Residential and commercial
Refrigerator Repair in Northern Virginia, DC & Maryland
A refrigerator rarely dies all at once, and most refrigerator repair starts with small signs: it gets a little warm on the fresh-food side, the freezer grows a coat of frost, the ice maker slows down, and one day there is water under the crisper drawers. FixDaddy repairs refrigerators of every kind across Northern Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland: top-freezer, side-by-side, French door, counter-depth and built-in units, plus stand-alone freezers and ice makers. Below is what our technicians find behind each of those symptoms, roughly in the order they see them.
- $89 visit, credited to the repair
- 90-day parts & labor warranty
- Same-day most days
- Someone answers 24/7
What usually goes wrong
Refrigerator problems, in the order we see them
The symptom you notice, and what it most probably is.
- 1
The fresh-food side is warm but the freezer is still cold
Most probably
- The defrost system: the heater that melts frost off the cooling coil has quit, and ice now blocks the air
- The evaporator fan, which pushes cold air from the freezer up to the fridge side, has stopped
- The air damper, a small flap that lets cold air into the fridge side, is stuck shut
- A temperature sensor reads wrong, so the control never asks for more cold
- 2
Nothing is cold and the compressor runs nonstop, clicks or buzzes
Most probably
- The condenser coil under or behind the fridge is packed with dust and pet hair and cannot shed heat
- The condenser fan, which pulls air across that coil, has seized
- The start relay, the small part that kicks the compressor on, clicks instead of starting it
- The compressor itself has failed
- Refrigerant has leaked out of the sealed system
- 3
Frost on the back wall, ice behind the rear panel, food coated in ice crystals
Most probably
- A door or drawer gasket is torn or flattened and lets damp room air in
- The defrost cycle is not finishing, so frost builds a little more every day
- Ice has packed in behind the rear panel, around the cooling coil and its fan
- The freezer drawer rides on a bent rail and never fully seals
- 4
The ice maker stopped, or makes small, hollow or misshapen cubes
Most probably
- The water inlet valve, which opens to fill the ice mold, is frozen, blocked or not opening
- The water filter is overdue and choking the flow
- The freezer is not cold enough to freeze a full cube
- The ice maker itself has failed: its heater, thermostat or motor
- The supply line behind the fridge is kinked or shut off
- 5
No water at the dispenser, or it comes out slowly
Most probably
- The water filter is clogged
- The inlet valve that feeds the dispenser has failed
- The water line inside the freezer door has frozen
- The switch behind the dispenser paddle is not making contact
- The house valve that feeds the fridge is turned down or off
- 6
Water under the crisper drawers or on the kitchen floor
Most probably
- The defrost drain is clogged or frozen, so melt water backs up into the fridge
- The drain pan under the unit is cracked or overflowing
- The water inlet valve or a fitting on the supply line is dripping
- The ice maker is overfilling and spilling into the bin
- 7
Ticking, grinding, buzzing or a loud hum
Most probably
- The evaporator fan blade is hitting frost, an early sign of a defrost fault
- The condenser fan at the bottom is rubbing, or its bearings are dry
- The start relay buzzes and clicks because the compressor will not start
- Water hammer in the supply line when the ice maker fills
- 8
A door that will not close or seal, or drawers that stick
Most probably
- A gasket is torn, hardened or pulled out of its channel
- The refrigerator is not level, so the doors do not line up
- A hinge or door-closer cam is worn
- A drawer rail is bent
By brand
Refrigerator brands we work with
Independent repair for every major make. We are not affiliated with or authorized by any manufacturer.
Refrigerator repair by brand
Samsung refrigerator repair
On Samsung French-door models the ice maker sits in its own compartment on the fresh-food side, and it is known for freezing over: the bucket sticks, cubes clump, then the ice stops. The other regular is ice behind the back panel of the fridge section: the fan buzzes against it, the shelves warm up, and water collects under the crisper drawers.
Samsung refrigerator repairSub-Zero refrigerator repair
A Sub-Zero has its compressor and condenser on top, behind the grille, and the condenser needs cleaning once or twice a year. Clogged with dust, it makes the unit run long and warm and wears the compressor out. Most models have two separate cooling systems, so the fridge can fail while the freezer keeps working. Torn door gaskets are the other common call.
Sub-Zero refrigerator repairGE refrigerator repair
On GE, GE Profile and Café refrigerators the usual finds are a burnt-out defrost heater, which shows as frost on the freezer back wall and a warm fresh-food side, a loud evaporator fan, and a main control board that stops running the fans or the defrost. On side-by-sides the water line inside the freezer door freezes and the dispenser goes dry.
