Repair or Replace a Freezer or Ice Maker?

Repair a freezer or ice maker when it is fairly young and the quote is less than half the price of a new unit. Replace it when it is near the end of its expected life, when the compressor or control board has failed, or when several parts are going at once. Published cost guides from Fixr, HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor and ConsumerAffairs all land on some version of that rule.

Below are the numbers to plug in, the rules of thumb the guides use, and the checks to do before you spend anything. If you decide to repair, our freezer repair and ice maker repair directories list local technicians.

The numbers to compare

Remember the visit itself. Fixr lists freezer service calls at about $45 to $150, and HomeGuide's diagnostic minimum is roughly $70 to $130, usually credited toward the repair.

Rules of thumb from the cost guides

• The 50 percent rule. HomeAdvisor suggests repairing if the quote is under half the price of a comparable new unit, and leaning toward replacement if it is not.
• Age. Fixr says to repair a freezer under ten years old when the repair costs less than half of a new one, and to consider replacing as it approaches ten.
• Multiple failures. HomeGuide notes that when several freezer parts fail at the same time, replacement is usually the more cost-efficient choice.
• Warning signs. ConsumerAffairs points to an expensive compressor or control board repair, climbing energy bills and repeat service visits as signs a freezer should go.
• Ice makers. HomeGuide says to repair an ice maker under five years old or one with an affordable part, and to replace it if the repair would cost more than a new assembly.

How long these appliances last

Fixr puts the average freezer at about 11 years. ConsumerAffairs gives a wider 10 to 20 years, and HomeGuide says chest and upright freezers last about 12 to 20 years, with chest models usually outlasting uprights. Ice makers wear out sooner. HomeGuide estimates 3 to 5 years for a refrigerator ice maker, or up to 10 for higher-end models, while ConsumerAffairs uses about 10 years.

So a $300 repair on a four-year-old upright is an easy yes. The same $300 on a 14-year-old upright that already had a fan replaced is a harder sell. Before you call, note the model number and roughly how old the freezer is, so the conversation starts with the right facts.

Check these before you decide

Do not write off a freezer until you rule out the simple causes. Unplug it or switch off the breaker before you touch any panel or fan.

1. Confirm the control is set near 0°F, which is the FDA's target for freezers, and give it 24 hours after any change.
2. Test the door gasket by closing the door on a sheet of paper. Maytag says a seal that lets the paper slide out easily should be replaced.
3. Make sure food is not blocking the vents or the evaporator fan.
4. Check where it sits. ENERGY STAR notes that extreme heat or cold strains a freezer's compressor. GE says standard refrigerators should not sit where it drops below about 60°F, while its garage-ready freezers are rated for 0°F to 110°F surroundings.

Our guide to a freezer not freezing walks through each step. For ice makers, start with the ice maker not working checklist.

When a repair is almost always worth it

• A door gasket, thermostat, start relay or fan motor on a freezer that is otherwise healthy.
• A water inlet valve, frozen fill tube or filter issue on an ice maker. Fixr puts valve repairs at $75 to $125.
• A defrost heater or timer on an upright that is still well inside its expected life.

When replacement usually wins

• A failed compressor or a leak in the sealed system on an older freezer. This work needs an EPA Section 608 certified technician, which is part of why it costs so much.
• A cheap countertop ice maker with a motor or pump failure.
• A refrigerator ice maker that has already been repaired once and is failing again.
• A freezer whose energy use has climbed noticeably. ENERGY STAR notes that manual-defrost models use about half the energy of automatic-defrost ones, provided frost is cleared before it reaches about a quarter inch.

Food safety while you decide

Keep the door closed. USDA says a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours and a half-full freezer for about 24 hours if the door stays shut. FoodSafety.gov notes that thawed food can be refrozen if it still has ice crystals or is at 40°F or below. Throw out perishables that sat above 40°F for more than two hours.

Getting rid of an old freezer safely

If you replace it, the old one needs care. EPA requires refrigerant to be recovered before a freezer is scrapped, and some towns will not pick up an appliance until that is done. CPSC warns that children can become trapped in old units, so take the door or lid off before storing or discarding one.

Get a second opinion

A written quote that names the failed part makes the decision much easier. Ask whether it covers parts and labor together, and whether the diagnostic fee is credited if you approve the work. If the technician recommends replacement, ask what specifically failed and whether that part is still available for your model.

Read our freezer repair cost guide to see whether the number is in line, then compare technicians in your area through our states page or city listings like Miami and Seattle. Brand pages, such as Frigidaire, can help you find someone who works on your make.