When a home appliance breaks down, it’s always a headache—but when your fridge-freezer stops working, panic usually sets in quickly. Unlike an oven or a washing machine where you can order a takeaway or put off doing the laundry for a day, a broken fridge is a race against time before your weekly shop ends up in the bin.
When faced with a warm fridge or a defrosted freezer, you have to make a quick decision: do you shell out for a brand-new appliance, or is it worth calling out an engineer to repair it?
Here is our honest guide to fridge-freezer repairs, common faults, and how much you should expect to pay in the UK.
The True Cost of Replacing a Fridge-Freezer
Before deciding to scrap your current appliance, it’s important to look at the real cost of replacing it.
Today, a standard freestanding fridge-freezer from a reliable brand will set you back anywhere between £300 and £600. If you have an American-style double-door fridge or an integrated (built-in) model, you are easily looking at £700 to £1,500+.
But the sticker price is rarely the final cost. When you buy a new fridge, you also have to factor in:
Delivery fees (often £20 - £40 for large items).
Disposal fees for your old fridge (retailers typically charge £20 - £45 to take away old refrigeration units due to environmental disposal laws).
Installation costs (especially if it is an integrated model requiring custom cabinet doors).
Suddenly, that "cheap" replacement is looking much more expensive.
Common Fridge-Freezer Faults (And Can They Be Fixed?)
The good news is that most fridge-freezers suffer from a handful of common, highly repairable faults. In most cases, a quick part replacement will give your appliance years of extra life.
Faulty Thermostats: If your fridge is freezing your vegetables or feels practically warm, the thermostat is likely broken. This is a very common, straightforward, and affordable repair.
Blocked Drain Holes / Water Leaks: Finding puddles at the bottom of your fridge or under the salad crisper? This is usually a blockage in the defrost drain. It's often a quick fix that doesn't require expensive parts.
Worn Door Seals (Gaskets): If the rubber seal around the door is torn or degraded, cold air escapes, forcing the compressor to run constantly. This runs up your energy bills and burns out the motor. Seals can usually be replaced easily.
Defrost Heater or Timer Failure: If the back of your fridge or freezer is completely iced over, the automatic defrost system has likely failed. An engineer can test and replace the faulty component.
Compressor Issues or Regassing: If the motor has completely failed or the system has lost its refrigerant gas, this is a more complex job. Depending on the age and value of the fridge, this can be repaired, but it requires a careful cost-benefit analysis.
When Is It NOT Worth Repairing?
At KB Appliance Repair, we believe in honest advice. We won't take your money if your machine belongs in the scrapyard. As a general rule, it might be time to replace your fridge-freezer if:
It’s over 10 to 15 years old: Older appliances are less energy-efficient. A modern fridge could save you enough on your electricity bill to justify the upgrade.
The compressor has blown on a cheap model: If you bought a budget fridge for £200 seven years ago and the compressor fails, the cost of parts and labour will likely outweigh the value of the appliance.
The interior cabinet is physically cracked or bowing: Structural damage cannot be safely repaired.
What Is the Most Common Failure on a Dishwasher?
How Much Does a Fridge-Freezer Repair Cost?
Across the UK, the average cost of a fridge-freezer repair ranges from £75 to £150, depending on the fault and the cost of the replacement parts.
However, the appliance repair industry is notorious for hidden fees, hourly rates that drag on, and surprise call-out charges.
That’s where KB Appliance Repair is different. We operate on a strict, transparent pricing model. For standard domestic fridge-freezers, we charge a fixed labour fee of just £80 (gas appliances are £100). That’s it.
No hidden hourly rates.
No surprise call-out fees.
If we need to order a part, you only pay the £80 labour charge plus the wholesale cost of the part itself.
When you compare an £80 labour charge + a £20 thermostat against the £450 cost of buying and installing a brand-new fridge, repairing is almost always the smarter, greener, and cheaper choice.
Need a Fridge-Freezer Repair on the South Coast?
Don't let your food spoil. If you’re based anywhere from Worthing to Bournemouth—including Chichester, Southampton, and Portsmouth—Keith and Jack are here to help.
We pride ourselves on honest, fast, and reliable service. Book your fixed-price repair today, or give us a call to chat about what’s going wrong with your appliance.
Share this post: