Cooling appliance repair: an economical and eco-friendly choice

Has your cooling appliance broken down or started working less efficiently than usual? Before replacing it, consider an advantageous alternative: repairing your cooling appliance.

A proper diagnosis and intervention of a qualified refrigeration or air conditioning technician can greatly extend the life of your appliances.

This applies to all types of cooling appliances—refrigerators, freezers, portable or window air conditioners, dehumidifiers, wine coolers or water dispensers.

Why choose repair over replacement?

• Significant savings: the cost of repairing a refrigerator is usually much lower than buying a new one.
• Extend your appliance’s lifespan: a sustainable action that supports the circular economy and helps you make the most of your budget.
• Make an eco-friendly choice: repairing helps prevent the extraction of raw materials to make a new appliance and prevents waste.

At GoRecycle, we believe it’s always better to repair an appliance before considering recycling it. Not only is it an economical move, but it’s also an eco-friendly choice that reduces the use of the natural resources needed to manufacture a new appliance.

Which cooling appliances can be repaired?

Refrigerators and freezers

A refrigeration technician can fix a variety of issues:

• Refrigerant leak (fridge leaking freon)
• Faulty compressor (fridge no longer cooling)
• Uneven freezing or strange noises
• Worn out door seals

Repairing a refrigerator usually costs much less than replacing the entire appliance.

Portable or window air conditioners

Air conditioner repairs are high in demand, especially in the warmer months. Common issues include:

• Air no longer cooling
• Water accumulation
• Fan malfunction
• Thermostat problems

A qualified refrigeration technician can quickly diagnose the issue and restore your unit’s cooling power.

Dehumidifiers, water dispensers and wine coolers

These often overlooked appliances can also be repaired. Whether they have a blocked fan, humidity problem or a leak, a professional inspection can often help avoid premature replacement.

Can my old cooling appliance be repaired?

According to Protégez-Vous, a cooling appliance can often be repaired if:

• It is less than 10 years old
• The cost of repair is lower than the appliance’s residual value. Protégez-Vous provides a tool to calculate your appliance’s residual value based on its brand and age.

How to repair your cooling appliance

Find replacement parts

Once the problem has been diagnosed, a replacement part may be all that’s needed.

The Quebec-based company RépareTonFrigo recycles and resells fridge and freezer replacement parts, including:

• Electrical parts: solenoid valves, compressor relays, motorized dampers, fan motors and ice makers
• Appearance parts: refrigerator door bins, shelves, glass panels, racks, door accessories, drawers and baskets for fridges and freezers

With your fridge’s brand and model number, you can check if the replacement part you need is available.

 👉Find out if your fridge replacement part is available

Hire a certified repair technician

In most cases, you’ll need to call on a professional refrigeration technician to fix the issue.

Warning signs that you should call a refrigeration technician immediately:

• Your fridge is making noise (clicking, whistling, etc.)
• It is no longer cooling properly (inadequate temperature despite correct settings)
• There are visible water or refrigerant leaks
• Your appliance is consuming more energy than usual

A quick diagnosis helps prevent further damage and extra costs. Élexpertise offers a directory of certified appliance repair technicians across Quebec.

👉Find a certified appliance repair technician in Quebec

In conclusion

It’s never fun when your cooling appliance breaks down! At GoRecycle, we hope we’ve convinced you that repairing your appliance is the most budget- and eco-friendly option before replacing it with a new one.

Your next steps:

• Diagnose the issue: determine whether your appliance can be saved and repaired..
• Find a certified repair technician in Quebec: Check the Élexpertise directory.

Our pro tips:

👉 If you must replace your old appliance, be sure to recycle it. See our article, “Why Repair Your Old Cooling Appliances?”

👉 To extend the lifespan of your appliance, check out our appliance maintenance guides for refrigerators, freezers and portable or window air conditioners.

A small gesture with big benefits for the planet!