When your fridge stops freezing properly, food spoils fast and energy bills go up. Before you call a technician or rush out to buy a replacement, work through these seven causes. Some you can fix yourself in under ten minutes. Others will need a professional — or a replacement fridge.
1. The Temperature Is Set Too High
This is the most common cause and the easiest fix. Your freezer compartment should be set to around -18°C. The fridge section should sit between 2°C and 5°C. If someone accidentally nudged the dial or digital control, everything above that threshold will start to soften or thaw. Check the settings first before anything else.
2. The Door Seal Is Letting Warm Air In
Close the fridge door on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out easily with the door closed, the seal is not gripping properly. A damaged or dirty door seal lets warm, humid air seep in constantly, forcing the compressor to work harder and preventing the freezer from reaching temperature. Clean the seal with warm soapy water first. If it is cracked, torn, or flattened, it needs to be replaced. A new door seal typically costs $40–$80 installed.
3. The Evaporator Coils Are Frozen Over
In frost-free fridges, the defrost heater melts ice off the evaporator coils on a timer cycle. If the defrost heater or defrost timer fails, ice builds up on the coils and blocks airflow entirely. When airflow stops, the freezer cannot reach temperature even though the compressor is running. You can confirm this by removing the back panel inside the freezer. If you see a solid block of ice rather than thin frost on the coils, the defrost system has failed. This needs a technician.
4. The Condenser Coils Are Dirty
The condenser coils sit at the back or underneath your fridge and release heat from the refrigerant. When they are coated in dust and pet hair, they cannot dissipate heat efficiently. The result is a compressor that overheats and a freezer that struggles to maintain temperature. Vacuum the coils every 6–12 months. Unplug the fridge first. This takes about 10 minutes and can make a noticeable difference.
5. The Start Relay on the Compressor Has Failed
The start relay is a small component that helps the compressor start up. When it fails, the compressor clicks on and off every few minutes without staying running long enough to cool properly. You can test it yourself: unplug the fridge, remove the start relay from the side of the compressor (it looks like a small rectangular box), and shake it. If it rattles, it has failed. A replacement start relay costs around $15–$40 and takes about 20 minutes to swap if you are comfortable with basic appliance work.
6. Low Refrigerant
Refrigerant is the gas that cycles through the system and carries heat out of the fridge. It should not need topping up — it circulates in a closed loop. If refrigerant is low, it means there is a leak in the system. Signs include a hissing sound, oil stains around the compressor or coils, or a fridge that runs continuously but stays warm. This always needs a licensed refrigeration technician. Refrigerant work cannot legally be performed by unlicensed people in Australia.
7. The Compressor Is Failing
The compressor is the heart of the refrigeration system. When it starts to fail, the fridge and freezer gradually lose their ability to maintain temperature. You may hear the compressor running more than usual, making a louder noise than normal, or clicking on and off. A compressor replacement on most domestic fridges costs $300–$600 installed. At that price point, a refurbished replacement fridge often makes more sense than a repair.
When Is It Time to Replace Instead of Repair?
If your fridge is more than 10 years old and the repair cost exceeds $200–$300, a replacement is usually the better investment. At Oceania Appliances in Wetherill Park, we stock refurbished fridges from $249 — tested, warranted for 3–6 months, and delivered free across Sydney. Many of our customers come in after a repair quote and walk away with a fully working replacement fridge for less than the repair would have cost.
Visit us at 2/14 Centre Place, Wetherill Park, open 7 days 10 am to 8 pm, or browse our range online.