What to do right now
Keep the door closed. An unopened fridge stays cold for about 4 hours; a freezer holds 24 to 48. Every time you open it, that window shrinks.
Then run these quick checks before calling:
- Temp setting — make sure it wasn’t bumped to “off” or a warmer-than-normal setting.
- Power and breaker — check the outlet and the circuit breaker. Try plugging something else into the same outlet to rule out a dead circuit.
- Door gasket — press a dollar bill in the door and pull. If it slides out easily, the seal isn’t holding and warm air is getting in continuously.
- Condenser coils — usually at the back or bottom of the unit. If they’re caked in dust, airflow is restricted. You can vacuum them with a brush attachment.
If those checks don’t reveal anything obvious, stop there. The rest requires a tech.
What’s likely wrong
Most emergency fridge failures come down to a handful of causes: a failed compressor, a refrigerant leak, a bad start relay, a seized evaporator fan motor, or a defrost system failure. These can overlap in symptoms (warm fridge, excessive frost buildup, compressor running nonstop), so you can’t pin it down without a proper diagnosis.
None of those repairs are DIY work. Refrigerant handling is EPA-regulated. Compressor and electrical repairs involve disassembly and model-specific parts knowledge. Getting it wrong doesn’t just mean it stays broken — you can end up with a larger repair bill, or a unit that’s no longer worth fixing at all.
Call us
We service refrigerators throughout the Bay Area. We’ll get you on the schedule fast, often same or next day when we can. If you’re not sure whether repair makes sense versus replacement, we’ll tell you straight.
Call (925) 999-4095 or book online at adriumservice.com.