Refrigerator & Freezer Repair in Irvine & Orange County
Refrigerator and freezer repair in Irvine and across Orange County, with same-day appointments Monday to Saturday. A warm refrigerator is a food-safety problem, so these calls go to the front of the schedule. We repair refrigerators that are not cooling, freezers that are frosting over, leaks, ice makers and noisy compressors on every brand, from Samsung, LG, GE and Whirlpool to Sub-Zero, Thermador, Viking and GE Monogram built-ins. The diagnostic visit is $79, applied to the repair when you approve it, and you get a firm price before any work starts.
Refrigerators are the largest part of our work, and the part most companies will not touch is the one we do most: sealed-system repair. Compressor replacements, evaporator and condenser leaks, and refrigerant recharges on LG, Kenmore, Sub-Zero, GE Monogram and Samsung are regular jobs for us, not referrals. Twenty of our published case notes are refrigerators, and seven of them are sealed-system repairs in Irvine, Santa Ana and Orange. Our customers rate us 5.0 out of 5 on Google across more than 60 reviews.
Refrigerators and freezers we repair
- French-door, side-by-side, bottom-freezer and top-freezer refrigerators from Samsung, LG, GE, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, Kenmore, KitchenAid, Maytag, Electrolux, Bosch and FORNO
- Built-in and integrated refrigerators and freezer columns: Sub-Zero, Thermador, Viking, GE Monogram, JennAir, Miele, Liebherr, Dacor and Fisher & Paykel
- Upright and chest freezers, garage refrigerators and second refrigerators
- Under-counter beverage centers, wine coolers and undercounter ice makers; see our Sub-Zero and wine cooler page
- Ice makers, water dispensers and the valves, filters and lines that feed them
Common refrigerator problems and how we fix them
These are the calls we take most often in Orange County, with a safe check you can try before you book. If the check does not solve it, the cause is usually one failed part.
Refrigerator not cooling, freezer still cold
Likely causes: a failed evaporator fan, a defrost problem that has iced over the evaporator so no air reaches the fresh-food side, a blocked air damper, or a control fault.
Try this first: make sure nothing is blocking the vents between the freezer and the fridge, and listen for a fan running inside the freezer when the door switch is pressed. If the back wall of the freezer is a sheet of ice, the defrost system has failed.
How we fix it: we test the fan, the defrost heater, thermostat and sensor, and the damper, and replace what failed. A FORNO refrigerator in Newport Beach with exactly this symptom is a typical example.
Both refrigerator and freezer are warm
Likely causes: a failed compressor or inverter board, a bad start relay or overload, a refrigerant leak, a condenser fan that stopped, or a condenser clogged with dust and pet hair.
Try this first: check that the refrigerator has power and the display is on, and listen at the back for the compressor. Clicking every few minutes with no hum usually means the start relay or the compressor.
How we fix it: we test the compressor windings, the relay and the inverter, and check the system pressures. If the compressor has failed, we replace it and recharge the system on site. Recent jobs: an LG compressor replacement in Irvine, a Kenmore compressor in Irvine and a GE with a burned-out inverter in Costa Mesa.
Refrigerator losing cold slowly, or warm after a few years
Likely causes: a refrigerant leak at the evaporator or a brazed joint. On many refrigerators built since about 2015 the evaporator develops pinhole leaks at five to seven years, and the fridge gets gradually warmer while the compressor runs nonstop.
Try this first: there is no owner fix for a leak. Note whether the compressor runs constantly and whether the freezer still freezes; that tells us a lot on the phone.
How we fix it: we locate the leak, replace the evaporator or repair the joint, pull a vacuum and recharge to the nameplate weight. See the refrigerant leak at five years in Orange, the Sub-Zero evaporator leak in Irvine and the Kenmore in Santa Ana that stopped making ice for the same reason.
Water leaking inside or under the refrigerator
Likely causes: a clogged or frozen defrost drain, a cracked water inlet valve or supply line, a leaking water-filter housing, or a drain pan problem.
Try this first: if water pools under the crisper drawers, the defrost drain is clogged. If it appears at the back near the floor, turn off the water supply valve to the fridge and see whether the leak stops.
How we fix it: we clear and, where the model is known for it, heat the drain, and replace the valve, line or filter housing. Four recent write-ups: LG inlet valve in Irvine, LG drain line, KitchenAid leaking onto the floor in Irvine and an Electrolux in Brea.
Frost or ice building up in the freezer
Likely causes: a failed defrost heater, defrost thermostat or sensor, a torn door gasket, or a door that is not closing because a drawer or bag is in the way.
