Residential appliance repair
Refrigerator repair that brings the cold back
A warm refrigerator is a race against spoiled food, and in an Arizona summer it gets worse fast. Most calls I get are some version of “my refrigerator is not cooling”, and most of the time the cause is a frozen evaporator coil, a failed fan, a defrost problem or a control board, not the end of the fridge.
4.6 from 39 Google reviews
$65
Service call,
waived with repair$125 for stacked washer/dryer
From 39 customer reviews
$125 for stacked washer/dryer. Both waived with the repair.
Parts covered by the manufacturer's warranty
Open Mon–Sat, 9am–6pm
Refrigerator Repair
Refrigerator Repair across Phoenix and the East Valley
I diagnose French-door, side-by-side, top-freezer and bottom-freezer refrigerators in your kitchen, explain exactly what failed, and quote the repair before any work starts.
Signs you need refrigerator repair
- Food spoiling sooner than it should
- Frost building up on the freezer back wall
- Water pooling under the crisper drawers
- The fridge runs constantly but never feels cold
- Ice maker stopped at the same time the fridge got warm
Common problems
Refrigerator problems I fix every week
Refrigerator Not Cooling
Often an iced-over evaporator coil, a failed evaporator or condenser fan, or a defrost heater, sensor or timer that quit.
Freezer Works But Fridge Is Warm
Cold air is not getting from the freezer to the fresh-food side, usually a frozen coil or a stuck damper.
Leaking Water
Clogged defrost drains, a cracked water line or a bad inlet valve. Water under the fridge is worth fixing early.
Loud Buzzing or Clicking
Fan motors with worn bearings, a struggling compressor start relay, or ice hitting a fan blade.
Display or Controls Dead
Control boards, user interface boards and wiring faults, common on newer Samsung and LG models.
Sealed-system Problems
I use refrigerant gauges to tell a sealed-system fault apart from a simple part failure before you decide anything. I'm EPA 608 certified to work with refrigerant.
Quick troubleshooter
Figure out what's going on
Choose what you’re seeing to get the most likely causes and one safe thing to try before you call.
What is your refrigerator doing?
Refrigerator Not Cooling
Most likely causes
- Evaporator coil iced over because the defrost system failed
- Evaporator or condenser fan motor stopped
- Dirty condenser coils or a failing compressor start relay
Try this first: Make sure nothing is blocking the vents inside the freezer, and vacuum the coils at the bottom or back if you can reach them. If it’s still warm after a few hours, call me.
Freezer Cold But Fridge Warm
Most likely causes
- Frozen evaporator coil blocking airflow to the fridge side
- Failed evaporator fan
- Stuck air damper between freezer and fridge
Try this first: Listen inside the freezer with the door switch pressed. If you hear no fan, that’s a strong clue for the technician.
Refrigerator Leaking Water
Most likely causes
- Clogged defrost drain freezing over
- Cracked or loose water line to the ice maker
- Failed water inlet valve
Try this first: Turn off the water supply valve behind the fridge to stop the leak, and dry the floor to protect it.
What is your ice maker or freezer doing?
Ice Maker Not Making Ice
Most likely causes
- Frozen water fill tube
- Failed water inlet valve or clogged filter
- Faulty ice maker module
Try this first: Check that the ice maker is switched on and the bail arm or sensor isn’t in the off position, and replace an overdue water filter.
Ice Maker Freezing Up
Most likely causes
- Ice buildup in the door compartment (common on some Samsung models)
- Door seal letting warm air in
- Fill valve dripping and over-filling the tray
Try this first: Empty the ice bucket and break up clumps. If the ice keeps welding together, the cause needs fixing.
Freezer Not Freezing
Most likely causes
- Defrost failure icing over the coil
- Evaporator or condenser fan failure
- Compressor start relay or control fault
Try this first: Keep the door closed and move frozen food to a cooler while you wait for service.
What is your washer doing?
Washer Not Draining
Most likely causes
- Clogged drain pump or pump filter
- Kinked or blocked drain hose
- Failed drain pump motor
Try this first: On a front-loader, place towels down and open the small pump filter door at the bottom front to check for socks and coins.
Washer Not Spinning
Most likely causes
- Lid lock or door lock not engaging
- Worn or broken drive belt
- Motor control board fault
Try this first: Redistribute the load and run a drain and spin cycle. If it still won’t spin, call me.
Washer Leaking Water
Most likely causes
- Torn front-loader door boot
- Loose or cracked inlet or drain hose
- Pump seal leak
Try this first: Turn off the hot and cold water valves behind the washer until it’s repaired.
What is your dryer doing?
Dryer Not Heating
Most likely causes
- Heating element or thermal fuse (electric)
- Igniter or gas valve coils (gas)
- Cycling thermostat failure
Try this first: Clean the lint screen and check that the outside vent flap opens when the dryer runs. Restricted airflow is a common root cause.
Dryer Won't Start
Most likely causes
- Blown thermal fuse
- Door switch or start switch failure
- Broken drive belt or failed motor
Try this first: Check the breaker. Electric dryers use a double breaker, and one half can trip on its own.
Dryer Takes Too Long To Dry
Most likely causes
- Clogged vent or lint buildup
- Weak heating element
- Faulty moisture sensor
Try this first: Run the dryer and feel the air at the outside vent. Weak airflow means the vent needs attention before parts fail.
What is your dishwasher doing?
Dishwasher Not Draining
Most likely causes
- Clogged filter or drain pump
- Kinked drain hose
- Clogged garbage disposal or knockout plug left in
Try this first: Remove and rinse the filter at the bottom of the tub, then run the garbage disposal before starting the dishwasher again.
