Fridge-freezers: tell me where I'm wrong

Buy Me Once Longevity Awards - the repairer's review. About 10 minutes. Everything saves as you go, so you can come back to it.

Before you see my table

Three quick ones first - your gut answer, before my numbers can nudge it.

Please answer all three - they're the most valuable answers in here.

Fault 1 of 7

Compressor / sealed-system failure (seizure, refrigerant leak, re-gas)

Out of 10 broken fridge-freezers that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a fridge-freezer came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Fault 2 of 7

Defrost / frost-free system (defrost heater, evaporator fan, timer/sensor)

Out of 10 broken fridge-freezers that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a fridge-freezer came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Fault 3 of 7

Electronics / control PCB / thermostat / sensor

Out of 10 broken fridge-freezers that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a fridge-freezer came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Fault 4 of 7

Door seal (gasket) perishes / warps

Out of 10 broken fridge-freezers that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a fridge-freezer came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Fault 5 of 7

Cracked / broken drawers, shelves, plastic interior parts

Out of 10 broken fridge-freezers that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a fridge-freezer came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Fault 6 of 7

Blocked drain / water pooling / leaks

Out of 10 broken fridge-freezers that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a fridge-freezer came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Fault 7 of 7

Hinges, handles, interior lighting (LED modules)

Out of 10 broken fridge-freezers that come to you, how many have this fault?

Hardly everNearly all of them

Tap a number

If a fridge-freezer came in with this fault, what would the repair be like?

Think of the cost of the fix against the price of a new one - not whether the owner wanted it fixed.

Quick, cheap fixWorth repairingCosts more than it's worth

Tap a number

"Our estimate" is where we've got it from desk research. Tap it if you agree, or tap your own number.

Last three on the faults

Which fault did I get most wrong?

Is a big one missing?

What never reaches you?

You only see the fridge-freezers someone thought were worth bringing in. Which faults do you think mostly end up in the bin instead - so they're rarer on your bench than in real life?

Tap a number on both scales first.

Brands - from the bench, not reputation

A few claims from my research

1. On a mass-market UK fridge-freezer, compressor or sealed-system failure is the most common reason an otherwise working unit is scrapped rather than repaired.

2. A variable-speed inverter compressor (rotary, e.g. BSH VarioInverter / Samsung Digital Inverter) outlasts a single-speed reciprocating compressor in domestic use; LG's linear compressor is the exception.

3. Twin-circuit NoFrost designs (Miele DuplexCool, Liebherr DuoCooling) suffer fewer defrost-heater / evaporator-fan failures than single-circuit budget frost-free units.

How should I credit you?

Named: "verified by [you], [business]" on the awards page, and listed as a recommended repairer. Anonymous: "independent repairer, [n] years". Your call - some fixers would rather not be seen rating brands they also fix under warranty.

Name, email and a credit choice please.