Fridge freezer - replace or repair?

pineapple

Hi I have an 8yr old upright freestanding Indesit fridge freezer The freezer seems ok but the fridge is not always as cold as I would like. The compressor still goes on and off but (it seems) is switching on less than it used to. Turning the thermostat control in the fridge does nothing. So I may just have a broken thermostat or it might be more complicated.

I've defrosted it, cleaned the coils at the back - no difference. The fridge door seals are fine.

I've ordered a fridge/freezer thermometer to check the temperature. The thing is, with a compromised immune system, I can't risk food not being stored correctly.
There are also some minor issues such as a bit of rust bubbling under the finish at a bottom corner of the freezer door and a broken fridge door shelf.
Given its age etc, would you just get a new one? Something similar would cost around £400. Thanks.

fatbelly

I'd want to see what temperature it is getting down to.

If it can deliver 4-6 degrees, it's fine.

Otherwise it has to go - or move it somewhere where you can just use the freezer - which should be at -18

EssexExile

A call out nowadays could be approaching £100, that may or may not fix it. I'd get a fridge thermometer as suggested above but I'd like the fridge to be below 4°, the freezer below -18°. In the fridge put the thermometer in a glass of water, that way when you take it out to look at it, still in the water, it won't shoot up before can get your eyes focused!

Albermarle

I was always vaguely aware that some foods did not seem to last as long as you would expect in my old fridge, and even worse the beer did not get properly cold !
It was only a cheap one and it broke altogether. Replaced it ( with an Indesit incidentally) and the difference is very noticeable in how cold items in there are, especially on the bottom shelves, even if it is only on a mid setting.
It is quite rare now for anything to go off, apart from in the salad drawer, where items get just get left too long. 

pineapple

Thanks folks. I've just put a thermometer in the fridge! I have a feeling I'll be getting a new one though Hopefully there will be suppliers who will take the old one away.

teaselMay

if the temperature is safely low enough that you decide to keep it I was pleasantly surprised how well mine painted, it's 13 years old and the bottom inch was very rusty tapering upwards for a few inches more with another large area on the side and by the handles. It's not perfect but certainly looks better than it did.

Alfrescodave

pineapple said:

  Hopefully there will be suppliers who will take the old one away.

Many will do this, some at no cost. Check their website carefully for this service before purchasing. 

Our local small independant electrical supplier does this and also installs the new one. A large fridge/ freezer can be heavy and difficult to manouevre into position.

pineapple

Just an update folks. Eventually I decided on a new one and what a job that was. I can't believe I got to this stage in life without knowing that fridge freezers have a 'climate rating' indicating the required ambient temperature for the room they are in. Some appliances (N rated) stipulate a minimum temperature of 16 degrees but my ancient cottage kitchen will dip to 11 or 12 on a winter morning. It seems counter intuitive that a room can be too cold for a fridge freezer but there you go. So I needed one that was rated SN - with a minimum requirement of 10 degrees and not all sellers include those specs. Anyway sorted finally.