Refrigerator repair
A refrigerator that stops cooling is the one appliance call that can't wait, and the one where a wrong guess costs the most: a $150 relay and a dead compressor can look the same from the kitchen. RepairWell diagnoses the fridge first, writes down what we found, and only then quotes the repair.
We repair every common configuration sold in Ottawa and Gatineau, from a basic top-freezer in a rental unit to a counter-depth French-door model with an ice maker and a water dispenser. If the honest answer is that the fridge isn't worth fixing, the finding says so and the $89 is all you pay.
Online booking is a request; we confirm a window by text or phone within 1 business hour.
Types and configurations we service
- French-door and four-door — The most common configuration in homes built or renovated since about 2010; ice makers and dispensers add most of the failure points.
- Side-by-side — Narrow freezer beside a narrow fridge; dispenser and ice-maker faults, and airflow problems between the two sections, are typical calls.
- Top-freezer and bottom-freezer — Simpler mechanically; defrost-system and gasket problems are the usual reasons for a visit.
- Counter-depth and built-in — Panel-ready and integrated models need more disassembly and sometimes a second technician; see built-in refrigerator repair.
- Compact and bar fridges — Repairable when the fault is a thermostat, fan or door seal; a sealed-system fault on a compact fridge is rarely worth the cost, and we'll say so on the phone.
Symptoms we're called for
Possible causes
These are possibilities, not a diagnosis; the technician confirms the cause on site.
- A failed defrost heater, defrost thermostat or control, letting ice choke the evaporator coil so cold air can't reach the fridge section
- A condenser or evaporator fan that has stopped, so heat isn't being removed or cold isn't being circulated
- A start relay or capacitor that no longer starts the compressor (the classic click-every-few-minutes)
- A worn or torn door gasket, or a door out of alignment, letting warm air in
- A blocked defrost drain sending meltwater onto the floor or into the crisper
- A failed temperature sensor or control board reading the wrong temperature
- Dirty condenser coils or poor clearance, which makes the fridge run hot and long
- A sealed-system fault (refrigerant leak, restriction, or compressor wear), which only a certified technician can confirm
Repairs a technician may recommend
- Replace the defrost heater, thermostat, timer or control and clear the iced coil
- Replace a failed evaporator or condenser fan motor
- Replace the start relay, overload or run capacitor
- Replace the door gasket or adjust hinges and levelling so the door seals
- Clear or thaw the defrost drain and correct its routing
- Replace a temperature sensor, thermistor or main control board
- Replace the ice maker assembly, water inlet valve or dispenser components
- Sealed-system diagnosis and, where justified, repair by a certified refrigeration technician we work with
Typical components involved: compressor, start relay and overload, condenser fan and condenser coils, evaporator fan and coil, defrost heater, thermostat and timer/control, thermistors and main control board, door gaskets and hinges, water inlet valve, ice maker and dispenser, defrost drain and drain pan.
Safe checks before you book
- Confirm the temperature setting hasn't been bumped (about 3–4 °C fridge, −18 °C freezer) and give it 24 hours after any change
- Pull food away from the back wall and the vents so air can move between freezer and fridge
- Close the door on a sheet of paper; if it slides out freely, wipe the gasket and check nothing is holding the door open
- Check that the interior light goes off when the door closes
- Vacuum accessible condenser coils (front kick plate or rear) with the fridge unplugged
- Check the outlet with a lamp and the breaker at the panel
Stop using it if
- A burning or electrical smell, sparking, or a tripped breaker that trips again when reset
- A chemical smell or oily residue near the back of the fridge, which can indicate a refrigerant leak
- Water pooling near an outlet or power bar
- The compressor is hot to the touch and the fridge won't cool at all: unplug it and move the food
Never work on gas lines, wiring, refrigerant or microwave components yourself.
What to expect during diagnosis and repair
The technician confirms the symptom with you, checks temperatures in both sections, then works through the system in order: door seals and airflow, evaporator coil condition behind the freezer panel, fans, defrost components, the compressor and its relay, and finally the sealed system if everything else checks out. You get the written finding before any repair starts: cause, recommended fix, parts, labour and total. Many fan, relay, defrost and gasket repairs are completed on the same visit when the part is on the truck; sealed-system work and some ice-maker assemblies need a second visit.
Repair or replace?
Fans, relays, defrost parts, gaskets, drains and sensors are usually worth repairing at any age because the parts are modest and the rest of the fridge is fine. The decision gets harder with the compressor and the sealed system: on a fridge more than eight to ten years old, a sealed-system repair can cost a large share of a replacement, and the written finding will show both numbers side by side. Built-in and panel-ready refrigerators tilt toward repair because replacement means cabinetry work, not just a new appliance.
Our repair-versus-replacement method →
Pricing factors
The diagnostic visit is $89, waived when you go ahead with the repair, and the quote is given on the spot. What moves the repair price:
- Whether the part is on the truck or has to be ordered
- Access: built-in and counter-depth units take longer to open up
- Ice maker and dispenser assemblies cost more than single components
- Sealed-system work (certified technician, refrigerant recovery) is the most expensive category
- Second appliance on the same visit: If a second appliance is diagnosed on the same visit, it is $45 instead of the full $89.
Brands we service for refrigerators
Brand list subject to confirmation: most major brands, including LG, Samsung, Whirlpool, Bosch, GE, Maytag, Frigidaire, KitchenAid, Electrolux, Kenmore, Amana, Inglis, Miele, Jenn-Air, Fisher & Paykel, Haier and Danby. Independent service; no manufacturer affiliation implied.
Refrigerator questions
My freezer works but the fridge is warm. Is that a big repair?
Usually not. That pattern most often points to the defrost system or the evaporator fan, both moderate repairs. The technician confirms it by opening the freezer back panel; the finding tells you which it is and what it costs.
How long can I leave food in a fridge that isn't cooling?
Health Canada advises keeping perishables at 4 °C or below. If the fridge section is above that, move meat, dairy and leftovers to a cooler with ice or another fridge and keep the door closed until we arrive.
Do you repair the ice maker and water dispenser?
Yes. Ice makers, water inlet valves, dispenser motors and filter housings are common repairs. See ice maker repair.
Can you add refrigerant to my fridge?
Only a certified technician may handle refrigerant, and 'topping up' is rarely the right fix: a low charge means a leak. If the finding points to the sealed system, we quote the proper repair or tell you it isn't worth it.
Do you work on built-in Sub-Zero or Thermador refrigerators?
For premium built-in brands, ask when you book and we will tell you honestly whether we can help. Call us with the brand and model and we'll tell you on the phone before you book.
What does the visit cost?
$89 for the diagnostic and written finding, waived when you go ahead with the repair. Parts and labour are quoted on the spot before any work starts.
Related guides and pages
- Refrigerator not cooling
- Refrigerator leaking water
- Excessive frost buildup
- Unusual refrigerator noises
- Ice maker not making ice
- Water dispenser not working
- Refrigerator water-line connection
- Built-in refrigerator
Service areas: Ottawa (central), Nepean, Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Orléans, Gloucester, Manotick and Riverside South, Gatineau (secteur Gatineau), Hull, Aylmer, Buckingham and Masson-Angers, Chelsea and Cantley.
Book a refrigerator diagnostic
Tell us the symptom and your postal code. You'll get a confirmed window, then a written finding before any repair.
Online booking is a request. We confirm the appointment by text or phone within 1 business hour.