GE refrigerator repairWhirlpool refrigerator repair
Whirlpool also builds Maytag, KitchenAid and JennAir, and they share these faults. On bottom-freezer and French-door models the defrost drain clogs: ice sheets the freezer floor, then water reaches the kitchen floor. On side-by-sides with ice in the door, the ice maker stops when the small sensor pair that reads the ice level fails.
Whirlpool refrigerator repairLG refrigerator repair
The well-known LG failure is the linear compressor: fridge and freezer both warm up while the unit still hums or clicks, often on a machine only a few years old. It is a sealed-system repair, not a fan. LG covers the compressor part longer than the rest of the fridge, so check your purchase date before paying for one. The door ice maker is the other regular.
LG refrigerator repairKitchenAid refrigerator repair
KitchenAid refrigerators are built by Whirlpool and fail the same ways: a clogged defrost drain that leaves ice on the freezer floor, a door ice maker that slows and then stops, a fresh-food side that warms when the defrost system quits. The built-in models carry the condenser behind the top grille, where dust collects unnoticed until the unit runs warm.
KitchenAid refrigerator repairThermador refrigerator repair
Thermador refrigerators are built-in columns and bottom-freezers, usually behind cabinet panels. The fault we trace on them is the defrost system: when it quits, frost blocks the air across the cooling coil, and the fresh-food section runs warm while the freezer looks fine. A heavy panel door that has dropped and stopped sealing builds the same frost.
Thermador appliance repairFrigidaire refrigerator repair
A Frigidaire top-freezer is simple: one cooling coil, one fan, one defrost heater. When the heater or its thermostat fails, the freezer back wall frosts over, the fridge section warms, and the ice maker quits because it will not cycle until the freezer is cold enough. On Gallery French-door models the usual complaint is the fresh-food-side ice maker.
Frigidaire refrigerator repairKenmore refrigerator repair
Kenmore does not build refrigerators, and the first three digits of the model number say who did: 106 is Whirlpool, 795 is LG, 253 is Frigidaire, 363 is GE. Faults and parts follow the maker. A 795 that hums but does not cool points at the LG compressor; a 106 side-by-side with a warm fridge side points at the defrost system.
Kenmore appliance repair
The visit
What happens when the technician comes
Most refrigerator repairs, such as a fan, a defrost part, a water valve or an ice maker, take about an hour once the fault is found. A compressor or a refrigerant leak is a longer job and can mean a second visit for the part.
A freestanding fridge usually gets rolled out, so clear the top of it and the floor in front. A built-in is serviced from the front and stays in its cabinet unless it has to come out; floor protection goes down either way. If the fault is on the freezer side, the food there comes out for a while, so have a cooler or a second freezer ready.
You get a 2-hour window and a call about 15 minutes ahead. The technician tells you what failed and the full repair price before any work starts, and common parts are on the truck.
What waiting costs you
A refrigerator that has stopped cooling keeps food safe for about four hours with the doors shut; a full freezer holds about 48 hours, a half-full one about 24. A slow warm-up is worse, because nobody notices until the milk turns. The faults grow too. A fan blade ticking on ice keeps ticking until the motor burns out, and one part becomes two. A compressor running nonstop against a dusty condenser or a frosted coil overheats, and it is the most expensive part in the machine. A backed-up defrost drain ends up on the floor, and on hardwood that lifts boards.
$89 visit, credited to the repair. 90-day parts-and-labor warranty.
Repair or replace
Repair your refrigerator, or replace it?
Repair it when
- A fan, defrost heater, thermostat, sensor, gasket, water valve, start relay or ice maker failed. These wear out on any fridge and are worth replacing at almost any age.
- It still holds temperature and the complaint is frost, a leak, a noise or no ice. Those are nearly always small parts.
- It is a built-in (Sub-Zero, Thermador, Monogram, KitchenAid). Replacing one means cabinet work, so even a compressor is usually worth doing.
- It is well short of 15 years old and the cabinet, liner and doors are sound.
Replace it when
- The compressor failed or refrigerant leaked on a basic top-freezer or side-by-side that is already around 15 years old.
- The repair would cost more than half the price of a comparable new refrigerator.
- The part no longer exists. Some discontinued models have no control board or valve left to buy.
- The inner liner is cracked, the cabinet is rusting through at the bottom, or a door is warped so no new gasket will seal it.
- It has already had a major repair or two and a different part is now failing.
