When a fridge stops cooling, the first question is usually "What’s this going to cost me?" The honest answer is that it depends on which part failed.
Most fridge repairs come down to one part, and most of those cost a few hundred dollars, not the price of a new fridge.
Below are the typical ranges we see, what each repair involves, and the signs that point to each one. All prices are in Canadian dollars, before HST, and include parts and labour.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Typical Fridge Repair Costs by Part
| Repair | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Door gasket replacement | $120–$250 |
| Thermostat or temperature sensor | $150–$300 |
| Water inlet valve | $150–$350 |
| Defrost heater or defrost system | $180–$380 |
| Evaporator or condenser fan motor | $180–$380 |
| Ice maker repair or replacement | $200–$450 |
| Main control board | $250–$550 |
| Compressor replacement | $500–$1,000+ |
| Sealed-system repair (leak, recharge) | $600–$1,200+ |
Typical ranges; brand, model and part availability change the final price. You get the exact price before any work starts.
The same goes for freezer section repairs, like a fan, a defrost part or a door seal.
Brand pages show typical repairs for Samsung fridges, LG fridges and built-in Sub-Zero refrigerators.
What Each Repair Usually Looks Like
Door gasket
The rubber seal around the door. If it’s torn, flattened or pulling away, warm air leaks in. You’ll see frost near the door, sweating on the outside, or a fridge that never stops running. It’s one of the cheapest fixes and worth doing early.
Thermostat or temperature sensor
This part tells the fridge how cold it is. When it reads wrong, the fridge runs too warm, freezes your lettuce, or runs nonstop.
Water inlet valve
It opens to let water into the ice maker and dispenser. A failing valve can leave you with no water or ice, slow filling, or a puddle under the fridge.
Defrost system
Every few hours, a small heater melts frost off the cooling coil in the freezer. If the heater, its thermostat or the timer fails, frost builds up until air can’t get through.
The classic sign is a freezer that’s still cold while the fridge side gets warm, often with heavy frost on the freezer’s back wall.
Fan motors
The evaporator fan pushes cold air from the freezer into the fridge. The condenser fan cools the parts underneath. A failed fan means a warm fridge, and a worn one often buzzes, chirps or rattles first.
Ice maker
Sometimes it’s the ice maker module, and sometimes it’s the valve or a freezer running too warm. We check those first so you don’t pay for a new ice maker you didn’t need.
Control board
The board runs the fans, defrost and compressor. Faults show up as odd behaviour: fans that don’t start, a display that’s acting up, or cooling that comes and goes.
Compressor or sealed system
The compressor and the sealed refrigerant loop are the heart of the fridge. When both sections are warm, the coils are clean and the fans run, the problem may be here.
These are the most expensive repairs, and on an older fridge they’re the main time to think about replacing it.
What Makes a Fridge Repair Cost More or Less
- The type of fridge. Built-in and panel-ready models, and French-door fridges with dispensers, often use pricier parts and take longer to reach.
- Part availability. Common parts for popular brands are easier to get. Some models need parts ordered in, which can mean a second visit.
- How long it was left. A failing fan or a frosted coil caught early is one repair. Left for weeks, it can mean more parts and more food lost.
- Getting to the fridge. A fridge built into cabinetry, or a second fridge in a tight basement corner, can add time.
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Refrigerator Repair in Vaughan
Same-Day Service Available. Diagnostic regularly $129, now $99, and always waived when Aria does the repair. 1-Year Parts & Labour Warranty.
Free Checks Before You Pay for Anything
Some "broken" fridges just need a quick check:
- Make sure the temperature control wasn’t bumped, and that it isn’t in a showroom or demo mode.
- Vacuum the condenser coils behind the kick plate or on the back (unplug the fridge first).
- Clear the vents inside. An overpacked freezer can block the air that feeds the fridge.
- Close a paper slip in the door. If it slides out with no pull, the gasket may be worn.
For more, see Refrigerator Not Cooling? Common Causes and What to Check First.
Is It Worth Repairing Your Fridge?
A simple rule of thumb: if the fridge has been reliable and the repair is one part, such as a gasket, sensor, valve, fan or defrost part, repairing it is usually the better value. It’s time to think harder when:
- the repair is a compressor or sealed-system job on an older fridge,
- the fridge has needed several repairs in a short time, or
- the repair price is getting close to the cost of a comparable new fridge.
Built-in and panel-ready fridges are a special case. Replacing one often means matching the cabinetry too, so repairing makes sense more often. Read more in Should You Repair or Replace Your Appliance?
How Pricing Works When You Book Us
- Diagnostic visit: Diagnostic regularly $129, now $99, and always waived when Aria does the repair. A technician tests the fridge in your home and finds the cause.
- Price before work: we tell you what failed and give you the parts and labour price. You decide whether to go ahead.
- Warranty: completed repairs come with our 1-Year Parts & Labour Warranty on Completed Repairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to fix a fridge that isn’t cooling?
It depends on the cause. A fan motor or defrost repair typically runs about $180–$380. A compressor or sealed-system repair starts around $500.
How much is an ice maker repair?
About $200–$450 for the ice maker itself. A water inlet valve is about $150–$350.
Is a compressor replacement worth it?
On a newer or built-in fridge, often yes. On an older freestanding fridge, a new fridge may be better value. We’ll give you the price and tell you plainly which way we’d lean.
How much is a diagnostic visit?
Our diagnostic is regularly $129, and right now it's $99. It's always waived when Aria does the repair.