Try this first: close the door on a sheet of paper and pull; if it slides out with no resistance, the gasket is not sealing there. Clear anything blocking the door.
How we fix it: we test the defrost circuit and replace the heater, thermostat, sensor or control that failed, or replace the gasket. A Samsung defrost repair is a common one.
Ice maker not making ice, or dispenser not working
Likely causes: a failed water inlet valve, a frozen fill tube, a failed ice maker module, a clogged filter, a freezer that is not cold enough, or a dispenser motor, auger or switch.
Try this first: check that the ice maker arm or switch is on, replace a water filter older than six months, and confirm the freezer is at 0°F. Samsung and LG door ice makers that freeze solid usually have an air-leak or defrost issue, not a bad ice maker.
How we fix it: we test the valve, the module and the freezer temperature, and fix the cause. See the Thermador ice dispenser repair.
Refrigerator not turning on at all
Likely causes: the outlet, the breaker or the cord, a failed main control board, or a power supply board.
Try this first: plug a lamp into the refrigerator outlet. We have driven to a dead refrigerator in Fullerton that only needed a tripped GFCI reset.
How we fix it: if the outlet is live, we test the board and the power supply and replace the failed one, as in this control board repair.
Refrigerator repairs we have written up
Some of our Orange County refrigerator jobs become short case notes on the blog, with the symptom, the cause and the part that fixed it.
- Refrigerator Not Turning On? It Was the Outlet (October 2026), Fullerton
- LG Refrigerator Leaking Water: Valve Replacement (October 2026), Irvine
- LG Refrigerator Not Cooling: Compressor Failure (October 2026), Irvine
- Refrigerator Not Cooling: Refrigerant Leak at 5 Years (October 2026), Orange
- GE Refrigerator Not Cooling: Burned-Out Inverter Fix (September 2026), Costa Mesa
- Kenmore Refrigerator Compressor Failure in Irvine (September 2026), Irvine
- Sub-Zero Freezer Not Cooling: Failed Compressor (July 2026)
- Sub-Zero Refrigerator Not Cooling? Evaporator Leak Fix (July 2026), Irvine
- GE Monogram Refrigerator Not Cooling? Refrigerant Leak (March 2025), a police department service call
- 46-Year-Old Sub-Zero Rebuilt: Full System Overhaul (May 2024)
Sub-Zero, Thermador, Viking and GE Monogram built-ins
Built-in refrigerators are worth repairing for twenty years or more. The cabinet is custom, replacement runs into five figures with the carpentry, and the failures are predictable: evaporator leaks, condenser fans clogged with dust behind the grille, and on older Sub-Zero 500 and 600 series units the compressor itself. We carry the diagnostic tools and the refrigerant for these systems and have rebuilt a 46-year-old Sub-Zero rather than send it to the landfill. See the Sub-Zero repair page and the Viking page.
What a refrigerator repair costs in Orange County
Every visit starts with a $79 diagnostic. That covers the trip and the diagnosis, and it is applied to the repair when you approve it. After the diagnosis you get one firm price for the part and the labor, and that price does not change once the work starts. If the refrigerator is not worth repairing, we say so and you pay only the $79.
Refrigerator and freezer repair prices
| Repair | Typical price, parts and labor |
|---|---|
| Defrost system repair (heater, thermostat or sensor) | $250 to $450 |
| Evaporator or condenser fan motor | $220 to $400 |
| Start relay, overload or capacitor | $180 to $300 |
| Water inlet valve | $220 to $350 |
| Main control or inverter board | $300 to $650 |
| Door gasket replacement | $200 to $400 |
| Ice maker assembly | $250 to $450 |
| Refrigerant leak repair and recharge | $600 to $1,500 |
| Compressor replacement (sealed system) | $900 to $1,800 |
| Evaporator or condenser coil replacement | $700 to $1,400 |
Ice maker and wine cooler repair prices
| Repair | Typical price, parts and labor |
|---|---|
| Water inlet valve | $200 to $350 |
| Ice maker module or assembly | $250 to $450 |
| Thaw and repair frozen fill tube | $150 to $280 |
| Dispenser auger motor or solenoid | $220 to $400 |
| Undercounter ice machine descale and sanitize | $180 to $300 |
| Undercounter ice machine pump or valve | $250 to $550 |
| Wine cooler fan motor or thermostat | $200 to $350 |
| Wine cooler sealed-system repair (leak, compressor) | $700 to $1,500 |
Typical Orange County ranges for parts and labor on common models; the service call is $79 and is applied to any of them. Built-in, professional and commercial units, and parts that have to come from the manufacturer, can run higher. You get the exact written price after the diagnosis and before any work starts.