An old refrigerator also uses about a fifth more electricity than a new one, which tips a close call toward replacing. The technician tells you which side yours falls on before any work starts, and the $89 visit fee counts toward the repair if you go ahead.
Built-in and panel-ready refrigerators
A built-in is a different job from a freestanding fridge. It sits flush with the cabinets, often behind wood door panels, and it is fastened in place. On most Sub-Zero, Monogram and KitchenAid built-ins the compressor and condenser sit on top behind a grille, so most service is done from the front and the unit only comes out when it has to, with floor protection down first. Most full-size Sub-Zeros also run two separate cooling systems, so a warm fridge beside a good freezer is its own fault there, not an airflow problem. The same care goes into a Thermador column, a Viking refrigerator or a Miele refrigerator.
Safe to check before you call
Four checks cost nothing. Does the light come on when you open the door? If not, look at the breaker and the outlet first. Has the temperature control been bumped? It happens when groceries get pushed in. Is food packed against the vents on the back wall? Cold air has to move between the freezer and the fridge section, and a blocked vent gives you a warm shelf. Does every door and drawer close all the way? A drawer left out a finger-width frosts a freezer in days. If only the ice has stopped and everything is still cold, our ice maker repair page covers that.
While you wait for the technician
Keep the doors shut; the four-hour clock only holds if the cold stays in. If the fresh-food side is already above 40 degrees, move milk, meat and leftovers into a cooler with ice. Water on the floor: close the small valve on the supply line behind the fridge or under the sink and put a towel down. Leave frost where it is.
Chipping at it with a knife is how coils get punctured, and that turns a defrost repair into a sealed-system one. Note the model number, usually on a sticker inside the fresh-food section, and what you hear and when. A tick that comes and goes, a click every few minutes and a nonstop hum each point somewhere different.
Recent repairs
Some refrigerator repairs we have done
Samsung refrigerator installation in Herndon
A four-door refrigerator with an ice and water dispenser in the door arrived in Herndon. Our technician set it in place, leveled it, connected the water line, started…A four-door refrigerator with an ice and water dispenser in the door arrived in Herndon. Our technician set it in place, leveled it, connected the water line, started the ice maker, and tested the unit. Level is what lets the doors line up and seal, and the water line has to go on without a leak.
Samsung refrigerator repair in McLean
No water at the dispenser and less ice than before — that was the call on a Samsung refrigerator in McLean. The two normally arrive together. Related to…No water at the dispenser and less ice than before — that was the call on a Samsung refrigerator in McLean. The two normally arrive together. Related to it: cubes coming out small, and a freezer sitting warmer than the temperature it is set to.
Samsung refrigerator repair in Great Falls
In Great Falls, a Samsung refrigerator with an ice and water dispenser had stopped making ice altogether. The pattern on these is fairly set: the ice maker freezes…In Great Falls, a Samsung refrigerator with an ice and water dispenser had stopped making ice altogether. The pattern on these is fairly set: the ice maker freezes over, water comes out of the dispenser slowly, and frost turns up down at the crisper.
August 2026Great Falls, VA
Sub-Zero refrigerator repair in Great Falls
A Sub-Zero refrigerator in Great Falls stopped cooling. Our technician went out the same day. With Sub-Zeros the cause is usually one of three: a condenser coil buried…A Sub-Zero refrigerator in Great Falls stopped cooling. Our technician went out the same day. With Sub-Zeros the cause is usually one of three: a condenser coil buried in dust, a fan that has stalled, or a compressor that has failed outright.
September 2026McLean, VA
GE refrigerator repair in McLean
Our technician was in McLean on a GE refrigerator with a fresh food section running warm. That is one of three complaints we get on these again and…Our technician was in McLean on a GE refrigerator with a fresh food section running warm. That is one of three complaints we get on these again and again. The other two are frost building up on the back wall and an evaporator fan that has gone loud.
Google reviews
What people said after a refrigerator repair
- TW
Troy Wilson
June 2026 · Perlick refrigerator
Scheduled same day service to troubleshoot my Perlick Refrigerator. The technician came out in under 2 hours and diagnosed the problem quickly. Very impressed with the service.
- WV
Whitney Vickrey
June 2026 · Sub-Zero refrigerator
So wonderfully patient and experienced. Came to fix my SubZero in a Sunday morning in time for a party. I highly recommend!
