A refrigerator is the one appliance you can’t easily live without — so when it starts acting up, the first question is usually “can this be fixed, or is it time for a new one?” In most cases, repairing is the smarter, far cheaper choice. Here’s how to decide.

The quick rule

If the repair costs less than about half the price of a comparable new refrigerator, and yours is still within its normal lifespan, repairing is almost always the better value. Most refrigerators last 10–15 years, and a typical repair is a small fraction of the $1,000–$2,500+ a new unit costs.

Common refrigerator problems — and whether they’re worth fixing

• Not cooling — often a faulty thermostat, dirty condenser coils, a bad evaporator fan, or a failed start relay. Usually an inexpensive, very worthwhile fix.
• Leaking water — typically a clogged defrost drain or a cracked water line. Cheap to repair.
• Ice maker not working — a common, affordable fix (valve, module, or line).
• Loud or constant running — fans, the defrost system, or worn door seals; usually worth repairing.
• Refrigerant leak or compressor failure — the big one. On a newer fridge it’s still worth repairing; on a 12–15+ year-old unit, this is often where replacement makes sense.

When replacement makes sense

Lean toward a new refrigerator when it’s well past 15 years, the compressor or sealed system has failed on an older unit, the repair would cost more than half of a comparable new model, or it’s had repeated unrelated failures. A much newer model can also noticeably cut your energy bill.

If that’s where you land, we make it easy — we sell brand-new refrigerators (never used or refurbished) at competitive prices, so you can replace it with us in one stop. Browse new refrigerators. Choosing a new one? See our refrigerator buying guide.

Not sure? Get an honest answer first.

The best next step is a quick diagnosis — our technician tells you exactly what’s wrong and gives you a straight repair-or-replace recommendation, with no pressure either way.

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See our full repair-or-replace guide · Appliance repair FAQ