If your fridge is no longer keeping food cold enough, first move perishable food to another appliance where you can check the temperature. Then have the fault assessed before deciding whether to replace it. If a repair doesn’t make sense, compare new and refurbished appliances by capacity, layout and features you can verify. Remember to arrange suitable collection or disposal of your old fridge too.
Keeping perishable food safe comes before choosing your next appliance. The Ministry of Agriculture recommends setting your fridge to +4 °C. Move sensitive food to a working appliance where you can check the temperature.
Your shopping habits, available space and need for a freezer will help determine which layout to look for. The energy label described by the European Commission can then help you compare factors such as capacity, annual energy consumption and noise levels.
A diagnosis can help you decide before you buy. If you’re considering a refurbished or second-hand appliance, check that it works properly and review the seller’s terms. If you decide not to keep your old fridge, ADEME explains the suitable take-back and collection options.
Start by making temporary arrangements to keep food safe and getting the fault diagnosed. Then compare appliances based on features that suit your needs and available space.
| Priority | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping food safe straight away | Move perishable food to a working fridge and check its temperature. The Ministry of Agriculture recommends a setting of +4 °C. | My appliance is no longer cooling properly: I need a solution I can monitor while I decide what to do next. |
| Repair or replace | Have the fault assessed before ruling out a repair, as ADEME suggests. If you’re considering a refurbished or second-hand appliance, check how well it cools, the condition of the doors and the seller’s terms. | If my fridge can be repaired, I want to know before choosing another appliance. If not, I need to be able to check the replacement before I buy. |
| Capacity and installation | Compare fridge and freezer capacities separately. Measure the space and check the appliance dimensions and required clearances in the manual. | I mainly store fresh food, or I also need space for frozen food. The appliance must fit in my kitchen. |
| Energy use and noise | The European Commission says the energy label shows the efficiency class, energy consumption, capacities and noise emissions. Compare kWh/year and noise levels between appliances of a similar size and capacity, rather than relying on the class letter alone. | In an open-plan kitchen or studio flat, noise matters to me as much as the energy figures for an appliance that runs constantly. |
| Cooling system | Check the advertised features for each specific compartment and the available temperature settings. The words No Frost alone don’t tell you everything about an appliance’s configuration. | I want to understand how to maintain and adjust the compartments where I’ll store food, rather than choosing based on the name of a technology alone. |
| What to do with your old appliance | Check the take-back arrangements for your order and address, or find a collection point that accepts refrigeration appliances. In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition describes the “1-for-1” take-back scheme when buying an appliance of the same type. ADEME also explains how to use the electrical equipment recycling scheme. | If I replace my fridge, I need to arrange for it to be collected or taken to a suitable disposal facility. |
If a fridge loses its cooling, perishable food may no longer be kept at a suitable temperature. ANSES reminds us that low temperatures slow the growth of microorganisms.
First, move sensitive food to a working appliance where you can check the temperature. Don’t rely on an unmonitored cool box to keep food safe for an extended period.
The class on its own doesn’t tell you the appliance’s absolute annual energy consumption or how much room there is for food. The European Commission says these details are shown separately on the energy label.
Compare kWh/year, capacities and noise emissions alongside the class, and look at appliances with similar dimensions and capacity.
According to ADEME, refrigeration appliances contain components that require suitable collection and treatment.
Check with the seller or delivery company before placing your order to see if they’ll take it away. If not, find a collection point or recycling centre that accepts refrigeration appliances.
These examples from each brand’s range can help you identify features to check on individual models. They don’t guarantee the exact specifications or availability of any particular appliance.
Bosch offers freestanding and built-in fridges, with features that vary from model to model.
Liebherr offers a range of sizes and features BioFresh on selected models.
Beko’s range includes, among other options, larder fridges, two-door fridges and fridge-freezers.
These fridges are options to consider if you’re replacing your appliance with a new one. Compare their layout with your food storage needs, then check the installation requirements and take-back arrangements for your old appliance before ordering.
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A four-door fridge-freezer to consider if you’d like to keep fresh and frozen food together in one appliance.
The model name lists Total No Frost, Smart Inverter and an energy efficiency class of E. Check how the capacity is split between compartments, the dimensions and required clearances, then check the temperature after installation.
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This three-door fridge-freezer is worth considering if you’re looking for separate spaces for fresh and frozen food.
The model name lists Total No Frost, Wi-Fi, My Zone and an energy efficiency class of E. Check the capacity of each compartment, the space needed for installation and the temperature reached once it’s up and running.
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This multi-door model is worth comparing if you’re looking for a total capacity of 495 L for everyday food storage.
The model name lists an energy efficiency class of E. Check the capacity of each compartment, the dimensions and installation requirements, including whether a water supply connection is needed.
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A bottom-freezer layout could be a good fit if you use the fridge compartment regularly.
The model name lists an energy efficiency class of E. Check the separate compartment capacities, noise level and clearances required for your space. Check the temperature after installation.
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This fridge-freezer is worth considering if a total capacity of 444 L suits the space you need for fresh and frozen food.
The model name lists frost-free operation, an energy efficiency class of E and a noise level of 40 dB. Check the separate compartment capacities and dimensions before deciding whether it will suit your kitchen.
The Ministry of Agriculture recommends setting your fridge to +4 °C. ANSES advises keeping food between 0 and +4 °C in the coldest part of the fridge. Check the temperature using the appliance display or a thermometer if needed.
In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition describes the “1-for-1” take-back scheme when you buy an appliance of the same type. ADEME says electrical equipment can be handed back to a shop or delivery driver, or taken to a suitable collection scheme. Check the arrangements for your order and address.
No. According to ADEME, refrigeration appliances need to be collected appropriately because of the components they may contain. Arrange for the appliance to be taken back, or find a collection point or recycling centre that accepts refrigeration appliances.
The European Commission says the label includes information such as the energy efficiency class, energy consumption, storage capacities and noise emissions. When choosing a replacement, compare these details across appliances of a similar size and capacity rather than looking at the class letter alone.