fridges & freezers

Old Appliances vs. New: We Pick 10 of the Best Retro Fridges

Old Appliances vs. New Appliances: We Pick 10 of the Best Retro Fridges

If you had a typical childhood you’ll have heard at least one adult mutter, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to.” It does seem that way, especially when we look at the quality of modern appliances. How often do they have to be replaced? It feels like appliances are made to last just long enough to see out the warranty. Then they go phut and you either have to pay for repairs or a replacement. If you don’t have insurance, replacement is often more cost-effective than repair.

There is a way to enjoy high-tech with old-world looks, as retro never goes out of style.

The retro look has been trending for years and manufacturers have capitalised by producing cool appliances that hark back to the 50s. Retro appliances come in a variety of contrasting and complementary colours and metallic finishes. You’ll also see a a dash of pop art and bold curves suggestive of sexy James Dean and voluptuous Marilyn Monroe.

Back in time

The 1950s was an era of celebration. The end of WW2 meant that people could lighten up; rock ‘n roll was born and the world was on the brink of all sorts of social revolutions. It’s possible the current retro trend speaks to a need to escape our 24/7 lives, rising costs, and other stressors.

Regardless of whether to want romantic nuances or bold and funky, there’s a retro fridge for your tastes.

So, why the popularity? Well, market watchers and analysts believe that TV’s The Great British Bake Off had a large impact on the retro trend. The underlying sense of that playful and joyful era has really caught on.

Retro fridges that are just peachy keen (jelly bean)

Smeg

Smeg leads the retro refrigerator field in design and variety. You might even say that Smeg is the granddaddy of retro, with the widest range of options available, from drop dead gorgeous to sleek, funky and funny. The company captures the essence of the fifties in ways that will make your jaw drop. The fridges are colourful and clever and you can choose from a rainbow of colours.

Smeg actually dates back to the 1950s, which gives it first-hand experience designing and manufacturing retro kitchen appliances. Its line of retro fridges first hit the market in 1990 and, as they say, the rest is history.

The Smeg retro fridge line is pricey, but hugely popular, particularly in the US and the UK. There are over 122 models to choose from, and a range of colours. Your choice includes velvet black, blue denim, brown, colour stripe, cream, English rose, grey, lime green, metalised grey, orange, pastel blue, pink, red, silver, and yellow.

And the fridges include

One of the zaniest designs is the SMEG500V, a replica of Fiat’s famous Cinquecento. It’s available in three colours: Green, red and yellow. The car-shaped fridge received the ‘Good Design’ award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design in 2013. Then there’s the decadent Gold with Swarovski Crystals retro fridge. The SMEG FAB28OR is yours for a £1,620.

The SMEG Fab 10 is available in 12 colours and comes in four special editions. It has a large-capacity fridge and freezer section and runs almost completely silently. This is completely unlike the original 50s fridges, which sounded as though they’d vibrate through the wall.

Not to be outdone, Servis and Bush have designed their own retro fridge ranges that are every bit as gorgeous as the market leader. Gorenje and Big Chill are competitive, with some Big Chill appliances exceeding the notoriously high price tags of Smeg.

Gorenje

Gorenje has a range of vintage, chic and romantic retro fridges, and a colour range that includes bold bright and beautiful metallic sheens, deep purple, bright orange, emerald green, signal red, glossy black, rich dark brown, cream, champagne, white, magenta and silver. The price on the Gorenje Retro Fridge RB602990W has been slashed from £700 to £569, so if you’ve had your eye on a retro fridge, but price has been a factor, now’s the time to get your Gorenje with the SuperCool chill option that chills a bottle of wine within half an hour.

Servis

Servis retro fridges are as visually appealing as Gorenje and Smeg. The colours include chilli red, classic cream and jet black. They tend to be large-capacity fridges (around 317 litres) and have an A+ energy rating, glass safety shelves, wine rack and ice box. Especially tasteful is the chili red Servis C60185NFR, with a capacity of 335 litres, it’s frost-free, with an A+ energy efficiency rating, a bottle shelf, three door shelves, two fridge drawers and three freezer draws. The Servis Retro Fridge line adds a touch of sophistication, glamour and style to every kitchen. Expect to pay between £493 and £538.

