Refrigerator | Most called
Refrigerator repair
Warm fridge, frozen lettuce, a puddle under the crisper. We find the cause, show you the part, and give you a written price before any work starts.
What it's doing, and why
About half of our calls are refrigerators, and they go to the front of the line because food is at stake. The van carries the parts that fail most: defrost heaters, fan motors, start relays, sensors and water valves. If we need a part we don't stock, we order it the same day and book your second visit before we leave.
- Most repairs from
- $150
- Typical visit
- 45 to 90 minutes
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What you see
Fridge is warm, freezer is fine
Likely cause: Usually frost has choked the cooling coil because the defrost system failed, or the fan that pushes cold air down has stopped.
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What you see
Nothing is cold and it's quiet
Likely cause: Often a start relay or the control board. Sometimes it's the compressor, which changes the conversation.
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What you see
Water under the crisper or on the floor
Likely cause: A blocked defrost drain is the usual cause. It's one of the cheaper fixes we do.
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What you see
Clicking, buzzing or a loud fan
Likely cause: A fan blade hitting ice, a worn fan motor, or a relay trying and failing to start the compressor.
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What you see
Frost building up in the freezer
Likely cause: A door gasket that no longer seals, or a defrost heater, sensor or timer that has failed.
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What you see
Ice or water dispenser stopped
Likely cause: Usually the water valve, a frozen fill tube or the ice maker itself. See ice maker repair.
Typical refrigerator repair prices
Each range is the total for the repair: parts, labour and the trip. The $89 diagnostic is credited in full when you go ahead. Your exact price is written down before we start.
How our pricing works-
Start relay or overload
The small parts that help the compressor start
Usually repair$150 to $260
-
Defrost heater, sensor or thermostat
Fixes frost on the back wall and a warm fridge
Usually repair$220 to $380
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Evaporator or condenser fan motor
Usually repair$200 to $350
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Defrost drain clear-out
Stops water pooling under the crisper drawers
Usually repair$150 to $240
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Door gasket
Most models; some French-door gaskets cost more
Usually repair$180 to $340
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Main control board
Depends on age$350 to $650
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Sealed system: compressor or refrigerant leak
Usually not worth it on a fridge over 10 years old
Often replace$700 to $1,400
Sample ranges for Greater Richmond in 2026. Built-in and high-end models can run higher; we tell you before any work starts.
Repair it, or replace it?
A refrigerator usually lasts 10 to 15 years. Here's how we call it, and we say it out loud even when the answer costs us the job.
Repair it when
- It's under 8 years old and the fix is a fan, heater, relay or sensor
- It's a built-in or high-end model that would cost $5,000 or more to replace
- The cabinet, liner and door seals are in good shape
Replace it when
- The compressor or refrigerant system has failed on a fridge over 10 years old
- It's the second major repair in two years
- The inside liner is cracked or rusting, which no part can fix
A sealed-system repair on a 12-year-old fridge can run past $1,000. A new fridge of the same size is often $1,100 to $1,800. In that case we'll tell you to put the money toward a new one.
Try these before you book
They take five minutes and sometimes save you the visit. If none of them help, we'll take it from there.
- 1 Make sure it's plugged in and the breaker hasn't tripped.
- 2 Check the temperature dial. Kids and grocery bags bump it more than you'd think.
- 3 Pull off the bottom grille and vacuum the condenser coils if they're furry with dust.
- 4 Close the door on a dollar bill. If it slides out easily, the gasket isn't sealing.
While you wait, keep the doors shut. A closed fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours, and a full freezer holds for about 48.
Brands we see most
Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, LG, Frigidaire, KitchenAid, Maytag, Kenmore, and most other household brands.
Listed in plain text. We're an independent shop, not affiliated with or authorized by any maker.
All brands and exceptionsRefrigerator questions
Can you come the same day?
Often, yes, when you book before noon on a weekday. Fridge calls go to the front of the line. When today is full, we say so and give you the first real window.
Do you recharge refrigerant?
Only as part of a real sealed-system repair, where the leak is found and fixed first. Topping up a leaking system only buys a few weeks. The technicians who do this work hold EPA Section 608 certification.
Do you repair built-in and French-door refrigerators?
Yes. Built-ins take longer to pull out, and some parts are dealer-only with a 5 to 10 business day wait. We tell you the wait before you approve the repair.
Let's get your refrigerator working again.
Book a two-hour window online or call the office. The $89 diagnostic is credited in full to your repair, and you get a written price before any work starts.
Mon to Fri 7:30 to 6, Sat 8:30 to 2. Tasha answers.