fridge warms up.
Fan not running
Modern fridges rely on fans to move cold air and to cool the condenser. A stopped fan means a warm fridge, even if the compressor is running.
Alarm keeps beeping
A door alarm that sounds with the door closed points to a door switch or a door that isn't sealing. A temperature alarm means the fridge has warmed up, and needs a look.
Not starting after a power cut
A surge when the power returns can damage the control board or the inverter board. Check the plug point and the breaker, then book.
Newer fridges, newer faults
When an inverter fridge stops cooling, the cause is often a sensor, a fan, a defrost part or a control board rather than the compressor, and those are much cheaper repairs. The error code on the display, and what the fridge was doing when it appeared, help the technician narrow it down before they open anything.
Bought it recently? Look at your purchase papers first. If the fridge is still covered by the manufacturer's warranty, the manufacturer or the shop should handle it.
Power cuts and inverter fridges
An inverter fridge has a main control board and a separate board that drives its compressor, and both dislike the spike when the power comes back. Switching off at the wall during a cut, and waiting a few minutes after it returns, is the simplest protection.
While the power is off, keep the doors closed. Food in a full fridge stays cold longer than food in one that's half empty and keeps being opened.
Complexes and estates
In a townhouse kitchen, the fridge is often in a tight alcove. It needs space at the back and sides to get rid of heat, so if yours is boxed in, give it a little more room. When you book, share your complex or estate name, unit number and the visitor 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 reads the fault, tests the sensors, fans and boards involved, 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 Midrand: your questions
My fridge shows an error code. What should I do?
Photograph the code and note what the fridge was doing. Keep the doors closed and send the photo with your booking. Don't keep switching the fridge off and on.
Is an inverter fridge worth repairing?
Usually. The common faults are sensors, fans, defrost parts and boards, which cost far less than a new fridge.
Why does my fridge alarm keep beeping?
Either it thinks a door is open, which points to the door switch or the seal, or the temperature inside has risen too high. Check the doors close properly, then book if it carries on.
Can I fix my fridge by switching it off and on?
Sometimes switching off at the wall for ten minutes lets an electronic fridge reset after a glitch. If it shows the same error or stops cooling again, it needs a technician. Don't keep resetting it.
Why is my fridge display flashing?
A flashing temperature usually means the fridge has warmed up and is warning you, often after a power cut or a door left open. If it keeps flashing once the fridge is closed and running, book a check.
What does a fridge repair cost in Midrand?
A sensor or a fan is a modest repair. An inverter board costs more, but usually far less than a compressor. The technician reads the fault and prices the repair before any work starts.