Bush

Bush is better known as a commercial supplier of really cool refrigeration systems, but the Bush BRTL60170B Retro Tall Fridge, is getting a lot of really good feedback from customers. Choice of colour is limited when compared to Smeg, for example, but the black is intense and vibrant, with metal handles and a bright internal LED light that just oozes style, and has all the benefits of a modern fridge, like the A+ energy rating. It’s spacious inside with 4 safety glass shelves, a vegetable drawer, salad crisper and a chrome wine rack with metallic designer handles. Fridge storage capacity is 281 litres and the frozen food compartment has a 30-litre capacity. On the whole it’s attractive and considered good value for money. Additional colours are cream, chilli red or lime green, and they are well-priced, ranging from around £330 to around £500.

We need to give an honourable mention to the Bush BSFF60, which has a large capacity, three salad crisper compartments and which uses frost-free technology and is energy-efficient. It also has 13 hours of power-off capacity. Expect to pay in the region of £500.

Oranier

Oranier has a retro fridge line with a colour choice between red, lime green and cream. In keeping with the retro style the colours are vibrant. There’s the single door RKS 1 and the double door RKS 2. Like Bush, Oranier has focused on function over form, and have put out fridges that hold their own in terms of value for money. Oranier’s retro line includes features like automatic defrosting, egg containers, and very impressive freezer capacity.

Big Chill

The Big Chill’s Retropolitan line comes in a selection of colours, including beach blue, buttercup yellow, cherry red, jadeite green, orange, pink lemonade, turquoise, black and white. You can choose between a handle on the left or right and other options include icemakers and door removal. The body is stamped metal with authentic chrome trim and handles. It’s frost-free and has automatic moisture control as well as a temperature management system. It’s rated Energy Star, and the big thing about the Big Chill’s Retropolitan refrigerator is the storage space. If you’re not wild about the 8 standard colours, you can choose from 200 custom colors. It has got 4 half-width glass shelves, 2 clear crisper drawers, a slide-out upper basket and one large lower freezer basket. This range is pretty pricey and will cost you around £2,400.

The Studio retro fridge line is smaller than Retropolitan line, but the colour options are the same, and it is also frost-free, with temperature management control and automatic moisture control. The Studio line has a pivotal handle as well as the left or right hand hinge choice. There’s one spill-proof glass shelf, a full-width opaque crisper, 4 door shelves, an adjustable freezer shelf, and the price tag is around £1,840.

Swan

Swan has a pretty good line of retro fridges too, and the Swan SR11010C has had £129 shaved off the price tag, down from £709 to £579. It’s 54.5 cm wide, so it’s easy to fit into most kitchens. It’s got a 168-litre fridge capacity and a 40-litre freezer with one glass freezer shelf. The energy rating is A+, three safety glass shelves, 5 door pockets and wine rack, and it has an auto-defrost fridge and manual defrost freezer.

Other honourable mentions have to go to:

  • GGA French Style Retro. A bespoke fridge with two French doors. Comes with two freezer drawers which reduce warm air intake when opened.  Electronic ice maker making express ice cubes. Retails around £1600.
  • Baumatic Retro. Available in royal blue. Self-defrosting fridge and plenty of capacity. Even temperature throughout. Comes with safety glass shelves. Retails around £650.
  • Husky Retro larder fridge. Capacity of 108 litres and very good energy rating. An under-counter fridge which doesn’t take up a lot of space. Chrome wine rack and salad crisper drawer. Reversible door. Retails around £450.
  • LEC Retro. Frost-free and a decent energy rating, this fridge is in cream and comes with unusual and shapely retro handles. Wine rack and good sized freezer compartment. Costs from £560.
  • Next RETROC. Very energy efficient with 246 litres fridge capacity. Comes in cream with five shelves and 19 hours power failure storage. Retails around £370.

If you’re into strolling down the memory lane of a bygone era, and want to venture into a space that is playful, joyful and reminds you of your gran’s 60 year old fridge with a makeover, then now is the time to remodel your kitchen and embrace your colourful side.

