Oak Flats houses have usually seen a few fridges come and go over the years, and the current one tends to sit somewhere in the middle of its life. That is good news for a repair. Parts for the common Westinghouse, Electrolux and Fisher & Paykel models are easy to source, and a fridge of that age usually has one failed component rather than several.
Two faults suit fridges of this vintage. The first is a fridge that freezes the lettuce and the milk in the fresh food section, which usually comes down to a damper, thermostat or sensor stuck on cold; our note on fridges freezing food lists the settings to rule out first. The second is a door gasket that no longer seals, so warm air leaks in, frost builds in the freezer and the motor runs longer. Run your fingers right around the gasket feeling for splits, and check the door hasn't dropped on its hinges.
If the fridge has gone warm and silent but the interior light still works, listen at the back for the compressor. A fridge that never starts its motor often has a start relay or control fault, and that's worth having checked before you assume the compressor itself has gone.
When the old kitchen fridge moves to the garage
Many Oak Flats homes have a separate garage, and the fridge that got replaced in the kitchen often ends up out there. Keep that in mind when deciding on a repair. A cheap fix on a tired second fridge can still be decent value, but a gas loss or a failed compressor on a fridge that has already done fifteen years usually isn't. Minor fridge jobs tend to come to the assessment plus a part around $60, while the bigger ones land between about $500 and $600 in total, and you hear which it is before the work starts.
Questions from Oak Flats
Why is my fridge freezing food in the fridge section?
Check the temperature setting first, then make sure nothing is pressed against the cold air outlet. If the lettuce still freezes, a damper, thermostat or sensor is usually stuck on cold. These tend to be among the smaller fridge repairs.
How do I tell if my fridge door seal needs replacing?
Look for splits, hard patches or gaps at the corners, and watch for frost forming near the door edge inside the freezer. A gasket that has lost its grip makes the fridge run longer. Each model takes its own gasket, so read us the number off the label inside the fridge when you book.
Do you repair Westinghouse fridges in Oak Flats?
We do, as an authorised repairer for Westinghouse, Electrolux and Kelvinator as well as the other major brands. Warranty jobs are covered too, as long as you have proof of purchase.