Should I keep using my refrigerator if it's warming up?

Move perishable food to a cooler or a backup refrigerator, and keep the doors closed as much as possible. If you hear the compressor running nonstop or clicking, turning the unit off until the technician arrives can prevent further strain.

Why is there frost on the back wall of my freezer or refrigerator?

Frost on the back panel usually means the defrost system isn't working. The cause could be a heater, a sensor, a thermostat or the control. A worn door gasket letting in humid air can also cause frost. Both are common, repairable problems.

Do you repair Wolf refrigerators?

Wolf makes ranges, cooktops, ovens and other cooking appliances, not refrigerators. Kitchens with Wolf cooking usually pair it with Sub-Zero refrigeration, and we service both.

Do you need to remove my built-in refrigerator from the cabinets?

Usually not. Most diagnosis and many repairs can be done through the top grille, the kick plate or the interior panels. We only pull a unit when the repair requires it, and we will tell you before we do.

How often should the condenser on a built-in refrigerator be cleaned?

Check it at least once or twice a year, and more often if you have pets or a dusty home. Hot San Fernando Valley summers make a clean condenser especially important.

Are you affiliated with Viking, Sub-Zero or Thermador?

No. Viking Appliance Services is an independent repair company. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any appliance manufacturer.

Refrigerator Repair | Viking Appliance

The short answer

Most built-in refrigerator problems, including warm compartments, frost build-up, leaks, ice maker failures and error codes, come from repairable parts like fans, defrost components, controls, valves and door gaskets. We diagnose Viking, Sub-Zero and Thermador refrigerators in your home, explain what is wrong, and tell you plainly whether repair or replacement makes more sense.

A built-in refrigerator that stops holding temperature can put a week of groceries at risk. Viking Appliance Services repairs high-end refrigerators for homeowners in Reseda and nearby areas such as Tarzana, Encino, Northridge, Van Nuys, Canoga Park and Woodland Hills. We work on Viking built-in and professional-style refrigerators, Sub-Zero built-ins and columns, and Thermador column and French-door models. Wolf builds the ranges, cooktops and wall ovens that often sit across the kitchen from these units, and we service those too. We are an independent repair company with no ties to any manufacturer. Our job is to find out why your refrigerator is failing, explain what we found in plain terms, and fix it when a repair makes sense. San Fernando Valley summers run much hotter than the coast, and that heat puts extra load on a refrigerator's condenser and compressor. Problems that stay hidden in mild weather often show up in July and August.

Issues we fix

These are the symptoms homeowners call us about most often. If you notice more than one, mention all of them when you book. Symptoms that show up together often point to the same cause.

Refrigerator or freezer not cooling, or temperatures slowly climbing
Fresh-food section warm while the freezer stays cold
Frost or ice building up on the back wall, around the evaporator cover, or on the door seal
Water pooling under the crisper drawers or leaking onto the floor
Drain line freezing or not draining
Ice maker not making ice, making small or hollow cubes, or overfilling
Water dispenser slow, dripping or not working
Error codes, flashing displays, or a control panel that won't respond
Compressor running nonstop, clicking on and off, or not starting
Loud buzzing, rattling or grinding from the fans
Door not sealing, or a door alarm that keeps sounding
Interior lights out or flickering

Technician testing the control board of a built-in refrigerator

What our technician checks on a built-in or professional-style unit

Built-in refrigerators aren't serviced like freestanding models. The condenser, compressor and controls usually sit behind a top grille or a lower kick plate rather than at the back, and the unit is anchored into cabinetry. We start at the access panels so we don't pull the unit out unless we have to.

On a typical visit, the technician checks the condenser coil and condenser fan for dust and airflow, measures compartment temperatures, and inspects the evaporator fan and the evaporator coil for frost patterns. We test the defrost heater, defrost thermostat or sensor, and the defrost control. We check the door gaskets, hinges and door closure, look at the drain path and drain pan, and test the water inlet valve, filter housing and ice maker. When a sealed-system problem is possible, we look for signs of a refrigerant leak or a weak compressor before we recommend anything, because those repairs involve more work.

How Viking, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Thermador refrigerators differ

Viking built-in and professional-style refrigerators often come to us with evaporator fan noise, defrost problems that cause frost on the back panel, door gasket wear, and ice maker or water valve faults. Older Viking built-ins can also develop control board and display issues as they age.

Sub-Zero refrigerators are built around the condenser and compressor at the top or bottom of the unit. Dust on the condenser is a common cause of warm compartments, especially in hot valley weather. Many Sub-Zero models use separate refrigeration systems for the fresh-food and freezer sections, so one side can fail while the other keeps working. We also see evaporator fan failures, drain issues, and ice maker problems on these units.

Wolf makes cooking appliances rather than refrigerators. In a Sub-Zero and Wolf kitchen, the refrigeration side is Sub-Zero. If your Wolf range or oven also needs attention, we can look at it on the same visit.

Thermador column and French-door refrigerators rely heavily on electronic controls and sensors, so error codes and control faults come up more often. Water valves, ice makers and door alignment on heavy panel-ready doors are other frequent repairs.

Tell us what your appliance is doing.

Call (712) 333-1469 Request Service

Repair or replace a high-end refrigerator?

A well-maintained built-in refrigerator is designed for a long service life, and it is sized to fit a specific opening in your cabinetry. Replacing one often means matching exact dimensions, ordering custom panels, and sometimes adjusting cabinets. That is why repair is usually the better choice for fans, defrost parts, gaskets, valves, ice makers, sensors and many control problems.

Replacement deserves a closer look when the sealed system has failed on an older unit, when several major parts are wearing out at the same time, or when parts for your model are no longer available. We give you an honest read on the unit's condition and leave the decision to you. We won't push a repair that doesn't make sense, and we won't push you toward a new unit either.

What affects the cost of a refrigerator repair

We quote after we diagnose, because the cause behind a symptom varies widely. A warm refrigerator might need a condenser cleaning, or it might need a new compressor.

The fault itself: a gasket or fan is a simpler job than a sealed-system repair involving refrigerant
Parts: brand-specific components, control boards and ice makers vary in cost and availability, and some have to be ordered
Access: units built into custom cabinetry, with panel-ready doors or tight overhead clearance, can take longer to reach and service
Whether the unit has to be pulled from its opening
How many problems turn up during the inspection

How a visit works

When you book, tell us the brand, model and serial number if you can find them. They are usually on a label inside the fresh-food compartment or behind the top grille. Also describe the symptoms and any error codes. This helps the technician bring the most likely parts.

At the appointment, the technician inspects and tests the unit, explains what is causing the problem, and gives you a written quote before starting any repair. Many common parts can be replaced on the first visit. If a part has to be ordered, we schedule a return trip to install it. Before leaving, we confirm the refrigerator is running properly and share simple tips, like keeping the condenser clean, that help prevent the same problem from coming back.