Posted by Surewise in Appliance Insurance Articles

Why does Your Fridge Freezer Blow its Fuse?

Why does Your Fridge Freezer Blow the Fuse?

Like all electrical appliances, your fridge is vulnerable to the whims of electricity. This means that you can occasionally expect your fridge freezer to blow its fuse. Your fridge’s fuse can blow due to any the following reasons:

  • A power surge causes a temporary increase in the electricity travelling through the circuit. Some fuses are designed to withstand short bursts of high electricity, while others are not.
  • Overtime, the fuse itself may simply weaken.
  • Circuit overload caused by multiple appliances plugged into in the same power source. When the circuit draws too much power, the internal safety system in fuses breaks an internal wire to prevent overheating and possible fire.

Your fridge freezer should generally not cause the fuse to blow. If the fuse keeps going phut then the most likely explanation is a circuit overload.

Read these troubleshooting tips for blown fuses so you’re better informed when you call the technician.

1.     The circuit load

A technician will check the AMP of the fuse connected to the fridge freezer’s circuit. The AMP rating signifies the amount of load that the circuit can handle. To calculate the actual load on the fuse, technicians have to measure the power drawn by all devices/ appliances connected to the fridge freezer circuit.

If the total power drawn by these individual devices exceeds the maximum load that the circuit can handle, relocate some of devices to another circuit to free up some load.

After relocating devices, keep the fridge unplugged for some time before switching it on again.

2.     The electrical socket and power cord

If the above-mentioned process does not work, unplug the appliance and check the electrical socket and the power cord for any damage. An electrician can replace any damaged cords or wires.

Why does your fridge freezer blow bulbs?

The other part of your fridge that can blow is the bulb. The bulb can blow for several reasons, not least of which is faulty bulbs. Cheap bulbs don’t last as long as more expensive bulbs which are better quality. The elements in cheap bulbs are very thin, so any surge in power can make them blow. Even in the world of fridge freezer bulbs, you get what you pay for, so try to buy the best quality you can afford.

If the bulb wattage isn’t the type specified by fridge-freezer manufacturer for your model it could overload the electrical socket and blow the bulb. Always use the bulb specified in the owner’s manual and make note of the wattage.

Another possible cause may be found in the light socket. It may be that there’s an electrical short in the socket itself. The repair for this isn’t DIY as it requires expertise. It’s far better to contact an appliance repair specialist rather than trying to give it a go yourself. This is especially important if your fridge-freezer is still under warranty, since tampering with faulty parts could result in your warranty being voided.

If you need to replace the bulb, the first thing you need to do is switch off the power. Your owner’s manual should contain complete instructions on how to replace the bulb. Once you’ve replaced the bulb according to the instruction manual don’t forget to switch the power back on!

Please remember:

Appliances should be serviced regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions found in the product manual. If you have a problem with an appliance, call an NICEIC or Gas-Safe registered appliance engineer to repair your appliance. Don’t forget that if your appliance is not working optimally, you should also have it serviced to prevent causing damage to the appliance.

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Top 10 Fridge Freezer Best Buys

The Top 10 Fridge Freezer Best Buys

Fridge freezers are becoming ever more sophisticated these days with special features such as thermostatically controlled crisper drawers and the ability to withstand a power cut for more than 24 hours. Many are frost-free too while just about all that made our top 10 boast of excellent temperature control. And indeed, this is our pick of the best fridge freezer best buys:

  • Samsung RB31FERNBSS.

This frost-free fridge freezer is excellent for storage with a sliding shelf and super-quick chill compartment which can be switched to 0 degrees centigrade. Its energy rating is A+++ so is very cost effective to run. Costs from £650.

  • Miele KDN12823S-1.

Another frost-free model with a larger fridge than freezer. Cools and freezes quickly, keeping food fresher for longer. Good at maintaining a steady temperature. A quiet fridge with an A+ energy rating. Costs from £670

  • Siemens KG39EAW40G.

