If your fridge or freezer isn’t cooling properly, get it checked before deciding whether to replace it. Repair may be a good option if the fault can be fixed and the appliance still meets your needs. If you do replace it, choose a format that suits the food you need to store, then check the capacity of each compartment, installation requirements and annual energy consumption. For a professionally refurbished model, make the same checks and also look at its condition and the guarantees that apply.
Before ordering another appliance, get the fault diagnosed and plan where to keep your food while the repair or replacement is carried out. In France, ecosystem and the Ministry of the Economy describe the Bonus Réparation as an option available subject to conditions, including that the appliance is no longer covered by a guarantee and the repair is eligible.
If you now store more fresh or frozen food than before, compare the usable capacity of each compartment separately. The available space may also help you choose between a fridge, a fridge freezer and a separate freezer.
A refrigeration appliance runs continuously. ADEME recommends checking the energy label; for a new or refurbished model, also look at its repairability, condition and the guarantees that apply to your purchase.
Start by finding out whether your current appliance can be repaired, then work out how much storage you need before comparing models in the same format.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping food cold and getting a repair | Have the fault diagnosed and the temperature checked. If you’re considering a repair, check the eligibility requirements and whether you need to use a certified repairer. | If the appliance isn’t cooling properly, first work out how to keep your food cold without replacing an appliance that can be repaired. Around 31% of consumers would put this continuity of cooling first. |
| Capacity and installation | Compare usable fresh and frozen capacities separately; measure the space, access routes and room needed to open the doors. | If your household’s shopping habits have changed, the total capacity alone won’t tell you which compartments will meet your needs. Capacity and installation would be a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Energy use and noise | Check the kWh/year figure on the exact model’s energy label and compare appliances with a similar format and capacity; check the noise level too. | In an open-plan kitchen, or if you expect to use the appliance for a long time, ongoing energy use and noise can affect everyday life. Around 25% of consumers would make this their main concern. |
| Refurbished appliances and your old one | Check the condition of a refurbished model and who is selling it, then arrange collection or a suitable drop-off for your old appliance. | To avoid an unplanned replacement, some people want to consider both buying refurbished and what will happen to their old appliance. This would be a priority for around 19% of consumers. |
Poor cooling doesn’t automatically mean you need to replace the appliance. In France, the Bonus Réparation scheme described by ecosystem and the Ministry of the Economy depends, among other things, on the guarantee status, whether the fault is eligible and whether the work is carried out by a certified repairer.
Ask for a diagnosis, then confirm the conditions that apply to your appliance before deciding whether to repair or replace it.
A fridge freezer may not offer the right balance of fresh and frozen storage for the way you shop. You’ll also need to get it into the property and be able to open the doors once it’s in place.
Compare the usable litres in each compartment and measure the space, delivery access routes and clearances specified for the model you’re considering.
The energy rating doesn’t tell you the annual energy consumption shown on the label. Storage needs, format and noise also matter for an appliance that runs continuously.
Follow ADEME’s advice and check the energy label, then compare the kWh/year figures for models with a similar type and capacity.
Refrigeration appliances contain components that need to be handled through an appropriate disposal route. Leaving one with ordinary bulky waste doesn’t ensure it will be dealt with properly.
When replacing an appliance, ask about handing it over to the retailer or delivery team. ADEME also points to the option of taking it to a suitable collection facility.
Bosch offers fridge freezers and freezers in a range of formats.
Depending on the model, Liebherr appliances may include BioFresh compartments or the NoFrost function.
Samsung offers built-in fridge freezers, including the BRB30600EWW featured on its French website.
Whirlpool offers freestanding and built-in fridge freezers, with configurations that vary by model.
These models combine refrigeration and freezing. Before choosing one, check that both compartments and the installation type suit your needs. This selection doesn’t replace the initial decision between repairing your appliance, choosing a fridge on its own or buying a separate freezer.
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Worth considering if you want to combine fresh and frozen storage in a four-door fridge freezer. The model name lists a capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and an energy rating of E. Check the space needed for the appliance and to open its doors.
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Consider it if you’re replacing a fridge freezer in a suitable cabinet. The model name lists a capacity of 188 L, a top-mounted freezer and an energy rating of E. Check the niche dimensions and door-fitting compatibility before ordering.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for a 467 L fridge freezer, as listed in its name, with an energy rating of E. Before relying on the Total No Frost description, check the product details to confirm the defrosting system for each compartment, as well as the space needed to open the door.
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Worth considering as a built-in replacement, provided it fits your cabinet. The model name mentions TwinTech No Frost and an energy rating of E. To choose the right capacity, compare the individual compartment capacities on the product page for the exact model.
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Worth considering if you need a fridge with a freezer compartment in a one-door appliance. The model name lists a capacity of 179 L. Check the installation type and required clearances before deciding whether it will suit your kitchen.
Yes, subject to conditions in France. According to ecosystem and the Ministry of the Economy, the appliance must no longer be covered by a guarantee, the fault must be eligible and the repair must be carried out by a certified repairer. Ask for these points to be confirmed during the diagnosis.
Yes. In France, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to a refurbished appliance sold by a professional to a private individual, according to the Ministry of the Economy. Check the seller’s identity, the appliance’s condition and its exact model; any commercial guarantee is separate from this legal guarantee.
Anses recommends keeping food between 0 °C and +4 °C at the coldest point in the fridge. Check this point after installation or if you’re unsure whether the appliance is cooling properly; the displayed temperature or selected setting isn’t a substitute for checking it.
In France, ADEME says you can hand your old fridge or freezer to the retailer or delivery team when it’s replaced, or take it to a suitable collection facility. Arrange this as part of the delivery rather than leaving the appliance with ordinary bulky waste.
No. If a fridge freezer has this feature, check which compartments it applies to, then look separately at usable capacity, kWh/year, noise and installation dimensions for the exact model.