Fridge not cooling: the causes, in order of likelihood, and what the repair costs (2026)

• Thermostat knob turned down by accident, or the fridge set to "off" after cleaning
• Overloaded shelves blocking the cold air vent between freezer and fridge
• Door seal (gasket) not closing: a sheet of paper should not slide out easily when the door is shut
• Fridge pushed hard against the wall so the back coil cannot breathe
• Voltage too low during load-shedding hours for the compressor to start

• Frost build-up on the freezer wall blocking the airflow: the defrost heater, timer or sensor has failed
• Fan motor in a frost-free fridge not turning, so the cold stays in the freezer
• Start relay or capacitor: the compressor clicks and stops instead of running
• Thermostat failed, so the compressor never gets the signal
• Gas leak: the compressor runs all day, the coil is barely cold, sometimes an oily patch near a pipe
• Compressor worn out: runs hot, noisy or does not pump at all

Labour only unless stated. Visit and diagnosis: PKR 500 - 1,000, about 30 minutes. Fridge gas refill: PKR 3,000 - 7,000, about 2 hours, and the technician should find and fix the leak, not just top up. Compressor replacement labour: PKR 4,000 - 8,000, half a day, compressor not included. The general "fridge not cooling" call, covering gas, thermostat or compressor, lands at PKR 3,000 - 12,000 and takes from 2 hours to a day.

A seal, thermostat, relay, fan or defrost part is always worth fixing. Gas is usually worth it once. A compressor on an old fridge is the one to think about: ask for the compressor price on a separate line and compare it with what the fridge is worth to you. A technician who quotes the compressor before checking the relay and gas is guessing.

Post the job on Mechanics4U with the brand, whether it is frost-free or direct-cool, what the freezer does, and a photo of the back. Registered fridge technicians in your city send a price. Ask for parts and labour separately, agree it before the visit, and remember that if the same fault returns within 48 hours the technician comes back, labour free.