Another great product for chilling and freezing all kinds of food and with a handy humidity-controlled salad crisper drawer. Lots of storage space, including a chiller cabinet for fish and meat. Costs from £560.

  • Neff K8345X0.

Frost-free and can chill very quickly while the manufacturers boast that the freezer can work up to 29 hours after a power shortage. An alarm goes off if either the fridge or freezer doors are left open for too long. Antibacterial coating is sprayed onto the fridge walls. Costs from £1580.

  • Bosch KGE36AW40G.

Has a A+++ energy rating meaning it’ll keep utility bills down and which is impressive considering its large storage capacity. Excellent at both chilling and freezing food. Salad crisper drawer has humidity control switch. Costs from £620.

  • Hotpoint FFUL2023X.

Frost-free and with a A++ energy efficiency rating. Good freezing and chilling, despite fluctuating room temperature. Good food storage layout. Three adjustable door racks for bottles come with handy dividers. Costs from £560.

  • Haier MyZone AFD626TGB.

Very stylish and available in red, black or white gloss. Has three separate compartments, one of which can be used for either a fridge or freezer. Comes with a super-freeze setting. A+ energy efficiency rating. Costs from £640.

  • Smeg FAB32QO.

Can chill fresh food to less than 5 degrees centigrade in just under a day and will retain frozen food for up to 24 hours in the event of a power cut. Comes with an inbuilt wine rack. Available in ten different colours. Costs from £1360.

  • Panasonic NR-B32FW3-WB.

This frost-free item has a vitamin safe drawer that the manufacturer’s claim keeps food fresher for longer. Good in terms of a consistent temperature. Great for bulk buying or cooking and freezing big batches of food. Costs from £700.

  • Bosch KGV33NW20G.

Temperature stability is excellent. Has a fast-free area and plenty of freezer space considering its size. Comes with a bottle rack and adjustable shelves. Humidity control for crisper drawer. Costs from £360.

Do you agree with our judgement? We’d be interested to hear from your experience of owning one of the above fridge freezers.

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Top 10 Fridge Freezers Under £200

The Top 10 Fridge Freezers Under £200

If you have a limited budget and feel that you really need more fridge and freezer space, then you’re probably expecting to have to do an awful lot of research. But don’t despair – we’ve already done a lot of that for you to the extent that we’ve listed here the best value fridge freezers we could find for under £200.

When you come to look yourself though, do shop around very carefully as you’ll be able to find great deals and it’s always worth keeping your eye on your favourite products as you never know when a bargain will present itself.

Our picks

  1. The Hotpoint RTAA42P comes in at just under £200. The fridge holds 180 litres, while the freezer has 40 litres of space – so that should be enough space for a family’s needs. The product has an A energy rating so it’s pretty efficient.
  2. The LEC T5039W is a similar price to the Hotpoint and it has 90 litres of fridge space. The freezer has three glass-fronted drawers. This product has an A+ energy rating, which means your fuel bills will hold nothing to fear.
  3. The LEC T50082W under counter fridge freezer is brilliant for space saving. There are two safety glass shelves in the fridge, as well as a salad drawer, and there are 27 litres of space in the freezer. Like its T5039W cousin, this product is rated A+ for energy and is around the £180 price mark.
  4. The Beko CT538IAPW has impressive storage capacity – 140 litres in the fridge and 77 litres in the freezer. This product also benefits from anti-bacterial door seals, giving you the additional reassurance of food safety and hygiene.
  5. Another great and reasonably priced LEC product is its TS48112W model. Priced at roughly £185, the fridge holds 77 litres, while the freezer can take 35 litres. Should you lose power, the freezer will keep products frozen for up to 10 hours.
  6. The Indesit RAA24 fridge freezer is proof that looks can be deceiving. This fridge freezer looks small, but it can hold an impressive 222 litres of chilled and frozen foods. It retails for just under £200 and the door is reversible, making it extremely versatile for your kitchen.
  7. The Bush BSFF55136 fridge freezer retails at around the £180 mark. It is 55cm wide and it has varied storage options for all of your food and drink.
  8. The sleekly designed Russell Hobbs RHUCFF48B fridge freezer will look good in most kitchens. It has an A+ energy rating and a reversible door. Another feature is its quick chill compartment, allowing you to cool foods quickly and safely.
  9. The Haier BD103GAA is a real bargain, retailing from between £130 to £180. The capacity is 106 litres in total and is 57cm wide by 84.5cm tall.
  10. The Logik LUC50S12 is another bargain, retailing from £130. It is approximately 50cm by 84cm and great for those who don’t seek too much fridge and freezer space.
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Top 5 Mini Bar Fridges

