Wedged between the surf and Lake Illawarra, Warilla is a hard place for a fridge to keep its cool. The salt in the air lands on the condenser, the humidity off the lake helps it stick, and a lot of the fibro and brick homes through the suburb are running fridges that were bought years ago and kept going because they still work.
The fridge that never switches off
If the motor seems to hum all day and the top shelf still isn't properly cold, start with the condenser. It is either the black grid across the back or a coil tucked under the cabinet, reached from the front. Unplug the fridge, slide it out, and vacuum the coils with a brush attachment. Skip the hose and the spray bottle. Leave a few centimetres between the back of the fridge and the wall when you push it home, so warm air can get away.
A good number of Warilla fridges come right once the coil can breathe again. If yours still runs non-stop after a clean, the trouble is further in: the condenser fan, a defrost failure that has iced the evaporator, or the refrigerant circuit itself. Why your fridge runs constantly explains the sequence in more detail.
Old fridge, honest answer
Age alone doesn't settle whether a fridge deserves a repair. A twenty-year-old unit with a dead fan or a worn thermostat can be put right cheaply and run for years more. Once the technician finds a gas leak or a failed compressor, though, the sums change, and a replacement is nearly always the better buy. Rust is the other thing we watch for here. When the cabinet has corroded through at the base, or the hinges have rusted to the point the door sags, we'll tell you it's time to let it go.
Plenty of the jobs are small, and on those you'll usually pay the $125 assessment plus a modest part, often near $60. You are told the price before anything is replaced.
Questions from Warilla
Why is my fridge running all the time?
In Warilla the likeliest cause is a condenser furred with dust and salt residue, which stops the fridge shedding heat. Vacuum the coils with the power off and give it a few hours. If it still never cycles off, a fan, defrost or gas fault needs a technician.
Is my old fridge worth repairing?
When the problem is a part such as a fan, a thermostat or a gasket, usually yes. When it has lost gas, the compressor has died or rust has gone through the cabinet, usually no. We give you that answer at the assessment, before you commit to anything.
Why is my fridge humming louder than usual?
A louder hum often means the compressor is straining, which on the coast mostly comes back to dirty coils. A buzz or rattle from inside the freezer is more likely the fan motor. Either is worth a look before the cooling drops off.