What to do if your Fridge Freezer Breaks

When an essential household item, such as a fridge freezer, stops working, it can be both stressful and worrying.
Whether you’re paying for repairs or replacing the item altogether, a broken appliance can negatively affect your finances and leave you out of pocket.
In our guide, Little Loans shares some of the steps to take if your fridge stops working, as well as providing tips on how to extend the lifespan of your model.

What if your fridge breaks and can’t be repaired? Don’t worry - Little Loans could help you search for a loan from £100 to cover the cost of a new one.

Common fridge faults

• Fridge is making a strange/loud noise.
• Fridge light won’t turn on.
• Fridge temperature doesn’t feel cool.
• Fridge is leaking.
• Fridge has completely stopped working.

What is the first thing to do if a refrigerator stops working?

This depends on the issue.
If it’s a minor fault, such as a broken light, it could wait until your next payday to be fixed.
However, if you’re dealing with a more serious issue, like a leak, you may need to take more urgent action.

In the section below, we’ll look into different ways to deal with a broken fridge, depending on the urgency of the fault.

What to do if your fridge breaks

1. Refer to the product manual. If you no longer have this, you can usually find a copy online.
2. Contact your manufacturer. They should be able to offer advice on troubleshooting common problems.
3. If the issue occurs outside of your manufacturer’s opening hours and you need help as soon as possible, you might consider calling in a professional. Depending on the issue, this could be an electrician or an appliance engineer. Please note that you will usually be charged a call-out fee in addition to any repair costs.
4. Have a look online. Searching the model of your fridge and the issue you’re facing could bring up some helpful results. YouTube could be a good place to start.

What is the average lifespan of a fridge?

The average lifespan of a fridge freezer is around 10 years, although with proper care and maintenance, they can last longer.

How to increase the lifespan of your fridge

There are several things that you can do to increase the lifespan of your fridge freezer.

• Defrost your freezer at least once a year.
• Check the door seals. As seals age, they naturally suffer general wear and tear which could affect the fridge’s performance. Fridge door seals can usually be bought directly from the manufacturer, or at shops such as B&Q.
• Did you know that keeping the condenser coils clean could help maintain your fridge, as well as potentially save you money on your energy bills? Dust on coils could reduce your fridge’s efficiency by 25%, which means it has to use more energy to work harder. You can find out how to safely clean your fridge’s condenser coils here.

Is it worth getting a fridge repaired?

Whether it’s worth getting a fridge repaired will depend on several factors, including:

• The age of the fridge freezer.
• The overall condition of the fridge freezer.
• The fault and how much it will cost to repair.

In some circumstances, it might work out cheaper to buy a new fridge, rather than pay for costly repairs.

Can I get a loan to pay for a new fridge freezer?

Fridge freezers are not cheap. The average price of a freestanding fridge freezer in the UK is £818 – an amount of money that very few of us have to spare.
If you haven’t got the funds to cover the cost of a new fridge and you’re unable to borrow money from a friend or family member, you might be thinking about applying for a personal loan.

Little Loans is a credit broker, and we’re able to scan our panel of over 30 Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorised and regulated lenders for a loan to suit your circumstances. With Little Loans, you can search for a loan between £100 and £10,000, with a variety of repayment terms depending on the amount of money you apply to borrow.
If approved, your money could be sent the same day.*

Loans for a fridge freezer

You are welcome to use Little Loans to search for a loan to help you pay for a new fridge if you:

• Are over the age of 18;
• Are a UK resident;
• Have a UK bank account and a valid debit card; and
• Have a regular source of income paid into your bank account.

Fridge freezer loans for bad credit

If you meet the above eligibility criteria, you can search for a loan with Little Loans, even if you have bad credit. Several of the lenders on the Little Loans panel specialise in loans for people with bad credit history. If you are approved for a bad credit loan, you should be aware that you could be offered a higher rate of interest.

Can I get help to buy a fridge freezer?

Can I get a Budgeting Loan for a fridge freezer?
If you’re claiming certain benefits, you may be able to get some financial help towards the cost of a new fridge freezer.
Depending on the type of benefit(s) you receive, you may be entitled to apply for either a Budgeting Loan or a Budgeting Advance.

We’ve outlined the key differences in the table below. Click the buttons to compare the two.

What can it be used for	A Budgeting Loan could be used to help with costs relating to: Essential household items such as a new fridge or washing machine. Moving house. Advance rent. Home maintenance.	A Budgeting Advance could help cover the cost of: Household goods, such as a new fridge freezer. Expenses relating to a new job or staying in a current one. A funeral.
Qualifying benefits	To be eligible for a Budgeting Loan, you must have been claiming one or more of the following benefits for a minimum of 6 months: Pension Credit. Income Support. Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).	To be considered for a Budgeting Advance, you will need to have been receiving one of the following benefits for at least 6 months: Universal Credit. Income Support. State Pension Credit. Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).
How much could you get?	The amount of money you could borrow will depend on your circumstances. If you’re single: up to £348. If you have a partner: up to £464. If you and your partner claim Child Benefit: up to £812. Please note that the lowest amount of money you could get with a Budgeting Loan is £100.	The minimum amount you could borrow is £100, but you could get up to: £348 if you’re single. £464 if you have a partner. £812 if you have children.
How is it repaid?	A Budgeting Loan is interest-free. The money you borrow will be automatically deducted from your benefit payment(s) over a set amount of time, which will be made clear to you when you apply.	A Budgeting Advance will be repaid through your Universal Credit payments, typically over 24 months. If, during the course of your repayments, you stop receiving Universal Credit, you’ll still need to repay your Budgeting Advance.
How to apply	You can apply for a Budgeting Loan to help you buy a new fridge here.	To apply for a Budgeting Advance, you will need to either: Update your Universal Credit journal in your account. Call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 6pm; or Ask your work coach or a Universal Credit representative at your local Jobcentre.

I’m worried about my finances; who can I talk to?

We’re really sorry that you’re in this position, and we understand how isolating financial worries can be. Please don’t suffer in silence. Many of us experience money worries from time to time, and there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.
The following charities and organisations can offer free, impartial financial support: StepChange, MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice, National Debtline.

*Payout timescales vary between lenders. The time it takes for the money to appear in your account will depend on your bank’s policies and procedures.

The information contained in this article is meant as a general guide and does not constitute or should be taken as advice.
December 2025.