Parts reference
Refrigerator parts
Almost every refrigerator failure that is worth fixing is a fan, a valve, a sensor or a seal — parts under $150 that you can reach with a screwdriver. The expensive failures are the compressor and the sealed refrigerant system, and those are the ones that decide whether the fridge is worth keeping at all.
- Parts priced
- 10
- Price band
- $12–$340
- Suppliers stocking
- 5
- Repair guides
- 12
Find your refrigerator model number first
No supplier can sell you the right part without it, and the name printed on the front of the appliance is not it.
Inside the fresh-food compartment, on the side wall
Open the door and look down the left or right wall near the crisper drawers. On most Whirlpool, Frigidaire and GE units the tag sits at eye level once the door is open.
On the ceiling of the fresh-food compartment
Common on French-door models. Take the top shelf out and look straight up at the liner just behind the door seal.
Behind the bottom kick plate
The toe grille at the floor pops off by hand. The tag is on the frame behind it, usually on the left.
On the back panel, near the compressor
Last resort — it means pulling the fridge out. Worth it only if the interior tag has been scrubbed off.
What the tag looks like
A refrigerator model number is 8 to 15 characters mixing letters and digits, such as WRF535SWHZ00. The word on the front of the door is a series name, not a model number, and no supplier can search on it. Photograph the whole tag — the serial number below the model number is what tells a parts desk which production run you have when a part changed mid-model.
What fails on a refrigerator
Ordered most-replaced first. Prices are typical retail ranges for the part alone — not quotes, and not including labour. Confirm the part against your model number before you order.
| Part | What you notice | Install | Typical price | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaporator fan motor | Freezer is cold, fresh-food side is warm, and the fridge is unusually quiet. | moderate45–90 minutes | $40–$120Either works | 8–14 years |
| Condenser fan motor | Whole fridge runs warm and the compressor is hot enough to be uncomfortable to touch. | moderate45–75 minutes | $50–$150Either works | 10–15 years |
| Start relay and overload | Compressor clicks on, runs a few seconds, clicks off, and repeats every few minutes. | easy15–30 minutes | $12–$45Either works | 8–15 years |
| Water inlet valve | No water at the dispenser, no ice, or a slow trickle that never fills a glass. | moderate45–75 minutes | $30–$95Either works | 8–12 years |
| Defrost thermostat | Frost sheets over the back wall of the freezer and the fresh-food side slowly warms. | moderate60–120 minutes | $15–$50Either works | 10–15 years |
| Door gasket | Condensation on the door frame, a motor that never seems to stop, and a warm spot on one shelf. | easy45–90 minutes | $45–$140Buy OEM | 8–12 years |
| Defrost heater | Same heavy frost as a failed thermostat, but the thermostat tests good. | advanced2–3 hours | $30–$95Either works | 10–18 years |
| Ice maker assembly | Bin stays empty, or the maker turns out hollow, half-formed cubes. | moderate30–60 minutes | $80–$260Buy OEM | 5–10 years |
| Main control board | Display is dead or nonsense, or several unrelated functions quit at once. | moderate45–90 minutes | $90–$340Buy OEM | 10–15 years |
| Water filter | Slow dispenser, cloudy ice, or a filter light that has been on for months. | easy5 minutes | $25–$65Either works | 6 months |
Easy · 3
Moderate · 6
Advanced · 1
3 of these 10 parts need nothing more than a screwdriver. Before you accept a repair quote on a refrigerator, it is worth knowing which tier the part sits in — the labour is usually the larger half of the bill.
OEM or aftermarket for a refrigerator
Paying OEM for everything is waste. Saving on the wrong part costs you the repair twice.
Buy the door gasket, the defrost control board and any inverter compressor part OEM — the gasket seals on a moulded profile that copies rarely match, and boards are firmware-matched. Fan motors, start relays, thermistors and water inlet valves are commodity parts where a reputable aftermarket brand does the same job for a third less.
- Buy OEM on this appliance
- Door gasket, Ice maker assembly, Main control board
- Either works — buy on price
- Evaporator fan motor, Condenser fan motor, Start relay and overload, Water inlet valve, Defrost thermostat, Defrost heater, Water filter
- Still under warranty?
- Call the manufacturer before you buy anything. A covered repair costs nothing, and fitting a part yourself first can complicate the claim.
Where to buy refrigerator parts
Shipping and returns are the terms each supplier publishes; where none is stated, we say so rather than guess. We are not affiliated with any of them and earn nothing from these listings.
| Supplier | Shipping | Returns | Part finder |
|---|---|---|---|
| PartSelectpartselect.com1-888-738-4871 | Free over $49 | 365 days | Model number search |
| RepairClinicrepairclinic.com1-800-269-2609 | Not listed | 365 days | Symptom-based finder |
| Appliance Parts Prosappliancepartspros.com1-877-477-7278 | Same-day dispatch | Not listed | Parts diagrams by model |
| Sears Parts Directsearspartsdirect.com1-800-252-1698 | Not listed | Not listed | Model lookup with exploded diagrams |
| Amazon Appliance Partsamazon.com1-888-280-4331 | Prime next-day | Easy returns, no window stated | Keyword search and reviews |
Guides that use these parts
Tools, safety warnings and the steps in order, before you spend anything.
moderate
Refrigerator Not Cooling
moderate
Refrigerator Leaking Water
easy
Refrigerator Freezing Food
moderate
Refrigerator Water Dispenser Not Working
moderate
Refrigerator Running Constantly
moderate
Refrigerator Making Noise
moderate
Refrigerator Door Seal Failing
moderate
Refrigerator Warm But Freezer Cold
easy
Refrigerator Smells Bad
easy
Refrigerator Light Not Working
easy
Refrigerator Sweating on the Outside
easy
Refrigerator Beeping That Won't Stop
Next steps
Not sure the refrigerator is worth the part?
Check what it is still worth before you spend. The Appliance Blue Book takes its age, brand tier and condition and tells you whether a repair still makes sense — or points you at someone local who can quote the job properly.