Cost to Repair Wine Fridge (Detailed Analysis)
Since your wine fridge stopped working, and you’re worried about how much it will cost, you’ve probably come here.
No worries, like all appliances, a wine fridge may malfunction or stop working at some point.
However, it can be brought back to life with the right diagnosis and repair!
Repairing a wine fridge will depend on several factors, such as the type of issue, the brand, and the location.
This article will discuss what factors determine the cost of repairing a wine fridge and what common issues will cost.
Can Wine Fridge be Repaired?
Yes and no, and here’s how
Wine coolers that struggle to maintain the desired temperature, overheat, ice build up, leak water or just beeps can often be repaired after a simple troubleshooting process. The type of wine cooler will determine the ease of troubleshooting.
Some components, like the fan, compressor, thermostat, aluminum cooling unit, motherboard, or fuse, can often be replaced easily without needing a professional technician.
However, if the issue is more complex or electrical, you may need to seek the assistance of a specialist. It is important to keep in mind that repairing a wine cooler should not cost more than simply purchasing a new unit.
Remember that if the wine cooler is still under warranty, the supplier should repair or replace it at no additional cost. These replacement components are widely available from online and physical hardware stores.
Common Issues with Wine Coolers
There are two basic causes of a wine cooler not working: problems with compressors and problems with thermodynamics.
Compressor Wine Coolers Problems
More components are available in compressor wine coolers, which makes them more prone to malfunctions. The following are common compressor cooler problems:
- An internal or external fan that is defective
- Faulty thermostats
- A malfunctioning evaporator
- Compressor malfunction
- The compressor fails to start due to a faulty capacitor
Thermodynamic Wine Coolers Problems
Room temperature affects the performance of thermodynamic coolers, so they should be placed away from walls and restricted spaces. The following are common problems:
- Temp fluctuations in the room
- Faulty fan
Is it worth fixing Wine Fridge?
Now the question is whether it is worth repairing a wine fridge
Before rushing out to buy a new wine cooler, consider if you can repair it if your unit suddenly stops working. As a first step, you should identify the damage, whether it can be repaired, and whether it will be expensive. It depends on the brand, the location, how you take care of your wine cooler unit, and how long it lasts.
Wine coolers range in price from $188 for an entry-level 18-bottle model to $2300 for a 220-bottle model. Repairing a wine cooler under $300 is not worth it if the parts are costly or if the cooler is more than two years old. Shipping charges are also a factor to consider from where you’re repairing it.
Estimated Cost to Repair Wine Fridge
Wine fridge repair costs can vary widely depending on several factors. The first factor is the brand or type of fridge. Some brands may have more expensive parts or be more difficult to repair. This could result in higher repair costs. The second factor is the specific component that needs to be replaced. Some components, like a fuse or a fan, are relatively simple and inexpensive to replace.
However, replacing other components, like a compressor or thermostat, can be much more expensive and complex. This can result in significantly higher repair costs. It is important to consider both the brand and the specific component that needs to be repaired when estimating the cost of repairing a wine fridge.
On average, a built-in wine cooler will cost around $600, with most built-in wine coolers having a capacity of at least 18 bottles. Prices go over $1000 for appliances with capacities of 30 bottles or over, or for those with double doors.
Here is a breakdown of the cost of repair per part
Compressor
Refrigerators for cooling wine may have different compressor sizes depending on the number of liters or bottles they can hold and their price range. You should expect to pay more for fridges with larger compressors that can accommodate higher liter and bottle capacities.
A typical price range is $100 to $600, excluding shipping and labor. Additionally, the higher the energy efficiency rating of the appliance, the more you should expect to pay.
Thermostat
The wine cooler thermostat is a crucial component that ensures the proper functioning of the wine fridge. It regulates the temperature by turning various parts of the wine cooler on and off, including the condenser, evaporator fan, and compressor. This helps to cool the interior of the wine cooler effectively.
There are thermostats priced as low as $10 and as high as $30 for wine coolers. Costs vary depending on the make and model and whether you buy genuine or generic parts. The price does not include shipping or labor.
Condenser
The most common cause is that your wine cooler may malfunction due to a malfunctioning condenser fan motor. The components cool the compressor and condenser coils in the wine fridge cooling process. This can make your wine fridge make weirds noise.
A wine cooler’s moving parts can easily cause the device to malfunction since they can get blocked, bent, broken down, or clogged with debris. In most cases, motor fan blades are covered in oily debris containing dust and other materials.
An average condenser motor costs $30 to $250. Depending on the size of the wine cooler, this spare part will cost more or less. Shipping and labor are not included in this price.
Cooling Fan Unit
Identifying and repairing the cooling fan unit is a simple task. Most fan units are reasonably priced, with a cost range of $10 to $30 (excluding shipping). The cost will depend on the wine cooler’s brand, model, and chilling technology (compressor or thermoelectric).
If you’re experiencing issues with your wine cooler not cooling, the cooling fan unit may be the cause. You can easily diagnose this by checking if the condenser fan is running correctly. You can perform the repair yourself or hire a technician, which is not included in the cost estimate above.
Control Board
It is more difficult and expensive to replace or repair the wine fridge’s control board since it is the main Central Processing Unit (CPU).
According to the model and make of the wine cooler, you can expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $200. Shipping and labor are not included in these prices.
Overload Protector
The overload protector is a component of your fridge that is typically priced between $5 and $10 (excluding shipping) from most online retailers. This cost may vary depending on the wine cooler’s size, brand, and model.
The overload protector and start relay often get damaged at the same time. If you need assistance replacing the overload protector, hire a technician or do it yourself.
Start Relay
Relays serve as circuit breakers or circuit completers in electrical circuits.
It costs between $7 and $16 to replace a wine cooler’s start relay.
The part is usually a small replacement and is easy to replace. Shipping and labor are excluded from this price.
Thermal Plate
Thermal plates for wine coolers usually cost between $30 and $50. Wine coolers come in a variety of makes and models. Shipping and labor are not included in this price.
It is necessary to pay for parts and labor at a service center. Labor can sometimes cost $100 an hour.
Can Broken Wine Coolers be Repaired
Yes, you can replace a broken wine cooler yourself. For as little as $29, you can find second-hand wine cooler compressors that have been reconditioned or repaired. In addition to shipping costs, a new compressor for a wine cooler can cost as much as $220.
What to do with Broken Wine Coolers?
What should I do with your broken wine cooler? You’ve already decided to throw them away, but before you do, consider recycling them.
Refrigerators, wine coolers, and other appliances must be recycled in many states across different countries.
Selling your wine cooler as scrap metal is one of the easiest ways to recycle it. It is possible to recycle old fridges and freezers at thousands of local scrap metal recyclers.
If you have lots of space in your room, you can use your broken wine cooler as a display or storage facility. This makes the room attractive and aesthetic just by being there.
Getting it repaired is probably the first thing you’ve thought of. The first thing you should do is determine the cost of the repair and then make a decision accordingly.
Conclusion
Between $50 and $500 is the estimated cost of repairing a wine fridge. The cost of repairing a wine fridge can vary greatly, so it is important to get an accurate estimate before committing to any repairs.
Also, don’t spend a lot on repairs if you can get a new wine fridge for less than the repair cost. It may be more cost-effective to purchase a high-end wine cooler with a good warranty rather than choosing a cheaper option.
This will ensure that any necessary repairs or replacements can be covered under warranty, and in case of accidental damage, the repair costs will be justified.