If your fridge or freezer isn’t cooling properly or is frosting up unusually, get a diagnosis and quote before deciding it needs replacing. If repair isn’t possible or appropriate given the condition of the appliance, choose a model that suits your cooling needs and available space, then arrange for the old one to be taken away or collected.
If you’d rather avoid replacing an appliance unnecessarily, a repairer can identify the cause of the fault, check which parts are needed and provide a quote. If the appliance is out of warranty, also ask whether the repair meets the requirements for the Repair Bonus offered through ecosystem.
If the appliance can no longer keep food properly chilled, your new choice needs to meet your requirements for refrigeration, freezing or both. Check its dimensions, installation requirements and energy label before ordering.
If you’re arranging delivery or deciding against a repair, plan what will happen to the old appliance too. ADEME directs refrigeration appliances to appropriate take-back or collection services, not to the street or a standard bulky-waste skip.
First, find out whether a repair is possible. If you need a replacement, check its cooling function, installation requirements and delivery arrangements before organising the old appliance’s collection.
| Consideration | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Whether it can be repaired | Ask for a diagnosis and quote. Confirm that the part is available and, for the Repair Bonus, check that the repair meets the scheme’s requirements. | If my appliance isn’t cooling properly, I want to know whether it can still be used before buying another. Around 37% of consumers would prioritise the possibility of repair. |
| Choosing a replacement | Check the type of appliance, the required dimensions and clearances, then look at the energy label for the exact model. | When replacing my appliance, I need the right cooling function for the space available, without overlooking electricity use. Around 27% of consumers would prioritise this fit. |
| Keeping things chilled | Check the appointment for a diagnosis or the proposed delivery slot, while still making sure the appliance will fit. | When food can no longer be stored safely, my main priority is restoring the cooling I need without unnecessary delays. Around 18% of consumers would put this first. |
| What happens to the old appliance | Confirm the take-back arrangements before ordering, or find a collection point that accepts refrigeration appliances. | I need to be able to dispose of the old appliance through the right channel, whether or not it’s replaced quickly. Around 18% of consumers would put this first. |
These symptoms alone don’t mean the appliance needs replacing. A professional can establish whether the fault is repairable and whether the required part is available.
Ask for a diagnosis and quote before ordering a new appliance, and don’t attempt to work on the refrigeration system yourself.
According to ecosystem, the Repair Bonus applies to certain out-of-warranty appliance repairs carried out by a QualiRépar-certified repairer. It isn’t a discount on a new appliance.
Before booking, check the appliance’s warranty, the repairer’s certification and whether the fault is eligible.
A fridge, a freezer and a fridge-freezer don’t all meet the same needs. A freestanding model won’t necessarily fit where a built-in model was installed.
Measure the space and check the exact model’s product information for its dimensions, ventilation clearances and door-opening direction.
Refrigeration appliances need to be disposed of through a service suited to their components and refrigerants. ADEME advises against leaving them in the street or putting them in a standard bulky-waste skip.
Arrange take-back with the retailer or delivery team, or use a recycling centre or collection point that accepts this type of appliance.
Worth considering if the availability of a part for your appliance’s exact model could influence your decision to repair it.
Worth considering if you’d like to explore a repair through the manufacturer or look for an original part.
Worth considering when choosing a fridge or fridge-freezer, particularly if your installation requires a specific format.
Yes, subject to certain conditions. According to ecosystem, the appliance must be out of warranty, the fault must be eligible and the repair must be carried out by a QualiRépar-certified professional. Confirm eligibility before the repair; the scheme doesn’t apply to the purchase of a new appliance.
Not on that evidence alone. Unusual frost doesn’t identify the fault or rule out a repair. Ask a repairer to check the cause, the parts needed and whether a repair makes sense given the appliance’s condition.
Arrange take-back when you place your order and confirm the details with the retailer or delivery team. ADEME says a refrigeration appliance can be handed over to them when it’s replaced. Check the collection and access requirements, as an appliance that poses a risk to staff may be refused.
No. ADEME advises against leaving a refrigeration appliance in the street or putting it in a standard bulky-waste skip. If take-back hasn’t been arranged, choose a recycling centre or collection point that accepts refrigeration appliances.
Check the energy label for the fridge or freezer you’re considering, along with its dimensions and model-specific support information. Refrigerators and freezers aren’t included in the list of categories covered by the repairability index published by the ministry responsible for ecological transition.