The Top 5 Mini Bar Fridges

While mini bar fridges might bring back memories of university dorms, they are actually really great mini storage options for the home or workplace, even if they come with a few caveats.

For example, most bar fridges use more energy in proportion to large fridges – so think about getting the largest one for your needs and space available. You’ll also want to avoid wire racks as they are more difficult to clean. Finally, think carefully about freezer space before you buy. Most mini fridges are fridge only and while there are a few that offer a small freezing space for ice trays, this space can be awkward to use. If you are looking to store frozen products, consider a two drawer mini fridge or a separate mini freezer instead, as this will help your goods to freeze quicker and with less energy loss.

We took a long hard look at the most popular and best mini bar fridges and here are our favourites:

5. Russell Hobbs 45 Litre Black Fridge

For under a £100, this stylish and great value for money bar fridge is at home anywhere thanks to its sharp black lines. This fridge is quiet and has a 45 litre storage capacity, as well as a mini freezer section. Low energy consumption and high value, this is a great buy and well worth every penny.

4. Tefcold TM30G Mini Bar Fridge

Whether you are looking for a mini fridge for your home, office or commercial premises the Tefcold is a great value-for-money fridge. While it might not automatically stand out from other mini fridges, it has plenty of storage options and great energy consumption, which is enough to make it a worthwhile option.

3. Husky Guinness 48 Litre Fridge

Husky has a wide range of branded mini bar fridges which makes them perfect beer fridges. Small but able to stack a decent number of cans or bottles, these fridges have a low price tag even if the energy rating is a little weak. For those who want a retro design take a look at the Coca-Cola branded option.

2. Samsung RW33EDSS

While this is more of a wine rack than a mini bar fridge, its design and functionality earns its place on this list. With space for 33 bottles and an easily adjustable temperature setting, as well as impressive lighting options inside, this mini bar fridge is a great way to show off your great taste in wine.

1. Smeg FAB5

Smeg has a reputation for quality (if pricey) products and the FAB5 is no exception. While it is rather expensive when compared to most other mini bar fridges, its unique retro design makes this fridge stand out amongst the competition. Whether you opt for the simple yet classy black or white options or the statement-making Union Flag option, this mini fridge will attract attention where ever it is. Completely silent with a 40l capacity, freezer space and configurable storage options, this is without a doubt the coolest mini fridge on the market!

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5 Simple Checks for Freezer not Freezing

5 Simple Checks for Freezer not Freezing


Having your kitchen freezer break down can be expensive both with regard to the frozen food that spoils and the cost of having your freezer repaired.

If your freezer suddenly stops working or becomes ineffective, perform the following quick checks:

  1. Check for excessive ice in the freezer: Excessive ice in the freezer prevents the cold air from circulating. If you see an unusual build up of ice in the freezer, defrost the freezer completely. Now plug in the freezer to check if it is working as before.Remember, this may only be a temporary solution. As a normal process, self-defrost freezers turn off the compressor for a few minutes every 6-12 hours. Repeated excessive build up of frost in the freezer means that the freezer’s auto-defrost system is not working. Therefore, either the defrost heater, the defrost thermostat, or the defrost timer have a fault. This needs the attention of a professional appliance repair person.
  2. Check the thermostat: Perhaps the thermostat is stuck. Try turning it up and down again, and see if it clicks when you turn it. Set the temperature at the level recommended in the appliance manual and use a fridge thermometer to check if the problem has been resolved. If not, then you may have to replace the freezer thermostat.
  3. Check if something is blocking the freezer fan: Excess loading of the freezer renders the cooling system ineffective. Remove any food items that may have been stacked against the freezer fans. Also, if you cannot hear the fan operating when you open and close the doors, then you need to call a technician.
  4. Check the freezer door seals: If you see that the freezer door is not closing completely, check for damage of the freezer door seals. Sometimes simply cleaning the freezer door for any debris that may have accumulated can solve the problem. In case the freezer door gasket is damaged, it would need to be replaced by an appliance professional.
  5. Check the coils: All freezers have coils. These coils contain the refrigerant that absorbs the heat inside the freezer. If there is dust on the coils, the cooling function of the coils is affected. Unplug the fridge and very gently clean the coils with a vacuum cleaner or a dust magnets. If you are not sure how to do this, call a repair person.Your freezer may also not freeze for the following reasons:
    • There is a gas leakage, or a blockage that is restricting the gas flow in the fridge freezer
    • A noisy compressor indicates damage to the compressor motor. This part can be expensive to replace. Depending on how old your freezer is, it may be a wise decision to buy a new freezer.

