First, ask a repairer to identify the fault, the parts needed and the expected timescale. It’s worth considering a repair if the parts are available and the wait is manageable for your household. If the proposed timescale or work doesn’t meet your needs, look at a replacement that will fit your space. A temporary solution could also give you time to decide, provided you can find one locally.
How urgent the decision is depends on which function has stopped working and what alternatives your household has while the fault is being assessed.
If your appliance is out of warranty, ask which parts need replacing and when it could be back in service. You can then decide whether the wait works for your household or whether you need to plan for a replacement.
Work out how long you can manage without a working fridge or freezer. If diagnosis or repairs will take time, promptly check which temporary solutions are actually available near you.
For a built-in oven, cooker or cooker hood, compare the repair timescale with your day-to-day needs. Before choosing another model, also check its dimensions, installation requirements and connections.
Start by clarifying the fault and how long it will take to get the appliance working again, then check whether a potential replacement is suitable. Borrowing or renting is a third option only if a suitable offer is available near you.
Consider this if: a repairer can explain the work, confirm that the parts are available and offer a timescale that suits you.
Bear in mind: the diagnosis and availability of parts need to be confirmed for the fault affecting your appliance.
Consider this if: the proposed repair will take too long or won’t meet your household’s needs.
Bear in mind: an available model won’t necessarily fit the space or work with your existing connections.
Consider this if: you need the appliance’s function while the diagnosis or repair timescale is being confirmed.
Bear in mind: whether you can borrow or rent the type of appliance you need depends on local availability.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fault and repair | Ask what caused the fault, what work is proposed and which parts need replacing. The DGCCRF sets out this information in its guidance on after-sales service. | I want to know what the repair would involve before I give up on my appliance. |
| Parts and timescale | Ask when the necessary parts will be available and when the appliance is expected to be working again. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, parts delivery times are included in the repairability index for the categories it covers; the index doesn’t set the timescale for your repair. | How long can my household manage without the appliance, particularly if it keeps food chilled? |
| Eligibility for support | Check that the appliance is no longer covered by a warranty and that the repairer is approved. These are conditions of the repair bonus set out by the French Ministry of the Economy. Also check whether the specific fault and appliance category are eligible. | If I have the appliance repaired, I want to know which conditions apply to this particular job. |
| Replacement compatibility | Measure the space, check the type of installation and note the connections. For the model you’re considering, check the energy label and, where relevant to its category, the repairability or durability index. | A new appliance needs to fit in my home and suit the way I used the old one. |
| Temporary solution | Check the type of appliance on offer, whether it’s available near you, and the arrangements for transport and how long you can keep it. ADEME lists places where you may be able to borrow or rent appliances, but doesn’t guarantee that every type of large appliance will be available. | I need to get the appliance’s function back quickly, but I can take time to choose if a suitable temporary solution is available. |
A fault occurring outside the warranty period doesn’t, on its own, mean the repair is covered by the scheme. The French Ministry of the Economy specifies, among other things, that the work must be carried out by an approved repairer.
Before agreeing to the repair, check the appliance category, whether the fault is eligible and the repairer’s approval status. Explain how the fault occurred too, so any exclusions relating to maintenance or use can be considered.
Without a description of the work, it’s difficult to judge whether the proposed repair will address the fault and how long it might take for the appliance to work again.
Ask the repairer to explain the fault, which parts need replacing and the expected timescale. Then compare this with how long your household can manage without the appliance.
An appliance that doesn’t fit the space or work with the existing connections could delay getting things back up and running, even if the model meets your other requirements.
Before ordering, check the exact model’s dimensions, the access needed for installation and its connections.
ADEME’s map can help you find places offering loans or rentals, for example, but a nearby service may not have the large appliance you need.
Before relying on this option while you wait for a repair, confirm the type of appliance, its availability and the practical arrangements directly with the provider.
This fridge-freezer is an option if you’re replacing an appliance that keeps food chilled or frozen. Before comparing it with the proposed repair, check that it suits your space and needs.
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Worth considering if you’re replacing a fridge or freezer and need a stated capacity of 444 L.
The model name indicates Total No Frost technology, an E energy rating and a stated noise level of 40 dB. Before choosing this model, check its dimensions, installation requirements and the repairability or durability indicator that applies to its category.
The French Ministry of the Economy says that the appliance must no longer be covered by a warranty and the work must be carried out by an approved repairer. Before the repair, check whether the appliance category and fault are eligible, particularly if the circumstances raise questions about maintenance or use.
Ask what caused the fault, what the repair involves and which parts need replacing: the DGCCRF says that professionals must provide consumers with this information. Also ask for the expected timescale so you can decide whether the wait will work for your household.
Check the energy label and the repairability or durability index where it applies to the model’s category. The French Ministry of the Economy says that the repairability index takes into account factors including parts availability and delivery times. Check the replacement’s dimensions and installation requirements separately.