One of the most hard-working of all your household appliances, the fridge freezer is one that we don’t give much thought to. While essentially not a complex appliance, it does nevertheless involve some important features, and as with all household and electrical appliances, things can go wrong!

Many fridge freezer faults are actually very simple to rectify, and can be done by yourself. Others may necessitate replacement parts that need to be fitted by someone who is qualified. Following is our list of common fridge freezer problems, which we hope will help you get a longer life from your fridge freezer.

The Common Problems

Fridge or Freezer not Cooling

This is a problem that is immediately obvious, and one of the most common of all faults reported on fridge freezers. In some cases one of the elements – the fridge or the freezer – works while the other doesn’t; in other instances, both parts stop working. There are various reasons why this can be, including:

• Electrical failure: if the fridge is not operating, and the lights are not coming on, then you may have a blown fuse or a problem with the electrical system. Make sure your home mains system is working.
• Compressor failure: one of the most common problems with fridge freezers that are a few years old is that the compressor stops working. This is generally due to old age as the item has reached its natural lifespan. You will need an engineer to have a look at your fridge, and they will advise you as to whether a replacement is cost-effective.
• Thermostat: if the thermostat is faulty it can result in the fridge-freezer not cooling properly (also note it can result in it cooling too much). This is usually an inexpensive repair or replacement.
• Refrigerant Gas Blockage: if the Refrigerant gas that is essential to cooling the fridge freezer becomes blocked or leaks, then the system will not work as intended. The result will most likely be, in this instance, that the freezer appears to be working, but the fridge does not. This is most certainly an area for the expert, so you will need to contact a reputable appliance repairs company and ask them for a quote.

Fridge Over-Freezing

Before you start attempting to find a fault, the first thing you should do is check the thermostat settings on your fridge. It is sometimes easy to knock the setting when you are putting things in or taking them out, and accidentally set it far too high. If this is not the case, and your fridge is always far too cold, the problem could be one of the following:

• Thermostat fault: this is among the most probable causes of a fridge freezer cooling too much, or even not cooling at all. Thermostats are relatively simple and turn the compressor on or off when the right temperature is reached. If they do not perform this task, then your fridge will simply carry on cooling continually. In some models, the thermostat is relatively easy to replace, but in others, you might need the expertise of a professional.
• Door Seal fault: the seals on a fridge freezer door are in place to prevent air from getting into the appliance. Should air be seeping in – perhaps from a damaged or worn seal – then you need the seals replaced, as this will cause temperature fluctuations. The seals may be easy to replace if you are competent at DIY, but to be on the safe side, it might be worth contacting an expert.
• Gas System Blockage: this can be caused by a build-up of ice that blocks the free movement of the gas. The result will be that the thermostat and compressor get the wrong messages, and the fridge and freezer will malfunction. The gas system is one for the experts, who will have the right tools and equipment to repair or replace the parts.

Fridge Leaking Water

One commonly reported fault with fridge freezers is that of water leaking from the appliance. The first thing to check if you notice this is the power supply. If your home has suffered a power cut, or the fuse is blown in the appliances mains plug, then the fridge and freezer will defrost, and water will leak. In this case, you need to get the electrical fault repaired by an electrician, and allow the freezer to defrost completely before it is restarted.

One other factor that can lead to water leaking from the fridge or freezer is if the channel that carries the water back into the system, which is there for when the freezer runs its automatic defrost programme, becomes blocked. It’s worth checking this first as it is easy to clear and may save you money on call-out fees!

The above are the common faults that are often reported with fridge-freezers, and most can be solved with inexpensive replacement parts. Other problems include a noisy fridge – this can happen when the compressor gas gets blocked and has to work harder than it should – but mostly, fridge freezer faults will relate to the temperature inside the appliance.

If any of the parts inside a fridge – the ice box doors, any pipes, shelving and so on – become damaged, it can lead to further problems with the cooling system, so it is certainly worth making sure everything is kept in top condition if you want to get the best out of your fridge freezer.

Remember, always check the power supply first – very often, it’s a simple fix that causes the biggest problems.

Here at North London Appliance Repairs, we’ve been carrying out fridge freezer repairs in North London for many years, whilst we can provide same-day repairs and offer 12 months guarantee on our fixes. So if you suspect you have a bigger problem on your hands, please do not hesitate to call us on 0208 226 3633.