Fridge warm but freezer still cold
The freezer is frozen solid but the fridge section sits at 10–15°C and food spoils, sometimes with the fridge feeling completely dead.
Fridge Freezer Repair
Fridge freezer repair across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire — one compartment warm, defrost faults, fan failures and door seals diagnosed and fixed with a 6-month guarantee.
From £90Call-out
labour included
labour included
10–14 yearsTypical lifespan
with maintenance
with maintenance
12Common faults
diagnosed below
diagnosed below
6 moGuarantee
parts & labour
parts & labour
The defining diagnostic question on a fridge freezer is which compartment has failed, and the answer tells you almost everything about the cause. On the great majority of modern fridge freezers, both compartments are cooled by a single compressor and a single evaporator hidden behind the freezer's rear panel, with a fan blowing cold air into the freezer and a duct and damper feeding some of it up to the fridge section. That architecture means the classic symptom — freezer perfectly cold, fridge warm — is almost never a refrigeration failure. It is an airflow problem: a failed evaporator fan, a stuck damper, or an iced-up duct. That single insight resolves a large share of the calls we take. If both compartments are warm, we look at the compressor, start relay, thermostat and sealed system. If only the fridge is warm, we look at the fan, damper and duct. If only the freezer is warm, we look at the defrost system and the freezer's own sensor. Older twin-compressor and dual-circuit models behave differently again, and the very old-fashioned single-thermostat designs where the fridge thermostat controls the whole appliance have their own quirks. Our local water hardness doesn't affect refrigeration, but our housing stock does. Cambridge and Hertfordshire have a large amount of new-build and refitted kitchens with integrated 70:30 and 50:50 fridge freezers boxed into tall housings, and inadequate housing ventilation is a genuine recurring cause of poor performance and early compressor wear. We check clearances as part of every visit. We repair freestanding, integrated, frost-free and static fridge freezers across Bosch, Samsung, LG, Beko, Hotpoint, Indesit, Liebherr, AEG, Zanussi, Siemens, Neff and Miele. It is a £90 call-out covering the visit, the diagnosis and the labour, with parts charged on top and quoted for your approval first, and 6 months parts and labour. Domestic appliances only.
What the call-out costs
| Freestanding fridge freezer | £90 |
| Integrated fridge freezer | £100 |
| Parts, if any are needed | Quoted before fitting |
| If we cannot repair it | Call-out only |
£90 for a freestanding machine. Integrated appliances incur a £10 surcharge, so £100 — an integrated machine has to come out of the run of units before anything can be diagnosed, and go back in afterwards.
The 12 faults we see most
If one of these sounds like your machine, we have almost certainly fixed it before. Tell us which and we will bring the right parts.
Book a repair
Pick your own slot in the diary — appliance, address and a time that suits you, in about a minute.
Book online (opens in a new tab)or
07849 033758Same-day slots when we have one. Call-out from £90, labour included.
Straight answer on price
£90 call-out — that covers the visit, the diagnosis and the labour. Parts are the only extra, quoted for your approval before we fit anything. No hourly rates. 6 months guarantee on parts and labour.
Neither compartment cooling
Both fridge and freezer are at or near room temperature, with the compressor silent, humming without effect, or clicking every few minutes.
Freezer warm but fridge working
The fridge holds 4°C but the freezer sits at −5°C or warmer, with food softening.
Water pooling in the bottom of the fridge
A puddle under the salad crisper drawers, or water running down the rear wall of the fridge compartment.
Heavy ice build-up on the freezer's rear panel
A thick sheet of ice behind the freezer drawers, drawers frozen in place, and worsening cooling in one or both compartments.
Appliance running constantly
The compressor never cycles off, the back of the appliance is very hot, and electricity use has risen noticeably.
Loud buzzing, rattling or humming
A persistent buzz from the rear, a rhythmic scraping from inside the freezer, or a knock when the compressor starts.
Door seal failed on one or both doors
A door that doesn't pull itself closed, condensation or ice around the frame, and both compartments struggling to hold temperature.
