Fridge freezer tripping the electrics: what our engineers find
These figures come from NAC's own repair records: 117 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 a fridge freezer keeps tripping the electrics, the cause our engineers find most often is the defrost heater. This is the part that warms the cold plate behind the inner back wall so frost can melt away. Over time its insulation can break down, letting electricity leak to earth, and that is enough to trip your safety switch. It can happen within seconds of switching on or only every few hours. Engineers sometimes also find that the cover over the cold plate has split or deteriorated, letting ice build up, and that it needs replacing along with the heater. Now and then the defrost temperature sensor is changed at the same time.
To find the cause, the engineer runs electrical safety tests on the appliance. They then disconnect parts one at a time until the fault clears, so they can be sure which part is leaking. On larger American style models there may be more than one defrost heater, and each is checked separately.
The new heater often has to be ordered, so it is usually fitted at a second visit. Until then it is best not to switch the appliance back on. Once it is repaired and tested, give it a day to get cold before you fill it again.
Written by our engineers from these jobs.
- Jobs attended
- 117
- Confirmed repairs
- 51
- 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
- 16%
- about 1 in 6 of our repairs
- Typical total paid by customers
- £179 to £245
- including parts and VAT, from 51 repairs
What's usually behind it
The causes our engineers found and fixed, as a share of our 51 confirmed repairs for this fault.
-
Defrost heater earth fault: about 7 in 10 of our repairs, from 36 jobs.
71%
We only list causes with enough repairs behind them, so the shares won't add up to 100%.
Error codes we see with this fault
- LG CF: Condenser fan fault.
About the price. £179 to £245 is the typical total paid by customers, including parts and VAT: the middle half of what customers paid on 51 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