Fridge Breakdown at Christmas? How to Prevent It and Who to Call

Christmas and the summer holidays are the busiest time of year for fridges in Sydney. They are packed with food and drinks, the doors open constantly, kitchens are hot and the fridge in the garage is running flat out. It is no surprise that this is also when a lot of fridges break down.

Fridge Breakdown at Christmas: The Short Answer

Fridges fail more often over Christmas because of heat, overloading, constant door opening and extra fridges running in hot garages. To reduce the risk, clean the condenser coils and check the seals before December, avoid overpacking, keep the fridge out of direct sun and use eskies for drinks. If your fridge does break down, keep the doors closed, move high-risk food to an esky with ice and call a repairer that offers holiday and after-hours callouts.

Why Fridges Break Down Over the Holidays

• Hot weather. Sydney summer temperatures make fridges work much harder, especially in garages and sunny kitchens.
• Overloading. Blocked vents and restricted airflow cause warm spots and longer run times.
• Constant door opening. Every opening lets warm, humid air in.
• Second fridges. An old garage fridge switched on for the season is often the first to fail.
• Storms and power surges. Summer storms can damage control boards. See fridge problems after a power outage.

Pre-Christmas Fridge Checklist

1. Vacuum the condenser coils with the fridge switched off at the wall.
2. Check the door seals with the paper test.
3. Check temperatures: around 3 to 5 degrees Celsius for the fridge, minus 18 for the freezer.
4. Clear out old food to make space.
5. Make sure the fridge has ventilation space and is out of direct sun.
6. Test the garage fridge a week or two before you need it.
7. Flush the defrost drain to prevent leaks.

See our fridge maintenance checklist for more.

Holiday Tips to Take the Load Off

• Keep drinks in eskies with ice instead of the main fridge.
• Let hot food cool briefly and refrigerate it in shallow containers. See can you put hot food in the fridge.
• Do not block the vents. See why overloading a fridge causes problems.
• Open the door less often and close it promptly.

Fridge playing up before the big day? Call Ace Fridge Repairs on 0452 462 556.

What to Choose in a Holiday Repairer

• availability over the holiday period and after hours
• licensed technicians and public liability insurance
• a quote before work begins
• a written warranty on parts and labour

Our guide to questions to ask before hiring a fridge repairer has more detail.

If Your Fridge Breaks Down

Keep the doors closed, move high-risk food to an esky with ice, check the power and settings, and call for a repair. Our guide on what to do when your fridge stops working walks you through it.

Holiday Fridge Repairs Across Sydney

Ace Fridge Repairs takes calls 24/7, including over the Christmas period, for homes and businesses across Greater Sydney, including Strathfield, Auburn and Parramatta. We are based at 93B Pagoda Crescent, Quakers Hill NSW 2763, and all repairs carry a 12-month warranty on parts and labour.

For residential or commercial fridge repairs, call 0452 462 556.

Frequently Asked Questions