Refrigerator compressor repair
When the compressor does not start, clicks, or runs without cooling, the technician tests it and its starting parts at your home in Kolkata before suggesting anything.
- Visit charge: told to you on the call, before we visit
- Warranty: 90 days on the work done
How do I know if my fridge compressor is bad?
A fridge that is warm with a silent compressor, or a compressor that clicks every few minutes without running, often has a failed relay or overload protector, not a dead compressor. Those small parts are cheap to replace. A compressor is confirmed faulty only after testing its windings, its starting current and whether it builds pressure, which a technician does on site.
Price: Quote after diagnosis
What you can safely check first
- Check the plug, socket and any stabiliser. Try another appliance in the same socket
- If the lights in your home are dim, low voltage can stop the compressor from starting
- Listen at the back bottom of the fridge for a hum, a click, or nothing at all
- If it clicks on and off, switch the fridge off. Repeated attempts heat the compressor
- After moving a fridge, let it stand upright for a few hours before switching on, so the oil settles back into the compressor
Common causes we find
- Starting relay failed, so the compressor hums and stops
- Overload protector (OLP) failed or tripping
- Starting or running capacitor failed, on models that have one
- Inverter board fault on inverter fridges
- Thermostat or sensor not asking the compressor to run
- Compressor with open or shorted windings, or that runs but does not pump
What the technician does
- Test the supplyCheck the voltage at the socket and while the compressor tries to start.
- Test starting partsCheck the relay, overload protector and capacitor, and the board on inverter models.
- Test the compressorMeasure the windings, the starting and running current, and the pressure it builds.
- QuoteTell you whether a small part or the compressor itself has failed, with the price, before any work.
- Replace if neededA new compressor is brazed in, the drier filter replaced, the system vacuumed and charged with the correct gas, and the cooling tested.
Repair or replace the fridge
A compressor change is the biggest repair a fridge can need. On a fridge that is fairly new and in good condition, it is often worth doing. On an old fridge with rust, a worn body or other faults, a new fridge may make more sense. The technician gives you the price so you can compare. Our guide on repair or replace an old appliance covers what to weigh up.
Questions
Is the compressor covered by the brand's warranty?
Many brands give a longer warranty on the compressor than on the rest of the fridge. Check your warranty card. If it is still covered, contact the brand first, as their repair may be free.
Does a stabiliser protect the compressor?
Where the voltage often drops or surges, it can help. Many newer fridges work over a wide voltage range. See do you need a stabiliser.
Why does the compressor get hot?
A running compressor is warm to touch, and that is normal. Very hot with repeated clicking points to a starting fault or low voltage, so switch it off and book a check.
Last updated 2026-11-08
Book a technician
Pick the appliance, the problem and a time that suits you. It takes about two minutes. Or call and we will book it for you.