Fridge freezing food at the back of the shelves
Salad, milk and yoghurt at the rear of the fridge freeze solid while items at the front are fine.
Ice or water dispenser not working
No water from the dispenser, no ice being made, or ice cubes that come out hollow, small or fused into a block.
Bad smell or odour transfer between compartments
A stale or sour smell in the fridge, or freezer contents picking up the taste of strong-smelling food from the fridge.
Error code or flashing display
A code such as E1, dF, 5E or a flashing temperature display, sometimes with an audible alarm and one compartment misbehaving.
Is it worth repairing?
Fridge freezers repair well because the most common failures are airflow and defrost components rather than the sealed system. A freestanding fridge freezer costs £400–£800 new and an integrated one £600–£1,100 once fitting and decor door transfer are counted, so the 50% rule leaves plenty of room for a £90 call-out plus the part. Evaporator fans, air dampers, defrost heaters, thermostats, NTCs, drains and door seals are all sound repairs on an appliance up to twelve years old. Typical lifespan is 10 to 14 years for mid-range models and 15 to 20 for Liebherr, Miele and similar. The clear replace decision is a sealed-system failure. A seized compressor or a refrigerant leak costs more to locate and properly repair than most domestic fridge freezers are worth, and a simple top-up without leak repair is neither lawful nor durable, so we won't offer one. Because this appliance runs continuously, in-use energy genuinely matters — a fifteen-year-old fridge freezer with failed seals can use two to three times the electricity of a modern equivalent. But a well-sealed, correctly serviced older appliance is close enough to modern efficiency that repair still wins, and we'll tell you honestly which situation yours is in before you spend anything.
If it's time to replace, see what we sell
Brands we repair
We work on every major manufacturer, and our vans carry spares for the ones we see most in this area.
First-time fix
Our vans carry a wide range of fridge freezer spares so most jobs are finished on the same visit. If we need to order a part, it's usually fitted within a couple of working days at no second call-out charge.
What the call-out is
£90 for a freestanding machine. Integrated appliances incur a £10 surcharge, so £100 — an integrated machine has to come out of the run of units before anything can be diagnosed, and go back in afterwards. Parts are on top and quoted for your approval before anything is fitted.
Domestic only
We do not work on commercial or coin-operated machines.
Maintenance
Make your fridge freezer last longer
Water across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire runs around 280–320 mg/l. That limescale is the single biggest reason appliances die early here.
Keep the rear vents clear inside both compartments
On single-evaporator fridge freezers, cold air reaches the fridge through a duct and vents at the back. Packing food hard against those vents starves the fridge of cold air and creates the classic warm-fridge complaint. Leave about 20mm clear at the rear of every shelf and never block the duct opening.
Vacuum the condenser twice a year
Pull the appliance out and vacuum the coil at the back or the grille at the plinth. A fridge freezer runs two compartments off one compressor and suffers disproportionately from a dust-insulated condenser. Quarterly if you have pets — it's the single most effective maintenance job on any refrigeration appliance.
Test both door seals with the paper test
Close a sheet of paper in each door at eight or ten points and pull. Free withdrawal at any point means a leak, and on a fridge freezer a failed seal on either door makes the whole appliance work harder. Do this every six months and clean the seals with warm soapy water while you're there.
Clear the fridge defrost drain every few months
The small hole at the base of the fridge's rear wall blocks with food debris and biofilm, which is why water pools under the salad drawers. Clear it with a cotton bud or flexible tubing and flush with warm water. Never use a metal skewer — the evaporator pipework is directly behind that panel.
Verify both compartments with thermometers
Target 3–5°C in the fridge and −18°C in the freezer, measured with actual thermometers rather than judged by the dial or the display, which can drift. Check both after 24 hours of stable operation. Adjusting one compartment on most fridge freezers affects the other, so measure both after any change.
Check integrated housing ventilation annually
Integrated fridge freezers need clear ventilation at the plinth and usually above the housing, with a defined air path behind. Kitchen fitters block these more often than you'd hope, and a boxed-in appliance runs continuously and wears out early. Check the vents are present and unobstructed.
