How much does refrigerator repair cost in Virginia?

What drives the bill

Refrigerator repair is priced in four parts: a diagnostic or service-call fee, the part, the labor to fit it, and sometimes a second visit when the part has to be ordered. This page gives no per-job prices because the sources worth quoting do not date them; what it gives you is the list of things that move the number and how to pin it down in writing.

The biggest swing is what failed. A gasket, a door switch, a fan or a clogged drain sit at the cheap end. A failed compressor or a leak in the sealed system sits at the other, and on an older refrigerator it can approach the price of a new one. Which end you are at is decided in the diagnosis, not on the phone.

Rule out the free and cheap fixes first

Before you pay for a visit, check the things that cost nothing. Make sure the doors seal; Whirlpool says a refrigerator that is not sealing correctly may lead to frost build-up and temperature fluctuation.^[5] Our guide to replacing a door gasket covers the common fixes.

ENERGY STAR also says to leave a few inches between the wall and the refrigerator or cooler, and keep the condenser coils clean if you have an older model.^[4] Read the user's manual to learn how to safely clean coils, because the manual is the only place that shows where yours are and how to reach them.

Sealed-system work is a specialist job

If the problem is the compressor, evaporator or a refrigerant leak, expect a higher quote. The work is regulated: EPA says technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release ozone depleting refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified.^[2] EPA's venting rule bars intentionally venting refrigerants while servicing or disposing of refrigeration equipment, with limited exceptions.^[3]

Ask any business quoting sealed-system work whether its technician holds an EPA Section 608 certification, and whether the quote covers recovering the refrigerant.

Get a quote you can compare

The Virginia Board for Contractors advises getting at least three written bids or estimates so you can compare prices and contractors.^[1] For a repair call, that means asking each business the same questions:

• What is the diagnostic or service-call fee, and is it credited if you go ahead with the repair?
• What is the part cost, the labor and any trip or disposal charge, listed separately?
• Is the part new or refurbished, and what warranty covers the part and the labor?
• If the part has to be ordered, how long will it take, and is a second visit charged?

Give each business your model and serial number and a plain description of the symptom: warm fridge, cold freezer, noise, frost, water on the floor. A quote built on that is more reliable than a phone guess.

Weigh it against a new one

A large quote on an older refrigerator is not automatically a bad deal or a good one. ENERGY STAR says refrigerators over 15 years old could be costing you about $95 per year more to run, and that an old refrigerator uses about 20% more energy than a model that has earned the ENERGY STAR.^[4] Whether to repair or replace sets out how to compare the two.

Stop and call a pro if

• The refrigerator is warm and the freezer is also failing. That points to the sealed system or the control board, and needs diagnosis by a technician.
• You smell burning or see scorch marks near the compressor or the plug. Unplug it and call an electrician or technician.
• Water is spreading under or behind the unit. Shut off the supply to the icemaker and get a repair visit.
• A business wants a large cash deposit before it diagnoses the fault. The Board's guidance is that a reputable contractor should be able to front the costs of supplies without a large sum of up-front money from you.^[1]

Getting help in Virginia

See the appliance repair answers and the appliance repair directory for other kitchen appliances.

When you are ready, describe the refrigerator problem once and local appliance repair businesses quote it, so you can compare written quotes side by side.