Dishwasher Not Cleaning Well
Most likely causes
- Hard water scale in the spray arms
- Weak wash motor or low water fill
- Inlet valve partly clogged
Try this first: Pull the spray arms and clear the holes with a toothpick, and always use rinse aid with East Valley water.
Dishwasher Leaking
Most likely causes
- Worn door gasket
- Pump or motor seal leak
- Loose inlet or drain connection
Try this first: Use only dishwasher detergent (dish soap foams over), and dry the floor to check where the water appears first.
What is your oven or range doing?
Oven Not Heating
Most likely causes
- Weak gas igniter (glows but won't light)
- Burned-out bake element (electric)
- Temperature sensor or control board fault
Try this first: On electric ovens, look at the bake element for blisters or breaks. Don’t touch it until the oven has cooled down.
Gas Burner Won't Light
Most likely causes
- Clogged burner ports
- Wet or cracked spark igniter
- Spark module or switch fault
Try this first: Make sure the burner cap is seated correctly. If you ever smell gas, leave the house and call your gas company first.
Oven Temperature Is Off
Most likely causes
- Failing temperature sensor
- Control board needs calibration
- Door gasket letting heat escape
Try this first: An inexpensive oven thermometer will tell you how far off it is, which helps me diagnose it faster.
What is your garbage disposal doing?
Garbage Disposal Humming But Not Spinning
Most likely causes
- Flywheel jammed by something hard
- Failing motor start winding
- Seized bearings in an older unit
Try this first: Switch it off right away so the motor doesn’t burn out. Never put your hand inside the disposal.
Garbage Disposal Won't Turn On
Most likely causes
- Tripped reset button
- Wall switch or wiring fault
- Burned-out motor
Try this first: With the switch off, press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit once. If it trips again, call me.
Garbage Disposal Leaking
Most likely causes
- Bottom leak: worn internal seals (replacement needed)
- Top leak: sink flange putty or mounting ring
- Side leak: dishwasher or drain connections
Try this first: Put a dry paper towel under each connection, then run water. The first one to get wet shows where it’s coming from.
Seeing an error code on the display? Look up your code by brand
Refrigerator error codes by brand
5 refrigerator and freezer recalls on file for Electrolux, Frigidaire, GE. Check your model number
Repair or replace?
Most refrigerator repairs cost far less than a new fridge plus installation. As a rule of thumb, if the fridge is under about 10 years old and the repair is less than half the cost of a comparable new one, repair usually wins. If it isn’t worth fixing, I’ll tell you that too.
Garage refrigerators in Arizona heat: most refrigerators are rated for rooms up to about 90 to 110°F. A garage in Queen Creek or Mesa can pass 120°F in July, which makes the compressor run nonstop and can confuse the thermostat. If your garage fridge struggles every summer, I can check whether it is a failing part or simply the heat.
Upfront pricing
$65
Service call, waived when you approve the repair. You get an exact price before any work starts.
Stacked washer and dryer units have a $125 service call, also waived with the repair.
Typical national range for refrigerator repair: $200–$450. Fans, defrost parts and boards are on the lower end; sealed-system work costs more.
Labor warranty: 1 month. Parts: manufacturer’s warranty.
From my jobs
Real refrigerator repairs
Iced-Over Evaporator Coil
Sealed-System Diagnostics
Refrigerator Sealed-System Repair
Evaporator Fans And Panels
Recent Repairs
Recent Refrigerator Repairs
Whirlpool Refrigerator Coil Iced Over: Defrost Heater Replaced
The Problem: The evaporator coil behind the freezer panel of a Whirlpool refrigerator was completely iced over.
The Fix: I replaced the defrost heater.
Samsung Refrigerator Compressor Locked Up: An Honest Estimate
The Problem: A Samsung refrigerator’s compressor had a locked piston inside it.
The Fix: I diagnosed the sealed system and gave the customer the diagnosis and an estimate for the repair.
The Result: Based on the cost of the repair, the customer decided to replace the refrigerator.
Reviews
Customers on Deven's work
4.6 from 39 Google reviews
Kim Solomon
Repeat customer · Google review
Elsie Reynolds
Washer · Google review
Sharon Dodt
Dishwasher · Google review
FAQ
Refrigerator repair questions
Have a question that isn’t here? Call or text (480) 292-4746.
Are you certified to work with refrigerant?
Yes. I hold an EPA 608 certification, which is required to handle refrigerant. That means I can diagnose and repair sealed systems in refrigerators and freezers, not just the parts around them.
Why is my refrigerator not cooling but the freezer works?
Usually because cold air from the freezer is not reaching the fresh-food side. The most common causes are an evaporator coil that has iced over because of a defrost failure, a failed evaporator fan, or a stuck air damper. These are repairable parts, and I can usually diagnose them in one visit.
How much does refrigerator repair cost?
My service call is $65 ($125 for stacked washer/dryer), and it is waived when you approve the repair. You get an exact price before any work begins. Nationally, most refrigerator repairs fall between about $200 and $450 depending on the part; sealed-system work costs more.
Is it worth repairing a refrigerator?
Usually yes if the refrigerator is under about 10 years old and the repair is less than half the price of a comparable new model. Fans, defrost parts, valves and boards are worth fixing. I’ll be straight with you when replacement makes more sense.
Why is my refrigerator not cold enough in summer?
High kitchen or garage temperatures make the condenser work harder, and dusty condenser coils make it worse. If the fridge cannot keep up even after the coils are clean, a weak fan or a failing part is likely.
Where I offer refrigerator repair
Ready when you are
Book your refrigerator repair.
Call or text (480) 292-4746, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available.