Cover food and cool it before it goes in
Uncovered liquids and warm dishes raise humidity, which becomes frost on the evaporator and speeds up ice build-up between defrost cycles. Let cooked food reach room temperature first and cover everything. On single-evaporator models this also stops odours travelling between compartments.
Replace the water filter every six months if fitted
On models with a plumbed water or ice dispenser, the filter is a consumable and a restricted one is the leading cause of slow dispensing and small hollow ice cubes. Six months or the manufacturer's stated volume, whichever comes first. Note the date on the filter with a marker when you fit it.
Error codes
Fridge freezer error codes
If your machine is showing a code on the display, look it up here and we will tell you what it is reporting.
22ESamsung 22EFan fault — the evaporator fan is not running at the expected speed.OF OFSamsung OF OFDemo mode — cooling is disabled and the appliance will not get cold.ER FFLG ER FFFreezer fan fault — the circulation fan is blocked or not running.ER dHLG ER dHDefrost fault — the defrost cycle is not clearing ice from the evaporator.
Questions
Fridge freezer repair FAQs
How much does a fridge freezer repair cost?
A £90 call-out covers the visit, the diagnosis and the labour, with the part quoted for your approval on top. Evaporator fans, dampers, thermostats, NTCs, drains and door seals are the usual parts. Defrost circuit repairs need the freezer's rear panel off, which takes time but costs you nothing extra.
Is it worth repairing a fridge freezer?
For the common faults, yes. A freestanding fridge freezer costs £400–£800 new and an integrated one £600–£1,100 with fitting, so a £90 call-out plus a fan, damper or defrost heater is clearly worthwhile on an appliance under twelve years old. A sealed-system or compressor failure is the exception, where replacement is the right call.
How quickly can you attend if my fridge freezer has stopped working?
We treat cooling failures as priority bookings and aim to attend same or next working day across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Keep both doors shut in the meantime — a full freezer holds safe temperature for around 24 hours and a full fridge for about four.
How long does a fridge freezer repair take?
Most repairs take 50 to 110 minutes in one visit. Defrost circuit repairs take longer because the appliance often has to be defrosted before the rear panel can come off, which occasionally means a return visit after a manual defrost you can do overnight.
What guarantee do you give?
Twelve months on parts and labour, directly with us, on every repair. If the same fault returns within that period we come back at no charge. That applies to fans, dampers, defrost systems, seals, relays and boards.
Can you repair an integrated fridge freezer?
Yes, and it's a large part of our work given how many fitted kitchens across Cambridge and Hertfordshire use them. We release the decor doors, withdraw the appliance, work on it and refit it with the sliding or fixed hinge system correctly reset — and we check the housing ventilation, which is a common hidden problem.
Do you re-gas fridge freezers?
Refrigerant loss means there's a leak in the sealed system, and topping up without finding and repairing it is neither lawful nor durable. On domestic appliances the cost of properly locating and repairing a leak generally exceeds the appliance's value, and we'll tell you that plainly instead of selling a repair that won't last.
Which fridge freezer brands do you repair?
Bosch, Samsung, LG, Beko, Hotpoint, Indesit, Liebherr, AEG, Electrolux, Zanussi, Siemens, Neff, Miele, Whirlpool, Candy and Hoover among others. We work on domestic refrigeration only and do not service commercial or catering equipment.
How long should a fridge freezer last?
Typically 10 to 14 years for a mid-range appliance, and 15 to 20 for premium brands such as Liebherr and Miele. Because two compartments run from one compressor, fridge freezers work slightly harder than a standalone fridge, and door seals and defrost components are the usual items needing attention along the way.
Do you carry fridge freezer parts on the van?
We stock evaporator fans, start relays, overloads, thermostats, NTCs, defrost thermostats and door switches for the main brands, so most jobs are completed on the first visit. Defrost heaters, dampers, door seals and control boards are model-specific and typically ordered in within two to four working days.
Fridge freezer playing up? We'll take a look.
Call-out from £90, labour included. 6 months guarantee.