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Appliance repair

Fridge and freezer repair

Repairing refrigeration that has stopped holding temperature.
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Whether this needs a licence in Ireland

Ireland

No licence required

Taken from the statute below; not yet reviewed by a lawyer

Irelandwww.cru.ieChecked

Fridge and freezer repair: what the job involves

Repairing a fridge or freezer that has stopped holding temperature, is icing up, leaking water or making noise. Thermostats, fans, defrost heaters, seals and boards are everyday repairs; work on the sealed refrigerant system needs a technician with the right refrigerant certification.

Also asked for as: fridge repair · fridge not cooling · fridge freezer repair · american fridge repair · freezer iced up

How the job is usually done

  1. Agree make, model, age, and whether it is a fridge, freezer, combi or American-style unit.
  2. Check temperatures, airflow, door seals, condenser and the defrost drain.
  3. Diagnose: thermostat or sensor, fan, defrost heater or timer, control board, or the compressor and gas.
  4. Explain whether the fault is in the electrical parts or the sealed refrigerant system, and the price of each.
  5. Fit the part, or for sealed-system work recover the refrigerant, repair, recharge and leak-test.
  6. Leave it running and check it reaches temperature.

Fridge and freezer repair: what is included

Usually included

  • Diagnosis and temperature checks
  • Fitting the agreed part
  • Clearing a blocked defrost drain

Usually not included — agree it separately

  • Sealed-system work (gas, compressor) unless the engineer is certified and it was agreed
  • Food lost while the appliance was off
  • Plumbing a water supply for an American-style fridge
  • Disposal of an old fridge, which must go to an authorised collection point

Materials and who supplies them

  • Thermostats, fans, heaters, sensors, boards and door gaskets: supplied by the engineer
  • Refrigerant and compressor for sealed-system repairs, where economic

How long it takes

One to two hours for most repairs; a frozen-over unit may need a full defrost first, and sealed-system repairs take longer.

When to book

Faults often show in the first hot spell of summer, when engineers are busiest, so a struggling fridge is worth checking in spring.

Fridge and freezer repair: the rules in Ireland

What the official sources say, checked against them on the date shown. A summary, not legal advice — follow the link to read the rule itself.

  • Anyone recovering or handling fluorinated refrigerant gases (F-gases) from equipment must hold the appropriate certificate; for small hermetically sealed systems a Category III certificate covers recovery. Many newer domestic fridges use hydrocarbon refrigerant instead, which needs its own safe-handling training.

    Applies to: the technician working on the sealed system

    Environmental Protection Agency, EU F-gas Regulation · epa.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

  • For refrigerating appliances on the EU market since March 2021, manufacturers must make thermostats, sensors, boards and light sources available to professional repairers for at least seven years after the last unit, and door gaskets for at least 10 years.

    Applies to: manufacturers and importers

    Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2019 (ecodesign) · eur-lex.europa.eu · Checked 9 October 2026

  • If a machine develops a fault that was not caused by misuse, the seller — not the manufacturer or a repairer — must put it right: a refund within 30 days, and after that a free repair or replacement, or a refund for a serious fault. Check this before paying for a repair on a newer machine.

    Applies to: the retailer who sold the appliance

    Consumer Rights Act 2022, Competition and Consumer Protection Commission · ccpc.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

  • When you buy a replacement, the retailer must take back the old appliance free of charge on a one-for-one, like-for-like basis, including collection when the new one is delivered; old appliances can also go free to a civic amenity site.

    Applies to: retailers of electrical goods, and the householder disposing of an appliance

    WEEE Regulations, S.I. 149 of 2014 · citizensinformation.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

  • Repair and maintenance of movable goods, which includes domestic appliances, is charged at the reduced rate of VAT by a VAT-registered engineer, subject to the two-thirds rule when parts are most of the bill.

    Applies to: VAT-registered repairers

    Revenue Commissioners, VAT Consolidation Act 2010, Schedule 3 · revenue.ie · Checked 9 October 2026

What fridge and freezer repair costs, and why

What jobs on Talqero came to

Not enough comparable jobs yet to publish a range here. Talqero shows a price range only once at least five comparable jobs, agreed prices or offers exist — a range from fewer would describe a handful of jobs, not the market. Post your job and compare the offers you get.

What affects the price

  • Whether the sealed refrigerant system is involved
  • American-style, integrated and built-in units
  • Make, model, age and parts availability
  • Ice build-up that needs a full defrost before diagnosis
  • Urgency, for example a freezer full of food

Paperwork to ask for at the end

  • An invoice listing the fault and the parts fitted
  • For sealed-system work: a record of refrigerant recovered or added

Safety

  • Many modern fridges use flammable refrigerant (R600a); never chip ice off with a knife or use a heat gun inside.
  • Do not leave an old fridge in a garden or shed with the door on: children can be trapped inside.
  • Keep frozen food closed in the freezer while you wait: a full freezer holds its temperature for hours.

Fridge and freezer repair: before you hire

Questions to ask a tradesperson

  • If the gas or compressor is the problem, are you certified to work on it?
  • Is it worth repairing at this age?
  • What guarantee comes with the repair?
  • How long before I can put food back in?

What you can do yourself

Defrosting a frozen-over freezer, cleaning the condenser and clearing the drain hole are safe owner jobs; the sealed system is not.

What to put in your task

  • What kind of appliance is it?
  • What is happening?
  • What make is it, and how old?
  • Is there food at risk now?

Photos that help

  • The rating plate inside the fridge, showing model and refrigerant type
  • Any ice build-up on the back wall of the fridge or freezer
  • The display or thermostat dial
  • The back of the appliance, if you can see it safely

Fridge and freezer repair by county

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Questions about fridge and freezer repair

Does fridge and freezer repair need a licence in Ireland?

No licence is required for this work in Ireland (source: www.cru.ie). Ask instead for references and photographs of similar jobs.

Why is my fridge warm but the freezer cold?

In a frost-free fridge-freezer the cold air comes from the freezer, so a failed fan or a blocked defrost system often leaves the fridge warm. These are usually repairable without touching the gas.

Is it worth regassing an old fridge?

Rarely, on an older machine: a sealed-system repair takes time and the leak may return. The engineer should price it against a new appliance before starting.

What do I do with my old fridge?

A shop selling you a new one must take the old one back free on a like-for-like basis, including at delivery. You can also leave it at a civic amenity site at no charge.

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