Keep doors shut
A closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours without cooling. A full closed freezer holds about 48 hours, a half-full one about 24. Food that has been above 40°F for more than 2 hours should be thrown out.
Refrigerator not working, not cooling or leaking?
A refrigerator failure puts food and medicine at risk within hours. Keep the doors closed, check power and settings, then call 833-877-1717. RepairNowUSA connects the request. An independent appliance technician does the repair.
Am I in the right place?Yes for a fridge that is warm, leaking, noisy, freezing food, or not running.
Is this urgent?Urgent when it is warming up with food or medicine inside.
What do I do next?Keep the doors closed and call 833-877-1717 with the brand and model.
Specific symptoms: not cooling, leaking water, freezing food, not making ice.
RepairNowUSA editorial review · Last substantively reviewed October 13, 2026 · Review standards
What to do now
Check power and settings
Plug, breaker, temperature dial, and showroom or demo mode.
Listen
Clicking, buzzing or silence helps the technician.
When in doubt, throw it out
Refrigerated food should stay at 40°F or below and frozen food at 0°F. Keep an appliance thermometer inside to know for sure.
Common causes
Not cooling
Fans, defrost, compressor or sealed system.
Leaking
Drain line or water supply.
Loud noise
Fan motors or compressor.
Not running
Power, control board or start relay.
What to have ready when you call
- Property ZIP code, home or business
- Brand and model number (usually inside the door or on the back)
- Fridge, freezer or both affected
- Sounds it makes
- How long it has been warm
What happens when you call RepairNowUSA
- Describe what is happening in plain words and give the property ZIP code. You do not need to know which trade to ask for.
- RepairNowUSA checks for a participating independent provider who handles refrigerator repair in that area.
- If one is available, you are connected. The provider confirms timing, access, scope and price with you before any work.
- The provider, not RepairNowUSA, diagnoses and performs the repair.
RepairNowUSA is a referral and connection service. Provider availability and response times vary by location, time and demand, and are not guaranteed. Before you approve work, ask what was found, the price, the timing and what is not included.
Call 833-877-1717Refrigerator not working questions
How long will food stay safe if my refrigerator stops working?
Keep the doors closed. USDA guidance says a closed refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours without cooling, a full closed freezer about 48 hours, and a half-full freezer about 24 hours. When in doubt, throw it out.
My refrigerator is making a loud noise. What does that mean?
Clicking, buzzing, grinding or a loud hum can come from a fan, compressor or start relay. If it also stops cooling, protect the food and call.
Do providers work on Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, LG and other refrigerator brands?
Independent appliance providers commonly work on major brands such as Whirlpool, GE, Samsung, LG, Frigidaire, Maytag, KitchenAid, Bosch and Kenmore. Tell RepairNowUSA the brand and model. RepairNowUSA is not affiliated with any manufacturer, and warranty repairs may need the manufacturer’s own service network.
Can I call at night or on a weekend?
Yes. You can call 833-877-1717 at any time, including nights, weekends and holidays. Whether an independent provider can come out right away depends on your ZIP code, the time and provider capacity, so availability is not guaranteed.
Authoritative references
These public sources give general safety context. They do not replace an on-site evaluation, and RepairNowUSA does not perform the work.