Fridge freezer ice build-up: what our engineers find
These figures come from NAC's own repair records: 248 fridge, freezer and fridge freezer jobs our engineers attended for this fault. Here is what they found, what fixed it and what it typically cost.
When ice builds up inside a fridge or freezer, the cause is most often a blocked defrost drain. As the appliance defrosts itself, the melted water is meant to run away through a small drain hole. If that hole or the channel behind it becomes blocked, often by ice, the water has nowhere to go. It collects and refreezes, typically under the bottom drawer of the freezer or at the back of the fridge, and it can sometimes leak out or run down into the freezer.
An engineer will usually start by looking at where the ice is forming and checking whether the drain is clear. They then melt the ice and clear the blockage, often by steaming it free or clearing the drain by hand, before checking that water now runs away freely. Engineers also commonly test the heater that defrosts the freezer and the other parts nearby, and check the temperatures, sometimes adjusting the fridge setting if it is running too cold.
Engineers sometimes point out that a cleared drain can block again, so you may be asked to keep an eye on the appliance for a while afterwards.
Written by our engineers from these jobs.
- Jobs attended
- 248
- Confirmed repairs
- 116
- This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Fixed at the first appointment
- 60%
- about 3 in 5 of our repairs
- Typical total paid by customers
- £102 to £178
- including parts and VAT, from 113 repairs
What's usually behind it
The causes our engineers found and fixed, as a share of our 116 confirmed repairs for this fault.
-
Blocked defrost drain: about half of our repairs, from 55 jobs.
47%
We only list causes with enough repairs behind them, so the shares won't add up to 100%.
By brand
Brands with enough repairs of their own for this fault to show separately.
Samsung fridge freezer ice build-up
59 jobs, 35 confirmed repairs. Customers typically paid £98 to £270 (from 35 repairs). 43% fixed at the first appointment.
This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
No single cause has enough repairs behind it yet to show for Samsung.
Why the first-appointment figure differs by brand. Our engineers carry common parts on the van, so those repairs can be finished at the first appointment. Other parts have to be ordered in, and fitting them takes a second visit.
About the price. £102 to £178 is the typical total paid by customers, including parts and VAT: the middle half of what customers paid on 113 of these repairs. Repairs paid for by manufacturers and insurers aren't counted, because that work is charged at contract rates. It's a guide, not a quote. Your engineer confirms a fixed price before any work starts.
Before you check anything yourself
- Switch the fridge freezer off and unplug it, or turn it off at the isolator switch, before you touch anything. Our guide to safely isolating an appliance walks you through it.
- If it involves the mains supply, sealed parts, or you're not confident at any point, stop and book a qualified engineer rather than risk injury or further damage.
Rather leave it to us?
- Fixed-price quote before any work starts
- Same or next-day visits where available
- UK-wide engineer coverage