Fridge and refrigerator repair in Ottawa and Gatineau
RepairWell repairs fridges and refrigerators in homes and businesses across Ottawa and Gatineau. A technician comes to you, diagnoses the fault ($89 + tax for an electric home appliance, $129 + tax for a gas appliance, a business or a Thermador, Miele, Viking, Wolf or Fisher & Paykel model; waived when you proceed with the repair) and gives you the finding in writing before any work.
A refrigerator that stops cooling is the one appliance call that can't wait, and the one where a wrong guess costs the most: an inexpensive relay and a failed 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 diagnostic is all you pay: $89 + tax for an electric home refrigerator, or $129 + tax for a gas, commercial or high-end brand unit.
Pick a preferred day and arrival window online; we confirm by email once a technician is assigned.
- $89 + tax diagnostic ($129 + tax gas, commercial or high-end brands), waived with repair
- Written finding
- 90-day warranty on parts replaced
- Insured
- English & French
Refrigerator problems we fix
Pick the symptom for safe checks you can do first, or book and tell us what it's doing.
- Fridge section warm, freezer fine
- Neither section cooling
- Freezer not freezing
- Water on the floor or in the crisper
- Frost building up in the freezer
- Clicking, buzzing, rattling or a loud fan
- Ice maker not making ice
- Water dispenser slow or dead
- Door not sealing or light staying on
- Refrigerator too cold or freezing food
- Refrigerator running constantly or clicking
- Fridge not cold but freezer works
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.
Parts we commonly test and replace
- 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
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, refrigerant repair by a certified refrigeration technician we work with
Possible causes behind the symptoms
These are possibilities, not a diagnosis. The technician confirms the cause on site and writes it down before any repair.
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
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.
Running a restaurant, office or other business? See commercial appliance repair and commercial kitchen equipment repair ($129 + tax diagnostic for any commercial appliance).
On an LG? Our LG refrigerator repair guide explains the LG error codes, links symptom guides and covers what’s specific to LG refrigerators.
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 →
Retiring it instead? The refrigerant has to be recovered before an Ottawa landfill will take a fridge or freezer. See Freon and refrigerant removal in Ottawa and Gatineau.
What moves the price
The diagnostic visit is $89 + tax, waived when you proceed with the repair, and the quote is given on the spot. Gas appliances, commercial equipment, and Thermador, Miele, Viking, Wolf and Fisher & Paykel appliances: $129 + tax. Businesses: $129 + tax for any commercial appliance.
- 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 (done by a certified refrigeration technician we work with, including refrigerant recovery) is the most expensive category
- Second appliance diagnosed on the same visit: $45
How the fee works → · Preparing for the visit → · Refrigerator repair cost in Ottawa →
Serving
Ottawa (central), Downtown Ottawa, Centretown, The Glebe, Nepean, Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Orléans, Gloucester, Manotick and Riverside South, Gatineau (secteur Gatineau), Hull, Aylmer, Buckingham and Masson-Angers, Chelsea and Cantley, Rural Ottawa (Carp, Richmond, Greely, Navan, Cumberland), Kemptville, Carleton Place.
York Region: Aurora, Newmarket, King City, Richmond Hill and everywhere within 40 km of Aurora (York pricing on those pages).
Refrigerator brands we service
Brand-specific repair and error-code guides
Independent service; manufacturer names and logos identify the brands we service and imply no affiliation.
What customers say about our refrigerator repairs
Called to perform fridge repair. The technician was professional and honest. Unfortunately the broken part was discontinued, but the technician did everything that was possible and clearly communicated the issue and possible next steps. I was charged for diagnostics as agreed previously.
Real reviews from Google. Read all our reviews on Google
Refrigerator repair questions
Straight answers before you book. Anything else, call or text (613) 880-3013.
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?
Yes. We repair built-in and premium refrigerators, including Sub-Zero, Thermador, Liebherr and Monogram. Send the model number when you book so we can check parts availability before the visit, before you book.
What does the visit cost?
$89 + tax for the diagnostic and written finding, waived when you proceed with the repair. Parts and labour are quoted on the spot before any work starts.
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.
Pick a preferred day and arrival window online; we confirm by email once a technician is assigned.
- $89 + tax diagnostic$129 + tax for gas or commercial appliances and for Thermador, Miele, Viking, Wolf or Fisher & Paykel; waived when you proceed with the repair
- Written finding on every visitCause, price and our repair-or-replace verdict
- 90-day warrantyOn parts replaced; labour depends on the work done