Please remember:

Appliances should be serviced regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions – found in the product manual. If you have a problem with an appliance, call in a NICEIC or Gas-Safe registered appliance engineer to repair your appliance. Don’t forget that if your appliance is not working optimally, you should also have it serviced to prevent causing damage to the appliance.

Posted by Surewise in Appliance Insurance Articles

5 Quick Checks for Fridge Freezers Not Working

5 Quick Checks for Fridge Freezers Not Working

The fridge freezer is an essential appliance for a fully functional kitchen. Good fridge freezers are silent hard working machines that operate round the clock to safely store your food supplies.

However, at times a few glitches may cause your refrigerator to stop working or become ineffective. Common symptoms are:

  • It stops cooling
  • The fridge light does not come on
  • The appliance starts making some strange noise that you have never heard before.

Before, assuming that there is a major electrical problem with your appliance, we recommend you do the following quick checks.

  1. Check the power cord: If your refrigerator stops working or if the light does not come on when you open your refrigerator door, the problem is likely due to a loose power cable. Pull the fridge away from the wall, and check whether the plug is firmly fixed into the socket. In addition, unplug it and inspect the electrical cord. Have it replaced immediately by an electrician or technician if you suspect any damage. Also, ask the electrician to check for any blown fuses in your house or tripped circuit breakers in the appliance’s circuit breaker box.
  2. Turn power off / reset: If the electrical cord is not the problem, you can try turning off the power to the fridge and starting it again. Also, check the appliance manual on how to reset your fridge freezer to ensure that there is no problem with the settings.
  3. Check the seals and the gaskets: If the light remains on when you close the refrigerator door, the problem is most probably on the door seals and the gaskets. Check the door seals for cracks and rips. If the seals and gaskets are broken, an appliance engineer should replace them.
  4. Check the thermostat: It is possible that the thermostat temperature has been accidentally turned up, causing the interiors to be warmer than usual. Ensure that the thermostat is at the ideal temperature recommended by the manufacturer.
  5. Check the freezer: The refrigerator and the freezer have different controls and can malfunction separately.
  • The freezer fan may be blocked.
  • Condenser coils located beneath or behind the appliance may have collected debris. This would prevent the freezer from cooling properly.
  • There could be a problem with the defrost timer. The refrigerator compressor goes silent when it is in automatic defrost mode, which lasts between 30 minutes to an hour. If the compressor motor does not start after this time, the defrost timer may need replacement.

Please remember:

Appliances should be serviced regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions – found in the product manual. If you have a problem with an appliance, call in a NICEIC or Gas-Safe registered appliance engineer to repair your appliance. Don’t forget that if your appliance is not working optimally, you should also have it serviced to prevent causing damage to the appliance.

Posted by Surewise in Appliance Insurance Articles

6 Causes For Beeping Fridge

6 Causes For A Beeping Fridge

You know your refrigerator is in perfect working order when it is not making any noise. On the other hand, a beeping sound indicates that something is wrong with the appliance. It could be a minor problem that you can resolve in minutes or something far more complex that needs professional attention.