- C
Clinomnia
April 2026 · office refrigerator
Didn't expect same-day service but that's exactly what we got. Fridge in our office in Fairfax was down and they had a tech out within a few hours. Quick fix, reasonable price, no complaints
- SD
Stuart Dornfeld
August 2026 · gas stove
The is my 2nd time using FixDaddy. The first time was to repair my LG washing machine. This time it was to repair my Creda gas stove. Scheduling was easy. They showed up on time. Provided excellent service. I will use them again.
5.0105 reviews
Every review on this page is copied from our public Google profile, word for word.
Guides
Refrigerator guides: what to check before you call
Some of these will save you the visit.
Refrigerator
Why Is My Refrigerator Not Cooling? (5 Causes & Fixes)
A refrigerator that stops cooling is more than an inconvenience — it puts your food at risk. The good news is that most cooling problems have identifiable causes and, in many cases, solutions…
Read the guideRefrigerator
Refrigerator Making a Loud Noise? Here's What It Means
Refrigerators aren't silent — they hum, click, whoosh, and drip as part of normal operation. But certain sounds are red flags. Knowing the difference between a normal noise and a warning sign…
Read the guideRefrigerator
How Long Does a Refrigerator Last? (And When to Replace It)
Your refrigerator is one of the hardest-working appliances in your home — it runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Knowing how long you can realistically expect it to last, and what signs mean…
Read the guide
FAQ
Refrigerator repair: frequently asked questions
Why is my fridge warm when the freezer is still freezing?
Because the cold is made in the freezer and a fan blows it up to the fridge section, and something has stopped that air. Most often it is frost from a failed defrost part burying the cooling coil, or the fan itself. Both are ordinary repairs on an otherwise healthy refrigerator, not a reason to replace it.
How much does it cost to repair a refrigerator?
We do not quote repair prices before we have seen the refrigerator, because a warm fridge can be a fan or a compressor and those are very different jobs. Our visit fee is $89. The technician finds exactly what's wrong and gives you the full repair price at your home — no pressure. If you go ahead, the $89 counts toward the repair, and every repair has a 90-day warranty.
Is a refrigerator over 15 years old worth fixing?
It depends on what broke. A gasket, fan, heater, valve or ice maker is worth replacing on almost any refrigerator that is otherwise sound. A compressor or a refrigerant leak on an old freestanding fridge usually is not, and we will tell you so. On a built-in Sub-Zero or Monogram, which are made to run for decades, the same repair is normally worth doing.
Do you repair built-in refrigerators like Sub-Zero and Monogram?
Yes, including panel-ready units with cabinet doors. Most service on a built-in happens from the front, through the top grille, and if the unit does have to come out of its cabinet, floor protection goes down first. Every repair, built-in or freestanding, carries a 90-day parts-and-labor warranty.
My ice maker quit but the fridge is fine. Is that a separate repair?
Usually it is a smaller one: the inlet valve, the filter or the ice maker assembly itself. But if the freezer is running warmer than it should, the ice maker is only the first thing you noticed, and the cooling is the real fault. Either way it is one visit and one $89 fee.
Can you come today, and how will I know when?
Same-day service most days, and someone answers the phone 24/7. You get a 2-hour arrival window, and the technician calls about 15 minutes before pulling up. Tell us the brand and what the fridge is doing when you book, so the right parts are on the truck. There are local pages for refrigerator repair in Alexandria, Arlington refrigerator repair and fridge repair in Bethesda, with what the homes in each town mean for the repair.
Should I unplug a refrigerator that is leaking water?
Only if water is reaching the outlet. Otherwise leave it running so the food stays cold, turn off the small shut-off valve on the water line if you can reach it, and put a towel under the front. Most leaks are a clogged defrost drain or a dripping inlet valve, and neither one means a new refrigerator.
Do you repair stand-alone freezers and wine coolers too?
Yes. Freezer repair for uprights and chests and wine cooler repair are handled by the same technicians, because those machines use the same compressor, condenser and cooling coil as a refrigerator. Under-counter ice makers too. The $89 visit fee counts toward the repair on all of them.
Near you
Refrigerator repair, town by town
- Refrigerator repair in Alexandria Northern Virginia
- Refrigerator repair in Arlington Northern Virginia
- Refrigerator repair in Bethesda Maryland
- Appliance repair in Annandale Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Ashburn Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Burke Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Centreville Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Chantilly Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Chevy Chase Maryland
- Appliance repair in Fairfax Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Fairfax Station Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Falls Church Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Great Falls Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Herndon Northern Virginia
- Appliance repair in Leesburg Northern Virginia
Refrigerator not doing its job?
Someone answers now. The visit is $89, credited to the repair, and most days we are out the same day.