What the repair costs depends on the part. Start relays, fans, defrost heaters and sensors, inlet valves, gaskets and ice maker modules are the affordable end. Main control boards and inverters cost more. Sealed-system work, which means a compressor, an evaporator or a leak repair with a recharge, is the expensive end on any brand because of the parts and the time, but it is still usually a fraction of a new built-in or a new French-door model.
Seniors and veterans get 20% off, and repeat customers get 15% off. Mention it when you book.
Repair or replace your refrigerator?
A refrigerator with one failed part is worth repairing at almost any age if the cabinet and doors are sound. A ten-year-old mass-market French-door that needs a compressor is a closer call, and we will tell you so. A Sub-Zero, Thermador, Viking or Monogram is nearly always worth the sealed-system repair. You get the price and the honest recommendation together, and the decision is yours.
What to do while the refrigerator is down
Keep the doors closed; a closed freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours if it is full, 24 hours if half full. Move milk, meat and leftovers to a cooler with ice if the inside is above 40°F. Tell us on the phone that the refrigerator is warm and we put the call ahead of non-urgent work.
How a refrigerator repair visit goes
- Book. Call (949) 544-5550 or book online. Same-day appointments are available across Orange County, Monday to Saturday, and warm refrigerators get priority.
- Diagnose. The technician checks temperatures, airflow, the defrost system, the compressor and the system pressures, and finds the actual cause rather than the first suspicious part. The $79 diagnostic is applied to the repair.
- Approve. You get a firm price for parts and labor before anything is replaced.
- Repair. Fans, relays, defrost parts, valves and many boards for the major brands are on the van. Sealed-system repairs are done on site with the proper vacuum pump, scale and recovery equipment.
- Warranty. Parts and labor on the repair are under warranty. If the same problem comes back within 90 days, the return visit has no diagnostic fee.
Refrigerator brands we repair
Samsung, LG, GE, GE Profile, GE Monogram, Café, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Amana, Frigidaire, Electrolux, Kenmore, Bosch, Sub-Zero, Thermador, Viking, Wolf, JennAir, Dacor, Miele, Liebherr, Fisher & Paykel, FORNO, Haier, Hisense and True. Brand pages: Sub-Zero, Samsung, LG, KitchenAid, Kenmore, Frigidaire, Viking and Bosch.
Refrigerator repair across Orange County
We are based in Irvine and cover the whole county. The refrigerator jobs above came from Irvine, Fullerton, Orange, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Brea, Santa Ana and Tustin. We also take refrigerator calls every week in Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel and Lake Forest. See all 34 cities we serve.
Refrigerator repair FAQ
How much does refrigerator repair cost in Orange County?
The diagnostic visit is $79 and is applied to the repair. Fans, relays, defrost parts, valves and gaskets are the affordable end; control boards cost more; compressor and refrigerant-leak repairs are the expensive end. You get a firm price before any work starts.
Why is my refrigerator warm but the freezer is cold?
Usually the evaporator fan, a defrost failure that has iced over the coil, or a blocked damper. Cold air is made in the freezer and moved to the fridge by a fan, so when the fan or the airflow fails, the fridge warms first.
Do you replace refrigerator compressors and fix refrigerant leaks?
Yes. Sealed-system repair is a regular part of our work on LG, Kenmore, Samsung, GE, Sub-Zero and GE Monogram refrigerators. We replace compressors and evaporators, repair leaks, pull a vacuum and recharge on site.
How fast can you come out for a refrigerator that is not cooling?
Usually the same day. Tell us the refrigerator is warm when you book and the call is put ahead of non-urgent work.
Do you repair Sub-Zero, Thermador, Viking and GE Monogram built-ins?
Yes, including sealed-system work on them. Built-ins are worth repairing for decades, and we carry the tools and refrigerants their systems need.
Is it worth repairing a 10-year-old refrigerator?
For a fan, relay, defrost part or valve, yes. For a compressor on a mass-market model, it is a closer call and we tell you honestly. For a built-in, nearly always yes.
Why is my refrigerator leaking water on the floor?
Most often a clogged defrost drain, a cracked inlet valve or supply line, or a leaking filter housing. Turn off the water supply to the fridge and see whether the leak stops; that tells us which it is.
What warranty do you give on a refrigerator repair?
Parts and labor on the repair are under warranty. If the same problem returns within 90 days, the return visit has no diagnostic fee.
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Built-in or panel-ready refrigerator? OC Built-In, our service for built-in and luxury kitchens, has model-by-model guides, error codes and prices: built-in refrigerator repair at OC Built-In.
