A fridge that stops cooling triggers panic — milk spoiling, vegetables wilting, and the fear of a ₹15,000 repair. The good news: most cooling failures have small, cheap causes. Here they are, from most to least common.
1. The door gasket is leaking cold air
Run your hand along the rubber seal. If it's loose, cracked, or doesn't grip a piece of paper firmly when the door closes, warm air is leaking in constantly.
Fix cost: ₹800 – ₹1,500 for gasket replacement.
2. Frost has choked a frost-free fridge
Ironically, "frost-free" fridges fail when their defrost system (timer, heater, or sensor) dies. Ice builds on the hidden coil and blocks airflow — the freezer works, the fridge section doesn't.
Fix cost: ₹1,000 – ₹2,000 depending on the failed part.
3. The condenser coils are filthy
The black coils at the back (or underneath) dump heat. Coated in kitchen grease and dust, they can't — and cooling drops. In Indian kitchens this is extremely common.
Fix cost: part of a standard service visit, ₹300 – ₹500.
4. The evaporator fan has died
If the freezer hums but no air blows inside, the internal fan may have failed. Each compartment stays at the wrong temperature.
Fix cost: ₹1,200 – ₹2,500.
5. The thermostat or sensor is misreading
A faulty thermostat tells the compressor to rest when it should run. Symptoms: cooling that comes and goes randomly.
Fix cost: ₹800 – ₹1,800.
