If your fridge can no longer maintain 4 °C in its coldest area, check the temperature first and make alternative arrangements to keep sensitive foods cold. Anses recommends monitoring this area. Repair may be a suitable option if you can keep food safely chilled while the fault is diagnosed. Otherwise, compare delivery times for a new or refurbished appliance and confirm that your old one will be collected before you order.
How much time you have and whether you can keep food chilled will shape how you approach replacing your appliance.
Check the temperature before choosing between repair and replacement, then arrange suitable storage for sensitive foods and a delivery that works for you. Anses recommends 4 °C in the coldest area.
If the appliance is still working, take the time to compare fridge and freezer capacity separately, as well as dimensions, noise and energy use. UFC-Que Choisir suggests starting with 100 to 150 L for one person, then adding 50 L for each additional person.
Ask what repair can realistically achieve and compare the details of each replacement appliance: condition, delivery, accessories and collection of your old one. A refurbished appliance will only solve an urgent breakdown if it can arrive in time.
Start with keeping food chilled and how much time you have. Then choose the capacity and collection option that suit your home.
Consider this if: you can keep food chilled while the fault is diagnosed and wait for a professional to carry out the repair.
Bear in mind: a diagnostic appointment does not guarantee that the appliance can be repaired or that the wait will be manageable if it has stopped cooling altogether.
Consider this if: a confirmed delivery date means you can replace the appliance within the time you have available.
Bear in mind: delivery, installation and collection of your old appliance are not guaranteed simply by choosing a particular model.
Consider this if: the appliance’s condition is clearly described and the delivery time meets your needs.
Bear in mind: check which accessories and services are included with the specific appliance on offer rather than assuming they’ll be the same as with a new one.
| Priority | What to check | What suits my needs |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping food chilled | Use a thermometer to check the temperature in the coldest area; Anses recommends 4 °C there. Check how soon a repair or delivery can take place and what temporary storage options are available. | It’s no longer staying cold: I need to deal with sensitive foods before waiting for a repair or a new appliance. |
| Capacity and freezing | Compare the usable capacity of each compartment separately. UFC-Que Choisir suggests starting with 100 to 150 L for one person, then adding 50 L for each additional person, adjusting to suit your shopping habits. | I mainly store fresh food, or I need more space for frozen food: total capacity alone won’t help me decide. |
| Dimensions and access | Measure the space, the route to the kitchen and the room needed to open the doors. Check the dimensions of the exact model. | I’m interested in a larger appliance only if it can fit into my home and the doors can open where I plan to put it. |
| Energy use and noise | Compare the energy label and annual consumption in kWh for models of a similar size and capacity, as ADEME recommends when choosing an appliance. Check the stated noise level too. | In an open-plan kitchen, I pay attention to noise. For everyday use, I look at consumption rather than just the energy rating. |
| Delivery and collection | Confirm the delivery location and time slot, then check that collection of an equivalent appliance is included in your order. In France, the decree of 8 October 2014 provides for collection on delivery when the new equipment is delivered to the place where it will be used. | I can’t easily transport my old fridge: I need to know who will collect it, where and when. |
The delivery method determines where collection can take place. A delivery that doesn’t reach the place where the appliance will be used should not be mistaken for collection from your home at the same time.
Tell the retailer which appliance you want collected when you place your order, and keep the confirmation showing the delivery and collection details. Under the French decree of 8 October 2014, collection is provided for on delivery when the new equipment is delivered to the place where it will be used.
Two appliances with the same total capacity may divide the space differently between fridge and freezer. A wider model may also make it harder to get through doorways.
Measure the route and the space, then compare the usable capacity of each compartment with your shopping and freezing habits.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, a refurbished item is a second-hand product whose functions have been tested. Check the cosmetic condition and services included for the specific appliance being sold.
Read the description, check the accessories and delivery details, then confirm separately how your old appliance will be collected.
Anses recommends monitoring your fridge temperature and keeping it at 4 °C in the coldest area.
Check the temperature and, if the fridge can no longer keep food cold, arrange suitable storage for sensitive foods before deciding how long you can wait for a repair or delivery.
These ranges offer different formats to consider. Always check the specifications and services for the exact model.
In France, Bosch offers fridge freezers, multi-door models and upright fridges.
Liebherr lets you compare its freestanding fridge freezers by total capacity, energy efficiency rating and noise level.
Samsung France includes multi-door fridges measuring 90 cm wide in its range.
Whirlpool France offers freestanding and built-in fridge freezers.
These new models offer different amounts of fridge and freezer space for replacing a household appliance. Before ordering, compare their dimensions and confirm the delivery time slot and collection of your old fridge.
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Worth considering if you’re looking to replace your appliance with a multi-door model that offers both fridge and freezer space.
The model name lists a capacity of 467 L, Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Measure the access route and the space available, then confirm delivery and collection when you order.
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Compare this three-door fridge freezer with other formats to see how it would fit in your kitchen.
The product name lists a capacity of 360 L, Total No Frost, an E energy rating and Wi-Fi. Check the dimensions, delivery time slot and collection arrangements before making your choice.
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Its stated capacity of 467 L is worth comparing with your storage needs and the space available.
The product name lists Total No Frost and an E energy rating. Check the dimensions and how the capacity is divided between compartments, then confirm the delivery and collection details.
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The stated capacity split can help you decide whether this fridge freezer suits the amount of fresh and frozen food you store.
The product name lists 182 L of fridge space, 71 L of freezer space, No Frost and 39 dB. Check all the dimensions, annual energy consumption, delivery and collection details before ordering.
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This model is worth considering if the width of the space available is an important factor when replacing your fridge.
The product name lists 211 L of fridge space, 99 L of freezer space, a width of 60 cm, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check the height, depth, delivery and collection details too.
Make arrangements for sensitive foods if you can no longer keep them cold enough. Anses recommends monitoring the temperature and keeping it at 4 °C in the coldest area. Check it with a thermometer before deciding whether you can wait for a repair.
Tell the retailer which equivalent appliance you want collected when you place your order, and check the delivery location. Ecosystem describes a free “one-for-one” collection service. In France, the decree of 8 October 2014 provides for collection on delivery when the new equipment is delivered to the place where it will be used.
Don’t assume collection will take place at the same time. Boulanger states that its simultaneous collection service does not apply to certain deliveries handled by partners. Check the carrier, delivery location and collection option offered for your order.
Check the technical and cosmetic condition of the specific appliance, its accessories, dimensions and delivery date. The French Ministry of the Economy defines a refurbished item as a second-hand product whose functions have been tested. Confirm separately how your old appliance will be collected.
UFC-Que Choisir suggests starting with 100 to 150 L for one person, then adding 50 L for each additional person. Adjust this to how often you shop, compare freezer capacity separately and measure the space available.