Before replacing an appliance that isn’t cooling properly, ask a professional whether a repair could restore safe food storage, then compare the quote with the practicalities of replacing it. If you need to buy a new one, choose a model that fits your available space and the amount of fresh and frozen food you need to store. Then compare its kWh/year, noise level, condition and warranty. Make sure you’ve also arranged delivery and collection of your old appliance before you order.
Your appliance isn’t cooling properly or is behaving unusually, but you’d like to know whether a professional repair could save you from having to replace it. ADEME recommends considering repair before disposing of a refrigeration appliance.
You store food for several days or freeze prepared meals, and need a suitable balance between the two compartments. Que Choisir Ensemble recommends taking your shopping routine and cooking habits into account. The volumes on the EU energy label are listed separately for the fridge and freezer compartments.
Your new appliance needs to fit its allocated space and be easy to get into the kitchen. Compare the exact model’s dimensions with the space available and check the delivery arrangements.
If you’re in France and thinking about replacing a household refrigeration appliance, first weigh up repair versus replacement, then check the installation requirements and how you’ll use it.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is this relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding an unnecessary replacement | A professional diagnosis and quote, parts and repair timescales, any remaining warranty and possible eligibility for the repair bonus. | If my appliance isn’t cooling properly, I want to know whether a repair could get it working again before I buy another one. Around 25% of consumers prioritise avoiding an unnecessary replacement. |
| Balancing fresh and frozen storage | The capacity in litres of each compartment and the internal layout, based on your usual shopping and meal-preparation habits. | When I shop for several days or freeze meals, I look separately at how much space I need for fresh and frozen food. Around 25% of consumers prioritise storage between shopping trips. |
| Checking that it will fit | Exact dimensions, installation type, door clearance, access to the space, and delivery and collection arrangements. | If my kitchen or home access presents challenges, I want to make sure the appliance can be installed before I order it. Around 20% of consumers prioritise finding an appliance that suits their home. |
| Estimating electricity costs | Energy use in kWh/year, energy rating and comparable capacities; for two separate appliances, add their energy consumption together. | Once I’ve found the right capacity, I want to estimate how much the appliance will add to my electricity use. Around 20% of consumers prioritise running costs. |
| Assessing day-to-day comfort | The noise level shown on the label and the defrosting system, noting which compartment it applies to. | If the appliance is near my living space or I want to avoid manual defrosting, I check these details for the exact model. Around 10% of consumers prioritise low noise or less defrosting. |
For food safety, Anses recommends keeping the temperature between 0 and +4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge and checking it regularly. This food-safety guideline alone can’t diagnose a fault.
ADEME recommends using the energy label as a guide when choosing an appliance. For refrigeration appliances, the scale has run from A to G since 1 March 2021. The label includes information such as kWh/year, compartment capacity and noise levels. To estimate annual running costs, multiply the kWh/year by the price per kWh on your tariff. Actual energy use depends on how the appliance is used.
Total capacity doesn’t show how much space is in the fridge and freezer compartments. An appliance that’s the wrong size could leave you short of storage or take up space you don’t need.
Compare the capacity in litres of each compartment separately with your shopping and freezing habits. Que Choisir Ensemble’s capacity guidelines can be a useful starting point, but they’re not a rule you have to follow.
The energy rating letter alone isn’t enough to work out your bill: you’ll need the kWh/year figure and your actual tariff. For two separate appliances, take their combined energy use into account.
Compare the annual energy use of models with similar storage capacity, then apply your tariff.
If you calculate costs using a tariff that’s different from the one you pay, your estimate won’t reflect your situation.
A refurbished appliance has been used before and should have been tested to make sure it works. A sale between private individuals isn’t covered by the same legal guarantees as a purchase from a business.
Check who is selling the appliance, the stated condition of the specific item and the warranty terms. The DGCCRF advises consumers to pay close attention to the information provided about refurbished products.
Factor in transport and the appliance’s actual condition. Your options for making a claim may depend on the seller’s status.
Collection when you buy a replacement, and disposal of a refrigeration appliance, aren’t as simple as leaving it out with ordinary bulky waste.
Before delivery, ask the seller how to arrange the ‘one-for-one’ take-back service. According to Service Public, this free service applies within the limits of the type and quantity of products concerned. Check the practical arrangements with the retailer.
Without arranging this in advance, disposal could take extra time and require additional transport.
The KGN36VWED-B Second Life model is an example of a previously used fridge-freezer. Bosch describes it as being in very good condition and supplied with a two-year warranty.
Samsung France lists the RB33B610EWW/EF as a 344-litre No Frost fridge-freezer and provides support and manuals for this model.
The CNd 5704 Pure NoFrost is a freestanding fridge-freezer documented by Liebherr. The brand’s chest freezers are a separate option if you need dedicated freezer space.
The models featured here are fridge-freezers with different formats and compartment layouts. Compare their dimensions and the capacity in litres of the fridge and freezer compartments with your available space and habits.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a fridge-freezer with separate capacities for fresh and frozen food.
The product details list a 311 L fridge and a 129 L freezer, 223 kWh/year and 35 dB. Dimensions listed: 70 × 203 × 66,7 cm.
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This multi-door design may be worth considering if you’re looking for separate fridge and freezer storage.
The product details list a 311 L fridge and a 156 L freezer, 290 kWh/year and 35 dB. Dimensions listed: 83,3 × 65 × 181,5 cm; four doors.
Automatic defrost is listed for the freezer.
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Compare this model if you’re looking for a three-door appliance with separate capacities for each compartment.
The product details list a 235 L fridge and a 125 L freezer, 271 kWh/year and 35 dB. Dimensions listed: 185 × 59,5 × 66,7 cm.
Automatic defrost is listed for the appliance.
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This side-by-side design is worth considering if you’d like a high-capacity appliance that combines refrigeration and freezing.
The product details list a total capacity of 444 L, 289 kWh/year and a noise level of 40 dB. They describe separate cooling systems for the fridge and freezer, along with Total No Frost defrosting.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a 60 cm-wide fridge-freezer with separate capacities for fresh and frozen food.
The product details list a 211 L fridge and a 99 L freezer, a width of 60 cm and a reversible door. They also mention an inverter compressor and a frost-free system in both compartments.
If the appliance still meets your needs, ask a professional to assess whether it can be repaired. Compare the quote, parts and timescale with the cost and delivery of a replacement. ADEME recommends considering repair as an option. If the appliance isn’t keeping food cold enough, take the necessary precautions for your food straight away.
Start with your shopping, cooking and freezing habits, then look at the capacity of each compartment separately. Que Choisir Ensemble offers capacity guidelines, but they don’t replace assessing your needs or checking how much space you have available.
Multiply the kWh/year figure on the label by the price per kWh on your tariff to estimate annual costs. If you’re buying two separate appliances, add their energy use together before calculating. Actual energy use depends on how the appliances are used.
The ‘one-for-one’ take-back service provides free collection, within the limits of the type and quantity of products concerned, including when a new appliance is delivered. Let the retailer know before delivery and agree on the practical arrangements.
When a business sells an appliance to a consumer, the legal guarantee of conformity may also apply to second-hand and refurbished products, subject to the relevant conditions. Service Public explains that this guarantee doesn’t apply to sales between private individuals. Distinguish it from a commercial warranty and check the information provided about the specific item.