The first thing you need to do is check the fridge manual to understand what the beeping signifies and what you can do to stop it. If you cannot find the relevant information, simply unplug the fridge for a few seconds and plug it back in. If it was a minor hitch, the fridge should stop beeping.

However, if the beeping persists, do a quick check for the following:

  1. Check if fridge and freezer are overfilled: Over-stuffing of these compartments will prevent the doors from closing properly and can cause the fridge to set off a beeping alarm.
  2. Check the fridge door seals: Broken or damaged door seals may prevent the fridge from closing. This can also happen if the seals are dirty. Wipe clean the door seals with a soft cloth and warm, soapy water, and close the fridge doors. If the door still appears ajar, then you need to replace the door seals.It is also possible that the inbuilt door-alarm (which sets off if the fridge door is ajar for more than a few minutes) has tripped. This would need to be looked at by a qualified repair technician. Until, you can call a technician, transfer all the food items to another cool place.
  3. Check the fridge balance: To function properly the fridge must be placed on a levelled surface. Even a slight tilt in the fridge structure can set off a beeping alarm. Check if the fridge is balanced evenly.
  4. Check if the fridge exterior is warmer than usual: Check if there is adequate distance between the fridge and walls to allow for proper ventilation. If you have already ensured this, and the fridge exterior still appears warmer than usual, have an appliance engineer look at the problem. If the beeping continues, switch-off the fridge.
  5. Check the freezer: If your fridge does not have an auto-defrost function then excessive ice-build up in the freezer can cause the beeping alarm. If you see a lot of ice build-up in the icebox or freezer, switch off the fridge and let the ice thaw. Once the fridge is thawed, the beeping should stop.
  6. Have a technician check the circuit board: It is possible that there is a problem with the appliance’s circuit board. If so, it will most likely need replacement.

Please remember:

Appliances should be serviced regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions – found in the product manual. If you have a problem with an appliance, call in a NICEIC or Gas-Safe registered appliance engineer to repair your appliance. Don’t forget that if your appliance is not working optimally, you should also have it serviced to prevent causing damage to the appliance.

Posted by Surewise in Appliance Insurance Articles

Top 10 Quiet Fridges

Top 10 Quiet Fridges

It’s enough to drive you crazy if you’re already feeling a bit on the sensitive side thanks to a headache or just a desperate need for peace and quiet. A noisy fridge may just seem annoying at first but the more that humming and vibration persists the more irritating it becomes until it seems to have amplified everything out of proportion and you’re almost ready to unplug the darned fridge and throw it out the window.

If you suffer from ‘noisy fridge syndrome’ then you’ll be glad you’ve found this post because on it we’ve researched and found  what we believe are 10 of the quietest fridges out there. All received a top 5/5 score by Which for the noise and vibration category.

But first, why are certain fridges noisy in the first place?

Possible reasons your fridge is noisy

The compressor (i.e., motor) makes a noise while it circulates the gas necessary to keep the fridge cool. This runs for more than half the time that the fridge is switched on. Newer, and more expensive, fridges contain linear compressors which operate in the same manner as a dimmer switch ie they only use as much power as is necessary which means the fridge runs at a quieter level.

Some frost-free fridge freezers can make a whirring noise which is the result of a build-up of ice around a fan and means the fridge isn’t cooling properly so should be looked at.

Certainly though, one of the first things you should try if your fridge noise levels are at a higher decibel than you’d like, is to defrost it and see if that makes a difference. If not, if may be time to call in a fridge repair man or buy a new one depending on your current financial position.

Our top 10 quiet fridges:

  • Beko CHILL53W. Costs around £130.
  • Liebherr T1404. Costs from £230.
  • Hotpoint RLA36P. Retails from £190.
  • Beko TLD673APS. Costs around £280.
  • AEG S71700TSW0. Retails from £270.
  • Siemens KU15RA51GB. Costs from £380.
  • Smeg FAB10RR. Retails from £650.
  • Neff K5604X7GB. Costs from £420
  • Miele K12820SD. Retails around £720.
  • John Lewis JLUCLFS6007. Retails at £320.
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Posted by Surewise in Appliance Insurance Articles